Chelsea face Manchester United in the FA Cup and then Manchester City in the Carabao Cup Final in the space of six days, and it could be make or break for Maurizio Sarri.
The Italian has struggled to implement ‘Sarriball’ at Stamford Bridge since he joined the Blues in the summer, and fans are quickly losing patience with the lack of results. They now find themselves sixth in the Premier League and risk facing another season in the Europa League, and fans certainly don’t want that.
However, in the cups, Chelsea are flying high and they have a good chance of reaching the quarter-finals of the FA Cup when they play United at home on Monday night. They haven’t lost at home to the Red Devils since October 2012 and the attacking freedom Ole Gunnar Solskjaer gives his side will provide Chelsea with opportunities just like Paris Saint Germain had in the Champions League last week.
If they get through, the draw will most likely look favourable with Manchester City being the only other top-six side in last 16. Speaking of Manchester City, Chelsea have the small matter of the first major trophy of the season to contest for on Sunday.
Everyone’s very aware of the 6-0 battering they received at the hands of Pep Guardiola’s men just last weekend, but anything can happen in a cup final and on their day they can beat City as they showed in December. A trophy can change everything.
If Chelsea win the Carabao Cup and overcome arguably one of the best sides the country has ever seen, then the players might just buy into Sarri’s tactics more. It’s seemed as if the players have regressed since the start of the season, and for Sarri that'll be worrying because it could signify that lack of belief in the system.
If this time next week Chelsea are through to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup and have won the league cup then fans will be in much higher spirits and so will the players, on the flip side of the coin though, it could send Chelsea into another downwards spiral.
How do you think Chelsea will fare in their next two games?