Venue: Stamford Bridge
Date: Sunday, 24 May
Kick-off: 15:00 BST
Here we go then, last game of Chelsea’s 4th Premier League winning season and the perfect day to be at home.
We were lacklustre and understandably lacking motivation for our last game but it would be good to see out our title winning season on a high. Sunderland, the visitors, are safe although that doesn’t mean they’ll be coming to rollover. So, it’d be good to think Mourinho has shelved the champagne this week to finish the season in style.
MANAGER’S VIEWS
Going into this afternoon’s game, HRH Jose of Mourinho says, “The motivation is to be the champions for us, and for them it’s not to be relegated. We are already celebrating our title. They are already celebrating these last fantastic weeks they have had with good results. We are over – probably them too – with celebrations. Now there is a last match. Obviously we want to win. I also believe they want to win. That’s normal.”
Sunderland boss Dick Advocaat meanwhile, says “I know we were the first team to win there in 78 games against him (Mr Mourinho). I admire him very much for what he has done in the past and what he is still doing – it’s unbelievable. I admire him in many ways, the way his side plays, he says what he thinks – and I like that. But despite my admiration, I would still like to beat them.’’
SQUAD NEWS
For Chelsea, we are expected to be without our player of the season, with Eden Hazard subject to dental repairs midweek. Ramires, Oscar and Zouma are all injured and Petr Cech (calf) is a doubt. Cesc Fabregas sits this one out on the naughty step despite his sublime shooting skills displayed last week.
For Sunderland, Costel Pantilimon (knee), Jordi Gomez, Wes Brown and Liam Bridcutt are all injured. Danny Graham (ankle) is doubtful but Sebastian Larsson is fit.
TEAMS
CHELSEA (Possible line-up): Courtois (GK), Luis, Terry, Cahill, Ivanovic; Matic, Loftus-Cheek; Willian, Boga, Cuadrado; Remy
SUNDERLAND (Possible line-up): Pantilimon (GK), van Aanholt, Jones, O’Shea, Coates; Cattermole Larsson; Johnson, Defoe, Wickham; Graham
LAST SEASON
Chelsea 1-2 Sunderland (19 April 2014)
CURRENT FORM
Chelsea: WDWWDL
Sunderland: LDWWDD
OTHER STUFF
•Sunderland are unbeaten in their last two games against Chelsea
•A win today would be Sunderland’s third in five Premier League games at Stamford Bridge.
•Sunderland have won just one of their 13 previous games on the final day of a Premier League season.
•Sunderland have only lost one of their last seven league games (W3, D3).
PREDICTION
This one will be reliant on Mourinho banning champagne celebrations this week and Advocaat’s lot remembering they’re already safe.
Blue is the colour
