It is official, Chelsea will travel to Middlesborough for the FA Cup quarter-final. I am quite pleased that we didn't meet with Liverpool or Manchester City. However, I am still concerned.
Chris Wilder has been cooking up quite a storm
with the Boro. They are currently battling it out for
that all important playoff spot in the
Championship and, in the process, caused a
couple of upsets in the FA Cup.
The plus side to this fixture is that Wilder does not have David McGoldrick to frustrate the Chelsea defence, as he had done in 2020.
The plus side to this fixture is that Wilder does not have David McGoldrick to frustrate the Chelsea defence, as he had done in 2020.
Thomas Tuchel
will be going into this fixture, scrutinising their
play and exactly what they did to knock two top-
six residents consecutively.
Manchester United and Tottenham have had a
rollercoaster of a season.
The inconsistent ups and downs have left both teams fighting for a top- four spot without an FA Cup to contend for. If you told me that Middlesborough FC would knock out Cristiano Ronaldo at the start of the season, I would have laughed.
The inconsistent ups and downs have left both teams fighting for a top- four spot without an FA Cup to contend for. If you told me that Middlesborough FC would knock out Cristiano Ronaldo at the start of the season, I would have laughed.
I think back to 2015, one of Chelsea's most
embarrassing defeats. Bradford handed them a
4-2 humbling in the FA Cup fourth round. It wasn't
Jose Mourinho's finest of games.
In fact, the Blues lost a 2-0 lead due to what I saw as complacency. It just goes to show that the spirit of the FA Cup is in full effect, and Chelsea needs to be fearful of their opponent.
In fact, the Blues lost a 2-0 lead due to what I saw as complacency. It just goes to show that the spirit of the FA Cup is in full effect, and Chelsea needs to be fearful of their opponent.
In that same year, Middlesbrough beat the then
Champions of England, Manchester City, in the
competition. They've had a history for FA Cup
upsets, and with the trajectory that they're on right
now, I wouldn't be surprised if they are hungry for
another one.
The level of your club does not matter when it comes to domestic competitions. It is one of the toughest lessons for any player or manager to learn when they move to England.
The level of your club does not matter when it comes to domestic competitions. It is one of the toughest lessons for any player or manager to learn when they move to England.
Tuchel has not
yet had to withstand a loss from lower league
opposition yet in the competition. He usually
manages to kill off games with ease as he
maintains Chelsea's title of a 'cup side'.
I do think it should be a comfortable win for the Blues. They currently have a healthy side, with just Ben Chilwell still out with a long term injury.
I do think it should be a comfortable win for the Blues. They currently have a healthy side, with just Ben Chilwell still out with a long term injury.
There
should be no reason for me to doubt that Chelsea
will arise victorious from this fixture - but stranger
things have happened.
I am sure Man United and Tottenham fans thought
the same way. Chris Wilder has gotten the best of
Chelsea before. Let's hope that he doesn't do it
again.
Please Tuchel, don't take Boro lightly.
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