Chelsea prepare to wade back into European competition as they face Legia Warsaw in Poland on Thursday night. Here are three keys to victory against a tough and unfamiliar side.
Anticipating a fight:
After a frustrating outing against Brentford on Sunday, Chelsea now look to their latest foray in European football’s third competition, where we face Legia Warsaw at the Polish Army Stadium on Thursday night.
The clue is in the name of what Chelsea players and fans can expect in the upcoming game at an intimidating, bellicose ground, famous for its bouncing atmosphere and pre-match demonstrations.
The setting of this match is going to be central to the outcome of the game, with the crowd likely having an impact on both sides. We have breezed through our Conference League fixtures thus far, coasting to easy, high-scoring wins from West London to Kazakhstan. However, this encounter, in terms of atmosphere, will be far from comfortable.
Of course, this is the first leg of a quarter-final, and the nature of knockout football changes the dynamic from a league game, meaning that Legia Warsaw will be a test. To say that their players will be ‘up for it’ is an understatement, we can expect fervent support for the Polish side, who will be spurred onwards for the entire ninety minutes.
That being said, a rowdy stadium is part and parcel of a spectator sport, particularly on European nights and the players will no doubt be prepared for this. We will need to see a resilient Chelsea side prepared to stamp their authority on the game early and not give the Legia fans anything to cheer about, not that they will need any encouragement.
Our more prickly players, prone to issues with dissent and discipline, would be well served not to engage with the opposition fans or players and allow their ability to do the talking to demonstrate our superiority.