The Premier League title race is heating up with three groups all having an opportunity of profitable come Might. Whereas there are nonetheless loads of video games to play, and with the Africa Cup of Nations and January switch window set to play an enormous half within the marketing campaign, proper now it’s in Chelsea’s fingers to win it.
The Blues have been strong underneath Thomas Tuchel and though Pep Guardiola’s Manchester Metropolis gained the title final season, Chelsea are high of the league and forward in the percentages on the Premier League winner — while Liverpool is rising in confidence with every passing win. The stress will proceed to mount on Tuchel’s aspect, and it is going to be attention-grabbing to see if they’ll cope or not. Let’s check out his aspect’s strengths and the way they may give Chelsea an edge within the title race.
Stable on the again
Whereas we don’t assume anybody will come near matching Chelsea’s impenetrable backline of 2005 underneath José Mourinho, the place the Blues shipped simply 15 league objectives all season, this present crop of gamers nonetheless is aware of the best way to preserve a clear sheet. Edouard Mendy has been strong all season and was unfortunate to not win the Yashin Trophy earlier this month. In entrance of him is a mix of expertise and youthful exuberance, with serial winner Thiago Silva a commanding presence regardless of being within the autumn of his profession. At 37, his future at Stamford Bridge remains to be unsure together with his contract expiring on the finish of the season, but when the Blues are to choose up extra silverware this season, they’ll depend on somebody who has gained a lot of league titles to spice up their credibility amongst the Premier League predictions in the case of profitable.
Squad depth
A giant motive each Chelsea and Metropolis have a bonus over Liverpool is their power in depth. You may argue they’ve the most effective set of fullbacks within the Premier League on present type, and even with Ben Chilwell injured, Marcos Alonso is a strong deputy. You solely have to have a look at the edges they put out for the cup competitions to see there may be high quality littered in each place, giving Tuchel loads of choices for reinforcements from the bench. Even when gamers head off to the Africa Cup of Nations on the flip of the yr, there are sufficient choices to reshuffle and a plethora of reserves hungry to step in and take the place of the common starters, notably £72 million-man Kepa Arrizabalaga, who misplaced the primary shirt while Frank Lampard was in cost at Stamford Bridge.
Been there, carried out that
If there’s one factor this aspect underneath Tuchel boast is expertise. Having gained the Champions League final season, the Blues are acquainted with selecting up silverware regularly — add to that their Tremendous Cup exploits and there’s a squad that has seen all of it and carried out within the massive moments. Though the FA Cup loss underneath Lampard nonetheless leaves a bitter style within the mouth of some Chelsea followers, the majority of that squad additionally picked up a Europa League again in Baku and a few even performed underneath Antonio Conte throughout the league title win of 2017. Whereas Metropolis might have had extra success domestically, that is actually a aspect that may compete for a title and doesn’t look prone to let go now they’re within the driving seat any time quickly.