Chelsea's 12 Days of Christmas
It's Christmas, so let's have some fun.
While most of you have been out caroling and enjoying the festivities, we at Bleacher Report towers have been toiling to think of what your clubs will want for Christmas this year.
January is almost upon us, so a new signing or two wouldn't go amiss for most teams. Nor would more points on the board in Chelsea's case, as they chase down a fourth Premier League title in 10 years.
The 12 days of Christmas have traditionally brought an eclectic assortment of gifts, so what will they bring Chelsea this year?
Join us as we count down...
On the 1st Day of Christmas...
1 of 12
...Chelsea fans create a new song for Diego Costa.
We're not hating on Chelsea fans here, honest.
That said, they need to think up a better song for leading goalscorer Diego Costa; simply chanting his name doesn't cut it.
The man deserves so much more for the goals he scores, and the monotonous "Diego Costa! Diego Costa!" makes us wish he would stop finding the back of the net just to prevent the song being repeated over and over.
We've seen the darker side of his game already this season, the aggression coming out when defenders have left a trailing leg or arm on him.
Maybe it's a little bit of frustration knowing Blues supporters have been creative for Willian and not him.
Chelsea fans, you know you can do better.
On the 2nd Day of Christmas...
2 of 12
...there will be no 19th-century football at Stamford Bridge.
When Chelsea drew 0-0 against West Ham United at Stamford Bridge last season, Jose Mourinho accused the Hammers of playing 19th-century football, per BBC Sport.
Sam Allardyce laughed, Mourinho was frustrated.
"This is not the best league in the world, this is football from the 19th century," the Chelsea manager said of West Ham's defensive approach.
Well, the Hammers return to the scene of the crime on Boxing Day. Hopefully, given their form this term, the game will be a far better one.
If it isn't, we can kiss goodbye to any festive cheer from Mourinho.
On the 3rd Day of Christmas...
3 of 12
...a performance from Mikel.
It doesn't matter what game it is in, John Obi Mikel needs to put in a performance for Chelsea at least once this Christmas.
Given the congested schedule, it's highly probable Nemanja Matic will miss at least one game. If Mikel is his replacement, Chelsea fans and Jose Mourinho will be praying he steps up and puts in a shift.
So far this season, as he has been for much of Chelsea career, Mikel has been a major disappointment.
Quite how he avoids the chop every summer is a mystery, but hopefully he will repay the manager's faith over Christmas.
On the 4th Day of Christmas...
4 of 12
...four vital wins.
Chelsea face Stoke City, West Ham United, Southampton and Tottenham Hotspur in their four festive fixtures.
Manchester City are breathing down their neck and are facing teams all positioned in the bottom half of the table over Christmas. They've already beaten Crystal Palace, and we can expect them to record victories against West Bromwich Albion, Burnley and Sunderland.
Simply put, Chelsea need to be taking 12 points from their Christmas games.
On the 5th Day of Christmas...
5 of 12
...goooooals galore!
In the spirit of those "five gooooold rings" of the original, you'll need to sing out our headline for it to make sense.
Anyhow, for entertainment value, Chelsea could do with a repeat of the freak results from yesteryear this Christmas.
In the past, they've found themselves feeling Scrooge-like against opponents, giving away very little but taking plenty in return.
Just two years ago, they put eight goals past Aston Villa two days before Christmas, and in 2004—Jose Mourinho's first season in charge—Norwich City were dispatched 4-0.
Needless to say, scorelines coming close to those will have a considerable impact on Chelsea's position at the top.
On the 6th Day of Christmas...
6 of 12
...a six-point cushion.
All it takes is one slip up and a team's good form heading into Christmas can become erratic and dent their league position.
The games come thick and fast at this time of year, and before you know it, the shape of the table has dramatically altered.
Manchester City are gathering momentum and have won eight games on the bounce in all competitions.
Chelsea could do with them losing a game over Christmas and capitalising with a victory themselves.
Not only would it knock Manuel Pellegrini's men out of their stride, but it could mean the Blues come out of the festive period six points clear.
For confidence, that will be significant.
The key to this period is for Chelsea to show City they can't reclaim the title.
On the 7th Day of Christmas...
7 of 12
...no more swan dives.
We've positioned this one here more tongue-in-cheek than anything, paying homage to the original carol when seven swans-a-swimming are sent to the song's protagonist.
Given the recent accusations leveled at Chelsea's players for some acts of simulation, it'll do them and the manager some good to avoid the headlines for anything similar over Christmas.
If we're honest, Chelsea are no better or worse than the Premier League's other 19 clubs when it comes to matters of diving.
Their problem is that, against Hull City at least, they got caught red-handed.
On the 8th Day of Christmas...
8 of 12
...Oscar stays in form.
He wears the No. 8 for Chelsea, and right about now, we're all waiting for Oscar's form to drop off. Traditionally, when Christmas hits, that's what happens.
It happened spectacularly in January last season, and it was a similar situation during his debut season the year before that.
Thus far, he hasn't shown any signs that's going to happen. For the sake of Chelsea's title challenge, it can't, either.
On the 9th Day of Christmas...
9 of 12
...Chelsea's strikers get among the goals.
It's traditionally the first-choice striker's shirt number, so in homage to Chelsea's "No. 9s," we've dedicated the ninth day of Christmas to them.
What Jose Mourinho needs to see over the next 11 days is his strikers in good shape and scoring form.
Diego Costa isn't going to last the whole Christmas season and shouldn't have to take on the goalscoring burden alone.
Didier Drogba and Loic Remy have shown themselves to be more than able in front of goal. Now, more than ever, they must deliver.
Rotation is the word of the moment, and Mourinho needs to rotate his first-team squad effectively.
On the 10th Day of Christmas...
10 of 12
...a new contract for Hazard.
Jose Mourinho has said Eden Hazard will sign a new contract at Chelsea soon.
"My club always told me that the situation would finish with a new contract [for Hazard], so I was never worried about that," the Chelsea boss said recently.
Hopefully, for our sake—let alone Chelsea's—that will happen.
Hands up, who can stomach another will-he-won't-he scenario throughout the winter window?
The longer Hazard's new deal isn't signed, you can bet your bottom dollar the more the headlines will be about Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain chasing his signature in January. That'll then roll over into the summer. The daily grind will be unbearable.
Please, Eden, put pen to paper.
On the 11th Day of Christmas...
11 of 12
...11 fit players.
With so many games coming in such a short space of time, injuries can stack up at Christmas. Fast.
It's every manager's nightmare at this stage of the campaign, and Jose Mourinho will need to make sure he has 11 players in peak condition.
With the substitutes, teams can get away with a few ailments on the bench, but that first XI must be fighting fit.
Chelsea haven't been blessed with the easiest of schedules, either.
Outside of Stoke City, their other Christmas opponents are positioned in the Premier League's top seven.
A reserve team isn't going to win them maximum points.
On the 12th Day of Christmas...
12 of 12
...a top of the table finish.
We can talk all we like about key performances from players, new songs from the terraces and so much more.
But when it comes down to it, if Chelsea remain top of the pile come the end of Christmas, Jose Mourinho, his players and Chelsea fans will not care one iota about anything that happened in between.
That's what it's all about.
Garry Hayes is Bleacher Report's lead Chelsea correspondent. All quotes were obtained first-hand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter @garryhayes
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