Southampton vs. Chelsea: How the Blues Should Line Up in EPL Game
Chelsea's comfortable Boxing Day result became slightly nervy when West Ham United's Morgan Amalfitano rounded Gary Cahill and John Terry then struck the post, but before Thibaut Courtois' goal stopped reverberating, the Blues had rebounded—seeing out another victory, another three points.
Maintaining their lead atop the Premier League table, Jose Mourinho has a decision to make as Chelsea visit Southampton on Sunday: The Portuguese must decide if he can issue the same team twice within a two-day period.
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December's toll has always been a topic of discussion for Premier League managers. Resting players here to gain an advantage there, timely substitutions at halftime and so on. Mourinho, though, seems to trust his players' fitness implicitly.
Employing the starting XI one might deem his "first-choice," then using his first substitute in the 83rd minute vs. West Ham, the team selections ahead of visiting St. Mary's make for interesting speculation.
It would appear advantageous to rest some players vs. Southampton, but Mourinho in known for playing the match before him and not looking ahead; that said, changes will likely come down to personal conditions.
Every player wants to play, so were Mourinho to ask his XI vs. West Ham if they could go again, the chances one says they want to rest is minute. However, Chelsea's bench has quality which cannot be overlooked. Loic Remy, Andre Schurrle and others may feel underused and are certainly well-rested, but with their rest comes rust.
The Blues' boss starting those who have not been playing consistent minutes risks the result. The likely course of action for Mourinho is two or three changes, but the majority of the XI who beat the Hammers will be seen again.
A full-back could be swapped with Filipe Luis, and Oscar or Willian could be changed with Schurrle, but the likelihood Mourinho elects to rest Nemanja Matic, Cesc Fabregas, Diego Costa, Eden Hazard or his centre-back partnership is drastically low.
Southampton were in the Premier League's top three from Matchday 5 to Matchday 14; after four consecutive losses the Saints returned to earth in early December, but they have since resurrected with two wins and are currently in the top four.
Ronald Koeman will have to cope without starting left-back and Chelsea loanee Ryan Bertrand—making the task of corralling whomever Mourinho disperses to the right flank an even greater challenge. To this aim, Hazard playing mostly on the right, and Schurrle or Willian switching flanks on the left, could be a tactical change the Blues make in their 48-hour layoff.
Following Chelsea's trip to Southampton, they return to London for the season's second-half commencement at White Hart Lane vs. Tottenham Hotspur on New Year's Day.
From 1 January to 31 January, Mourinho has seven games to navigate in three competitions. While resting players for advanced games may seem vital, what represents greater value is not losing the momentum that sees Chelsea on a five-game winning streak.
In the late 2000s and early 2010s Chelsea were a team of 30-year-old superstars who needed rotation and general care; the only remaining starters from those teams are John Terry and Branislav Ivanovic.
Having breathed new life into an ageing Chelsea squad, the younger, more athletic new guard should have enough in their tanks to continue the 2014/15 title charge without needing too much rest.
What Mourinho must avoid, though, is overestimating their resilience; the Blues have not only the Premier League to contend with, but the Capital One Cup, the FA Cup and the UEFA Champions League.
One would hate for Chelsea's wonderful opening act to be spoiled by spent legs approaching the season's denouement.
*Stats via WhoScored.com; transfer fees via Soccerbase.com where not noted.
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