For the first hour against Aston Villa, Chelsea had looked in cruise control. They should have been up by more than 1-0 and were unlucky not to. But then, Unai Emery's side did what they do best, and that is mount comebacks from losing positions. And Enzo Maresca's team did what they often have done, which is fold under pressure.
The defeat at the hands of Aston Villa was part of a poor run of form. As things stand, it is looking unlikely that they will be able to qualify for the Champions League unless they improve drastically in the second half of the season. While other teams are on the rise, Chelsea have completely lost their way.
The upcoming match against Bournemouth has taken on added importance. The Blues must win this one, especially as it will be followed by an away trip to face Manchester City. It goes without saying that they will be heavy underdogs on that occasion.
Unfortunately, it looks like there is no certainty that they will have two of their best players, Reece James and Cole Palmer, available to start against Bournemouth. As reported by the club's official webaite, Maresca said:
"We will need to see how they are.
‘Then we will need to decide [if they face Bournemouth]."
Chelsea boss drops worrying Reece James and Cole Palmer update
If you ask us, it is unlikely that either will start against Bournemouth. Especially since the next game is against Manchester City.
James has been on a load management schedule for a while. And to be fair, it has worked out quite well for him so far. The Chelsea captain has not dealt with any serious injuries for about a year now. Let's hope it continues in that manner.
As for Palmer, he has had his fair share of injury problems lately as well. The Englishman has already spent two spells on the sidelines due to a persistent groin issue. Naturally, he is nowhere near his best at the moment, both in terms of form and fitness, and must not be pushed just because the club need results.