By Alex Roberts
Chelsea’s 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest on the Metropolis Floor on Saturday value Ange Postecoglou his job simply over a month after being appointed. With Ajax boss Johnny Heitinga additionally underneath stress, may they make it two for 2?
Josh Acheampong is the longer term
The 19-year-old adopted his assured efficiency within the 2-1 win over Liverpool up with a good higher one within the victory of Forest. At a time when Chelsea’s defensive damage disaster appeared to be their undoing, Acheampong grasped his likelihood with each fingers.
Enzo Maresca took him off after 81 minutes to assist get some minutes in Tosin Adarabioyo’s legs following the veteran (by way of Chelsea) defender’s current setback, having received 100% of his aerial duels, made six recoveries, and 4 interceptions.
Fellow Cobham graduate Reece James has stated that the perfect factor for his growth is to play video games, and with centre-back arguably Chelsea’s weakest place, maybe he may nail his spot down.
In determined want of a outcome
Heitinga is an authorized Ajax favorite, however even he’ll know he’s teetering dangerously near his overdraft as his credit score begins to run low. Their current 4-0 defeat to Marseille was their worst ever within the Champions League.
Solely Kazakhstani facet Kairat Almaty sit beneath them, however at the least they’ve managed to attain a aim, whereas Ajax are one among two groups but to register. The four-time champions look destined to fall on the first hurdle.
Domestically, it’s not going any higher. Sitting in fourth, already 9 factors behind arch-rivals Feyenoord on the summit of the Eredivisie desk and an impotent 2-0 house defeat to AZ Alkmaar on Saturday, depart little hope.
Crew information
Wesley Fofana ought to now be out there to play after choosing up a concussion in Chelsea’s 2-1 win over Lincoln a number of weeks again, whereas questions stay over whether or not Enzo Fernández may characteristic as a result of knee damage he picked up whereas on worldwide responsibility.
Nevertheless, the hosts are nonetheless lacking Cole Palmer (groin), Levi Colwill (ACL), Dário Essugo (thigh), Benoît Badiashile (muscle), Liam Delap (hamstring), and João Pedro (suspension).
Moisés Caicedo was introduced on at half time within the win over Forest and could possibly be referred to as upon as a substitute of injury-prone midfielder Roméo Lavia, in the meantime Jorrel Hato, who joined Chelsea from Ajax in the summertime, will doubtless must accept a spot on the bench towards his former membership.
As for Ajax, left-back Owen Wijndal was taken off with a muscular downside in his facet’s defeat to Marseille, with midfielder Branco van den Boomen a serious doubt on account of a again damage.
Striker Kasper Dolberg may even be compelled to sit down out with a abdomen damage, which means former Man United striker Wout Weghorst will doubtless begin up prime for the guests.
Prediction
Lengthy gone are the times when Ajax may compete towards Europe’s finest. Final time these two sides met all the best way again in 2019 it ended 4-4, this time, it shouldn’t be so shut. We’re going with a 2-0 Chelsea win.
(Cowl picture from IMAGO)
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