Chelsea key clashes at Leicester; Lampard’s Blues vs. desire and time
Chelsea takes on Leicester City for a spot in the FA Cup semifinals, here are some key clashes to keep an eye on throughout the match.
In the aftermath of a decisive match against Manchester City, Chelsea now has to gear up for an FA Cup quarterfinal match-up against Leicester City. The Blues and Foxes have been just about as even as two teams can be in a single campaign. In addition to drawing both Premier League fixtures, the duo is separated by just one-point in the table. The intensity is heating up in the race for third, so it’s odd for this match to have significantly less to play for.
Chelsea and Leicester have been seemingly intertwined as clubs over the past few seasons. Through transfers and title wins, the two seem very cordial, but this match-up will be anything but friendly. The Blues and Foxes at the King Power for the season series and a semifinal spot, these are some key clashes to watch:
1. Lampard’s Blues vs. desire and time
This match boils down to two things: how much does Frank Lampard value a spot in the top four as opposed to the FA Cup and how fit is the Chelsea squad? These are two serious considerations given the amount of time between matches during the post-Coronavirus period.
In terms of which competition Lampard prioritizes, the answer is likely both. The FA Cup is the first-year gaffer’s only remaining chance at a trophy and the quarterfinals are close enough to where the Blues have a realistic shot of winning silverware. Subsequently, the Blues are on Leicester’s heels in the Premier League and putting all of the team’s metaphorical marbles into the league will pay off in the long run.
West Ham awaits the Blues on Wednesday and then Watford on Saturday. The competition isn’t necessarily fierce, but Lampard needs to decide quickly where his priorities are. Chelsea is coming off two straight matches where the team has battled for 90 minutes with a near-full strength squad on the pitch. A quick turnaround after Manchester City raises questions about who will be named in Chelsea’s starting XI at the King Power Stadium.
Three matches in seven days is a brutal schedule for the Blues, which is why it is so important for Lampard to make a decision. While it’d be nice to be able to trot out the club’s strongest XI in every match this week, that cannot happen. Luckily, aside from Callum Hudson-Odoi and Fikayo Tomori, everyone is available within reason.
Jorginho, Mateo Kovacic, Billy Gilmour, Tammy Abraham, Reece James, Emerson and Kurt Zouma haven’t been run into the ground over the last week, so they may all have an important role to play. The tweaks to substitution rules favor Lampard in this instance, as he can pack the bench with experience should he decide to start a younger side. Expect the manager to field a strong XI with some key names excluded as the desire to challenge for the cup is there, but the crowded fixture list prevents some from starting. The same will go for the West Ham match before the Blues’ strongest squad returns against Watford.