Chelsea fans would want to play at Aston Villa every week because they have put in two outstanding performances at Villa Park this season.
There is still a lot of pressure on Mauricio Pochettino and you feel it will remain that way until he wins something, or at least, returns the club to the Champions League.
Under his tenure, Chelsea have been very rocky, but during their two games against Villa – FA Cup win and 2-2 draw – they have probably produced their best display under their marmite-like manager.
In the end, the London club will be wondering how they didn’t win the game after they had a stoppage-time winner disallowed by VAR.
That first-half display was patchy and too slow, with Unai Emery’s side punishing them and going 2-0 up.
After losing 5-0 to Arsenal in midweek, if you were a Chelsea supporter, then you would have been fearing the worst and worrying about another possible thumping against one of the Premier League’s top sides.
But after the break, a very different Chelsea turned up because they played with a higher tempo and scored two goals to earn a very good point against a team that should end up finishing fourth this season.
There were many top performances, including from a certain much-criticised Moises Caicedo in the middle of the park.
Darren Bent thinks the 22-year-old produced his ‘best performance’ since his transfer from Brighton in the summer, as he told Premier League Productions (28/04/24 at 9:35 pm).
Moises Caicedo against Aston Villa
“I think that second-half performance against Aston Villa, they were very good,” said Bent.
“I think if you looked at that performance, there were signs of encouragement, but they still haven’t put 90 minutes together.
“I think Madueke, his performance in the second half. I think Caicedo as well, that was his best performance in a Chelsea shirt. I think there are positives there. But they have got to start improving some of the players they have put on long-term contracts and eight-year contracts. They have to also try to put 90 minutes together.”
Chelsea against Tottenham
This is a big one. If you thought the north London derby was massive, well, this is probably as big, if not, others feel it is bigger given the hatred between both sets of fans.
If Pochettino loses this on Thursday night, then the heat will seriously ramp up on him and the Chelsea fans will make it known inside Stamford Bridge.
READ MORE: Pundit says 23-year-old Chelsea player would be so much better if he was at Arsenal
You need to remember this is a Tottenham side that lost the north London derby on Sunday. They are in terrible form.
But, on the other side, if Pochettino gets three points against his former club, then slowly but surely, his reputation will start increasing.
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