En route the the ground and you can hear spurs fans talking in quite a cocky fashion...they expect to win today..hoping that their players have same attitude - overconfidence could lead to their downfall

Have to say, I think Spurs will smell blood and look to try and get a pyschological edge

our mental attitude is the key to this today

they expect to win, their fans expect them to win, the media expect them to win, some part of our support (if we are being honest) expects them to win, no doubt somewhere in our players minds is the expectation or fear of losing today.

we're already balancing this match versus winning the league - and once you do that you've a problem because the team that wins today will be the team that wants it most

is that Chelsea?

we need to invoke the spirit of 2012 and be the under-dog in all its glory with the battling attitude that sometimes turns form on its head

whether we can do that when we have been top-dog to this point this season is a big question     

16 minutes ago, carrickblue said:

our mental attitude is the key to this today

they expect to win, their fans expect them to win, the media expect them to win, some part of our support (if we are being honest) expects them to win, no doubt somewhere in our players minds is the expectation or fear of losing today.

we're already balancing this match versus winning the league - and once you do that you've a problem because the team that wins today will be the team that wants it most

is that Chelsea?

we need to invoke the spirit of 2012 and be the under-dog in all its glory with the battling attitude that sometimes turns form on its head

whether we can do that when we have been top-dog to this point this season is a big question     

Think you are spot on there for me. Everything in build up has me believing that we are not in the right mental or physical place to beat Spurs today. If any of the spurs lot were not 100% focused for today the passing of ugo I believe will make them determined to put on a show. 

A win here will do our confidence a lot of good. Losing on the other hand, will be mess us up I reckon. Our form has been quite poor recently.

Am hoping for our boys to resurrect themselves.

This was one crystal ball prediction I was not looking forward to posting so soon after the loss against Manchester United, naturally because I did not think everyone on here would react kindly having seen it. So I thought I would give you all time to cool off before I posted it.

 

Chelsea (3-4-3): Courtois; Azpilicueta, Luiz, Terry (c); Zouma, Loftus-Cheek, N. Chalobah, Alonso; Willian, Costa, Kenedy

Subs: Begovi?, Aina, Cahill, Mati?, Hazard, Musonda, Batshuayi

 

Prediction: Chelsea 0-0 Tottenham Hotspur [2-4 on penalties]

 

This is one time I am going to say "screw you, crystal ball." Let's go and win this, lads. Hopefully it will deflate the scum for the title run-in (not that I really think it will decide anything). CFC FOREVER!

The key to winning this afternoon is taking advantage of spurs' arrogance as favorites to win.

I wanna sing "John Terry has won the double" this may so badly!

Said it so many times this season we will have wait and see what f**king mood Costa decides to adopt. 

1 minute ago, Kev56 said:

Said it so many times this season we will have wait and see what f**king mood Costa decides to adopt. 

If costa plays we ain't scoring one goal

 

welp

costa I'm quite glad about, but Hazard? Mental. I hate Spuds, praying we win this!

Conte maybe dropping hazard thinking spurs will man mark him again

3 hours ago, hazard said:

Everytime I watch this goal it makes me so happy

 

 

They want revenge so bad 'orrid c**ts, if we win in hindsight I'll say I'm glad we gave them a sniff of the title, made them believe, so we could burst their bubbles again...

1 minute ago, Jamjar1986 said:

Conte maybe dropping hazard thinking spurs will man mark him again

Like it's been said all week by ex pros you would think he would have the know-how to move the player around. If your being man marked move out wide, move positions and create space for others. Zola got man marked every game he played against Utd, that was always P Nevilles job and his only outing of the season.

not too happy about resting Costa, just means he will play against Southhampton.

maybe our plan is to keep it tight and bring Haz on for the last 20 - hopefully we're still in the game

it's certainly easier for Conte to bench Costa if he benches Hazard too but if that's any part of the rationale it smacks of a little cowardice to me - and that's not something I expect from Conte

Hazard not starting would surely spring a surprise. I'm sure we'll cope however. I have to say though, I'm nervous; I dread to to think of anything else other than a Chelsea win

14 minutes ago, havelschayes said:

 

welp

May not be the worst, apparently diego had the dodgy Curry as well, or whatever was the problem, as well as a couple of other players feeling off colour, Southampton and Everton games more important, if they arent 100 percent he should rest them, plus it will totally throw off Tottenham's game plan, issue is other than Pedro where will the goal come from? If we play, pedro and Bats up top and beat them would be even more satisfying, maybe something like this: 

 

------------------------Tibo-------------------------

--------Dave---------Luiz------------Ake----------

Moses------Kante--------Nathan---------Alonso

-------------------------Fab-------------------------

------------------Pedro----------Bats------------

Edited April 22, 20179 yr by DonAntonio

Chelsea FC?Verified account @ChelseaFC  26s26 seconds ago

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Our starting team today is Courtois; Azpilicueta (c), David Luiz, Ake; Moses, Kante, Matic, Alonso; Willian, Batshuayi, Pedr

Ridiculous resting Hazard, just tells me conte isn't comfortable and doesn't think we will win in any case.

Not starting our strongest team in a cup semi final is stupid, totally downbeat now. Oh and Matic is playing so another blow

Edited April 22, 20179 yr by Chelsbear

Bats starting. Well I never thought we see the day...

 

HAS CONTE GONE MAD???

Just now, Barrettinator said:

 

HAS CONTE GONE MAD???

Could be huge if we lose this and bottle the league. Questions will no doubt be asked

WTF no Hazard??? Costa I can see.   Why not play a false 9 

Just now, Chelsbear said:

Could be huge if we lose this and bottle the league. Questions will no doubt be asked

On the other hand if we do them without our main players...