There are plenty of reasons to be positive as a Chelsea supporter right now. That seems ridiculous to say given a month ago, the Blues were in what seemed a really bad place. But such is the fickle nature of football.
Three games later and seven goals later, and Chelsea are looking in a much, much better place. Going into the international break, Mauricio Pochettino will be delighted with what he saw from his side leading up to it, but will be well aware that tougher games await in what looks to be a daunting seven-fixture-period.
In the Blues' next seven matches in the Premier League, they face Arsenal, Brentford, Tottenham, Manchester City, Newcastle United, Brighton and Manchester United. This run of tough fixtures is really set to test Chelsea's credentials and make it a bit clearer to everyone what they are fighting for in the Premier League this term.
It means Pochettino will have to use his squad even more than he has done in the opening eight matches of the league season. The Argentine coach has been restricted on how many players he has been able to use because of a lengthy injury list at the club.
There are, however, expected to be numerous players returning to full fitness – or thereabouts – once the international break is over. Benoit Badiashile is one of them, with the 22-year-old defender expected to return in the coming weeks after being sidelined since the end of last season.
Initially, Badiashile was ruled out with a serious hamstring problem and he then looked set to return to action just after the last international break but the Frenchman then hurt his other hamstring in training. That one, though, was not as serious and he is nearing a return to action.
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