Chelsea isn’t a club known for being patient with managers, and the patience for manager Mauricio Pochettino became even more fragile after Chelsea’s 2-2 draw against Brentford in early March. This result came right after a humiliating defeat to Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final. It took a late equalizer from Axel Disasi for The Blues to salvage a draw away to Brentford.

However, Chelsea quickly bounced back. A 3-2 victory over Newcastle was followed by a ticket to the FA Cup semi-finals. Nevertheless, there’s still plenty of work for Pochettino, especially with Chelsea currently sitting 11th in the Premier League.

Chelsea’s low position in the standings is partly due to playing fewer games than their rivals. If they win both of their games in hand, Chelsea will leapfrog West Ham to 7th place. However, this would only secure a spot in the Europa Conference League. Compared to 6th-placed Manchester United, Chelsea is eight points behind and has played one game fewer. Clearly, the task for Pochettino remains challenging after forgettable performances earlier in the season.

Chelsea’s lengthy injury list has contributed to their poor form. The news of newcomer Romeo Lavia being ruled out for the season adds to their woes, with several other quality players sidelined due to injuries.

At home in Stamford Bridge this season, Chelsea’s record has been disappointing, with only six wins in 13 matches, placing them 12th in home performance.

Nevertheless, fans can expect Chelsea to secure a victory when hosting a weaker team like Burnley at home. A win against Burnley could serve as a springboard for Chelsea to finish the season as strongly as possible, especially as optimism returns to the players.

Burnley’s fighting spirit has also been reignited following a surprising 2-1 victory over Brentford. It was a game where Burnley played with a numerical advantage and earned a penalty as early as the 8th minute. Overall, The Clarets won 2-1, igniting hopes of staying in the Premier League.

Currently, Burnley sits five points away from the safety zone, but their goal difference puts them at a disadvantage. Therefore, they particularly need maximum points to climb above their rivals.

Burnley’s improvement has been evident in recent matches, especially in their ability to compete against stronger opponents. However, taking points from Chelsea remains a daunting challenge. Burnley’s last victory against Chelsea was in 2017, in a game where The Blues received two red cards. However, that’s also Burnley’s only win in the last 17 encounters with Chelsea across all competitions.

Chelsea, with their more upbeat mood, having secured a spot in the FA Cup semi-finals, is likely to emerge victorious in this match.