Chelsea return from the international break with a Saturday lunchtime appointment at Nottingham Forest, which is, without a shadow of a doubt, the absolute worst time to have your first game back, especially
playing away.
We did head into the break on the back of a rousing pair of one-goal victories, gritting out a 1-0 win over José Mourinho’s Benfica in Europe, and then witnessing Estêvão’s first legendary moment in a Chelsea shirt as he scored a 95th-minute winner against defending champions Liverpool at the Bridge. But international breaks tend to sap any such momentum.
Unlike Chelsea, Forest will be desperately hoping to reverse their recent momentum. New head coach Ange Postecoglou has yet to win in seven games since taking charge, giving up two or more goals in five of the seven. A perfect opportunity to keep piling on the pressure on the former Spurs manager.
Date / Time: Saturday, October 18, 12:30 BST; 7:30am EDT; 5pm IST
Venue: City Ground, Nottingham, England
Referee: Chris Kavanagh (on ptich); Peter Bankes (VAR)
Forecast: Springlike conditions
On TV: TNT Sports 1 (UK); USA, Universo (USA); Star Sports Select HD1 (India); SuperSport Premier League, Canal+ Sport 3 (NGA); elsewhere
Streaming: discovery+ (UK); NBC Sports Live, Telemundo Deportes En Vivo (USA); Disney+ Hotstar (India); DStv Now (NGA)
Nottingham Forest team news: After an historic season that saw them finish seventh, their highest final league position in three decades, and qualify for Europe as well, Forest have hit the self-destruct button at the start of this season. They sacked head coach Nuno Espírito Santo three games in, after he had fallen out with ownership, and hired ex-Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou, who was let go by Spurs despite winning the Europa League last season. Nuno and Ange are diametrically opposed in style and philosophy, and the team have struggled to adjust.
Forest did spend big in the summer, with nearly £200m invested in a dozen signings, including a certain Omari Hutchinson, who joins fellow former Blues Callum Hudson-Odoi and Ola Aina in the squad. Among the signings was striker Igor Jesus who leads the team with four goals in all competitions, but none in his six Premier League appearances, all off the bench.
Chris Wood is still the main man up top, though he’s facing a late fitness test. Oleksandr Zinchenko and Douglas Luiz were also questionable, but have already been passed fit. Aina is out long-term after undergoing hamstring surgery last month.
Chelsea team news: Injuries have been the focus for us, and the situation is not great, even after the two-week break. While the likes of Reece James and João Pedro were able to rest up and recover a bit, others have not been so lucky. Moisés Caicedo, Enzo Fernández, and Pedro Neto are all questionable, having missed training on Thursday, while Cole Palmer and Benoît Badiashile have been ruled out until December. On the plus side, Tosin Adarabioyo, Wesley Fofana, and Andrey Santos have been declared fit, while Trevoh Chalobah returns from his one-game suspension.
Speaking of suspensions, Enzo Maresca will not be in the dugout for this one: he earned himself a second yellow (and a fine) for running down the touchline to celebrate the winner against Liverpool. Definitely worth it!
Chelsea have seven very winnable games before the next international break in three weeks. Let’s get to it.
Previously: We’ve had good success at the City Ground since Forest’s return to the top flight, winning two and drawing one. Levi Colwill scored the game’s only goal on our last visit, back in May.
