Date: Sunday 17th
Sept 2023
Venue: Vitality Stadium
Kick-off: 14::00 BST
I used to look forward to games after an
international break. I’d like to look forward to them again really but I’m
feeling a bit uninspired so far this season. Yes, we’re in transition, new
manager, new owners, new players, etc., and the injuries that have blighted us
for years just keep on coming, but it all wears thin when you repeat it every
week.
Anyway, today sees us travel to the
Vitality Stadium to take on Bournemouth, who sit 16th at this early
stage of the season, with 2 points from their first four games. Their last game
ended in a draw against Brentford, which is a decent result against a tough
side. As for us, well we didn’t fare so well against Forest in our last game
before the break and after yesterday’s fixtures, we’re sat in 14th
place, with just the 4 points from our 4 games so far.
Neither of us setting the Premier League
alight, both need a win, let’s see who wants it more.
MANAGER’S VIEWS
Going into
today’s game, Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola, says “He (Pochettino) was a very good player playing for
Espanyol, for PSG. When he was coaching Espanyol, I also
played against them. He has been really successful as a coach in different
teams. Tottenham, PSG and now he has
another challenge with a very good squad. But this is the Premier League. Every
week you’re facing top level players, top level coaches and now it’s our turn
at home and we want to give them a really tough game.”
Chelsea manager, Mauricio Pochettino, meanwhile, says “If you
watch the Forest game, they won and deserved it. But the way that we concede
the goal… a team that is going to be involved in European competitions or play
to win the Premier League, we cannot concede this type of goal. We need to be
more aggressive in this type of situation.
(I was) really naughty, the worst. I was the most
competitive but without the quality that we have in this team. They are much
better than me about quality but here (taps head) I was stronger than them. I need to
translate this idea. It’s a joke, always we joke about that. Always with the
coaches we think we are better than everyone. That comes with time. The
perfection only arrives when you have time, the players know each other and
confidence and trust is high and the level of competition is really high. We need to set principles on how we play from
the back and press, the evolution of the system. The dynamic of playing with
two defenders or three, how many in the middle and how we’re going to attack in
the right areas.”
SQUAD NEWS
For Bournemouth, new signing Alex Scott (knee) isn’t ready for his
debut, whilst Ryan Fredericks (calf) and Emiliano Marcondes (foot) also miss
out. Tyler Adams is unlikely to be ready for today’s game but Adam Smith and
Marcus Tavernier have returned to full fitness.
For Chelsea,
Christopher Nkunku (knee) is a long-term absentee. Carney Chukwuemeka, Marcus
Bettinelli, Armando Broja and Wesley Fofana (all knee) all remain out, along
with Romeo Lavia (ankle) who appears to have no luck. The game also comes too
soon for Benoit Badiashile (thigh), Trevoh Chalobah (thigh), and Reece James (hamstring).
TEAMS
BOURNEMOUTH (Possible line-up): Neto; Aarons, Zabarnyi, Senesi, Kerkez; Christie, Cook; Brooks, Billing,
Tavernier; Solanke
CHELSEA (Possible line-up): Sanchez; Disasi, Silva, Colwill; Gusto, Fernandez, Caicedo, Chilwell;
Gallagher, Sterling; Jackson
CURRENT FORM
(PL)
BOURNEMOUTH:
DLLD
CHELSEA: DLWL
LAST SEASON
Bournemouth 1-3 Chelsea
(6th May 2023)
OTHER STUFF
- Bournemouth have lost four of their six Premier
League home games against.
- Chelsea did the double over Bournemouth last season.
- Bournemouth have only taken two points from eight
Premier League games since April.
- Bournemouth have not gone five league fixtures
without a win from the beginning of a season since 2008-09.
- Chelsea have lost their last three away games in
the Premier League.
- Chelsea haven’t had four top-flight away defeats in
a row since December 2000.
- Chelsea can lose both of their opening two away
fixtures of a league season for the first time since 1990.
PREDICTION
Sportsmole: Bournemouth 1-2 Chelsea
