Graham Potter has a lot to prove as Chelsea boss if he is to win over the Stamford Bridge faithful. Starting with Aston Villa on Saturday the boss is now entering his last stretch of the season but it is by no means a time to let off despite the league table.
With the side sitting 10th in the table and on course to record their worst-ever goalscoring year since the Premier League's inception, Potter hasn't cut a convincing figure for those used to watching the most charismatic and successful bosses in the world. The results hardly tell a better story.
The hope is that the trough is well and truly over now and the Blues can start to appear on the other side with some positivity. The three-game winning run threatened to blossom somewhat - even with two victories over relegation candidates - but drawing with Everton halted the cautious optimism.
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Beating Villa or not will hardly change the overall picture. Whilst Chelsea could end the day in the bottom half it would take a minor miracle to finish close to the top four let alone in it. The Champions League is the real highlight and domestic action is a means for preparation for two upcoming legs against Real Madrid more than anything.
Should Potter allow fans to dream of European glory once more, or at least show signs of competitive nature on a side of the draw with three teams much more advanced than they are, then perhaps all is not lost. It is, after all, this competition that has made and broken Chelsea's bosses throughout much of the past 19 years.
Todd Boehly and Co are less likely to be emotionally swayed by the results of two games against the Champions League's most successful ever team, but that may well not matter if the supporters are left underwhelmed. Thomas Tuchel went out at this stage last season and limped across the line to the summer. Potter's circumstances are different but Chelsea's season all but ended at the same point one year ago.
For this reason Villa holds little weight to what may really matter in the grand scheme of things this season for Chelsea, but if they are to take any confidence into Europe it would be helpful to get in the mojo now. Here's how they can do it.
Beware the counter-attack
Aston Villa have caused havoc in recent weeks with their tendency to attack with real speed on the break. It lends itself to away days too with the onus being on the home side to dominate the game and this will be no different.
Since Unai Emery took over at Villa Park they have only failed to win two of their six away league games, drawing once. They have kept three clean sheets in that time and have managed to exploit the pace of Ollie Watkins and Leon Bailey effectively. Emery's pragmatic approach, as seen at Villarreal last season, can bring shocking results.
Watkins' burst away to score against Arsenal in February was a case in point of their direct approach when in possession, and that was at home. The Englishman has scored seven of his nine goals this season under Emery, getting three assists in that time too. With questions over the fitness of Reece James, Wesley Fofana and N'Golo Kante - if he plays - they won't want to be getting into too many races.
Go for goal
It sounds simple but Chelsea don't score enough. Against Everton and Leicester, despite scoring five in the two games, the issues still persisted.
Chelsea are finding themselves in promising positions but failing to complete the final pass, choosing the wrong option or hitting shots too closely to the keeper. In Emi Martinez Villa have one of the best keepers in the league outside of the top four and, despite his role in both Blues goals in the reverse fixture, will be a tough man to beat at Stamford Bridge.
Kai Havertz is on a hot streak though with three goals in three games, if he recovers from illness to play the his output will be vital to getting a result here. Joao Felix, who has been his partner in recent weeks, has gotten the best from Havertz and the pair together have shown signs of really getting going.
If they can add another level to their clinical edge then it will be a big boost for their team in a bid to beating a stubborn Aston Villa side.
Be careful!
As said, a trip to Madrid - and the return leg one week later - are the priority for the season. If Chelsea can find a way to get James, Fofana and Kante all up to speed alongside Raheem Sterling, Mason Mount and at some point Thiago Silva then their team will be truly transformed.
The worst-case scenario is losing players ahead of that game due to injury. James, Fofana, Sterling and Mount were all granted some if not all of the break off from competitive football and have hopefully had ample time to make a start on building up match sharpness for the Champions League.
For Potter, if there is any doubt about a player then a passive approach here would be best instead of risking fitness only to have it bite them later on. Especially with the game coming so soon after the international break, a rotated and weaker XI against Villa is a chance worth taking when the reward of fitness and selection against Carlo Ancelotti's serial winners is the reward.
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