Real Football Man All of the Football, All of the time
There are always cliches written about Stoke and whether big players and clubs can “do it” here so I’ll try to avoid all of those but if Chelsea can clear this hurdle this Afternoon then it will put them further in the driving seat and potentially open up a 13 point gap with their nearest rivals both playing tomorrow.
I say rivals but really with Chelsea’s lead at the top already into double figures it really is going to take a monumental collapse from Antonio Conte’s side if they are to not regain the Premier League title which they won two seasons ago under Jose Mourinho.
Today they travel to Stoke off the back of an F.A. Cup Quarter Final victory on Monday over Mourinho’s Manchester United, one that now sees them pitted against arch rivals Tottenham in the one of the Wembley Semi Finals next month.
Hosts Stoke were inactive last weekend due to the curtailed Premier League programme but there last league outing was undoubtedly overshadowed by the goings on in Barcelona that same night, such were all the column inches written after the Camp Nou miracle that everyone seemingly forget the hard earned point they collected at The Etihad.
People will more than likely consider it two points dropped for Manchester City but that should take nothing away from a stubborn Stoke side who were good value for the draw especially as many felt that it was going to be a scoreline nearer to the 4-0 defeat they suffered to the hands of Tottenham at White Hart Lane in late February.
Stoke are unbeaten in their last two league matches as in addition to the draw with Manchester City they have also beaten the newly managerless Middlesbrough. They are going to have their work cut out though if they are to make it 3 games unbeaten with the arrival of the champions elect this Afternoon.
For Chelsea it’s business as usual, 7 league games undefeated and they come here off the back of successive league wins. Their last league outing was just under a fortnight ago when they got the better of West Ham at The London Stadium eventually running out 2-1 winners although West Ham’s goal was scant consolation after an impressive performance from the blues.
The one thing that will perhaps give Stoke some hope is the fact that Chelsea are letting in goals and the clean sheets that they were earning previously are now not so much of a given. The last 5 games have seen Chelsea concede but with their attacking prowess that is something that they can still afford to do while more than likely running out winners.
It was not any of the star studded attackers which won the game on Monday over Manchester United but N’Golo Kante. His second half strike from outside the area was the difference in a game which perhaps did not live up to the hype, there were more fireworks off the pitch than on the pitch as Conte and Mourinho gave us a touchline show.
You would imagine there would probably not be the same level of histrionics this Afternoon but Mark Hughes can be known to have a temper especially if you don’t shake his hand after the game so there could be a combustible element between the two.
But all that can be avoided should Chelsea go on to win as expected and surge further clear at the top of the table. Stoke will not make it easy for them but you get the feeling that this blue wave is going to be too much for the home side and therefore I can see nothing other an an away win.
