Chelsea travel to the next Premier League match against Nottingham Forest on the back of a strong run of form, which has tended to balance between being tight at the back and expansive upfront. The Blues go into this game on the back of three straight league victories and an authoritative display in their last UEFA Champions League match; a clear indication that things are finally falling in place for Chelsea under the current tactical settings. Key players, such as Enzo Fernández and Mykhailo Mudryk, have been vital to that function in ways such that Fernández has dictated the flow of play from midfield, while Sterling has provided goals at very important moments of this season. This form makes Chelsea formidable opponents, particularly at home, as they will be looking to dominate possession and press high up the pitch.
For their part, Nottingham Forest are suffering critical setbacks, not least an inability to keep pace in their last defeat at Fulham. However, they have a counter-attacking strategy in place, ready to be unleashed. Defensive lapses and missed opportunities mean that the underlining of their vulnerabilities is what Chelsea is most likely to expose. Forest will look to counter against Chelsea with a compact defensive setup and quick transitions, using the speed of Taiwo Awoniyi to catch Chelsea off guard on the break. This is likely to be a high-intensity game: Chelsea dominating possession while Forest tries to knock them off their stride with physicality and pressing. The intensity may open up the game, but Chelsea’s current momentum gives them a clear edge.