Chris Sutton has a warning for his former club Chelsea and their manager Enzo Maresca.
Right now, all of the focus at Chelsea is off the pitch amid reported tension at boardroom level.
It has been claimed, for example, that Clearlake Capital want Todd Boehly to step down as chairman. It comes as Boehly‘s relationship with Behdad Eghbali continues to deteriorate.
Sutton, however, is not ignoring the actual Chelsea team and has a message for Maresca and his players.
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Chris Sutton’s Conference League warning for Chelsea
Despite finishing sixth in the Premier League last season, Chelsea find themselves in the Conference League following Manchester United’s triumph in the FA Cup final against Manchester City.
The Blues also made hard work of getting into the group stage of the competition, beating Servette by just a one-goal margin in their play-off tie versus the Swiss side.
They have to do better in this phase of the tournament and then win the trophy. If they do not, Sutton thinks it would be an embarrassment.
Speaking on It’s All Kicking Off!, the retired forward said: “If Chelsea don’t win the Conference League, is that a total embarrassment on them? It would be embarrassing if Chelsea don’t win it.”
Chelsea were unconvincing in their play-off tie against Servette, but they have shown a lot of promise domestically. After three games, Chelsea have the highest shot accuracy in the Premier League.
Who are the biggest threat to Chelsea in the Conference League?
You would probably have to say either Fiorentina or Real Betis. Both teams had quite good seasons in Serie A and La Liga respectively last term.
Even so, Chelsea should have more than enough to beat both teams and win the Conference League.
It will probably come down to how serious they take the competition. As of now, the Blues clearly do not see it as a priority, omitting Cole Palmer from their squad for the group stage.
Gabriel Agbonlahor questioned Chelsea’s decision to do so, describing the club as “disrespectful”.
Later in the tournament, however, you would expect their attitude to change, especially if they make it to the semi-finals, for example. And if it does and Maresca ends up taking the competition seriously, then his Chelsea side really should be winning the whole thing.
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