One of the prime reasons why the Premier League is talked fondly of is the unpredictability it offers week in and week out, courtesy of the competitiveness that exists. The unparalleled animosity, even from the underdogs that makes the ‘big boys’ fall to their knees, is simply intriguing, to say the least.
For getting even a single point, the teams are made to toil hard and when a relegation battler like Leicester City can get drenched in champagne in the month of May, one must believe that the element of surprise keeps the league thriving in a healthy and competitive manner.
This weekend, Chelsea are going to be hosted by Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium in what promises to be a feisty encounter between two sides who are equally eager to leave a thumping impression.
The priorities of these two clubs might differ, but the will to bag all three from a win (and of course, the bragging rights) shall be the force to drive them and here are three reasons why this fixture has the ingredients to be a cracker.
Middlesbrough Are No Pushovers
Despite being the newcomers in the Premier League this season, Middlesbrough have shown a lot maturity, resilience and grit to impose themselves as a side more than just being a relegation battler.
A recent 1-1 draw at the Etihad Stadium is the latest reminder as to why Aitor Karanka’s comrades appear to be a class apart from the pushovers. Chelsea will not find it easy to bag the points from their trip, let alone bulldozing the Smoggies, though, at the onset, the anticipation of the fixture to be a one-sided affair is being thought of.
The ‘form’ factor
The Yorkshire based club is in a fine run of form, which is why Chelsea just cannot be complacent this weekend. Middlesbrough, prior to their draw against Pep Guardiola’s side, had managed to register a comprehensive win against Bournemouth and a goalless stalemate against Arsenal.
Chelsea, on the other hand, have been in a rampaging mood after the tactical ramifications that were made after their shambolic defeat at the hands of Arsenal early in the season. The Blues have won all of their last five league games, including the 5-0 demolition of Everton prior to the international break.
One side has managed to contain a couple of big boys lately, and the other has switched on the destruction mode. Waiting for the match to kick-off already?
Two Tactical Wizards Collide
Middlesbrough, under Karanka, propagate a neatly knitted and well-structured defence, with an emphasis to employ a counter-attacking brand of football. The Spaniard is always inclined to devise an attacking-inclined vision which includes a game plan to move the ball freely during the buildup and punishing the opponents during their lapses of concentration. Being stubborn defensively, they have the right balance in the squad to implement Karanka’s thought process on the pitch.
Chelsea have started to blossom and flourish under the tutelage of Antonio Conte. The Italian has been using a three-man defence and his experiment has yielded outstanding results for the club.
What is special about this Chelsea side which is crawling out of the shadows of their former self is the way they have not been sacrificing their attacking tooth for the sake of catering to the defensive needs which was the case (more often than not) under José Mourinho. Rather, a perfect blend has grown that has helped the former league champions get maximum results from the resources that they possess.
