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Chelsea given harsh schedule down Premier League home stretch

By Martin Connolly

LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 23: Eden Hazard of Chelsea celebrates after he scores to make it 3-0 with Diego Costa of Chelsea during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on October 23, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 23: Eden Hazard of Chelsea celebrates after he scores to make it 3-0 with Diego Costa of Chelsea during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on October 23, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images) /
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With kick-off times now confirmed for the rest of the season, Chelsea have been handed a tough run of fixtures down the home stretch.

The Premier League and Sky Sports announced Chelsea’s remaining fixture list yesterday, with the previously unscheduled Watford game finally given a date. Games against West Brom and Middlesbrough were also changed around for live television purposes.

The home matches with Middlesbrough and Watford will both be played on a Monday (8th and 15th) while the trip to West Brom will take place on Friday 12th May. Neither Sky nor the Premier League have been kind to Antonio Conte’s men in their match-planning, with Chelsea now having to play three games in a week, while title contenders Tottenham will play the same amount of fixtures in 13 days. Spurs will face West Ham on 5th May, Manchester United on the 14th & Leicester on the 18th.

The scheduling definitely favours Mauricio Pochettino’s team as the Premier League season dwindles down. There’s a feeling that perhaps Sky and league officials are keen to ensure there is some sort of excitement in a year that has seen Chelsea dominate for the majority of it.

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Until Crystal Palace came to Stamford Bridge and caused a shock result a fortnight ago, there was little expectation that any team could challenge the Blues. However, following that unexpected win for Palace, the gap is now down to 7 points with 7 games left to play.

Chelsea’s players aren’t used to playing 3 games in such a short time. Moreover, because of their open schedule with no European football, it is a surprise that they have been handed such a tough fixture list. Why couldn’t they have put the Watford game on a Tuesday or Wednesday? Or why put the West Brom match on a Friday when Chelsea are in action the previous Monday?

The longest break they have in between games for the remainder of the campaign is 8 days, which comes when they face Everton on the last Sunday in April before taking on Boro on the second Monday in May.

There is still a slight advantage for the table toppers in having to deal with such a schedule, as they play their games first. Wins will allow them to increase the pressure on their rivals by stretching the lead ahead of Spurs’ matches.

Unlike last weekend, when Tottenham thrashed Watford before the Blues kicked off, Chelsea won’t have to deal with knowing their cushion at the top of the league has been cut into. It increased pressure and brought about more nerves than expected for a match against mid-table Bournemouth.

If you want to be champions, you have to deal with whatever adversity or challenges come your way. Conte will know that from his time as a player and experience as a title-winning coach. His squad have worked so hard all year around that they’ll be determined to see their superb season end with a Premier League winner’s medal.

The scheduling hasn’t been fair to Chelsea, but much like they did at Dean Court last weekend, they’ll refuse to let outside distractions derail their title challenge.

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