Ahead of matchday one in the Champions League for the 2017-2018 season, something very strange has happened. The Daily Mail are running a positive article about Chelsea.
The gist of the piece is that Chelsea are the English team the rest of Europe should be worried about in the forthcoming campaign. After a dodgy 45 minutes of football in the first game against Burnley, Chelsea`s season has only gone one way. Strange that at 3-0 deficit last term against Arsenal, was the catalyst that turned that season around.
It`s very early to say that history could repeat itself, but history really could repeat itself. Three nil down at half-time, Antonio Conte famously changed Chelsea`s formation and fortune at the same time. The move to 3-4-3 against Arsenal saw the team improve almost instantly.
This time round, three nil down to Burnley at half time, following Gary Cahill`s sending off and Conte mustered his troops to perform a fightback that continued even when they lost Cesc Fabregas to a late red card.
The added attraction and opportunity of Champions League success this season has increased the interest and excitement around Stamford Bridge. The article in the Mail quotes Eden Hazard, who can`t wait to get back into action for Chelsea,
“Last year we just had to watch it on the television. I hate having to watch it. I only liked to see my brother play, that’s the only reason I watched the Champions League. You just want to be part of it. I have won the Premier League, I have won the title in France, I have won cups, but big players want to win the Champions League. I think now it is time to win this. We have a good squad, we have a good manager, so we are ready for it.”
It`s certainly going to be great to see Hazard playing again. With the squad looking stronger than it did just a couple of weeks ago, a league and Champions League double may not be so far fetched. Could it really happen? As ever comments most welcome below.
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