Chelsea Need To Improve If They Are To Progress In Europe

Chelsea are really going to have to give it all they’ve got when they return to Stamford Bridge for the second leg of the Champion’s League tie with Galatasaray. The Blues lost an early lead on Wednesday night and had to settle for a 1-1 draw against Roberto Mancini’s Turkish side. If the blues have any intention of making it to the quarter-finals they certainly need to step it up - another match like Wednesday night's will not do them any good.

I’m sure a lot of people underestimated Galatasray’s abilities coming into the clash. The draw seemed pretty tame, a much better result than other English sides like Arsenal or Manchester City fared. Actually, though Chelsea drew, they were the only English side so far in 2014 to not lose in the Champion’s League in the knockout stage and were the only English club to score a goal as well.

So, when you look at it, though Chelsea drew, they have a better chance at advancing right now than any other English club. That’s what I call looking at the glass half full!

However, in all seriousness, this draw isn’t really anything to be happy about. The Blues had an early lead from a Fernando Torres goal as well as a first half dominance, though that was lost during a sloppy second half and an equalizing goal by Galatasaray in the 64^th minute.  Though Chelsea will have the away goal advantage when they head back to London, their defence will have to be on point in the return leg.

So what needs to be done? At this point in time it shouldn’t matter what Mouinho has been saying about the striker problem at Chelsea, if he even said anything at all.

Mourinho has already stated in a press conference that his comments were taken out of context, but complaining about a striker problem right now wouldn’t do anyone any good. Chelsea need to be scoring goals in the immediate future, they can speculate at which strikers who could possibly come to the side when the summer transfer window is a bit closer.

However, I don’t think that we should underestimate the power of Fernando Torres and Samuel Eto’o. Chelsea needed goals and that is exactly what Torres provided on Wednesday before Mourinho subbed him for Eto’o in the 68^th minute. Oscar delivers constant performances in the Champions League, but he was recovering from a slight injury and was subbed well into stoppage time on Wednesday night. I’m hoping that he will get a first team start on the return leg at Stamford Bridge.

Also, it didn’t occur to me the massive amount of talent that Galatasaray actually hold. Under the management of Roberto Mancini, some of their starters on Wednesday are known superstars.

Wesley Sneijder, Didier Drogba, Fernando Muslera, and Felipe Melo to name a few. With stars like that on the pitch, there really isn’t any room for mistakes for the opposition. The Chelsea back four need to be a tower of steel, and, as much as I love David Luiz, Chelsea can’t afford any mistakes from him if he ends up being fit by then.

Ivanovic has been strong in the right-back role and is a flexible player too, while John Terry is of course a force to be reckoned with. The Chelsea midfield needs to be top notch as well - Eden Hazard broke through for a few good runs on Wednesday, but he really needs to step it up and follow all the way through if he wants to make the difference against Galatasaray.

However, one important factor that should not be pushed aside is that Chelsea will be playing at home. It’s up to the fans to create an atmosphere that really pumps our boys up when they’re fighting for their lives in the Champions League in only a few weeks time.

It is doable, and if there is an English side that has a chance to advance to the quarterfinals, it is Chelsea. They just have to not let the pressure get to them and show up ready to play football. 

Follow @dana_mazz 

Comments

[MoMadoo]

The BPL needs to reschedule matches after CL clashes its not fair....
in other leagues the Teams that take part in European competition gets support