Chelsea need more than a win against Swansea – they need a commanding win
By George Perry
Chelsea need three points against Swansea to maintain or enlarge their margin atop the Premier League. More importantly, they need a commanding win to reassert their control over the Premier League.
Chelsea and Swansea come into today’s match separated by 14 places and 36 points in the Premier League. The Blues have taken 11 points from their last six games, while Swansea have earned 12 in the same span.
Despite the difference of a single point in that run, Swansea bring much higher spirits and momentum to Stamford Bridge than their hosts. Swansea’s recent run represents a signficant turnaround under Paul Clement. For the first time this season, optimism that Swansea City will play in the Premier League next year. Chelsea’s late form, on the other hand, shows a team struggling not to let their opponents sense vulnerability and opportunism.
Antonio Conte and John Terry said the FA Cup fifth-round upsets were a wake-up call for the squad. Chelsea can afford no such wake-up call in the Premier League. A win against Swansea will get Chelsea through another week. But the Blues need a clean, commanding win to set them up for the run-in to a Premier League title.
Second-place Manchester City exemplified the difference between a win and a good win against Monaco in the Champions League. City won, but the match gave them little reason to be proud.
"It is always a sign of a good team to still win even when you’re playing poorly. That said, like I worry about with Chelsea, you do not want to let things like this distract you from the fact there are many things upon which to improve. – Barrett Rouen, The Blue Lions"
Pep Guardiola must appreciate that shipping three goals against Monaco is unacceptable, even if his side scored five for the win. As thrilling as the match was for fans, it should have been infuriating and distressing for Guardiola. If he is serious about taking City deep in the Champions League and threatening Chelsea for the Premier League, he would react to that win as if it were a loss.
Similarly, Chelsea must not let the scoreline be the final word on their performance against Swans. Conte will surely critically evaluate every minute of the game, as must the players. Chelsea have notable deficiencies in their lineup and tactics that opponents are quickly learning to exploit. There are things the club can do to improve upon or patch those vulnerabilities for the remaining 12 games after today.
A win against Swans – even if they have been a recent bete noire – is merely what is expected. The Blues need to do better than simply earning three points against the 15th place club is they intend to hold off City, Liverpool and Arsenal.
Next: Antonio Conte speaks about Claudio Ranieri and his experience getting the sack
Antonio Conte frequently talks at his press conferences about the importance of focussing strictly on the next game. Implicit in that outlook is the understanding that as soon as the final whistle blows, the team needs to shift their attention to the next opponent. There is no time in there to bask in a win. Particularly not in late February against Swansea, and definitely not if the match is any less than perfection.