Tomorrow sees Blues’ third match in seven days when they host last year’s League Champions Chelsea. In the last week, Chelsea were knocked out of the 2019/20 FA Cup by Everton who then went on to do the same to Blues.

Chelsea will have had a week to recover from their last game, whilst Blues will only have had four days. It was always going to be a tough game, but the FA Cup arrangements have certainly not helped.

Last season, Blues were trounced at home in a Chelsea goal-fest but held them to two goals away. In the home game, the squad was missing three key players due to injury but, although comprehensively defeated, didn’t buckle and took the game to Chelsea, particularly in the first half.

The squad is much reduced and has little choice off the bench but the spirit is strong. Boss Carla Ward’s work in the short time she has been in the job has shown a squad hungry for the win, and out to work hard even when called upon to play three games in quick succession. She said in her pre-match interview: “If you can’t get motivated to play against some of the best players in the world, then when can you? Who wouldn’t want to play against these players? Emma Hayes has done an unbelievable job. As a coach, who wouldn’t want to coach against [her]? She also promised to: “Freshen [the team] up in some areas. We have players to come in into the right areas.” That’s an interesting promise/statement/revelation.

In Carla and the players we trust. We wait to see what the ‘refreshing’ brings. Analysis to follow. Until then…

#KRO