Ahead of Chelsea’s home clash with Sunderland, each team’s UAE Supporters Clubs preview the game for Sport360, including predicting the likely XIs and picking their players to watch.
Do you agree with the assessments of Chelsea and Sunderland’s Supporters Clubs? Let us know using #360fans on Twitter or commenting on the Sport360 Football Facebook page.
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Toby Young, CHELSEA SUPPORTERS CLUB UAE
With Jose Mourinho leaving the club by mutual consent, us Chelsea fans find ourselves in a position that seems all too familiar. The years of stability Mourinho was threatening, and indeed expected, to bring to the club have vanished. Clearly the fall out between himself and the squad became too much for the board; This season’s spiraling form finally took its toll.
Using the term “betrayed” after Monday’s defeat to Leicester could be the biggest clue as to how the dressing room had come to view their manager. When it is mid-season and results do not improve from such a talented squad the only thing that can change is the manager. Mourinho refused to change the team, refused to drop under-performing stars and thus has paid the ultimate price.
Chelsea technical director Michael Emenalo discussed Jose Mourinho’s departure with Chelsea TV this evening… https://t.co/UQDJ8at3Nx
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) December 17, 2015
Was he let down by his players? Yes. Is he ultimately responsible for picking and motivating the team? Yes. Should he have made major changes and given the likes of Kenedy, Loftus-Cheek and Traore a run? Yes. For now, though, we say so long to our greatest ever manager. It’s been emotional, Jose.
This weekend sees Sunderland visit a Mourinh-less Stamford Bridge. The Wearsiders have proven to be our bogey team in recent years and this game takes on added significance give both clubs’ current league position.
Chelsea in theory should be higher, Sunderland, under Sam Allardyce, seem to be a much improved team, with the defensive unit finally functioning for them. No doubt it will be a tight encounter, but with the Chelsea players finally feeling a little freedom, it could well spark a revival.
Number One: The return of the 4-3-3. pic.twitter.com/ZHZfGh9agD
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) December 18, 2015
Chelsea’s injury story seem to surround one person: Eden Hazard. After getting injured on Monday night it remains to be seen whether he will play. If he does, it certainly will give credence to the notion that he just did not want to play under Mourinho anymore. Falcao is expected to miss the trip with an inexplicable muscle injury. The rest of the squad seems to be competing for places.
LIKELY CHELSEA XI: Courtois; Ivanovic, Zouma, Terry, Azpilicueta; Matic, Ramires; Willian, Oscar, Hazard; Costa
PREDICTION: Chelsea 2-1 Sunderland
CHELSEA PLAYER TO WATCH: Thibaut Courtois. Since coming back from injury he has been getting sharper and sharper in goal. His saves have kept us in a couple of games recently that could well have been lost before half-time.
SUNDERLAND PLAYER TO FEAR: Patrick Van Aanholt. The left-sided defender has tightened up on his defensive duties under Big Sam but has still found time to bag a goal and put a number dangerous balls into the box. If BRanislav Ivanovic plays, the ex-Chelsea man could well enjoy running at him.
FAVOURITE CHELSEA-SUNDERLAND MEMORY: The opening day of the season in 1999 when Chelsea won 4-0. It wasn’t the scoreline, or that Chris Sutton fell over twice when one on one with the keeper, but the famous Gustavo Poyet Karate Kick goal. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_lkik83PMc
WHERE TO WATCH: We will be watching the game at the home of the Chelsea Supporters Club in the UAE: Loca, at the Dubai Marine Beach Resort and Spa. Come and join us to watch the game and swap all the latest thoughts and theories on Jose’s departure. Kick-off is at 7pm. We hope to see you there.
TWITTER: @UAECSC
FACEBOOK: Chelsea Supporters Club UAE
Stuart White, SUNDERLAND AFC SUPPORTERS CLUB UAE
Sunderland certainly weren’t expecting to play a Jose-less Chelsea this weekend, even with the rumours circulating earlier this week few seemed to believe he would actually get the boot just seven months after winning the Premier League.
Whether it makes Sunderland’s job harder or easier this weekend, it’s difficult to say. Going to Stamford Bridge is always a hard game and despite having two wins there in the past few seasons, most fans would settle for a draw.
Another sold-out away crowd will back the Lads v @ChelseaFC tmw #RedAndWhiteArmy thanks for your tremendous support! pic.twitter.com/kPImUbOLRN
— Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) December 18, 2015
Big Sam is no doubt trying to work out what changes Chelsea’s interim coach Steve Holland new coach will put in place and what to do about it. Hopefully Allardyce will field the same team and formation we saw in the recent wins against Crystal Palace and Stoke.
Hopefully Sebastian Coates, currently a doubt because of illness, is fit to play and we can get the also ill Younes Kaboul back to link up with John O’Shea, as the look new back three have been playing well when they have all been fit. Yann M’Vila is another key man and has been our player of the season so far.
LIKELY SUNDERLAND LINE-UP: Pantilimon, Jones, Kaboul, O’Shea, Coates, Van Aanholt, M’Vila, Rodwell, Johnson, Fletcher, Defoe
PREDICTION: Chelsea 0-1 Sunderland.
SUNDERLAND PLAYER TO WATCH: Jermain Defoe. The former Tottenham striker has easily our best forward and continues to show the poacher’s touch in front of goal that made him one of the most feared forwards of the noughties.
CHELSEA PLAYER TO FEAR: Eden Hazard. Doubts linger about his fitness but if he’s playing, he’s Chelsea’s danger man. Looked a shell of his former self under Mourinho at times this season so maybe now the shackles are off he’ll find some form. We hope not.
FAVOURITE CHELSEA-SUNDERLAND MEMORY: A toss-up between the 4-2 win at Stamford Bridge under Peter Reid, but also the 3-2 win in West London in the 1985 League Cup semi-final.
WHERE TO WATCH: Oak ‘n’ Barrel, Grand Excelsior Hotel, Al Barsha
FACEBOOK: Sunderland AFC Supporters Club UAE
