Champions League: Blues' defensive woes have been addressed

Another European ‘first’ beckons for Chelsea as they travel to Mr Abramovich’s homeland to face Krasnodar.

Located on the Black Sea coast some 840 miles from the Russian capital Moscow, the Caucuses side were formed in 2008 and fought their way to the Russian Premier League from the third tier courtesy of two promotions that occurred due to other sides that finished above them in the two divisions unable to compete the following seasons.

Last season, they ended their league campaign in third place. This will be Krasnodar’s second Champions League undertaking although it is the first time they have reached the final stages.

With Frank Lampard’s men now having completed two successive matches without conceding, it is hoped that legitimate concerns about the fragility of Chelsea’s defence may have been addressed.

For the latest Krasnodar v Chelsea odds click here

However, the football experts whose proficiency on FIFA21 is unsurpassed and those who cannot wait to display their ‘loyalty’ to the club they purport to be fans of will, no doubt, be chomping at the bit to highlight any inadequacies they might pick up on as they seek to increase their social media presence by jumping on the latest #…….out (insert name as appropriate).

Meanwhile, those of us who know exactly how to support our side, the players and the manager will remain calm and accept that occasionally Chelsea might let in an opposition goal, that a player may from time to time have a bad game or, heaven forbid, lose a match but, nonetheless, continue to keep the faith with the side we have chosen to follow and remember the maxim ‘Win or lose, Up The Blues!’

With Hakim Ziyech having managed a few minutes at Old Trafford on Saturday, I’m taking a chance on him starting against Krasnodar and getting on the score sheet, the price being 3.25 with our friends at FansBet.

About the Author

Londoner David Johnstone is a home, away and European away Chelsea supporter and has missed just six matches since 2001 (although he’s quick to state there are plenty of other supporters with better attendance records than him).

He has been involved with the fanzine scene at Chelsea since around 1991 and started the ‘cfcuk’ fanzine in 1999 which was, until Mr Abramovich bought the club in 2003, named ‘Matthew Harding’s Blue And White Army’.

David was also responsible for forming both the Chelsea Supporters’ Group and the Chelsea Supporters’ Trust which are the main two bodies that represent the followers of Chelsea FC and take their concerns to those running the club.

A founder of the highly regarded Chelsea FanCast weekly podcast (but is no longer involved) and responsible for the crowd surfing banners and supporter displays that are seen in the Matthew Harding Stand at Stamford Bridge on matchday.