Chelsea’s Efforts to Bring Back the Quality of the Team

         With Saturday’s performance against Tottenham at Stamford Bridge ending in a goalless draw, many blues now think that the only route to entrance to the next season of the UEFA Champions League might be by winning this competition. The blues currently sit in fifth place in the Barclays Premier League, with 5 points away from the top four. Their goal is to place fourth by the end of the season, as reaching second or first is practically impossible at this point. There are 8 games left in the season in which they will try to show that Chelsea is not a weak team regardless of the team’s not so good results during the past few months.

         After the sacking of the former Porto manager Andre Villas-Boas due to the squad’s poor performances domestically and internationally, former Chelsea midfielder Roberto Di Matteo was temporarily put in charge for the rest of the season. Since Di Matteo was put in charge the blues have clearly stepped up their game with some high quality performances both domestically and internationally. Di Matteo’s first game was against Birmingham City in the FA cup after Chelsea got a second chance in this competition after dramatically having tied 1-1 at Stamford Bridge under Villas-Boas’ management; the game was a victory of two goals to nothing for the blues allowing them to advance to the quarter finals of the FA cup. They scored another victory in their next game, this time in the BPL against Stoke City, the score being 1-0.

         In a poor season for English clubs in Europe, they are the sole survivors. After losing 3-1 against a highly motivated Napoli with a very strong attacking side, the blues needed a miracle at the Bridge to overcome the two goal difference between both squads in order to stay alive in the UCL and advance to the quarter finals. After a 120 minute game full of excitement Chelsea proved themselves to be quarter finals worthy after defeating Napoli 4-1. This game did not only show the team’s capability of success but it raised the team’s previously lost confidence.

         Chelsea’s great performance against Leicester City ensured a spot for the blues in the FA cup semi finals. This game was very important for long lost Fernando Torres, for he scored two and gave two assists for goals, proving that he might be “back in form”. Torres has unarguably been of great attribution to the blues for he has very good touch and has contributed with many goals for the team due to his passing skills. The only thing that he and everyone are aware of is that he needs to go back to scoring more goals for the team. Torres expects to give some great performances in the upcoming games as his part of helping the team come back up the BPL table.

         Di matteo’s perfect 4-0-0 record was broken against Manchester City after a controversial 2-1 loss. Regardless of this and Tottenham’s games, the blues are very confident that they will be able to get a victory out of today’s game against Benfica in the quarter finals of the CL. They want to take the lead by scoring first and then being able to hold onto the victory in order for them to have an advantage for next Wednesday’s second leg of the round at the Bridge. Di Matteo and the squad believe in the team and its capabilities and are willing to give out their everything today in order to achieve a win. It is important for the team and everyone involved with it that there is a very fine line between success and failure. Will Chelsea FC come out to be successful and achieve their goals on what is remaining from the current season? Only time could tell.