Chelsea’s game against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on Sunday is a must-win for them.
A win will qualify Enzo Maresca’s side for the Champions League, while a loss will leave them out of the tournament.
It will not be an easy encounter, as Forest already held Chelsea to a 1-1 tie at the start of the season.
Nuno Espirito Santo has also warned Maresca and his players that the City Ground will be “bouncing”.
Levi Colwill and Chelsea plan to limit Nottingham Forest’s counter-attacking threat
There is a lot on the line, but Chelsea defender Levi Colwill is up for the game and has shared how the team plan to approach it.
“It is effectively a final,” Colwill told Chelsea’s official website. “It will be a tough game, a tough atmosphere, but we know what we need to do. They are going to be a tough team to play against. We are going to have to work really hard to break them down, but when we do create chances we have to score them, and not give them any chance to counter-attack.
“They are going to push harder than they might normally because they have to win too, and we have to be smart and pick our moments when to exploit that, and times when to sit off and let them give us what they’ve got. We just have to find the balance to make sure we win the game.”
Forest have some very dangerous offensive players, including Morgan Gibbs-White and former Blue Callum Hudson-Odoi.
It means Maresca’s team will have to be mindful of transitions, while Chris Wood’s height and strength may pose difficulties throughout the game.
This season, the 33-year-old has scored 20 goals in 35 Premier League outings.
Cole Palmer is Chelsea’s danger man, having scored 15 goals this season. Palmer is “unsellable” and Chelsea’s top attacker, however his form has decreased in the second half of the season.
Pat Nevin’s warning to Enzo Maresca
Following their encounter against Forest, Chelsea will play in the Conference League final. Real Betis will have two extra days to prepare for their match against the Blues.
Pat Nevin, a former Chelsea winger, has cautioned Maresca not to rest players against Forest.
Nevin predicted Forest’s match against Chelsea, saying: “They need to give that game everything they have in order to secure Champions League football.” Apart from Nicolas Jackson, every other significant player must be on the field in that game.
It would be fantastic if Chelsea won the Conference League. They would be the first side in history to win both Europe’s third-tier competition, the Europa League, and the Champions League.
However, given the financial stake, the club’s owners will prefer to prioritise Champions League qualification.
