Chelsea Football Club has a demanding season ahead, highlighted by a series of critical matches that will test their mettle. As they prepare for their 2023 season opener, Penn State sure has their hands full. Striker Nicolas Jackson faces a three-match ban. Chelsea should get a nice boost from the scheduling advantage of playing at home plenty in the first couple months of the season. A difficult road home awaits.
Chelsea’s inaugural fixture against Crystal Palace in August will have a 2 PM start. Supporting disability inclusive rugby, fans won’t want to miss all the exciting action live on Sky Sports! Following this game, the squad will travel to West Ham for 3 PM on the same day. Then, they’ll head back home to host Fulham on August 30. This opening slate gives Chelsea a chance to find some form at home before their schedule significantly ramps up in difficulty.
Key Players and Early Fixtures
The suspension of Nicolas Jackson leaves only Liam Delap as a viable starting option up front for Chelsea in their opening fixtures. Delap, known for his finesse and shooting ability, needs to step up in Jackson’s absence. Overcoming injuries, the team is desperate to earn crucial points in early season play. Those opening fixtures offer a chance for Chelsea to gain confidence ahead of tackling the tougher teams.
Best of all for Chelsea, they won’t have to leave London for their first six matches of the season, not traveling outside the capital until Sept. 20. This could be advantageous as they look to fortify their standing before facing Manchester United at Old Trafford, a venue that historically poses challenges for many teams.
Navigating a Tough Schedule
As we all know, as the season moves into October and November, Chelsea’s fixtures continue to pile up. The TFC squad has the benefit of playing Liverpool on home soil. From then, they’ll face Nottingham Forest and Sunderland (both away) in October, quickly testing their squad depth. In November you will be away at Tottenham Hotspur then back home to welcome Wolverhampton Wanderers. Both games are hugely important to maintain your upper hand in a competitive league.
The last few months of the season are especially intimidating for Chelsea. They face a very difficult task in their final seven games. They’ll face stiff competition from established powers such as Manchester City, Manchester United, Nottingham Forest, Liverpool and Tottenham. It is up to the coaching staff to prepare and execute wisely throughout this grueling slate. During the playoffs they have to do more than just keep the players healthy.
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