Mauricio Pochettino might not want it but quite frankly nearly everyone else needs it. The international break is back. It interrupts a truly unpredictable flow of Premier League football for Chelsea but will mark the last time for four months that they have to worry about it.
Chelsea are now set to embark upon their longest run of consecutive fixtures since the season began and for a young group it brings with it both promise and fear. The Blues started this last month long period off the back of consecutive league wins and needed all of that form to go 2-0 up against Arsenal before losing the lead late on.
That result seemed to break the momentum as Brentford then put them to the sword and alarm bells were ringing at Stamford Bridge again. What followed might be the turning point for Pochettino, for the new owners and for the club.
After boosting confidence with a League Cup victory over Blackburn Rovers they then scored eight times in two games against the sides that had been first and second respectively.The atmosphere has now changed and, in that light, it is once again easy to see why the manager wishes to continue his work.
«Extremely proud and happy of the players for the attitude and results they have produced in two difficult fixtures during this week,» Pochettino wrote on Instagram on Sunday night. «It is really satisfying to go to an international break with this feeling, although I prefer we have another game more sooner !»
The Blues felt the same way heading into the October internationals but, before that, the break couldn't come at a better time after a rocky start. Now the momentum is in the other direction but even so it might not be a poorly timed rest period for most.
Chelsea next five fixtures compared
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