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Chelsea: Three things to look for in top four six pointer

By Travis Tyler

LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 01: Declan Rice of West Ham United and Christian Pulisic of Chelsea battle for the ball during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Chelsea FC at London Stadium on July 01, 2020 in London, England. Football Stadiums around Europe remain empty due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in all fixtures being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 01: Declan Rice of West Ham United and Christian Pulisic of Chelsea battle for the ball during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Chelsea FC at London Stadium on July 01, 2020 in London, England. Football Stadiums around Europe remain empty due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in all fixtures being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images) /
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Chelsea’s English midfielder Mason Mount celebrates after scoring their first goal from the penalty spot during the English Premier League football match between Southampton and Chelsea at St Mary’s Stadium in Southampton, southern England on February 20, 2021. (Photo by Michael Steele / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by MICHAEL STEELE/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Chelsea’s English midfielder Mason Mount celebrates after scoring their first goal from the penalty spot during the English Premier League football match between Southampton and Chelsea at St Mary’s Stadium in Southampton, southern England on February 20, 2021. (Photo by Michael Steele / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by MICHAEL STEELE/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /

All is quiet in the football world after Chelsea fans saved it. But, the show must go on and there are still matches to be played after they were fought for. West Ham has been the (very) surprise package of the season as they have a very legitimate shout for top four. The team most directly in their way will be London rivals Chelsea. This is a true six pointer in every sense of the world, so what should the fans that saved it all be looking for?

1. Lion hearted or a nail to be hammered?

This is going to be a massive test for this young Chelsea squad. Arguably, one of their biggest tests as a collective this season. The Chelsea players weren’t at fault for the events of the past few days, but now they will be on the front lines of the fallout.

Whether by something real or some unseen cosmic irony, the Super League teams have struggled this week against the teams they tried to cut adrift. Chelsea is no exception having settled for a pretty awful draw against Brighton. West Ham, however, will have far more in the tank and that is before even considering that this is a London Derby with top four potentially on the line.

This young Blues side is going to have to show who they are in this fixture. Do they have the grit they have been showing under Thomas Tuchel in reserve? Do they have the lion hearts of John Terry, Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba, Petr Cech, and the rest of the old guard? This will be a key point in their development to show that they have that special something that can’t be bought.

West Ham, for their part, will be looking at a nail to be hammered. They know what the dirty dozen tried to do. They already turn up big against Chelsea typically. And now Champions League is also on the line. They will be going all out, no holds barred. Chelsea has to weather this storm and show they are ready for the next step.

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