Chelsea: Four things to look for on final day against Wolverhampton

2. How does this young side react to the insanity of match day 38?

There’s nothing quite like the final day of the Premier League season. Even without a title race to think about, it’s a full two hours of constantly shifting permutations and implications as clubs jockey for various meaningful spots in the table. With all the matches being played simultaneously, there’s no question that relevant information is being funneled into the ear of the manager minute by minute. In the modern age, it’s likely that the players on the field have at least a sense of what’s happening across the country as their own match plays out as well.

It’s a lot for anyone to wrap their heads around at the best of times. For the players who need to put in the performances of their lives, it’s an extra mental hurdle added to a task that’s already herculean.

One part of having a long, successful career is learning to cope with the moments of exceptional pressure. Unfortunately, Chelsea are somewhat short on players who have played through this type of pressure and lived to tell the tale. While there are plenty of good things about fielding a young, up and coming side all season, relying on inexperienced players in these crunch time moments is a dangerous game at best.

Of the players who are likely to feature on Sunday, Olivier Giroud, Cesar Azpilicueta and Willian are the only ones who know their way around this type of make or break scenario. All three are important voices in the dressing room, but three is a small number when the club could see up to 16 players getting a run out.

On the other hand, there’s something to be said for blissful ignorance in the face of enormous pressure. Maybe a lack of experience in these moments is the key to silencing all of the teeth grinding paranoia and distractions that can throw a team into a spiral on the final day. If that’s the case, Chelsea should be in good shape. A decent portion of Chelsea’s squad are still in the “just happy to be here” phase of their careers, despite having the talent to out duel any competition on the right day.

If Chelsea intends to cap off the season with a vital three points, it will take a relaxed and focused performance in the face of unbearable pressure. Whether that comes from the leaders in the squad or the more naive younger players, Chelsea will need to find that perfect head space from the first whistle on Sunday.