Match Focus: Managers Under Fire as Chelsea Host Villa
There's little question as to the real high pressure game of the weekend with regards to the opposing managers at least. Aston Villa find themselves 4 points adrift of safety in the bottom three, with under-fire Tim Sherwood leading his side to Stamford Bridge this Saturday.
Jose Mourinho's job is also thought to be in the balance at present after yet another defeat ahead of the international break, this time at home to Southampton, sparked a remarkable 7-minute rant from the Portuguese in his post-match TV interview. It was the response of a man who knows he is now very much under pressure to turn things around after a dismal start to the Premier League campaign.
As things stand Chelsea are level with West Brom on goal difference above the drop zone and though they are in no danger of dropping in it this weekend, anything other than a win would be a disaster for the hosts. This fixture often goes one of two ways, with Villa either putting up a real fight - at times upsetting the odds - or completely capitulating, losing this fixture 3-0 last season having suffered humiliating 8-0 and 7-1 defeats in recent years at Stamford Bridge.
The fact that only Sunderland have conceded more goals this season than Mourinho's men (17) may well mean that this is a tighter affair than last September, but Chelsea are still strong favourites. That said, while Villa's losing streak of 4 games is the longest in the league this season they are yet to be defeated by more than a single goal.
New captain Micah Richards will be tasked with ensuring that Saturday's game is no pushover for the hosts having been one of Villa's bright sparks this season. Only fellow summer signing Jordan Amavi has a higher rating of players with 5 or more appearances for the club this season (7.35), with Richards not only leading by example with impressive defensive figures but also looking to force the side forward having completed more dribbles (14) than any other defender this season.
The former England international will be tasked with keeping the returning Diego Costa quiet in the capital but must also be wary of the threat of Eden Hazard, who returned to form over the international break. The Belgian earned the highest rating from WhoScored (7.96) in the Premier League last season and while a far more modest 7.18 this time around has been a worrying decline, the fact that he remains Chelsea top performer both highlights the team's problems and the fact that he is still the Blues' most potent weapon.
While defeat for either manager would unlikely cost them their job directly this weekend it could well go some way to making their position untenable further down the line. Expect a tense affair at the Bridge as a result.
You can trade the values of any of the players on display as Chelsea host Villa with Buabook, the first player trading exchange based on detailed statistics
