Chelsea has Porto first, and then the world to take on

Chelsea didn’t really play well against Porto. It was an ugly win, emphasis on the ugly, but a win is the be all end all in Champions League especially. Chelsea may be the only club viewed as having stumbled their way into winning the big earred trophy, but the reality is that most winners put in performances like that en route to their victory.

The Blues have Porto again midweek in the “home” fixture. 2-0 on aggregate with both being away goals is a comfortable lead on paper, but if both teams come out and play the same as last week, Chelsea may be in more trouble than not. It shouldn’t be a cause for concern. The Blues just have to go get the job done again which they have shown themselves more than capable of.

Porto is only first up on Chelsea’s docket. After that, the Blues have the world to take on as they pursue a fantastic end to the season. It’s the old, oft hated adage: Every single game remaining is a cup final.

The adage works because of how thin the margin between failure and glory is. Porto is a job mostly done, but not a finished job. After that is Manchester City in the FA Cup in their pursuit of a quadruple. Pep Guardiola has been here before at this point in the season and usually something goes wrong in one or two games that derails everything. That’s what the margin between failure and glory looks like.

After City will be the top four race’s final stretch. It only took one loss to West Brom to put Chelsea out of top four. At time of writing, the Blues are fourth once more but West Ham and Tottenham have yet to play. Not to mention Everton having two games in hand that could put them close to fourth.

Chelsea’s final stretch for top four is quite brutal as well. Expected Goal darlings Brighton come up first, followed by an absolute must win against West Ham. Even should that one be won, Fulham afterwards is still likely a must win given the pressure around the fourth placed spot. Maybe champions in all but name by that point Manchester City follow, then Arsenal, Leicester, and Aston Villa. These might not all be must wins depending on how things shake out along the way, but they are certainly must not lose matches at the very least.

There is also the possibility that somewhere in all of that will be a Champions League semifinal against (most likely) Real Madrid or (less likely) Liverpool. No team wants to get this close to putting a hand on the trophy just to fall on the stairs as they walk towards it. Chelsea will go all out for the final, should they advance like should be expected. This will come amidst all the other “finals” Chelsea will be in.

It will be mentally and physically taxing. Thomas Tuchel will need his full squad and his best tactics. One loss can derail a competition just as one win can send the Blues soaring ahead.

Chelsea has Porto first, and then the world to take on afterwards.