Chelsea could benefit from a break no matter how it arrives

One way or another, it seems likely that the Blues will be getting a break this winter. Chelsea can benefit no matter the route it arrives.

Manchester City (unilaterally?) called off their match against Everton due to uncontrolled spread of Covid. It is more likely than not that the Chelsea match will be affected as a result. Nothing has been announced, but even if City can pin point who has and who does not have Covid, it may be seen as too big of a risk during the quarantine period to let the game go on.

Furthermore, the match that was set to follow City has also been put into question. Morecambe is also facing a Covid outbreak and they have put the FA Cup fixture into doubt. Should both matches be called off, it is likely that Chelsea will not play again until 15 January against Fulham (who also have a Covid outbreak at the moment, but that should be far out enough to not affect the fixture).

Chelsea is not alone in this scenario. Because of the rash of Covid outbreaks among teams, as well as the general increase of Covid in the United Kingdom, the Premier League is considering a two week “pause” to get over this current hurdle. If that sounds a lot like the two week pause that turned into a month’s long pause at the start of Covid that is because it sounds exactly like that. But something has to be done. Players are running on fumes physically and that is before even considering how Covid seems to be getting worse before it gets better. And regardless of how a break arrives, Chelsea could use it.

Chelsea’s form in December is not down to physical or mental fatigue alone but it has played a massive factor in both. Against Arsenal, the players simply did not look motivated to move let alone play. That was improved against Aston Villa, but it still looked as though it was two teams playing closer to empty than full. The worst part of the winter slog is already behind most clubs, but it is still a ways off before players start looking fully themselves again.

More than anything, Chelsea just needs some time to rest up and retrain. It is an unrepresented factor of the season, but a club like the Blues has had very little time on the training pitch. Most periods of time between games have been a recovery day, a training day, a prep day, and then a game day before starting it all over again. A team like Aston Villa, for example, has still had a week between most games to prepare.

There is a sense that playing a weakened City side would help the Blues most and it is not an incorrect notion. After all, those matches will need to be picked up again somewhere. But a break right now, especially if no one else has one, might help Chelsea the most in the long run. Even if it means facing a full strength City side later.

Every team having a break could help Chelsea too. That 17 match undefeated run came when teams had settled into the season but before the winter slog had drained them. There is no guarantee, but the implication is that Chelsea could go the distance more efficiently if they were able to refresh.

More than anything though, the health and safety of the players and staff has to be ensured. If Covid is getting worse and spreading throughout teams, it is irresponsible to risk these things. Look at how bad Kai Havertz had Covid. He is arguably still recovering months later. No player wants to risk that.

It seems likely this break will come for Chelsea in one way or another. It could be just what the Blues need to finish out the season strongly.