It is three months on since the last international break and Chelsea have been typically Chelsea. 24 games played, 13 wins, three draws, eight losses, 47 goals scored and 37 conceded. One cup final reached, another semi-final incoming.
Mauricio Pochettino has come under severe pressure on at least four separate occasions — after the 2-0 defeat to Everton, first leg loss to Middlesbrough in the Carabao Cup, post Wolves 4-2 demolition, and the Carabao Cup final extra time shambles. His side are still just about clinging on to meeting some expectations though.
Chelsea have excelled in the domestic cup competitions, though of the 24 matches since November five have been against lower league opposition and another was at home to relegation-fodder Sheffield United. They have beaten Brighton, Newcastle twice, drawn to Aston Villa and won at Villa Park too, lost to Liverpool but put them to the test across 120 minutes four weeks later and held Manchester City to a draw at the Etihad Stadium.
It has been a period that fully encapsulates the ups and downs of this young side. The positives and negatives of it, the brilliance and the frustrations. It is fitting that the final showing before bidding domestic action farewell for two weeks was 45 minutes of comedic carnage at Stamford Bridge.
Dwell too long on the 4-2 win over Leicester and there are simultaneously ugly remaining truths as well as flashes of serious positivity. Look too close and there is beauty and the beast.
Pochettino will direct watchers to the better parts — and there are plenty — but his detracters have a lot of ammunition to fire back — and there is plenty. In a fortnight, after the last set of international fixtures for the season, he will not be able to rely on
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