Few of us can predict how the upcoming World Cup is going to impact the rest of the Premier League season. The winter tournament in Qatar is unchartered territory in the football calendar, with the demands placed on players reaching new levels.
In one aspect the upcoming break may aid Graham Potter and offer him some respite. Chelsea's growing injury list is a major cause for concern with Ben Chilwell the latest to go down with a hamstring problem against Dinamo Zagreb in Wednesday's Champions League win.
“It’s a blow for us on an otherwise positive evening." Graham Potter said on the injury. "To see him pull up like that, it’s not a great sight. So fingers crossed when we get it scanned it isn’t too bad. It can be not as severe but we have to cross our fingers at the moment. But clearly, we’re disappointed.”
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That setback adds to Wesley Fofana, Reece James, Kepa Arrizabalaga and N'Golo Kante who all may miss the final three fixtures left before the break against Arsenal, Manchester City and Newcastle.
It feels like Chelsea are limping towards the finishing line, desperately needing a pause on their season more than most of their closest rivals. That is not only due to the fitness of players, but a naturally turbulent start that has seen a lot of upheaval around the club.
The one benefit of the World Cup is that it avoids the usually demanding festive period that included nine fixtures for Chelsea last year. Thomas Tuchel certainly bemoaned this harsh reality in 2021 as Chelsea suffered through not only injury issues but a COVID outbreak that ruled out several key players.
With seven of the nine games last December taking place in the Premier League, it was during this period when Chelsea's early title ambitions were severely scuppered dropping points to West Ham, Everton, Wolves and Brighton.
The benefit for Chelsea is that after the World Cup is it likely that Fofana, James, Kepa and Chilwell will all be fit as the Blues return with Premier League tests against Bournemouth, Nottingham Forest and Manchester City at the end of December moving into the New Year.
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