3. European form a stark contrast to domestic struggles
The performance of Chelsea as a team has been pretty terrible since mid-December. They have not won an away match in the Premier League since early December, and all their wins this year have come against clubs in the bottom six. However, the Conference League is one competition where they have looked like a team of their standard.
In Europe, they have won all nine games so far this season. It has also seen players who have not had much chance in the Premier League playing well. All the previous matches have also given the fans at the stadium something to cheer about in terms of goals.
In the Premier League, it’s the opposite. Chelsea are struggling for goals, and the performances often trigger boos and jeers rather than cheers and applause. Not to mention Maresca’s insistence on starting players like Robert Sanchez, who should not even be on the bench at a club like Chelsea after the huge number of mistakes he has made over the past two seasons.
Before the semi-finals and the last stretch of Premier League games, Thursday’s second leg of the Conference League quarter-finals gives the players and the club a chance to give the fans something to cheer about. A good performance from the top players will give the fans something to be excited and positive about heading into the remaining matches of the season.