Enzo Maresca might be hoping Chelsea can put their off-field points to at least one facet as they purpose for back-to-back Premier League wins after they go to West Ham on Saturday.
The Blues are dealing with a interval of boardroom uncertainty with a lot of the main target remaining on the reported possession rift between Bedhad Eghbali and Todd Boehly.
That appeared to do little in the best way of distraction final day trip in opposition to Bournemouth as Christopher Nkunku scored late on to grab a 1-0 victory for Chelsea.
Maresca urged his gamers to proceed to concentrate on the issues of their management, reasonably than the hypothesis over the possession.
“The gamers learn and see issues on their social networks however I advised them there’s nothing they’ll do about it and we attempt to put together our video games in one of the simplest ways,” Maresca stated.
“In this sort of sport it is advisable to study that it isn’t simply in regards to the tactical half – you want one thing inside, to win duels and all of the video games are completely different.
“To win the sport, it’s important to win with the T-shirt soiled – most likely [getting] some yellow playing cards as a result of they’d many yellow playing cards. These type of video games require these sorts of issues.”
Throughout London, this Saturday. pic.twitter.com/302cZh0Emp
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) September 18, 2024
West Ham head into this London derby after a 1-1 draw at fellow capital-city rivals Fulham, with Danny Ings putting late at Craven Cottage to salvage a degree together with his stoppage-time leveller.
Hammers head coach Julen Lopetegui is aware of enhancements are wanted if his facet are to finish a two-game winless run within the early top-flight season.
“We confirmed battle and we ran so much however we are able to do higher and that’s my feeling,” Lopetegui stated.
“I’m joyful for the response, the sensation and spirit of the crew however we now have to enhance with the ball, we are able to do higher.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
West Ham – Michail Antonio
Michail Antonio will not be a assured starter for the house facet, contemplating the latest signing of towering striker Niclas Fullkrug.
Nevertheless, Antonio has been concerned in 5 targets in his final six Premier League video games in opposition to Chelsea, scoring three and helping two. His subsequent aim involvement may even be his one hundredth within the competitors, making him the primary West Ham participant to achieve that milestone (67 targets, 32 assists).
Chelsea – Christopher Nkunku
Nkunku burst Bournemouth’s bubble final day trip and can hope to do related on the highway at London Stadium, although it stays unclear whether or not the France worldwide might be within the facet from the off for this one.
The truth is, all 4 of Nkunku’s Premier League targets for Chelsea have been as an alternative, together with his winner in opposition to Bournemouth. It’s the joint-most targets a participant has scored within the competitors’s historical past with 100% of them coming from the bench.
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) September 15, 2024
MATCH PREDICTION – CHELSEA WIN
Chelsea are thought-about the favourites for this London derby on Saturday, making an allowance for their head-to-head report with West Ham and beneficial Opta win likelihood from their data-based simulations.
Certainly, the Blues have received 30 of their 56 Premier League conferences with West Ham (D10 L16), solely successful extra occasions in opposition to Tottenham within the competitors’s historical past (35).
Chelsea have additionally received every of their final 4 away video games within the Premier League, although haven’t triumphed in 5 such matches in a row since December 2021 beneath Thomas Tuchel.
That spectacular highway run consists of each league journeys beneath Maresca this season, with Pep Guardiola in 2016 the final supervisor to win every of his first three away video games within the Premier League.
Nevertheless, this result’s under no circumstances a foregone conclusion. West Ham have alternated between successful (5) and never successful (D2 L3) of their final 10 league house video games in opposition to Chelsea, beating them 3-1 on the London Stadium final time period.
The Hammers final received consecutive house league video games in opposition to the Blues in 2001-02/2002-03, although, with the hosts needing to buck the development right here if they’re to succeed.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
West Ham win – 31.3%
Draw – 24.6%
Chelsea win – 44%
