European giants Chelsea will be hoping to maintain their place in the top four of the Premier League as they prepare for what promises to be the most testing month of football so far this season. The Blues are currently four points clear of Jose Mourinho’s Tottenham on the table but have just six points separating them from Wolves in ninth position. Their most recent league display was a deserved 2-2 draw against 3rd place Leicester City, a point that would’ve surely come as a motivating sign to Lampard.
Chelsea are still active in the UEFA Champions League, the FA Cup and the race for the top four, meaning that their season is still far from over. While any silverware at the end of the campaign would surely be a bonus to Lampard and Chelsea fans, there’s no denying that finishing within the top 4 takes the priority at the moment.
The Season So Far
The Blues started the campaign off on a terrible note against Manchester United but came back strong in the later weeks and taking control of the coveted fourth Champions League spot. Lampard’s men are still holding onto the position on the league table, while they’ve even setup a Champions League Round of 16 encounter against German giants Bayern Munich.
Understanding how the next three home games could define the Blues’ season:
Manchester United
The Pensioners will return from their first-ever winter break next week and dive straight back into the thick of Premier League football, as they’re set to take on Manchester United at Old Trafford. A reverse of either team’s first league game of the campaign, the Blues will be eager to beat United for the first time this season, while further extending their grip over fourth place.
Tottenham
A fixture that could topple the Blues out of the automatic Champions League qualification spots, Jose Mourinho’s first ever visit to Stamford Bridge as the manager of Tottenham promises to be a thrilling encounter for the home fans. While there’s no denying the obvious love and respect the Portuguese manager will receive, a repeat of the reverse fixture from December could mean that the Blues effectively secure European football for the campaign.
Bayern Munich
While Frank Lampard is sure to be preparing for this tough visit by Bayern Munich, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Chelsea try and squeeze out a victory against the German champions. Although the Blues have good history against the Bavarians, given the current predicaments either squad find themselves in, Chelsea could find this to be their hardest challenge of the term yet. A win would be a huge morale-booster for the entire fan base, and that’s why this fixture could singlehandedly define the Blues’ entire season.
