The Pride of Turf Moor: Chelsea and hoping for a dead rubber

Chelsea fans are Burnley fans for the day. It’s hardly unusual to support another club at this point in the season. The Blues control their own destiny but it would be really nice of Sean Dyche’s old school, effective, get it done team to, well, get it done.

As things stand, Chelsea is third on 67 points with a goal difference of 23 (that will be important). Leicester City have 66 points and a GD of 20. Liverpool has 63 points, a game in hand, and a GD of 21. Tottenham and West Ham get no such luck of being involved at the final dance after yesterday’s win against Leicester City.

Liverpool plays their game in hand against Burnley. A win at Turf Moor makes Chelsea versus Aston Villa a dead rubber, a draw practically makes it one. Chelsea could really do with a no stakes match ahead of the Champions League final.

For that to happen with a guarantee, Liverpool will need to lose to some old school pragmatic football. They have struggled against those types of teams this year so there is a chance, even if Burnley only has bragging rights to play for. A draw wouldn’t make Aston Villa irrelevant for Chelsea, but the Blues would need only to maintain their GD advantage over Jurgen Klopp’s side.

The other option is Leicester City losing or drawing Tottenham on the final day, but Chelsea won’t be able to go into the Villa match knowing whether it matters or not in that situation. So, pretty much all the eggs are in the Dyche does the thing basket.

A dead rubber would be ideal for Chelsea before the Champions League final. Since the Arsenal loss (and honestly, even before it), the Blues have been mentally and physically pushed to the limit. Every match has been a final in name or in actuality and that is draining on the players. Manchester City has been able to kick it up for a few weeks now with all eyes on the final. The Blues could really do with that type of break too, short as it may be.

The Blues have also likely already gained the biggest positive of still having something to play for while City doesn’t as well. It’s very hard to switch “it” back on even if there is a final on the line. Just look at City’s recent matches and try to say that they haven’t taken it easy. Chelsea, meanwhile, has had to fight for their supper. One match off won’t change that mentality of having a job to do while the other side just might be a few weeks into a summer mindset.

More than anything, Chelsea players need a break. N’Golo Kante had to come off after feeling some pain. Mateo Kovacic had to come on but he’s fresh from injury himself. Mason Mount and Timo Werner have been run into the ground this season. A dead rubber to rest players would be crucial to closing any fitness gap City may have gained recently.

Thomas Tuchel could also use the Villa match to try out some tactical ideas and play some of the marginal players he’s undecided on for the final. Set up a team and basically tell them that they are playing for a start in the final. They’ll either earn it or not.

All of this is predicated on Burnley getting the job done. So today, for a few ours, the Pride of London is the Pride of Turf Moor. Up the Clarets or whatever.