Chance to build momentum this month and ease Pochettino pressure – Talk Chelsea

As we enter day two of January, the focus of course is not just going to be all about the transfer market, even though I am predicting drama once again, but Mauricio Pochettino and the players will have a big focus on domestic cups.

And it’s lucky really that we managed to have a run in the League Cup, because January would have been very quiet in terms of fixtures otherwise.

Here are January’s fixtures:

#Chelsea’s January fixtures ?️

How many wins do you expect out of these five?? pic.twitter.com/aWR9hlpQpe

— Talk Chelsea (@talkchelsea) January 1, 2024

The FA Cup is my favourite competition, without a doubt. It brings nostalgia, and a historical football feeling. It’s also the only competition that connects grassroots to the professional game, and I love that about it.

And that is where we begin this Saturday in our next match, home to Preston North End in the FA Cup.

And then on the 9th, it is once again our most important game of the season so far, something that we find ourselves saying pretty much every game of late.

This game, being the first of two legs, has become HUGELY important because it is still our best route into European football next season – we are three games away from that now.

According to Football London, the team that wins The Carabao Cup automatically qualifies for the Europa Conference League. However, they can also qualify for the Conference League even if they don’t win the competition. If Liverpool were to win it, and also qualify for European football via another method, the place would be handed to the highest-placed Premier League team that has not already qualified for Europe.

This would mean that finishing seventh could be enough for a European spot if the Premier League were to be handed an extra Champions League spot for the team that finishes in fifth.

So Chelsea’s chances to get European football this season, albeit in the lowest European League/comp, is still very much alive and kicking. But they simply HAVE to continue going all out for the League Cup, and they very much will. We must not underestimate just how important European football at any level is for us next season, financially and also bringing more games for a squad that is still expected to be reasonably large.

Being handed Middlesbrough for our semi-final was the best draw we could have gotten. And playing Preston and then Middlesbrough in our next two games really gives us a chance to build more momentum after our last two wins in a row, and really stamp some confidence and authority down collectively in this team.

Chelsea will go all out in both of these domestic cups, and so they should. I really cannot see Mauricio Pochettino going for a ‘weakened’ side in either cup competition. I guess there will be a chance to rest some legs for some players on Saturday after no midweek fixture this week and a chance of extended rest, but I fully expect Pochettino to be taking this game VERY seriously.

Between the cup games we have local neighbours Fulham take a few steps across to Stamford Bridge for what again on paper is a game that is more than winnable.

I’ve lost a lot of confidence, optimism and belief in this team in recent weeks/months, but we are facing four games in a row where they could really go a long way in restoring some of that for me, and many other fans.

My expectations remain low though, because as I’ve said before, I grew fed up of being let down and disappointed week after week. But we could genuinely win our next four games in a row games here, and as long as we don’t get complacent along the way, and what a huge boost this could potentially be for us all, and for the club on the whole.

Of course, the party could be short lived on the final day of the month when we have to go to Anfield and play current table toppers Liverpool. Although, literally anything can happen in this league.

Don’t get me wrong, none of Preston, Middlesbrough, or Fulham will be easy games, FAR from it. And in fact, there’s more potential banana skins and turmoil in these games – imagine if we lose to Preston!? But really, they are more than winnable matches and we should be coming through these with a good ending.

Like I said, I’m not optimistic again yet, but there’s a real opportunity for us now this month. We could really set ourselves up for a good start to the second half of the season. I don’t even care that we aren’t playing Premier League opposition, you have to only beat what’s ahead of you, and we just need wins, and convincing performances, to boost confidence right now.