Preview
The best club competition in the world, the Champions league returns for Chelsea on Wednesday!
Chelsea’s abysmal start to the season continued last weekend as the current Premier League champions collapsed to a 3-1 defeat to Everton in Merseyside. Wednesday is a perfect opportunity for Chelsea to grab their second win of the season, we certainly have much more quality than the Israeli side and we should be winning the game comfortably even though we have had our worst start since 1988.
Wednesday’s game is a very important one even despite Chelsea being huge favourites. The Blues need to start their Champions League campaign with a win in order to put us in the best possible position to qualify top of the group; the only position acceptable considering the group we have been drawn. We also need to regain confidence and momentum by pulling a string of wins together and a win against Maccabi Tel Aviv is a good place to start.
Nobody in the squad at the moment is playing as well as they can and a lot of players in the last couple of games have lacked belief, made awful decisions and haven’t been tactically organised at all. A few players in the team seem to be taking their place for granted. I think we need to see at least 5 changes for our game at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday to bring in fresh faces who are desperate to fight for their place and to let everyone know their place isn’t always guaranteed in the side, no matter who you are. There is nobody I would prefer to have as our manager than Mourinho but this season I’ve been unhappy with the lack of changes he’s made to starting 11 with our shocking form.
Maccabi Tel Aviv have played a total of 5 games in all competitions this season. The Israeli side qualified for the Champions League after beating Basel on away goals, the score finished 3-3 over the two legs. They currently sit in 2nd in their domestic league and enter the game off the back of a 1-1 draw.
Match details
Wednesday, 16th September, 7:45 PM (UK Time) at Stamford Bridge on BT Sport 2.
Recent form and previous meetings
Chelsea are going into the game in woeful form and will be hoping to put an end to that. Before Maccabi Tel Aviv, Chelsea have played 5 competitive games, all in the Premier League. This has seen Chelsea lose 3, draw 1 and only win 1; this win coming against West Bromwich Albion.
Maccabi Tel Aviv have played 5 games this season in all competitions too. They qualified for the Champions League after beating Basel on away goals, the score finished 3-3 over the two legs. They are currently 2nd in their domestic league after winning their first two league games and drawing their most recent.
Wednesday’s game will see new opposition for Chelsea as it will be the first time the two clubs have faced each other.
Team news
Many people are calling for Mourinho to makes changes for the game, however that is something Mourinho has done little of this season. Maccabi Tel Aviv are a team you’d expect Chelsea to beat comfortably so we can certainly afford to make changes. This would be good because with a tough London derby against Arsenal to follow, we need the squad to be fresh. A few players could also do with a break from the side to help rediscover their form.
Due to Thibaut Courtois’ long term injury, Asmir Begovic is set to keep his place in the side with Jamal Blackman on the bench. The Telegraph say Oscar is expected to return to the starting 11 in his favourite NO.10 role. If he features it will be his first game since our opening day draw to Swansea. Chelsea have no other injury concerns which have been published as of yet. It will also be an ideal time for Baba Rahman to make his Chelsea debut, he’s a player I expect to start.
Maccabi Tel Aviv’s right back Eli Dasa will miss the game due to suspension. One of their central midfielders Nosa Igiebor will also miss their big clash with the 2012 Champions League winners due to injury.
Your predictions
https://twitter.com/Mourinholic/status/643554276749524992
@CFCNewsApp 2-0
— Chels HQ (@Chels_HQ) September 14, 2015
https://twitter.com/BenPerry120/status/643554397847461888
https://twitter.com/ChelsOnly/status/643556375579095040
@cfcnewsapp …..5-0 against tel Aviv
— MR OWUSU (@SupremmoK) September 14, 2015
