Chelsea in Ipswich Match Preview
When Ipswich City beat Chelsea 2-0 at residence on December 30, one of many shocks of the season within the Premier League was additionally thought of a blow to the Blues’ title hopes and a doubtlessly valuable win within the Tractor Boys’ battle in opposition to relegation.
Chelsea’s depressing away type has lengthy since rendered their fundamental ambition that of qualifying for the Champions League, and so they begin the weekend in fourth, 4 factors away from sixth-placed Manchester Metropolis.
“On that day, they’d extra need than us to get the three factors,” Chelsea supervisor Enzo Maresca recalled of his facet’s defeat at Portman Street.
“I nonetheless bear in mind the sport and, even when we had many probabilities to attain, they defended very well. They’re an excellent staff.”
Grafting. #CHEIPS pic.twitter.com/RDCez9lOPP
— Ipswich City (@IpswichTown) April 10, 2025
Ipswich adopted up that victory with a horror run of two factors from 10 video games, solely successful once more at Bournemouth on April 2 earlier than being crushed at residence by Wolves final Saturday to go away Kieran McKenna’s staff on the point of relegation.
“I’m nonetheless comfortable right here,” stated McKenna, who was courted by a number of golf equipment after main City to a second successive promotion final season.
“This yr was at all times going to be a problem. The actual fact it was going to be an enormous problem was one of many explanation why I wished to remain.
“I felt it was the precise factor to do. As I’ve stated a number of instances, the membership has a fantastically vivid future in lots of, many alternative methods.
“It’s a membership that’s on the up, regardless of a attainable – you possibly can say a possible – backward step this yr. There’s nonetheless an excellent potential to make some massive strides over the subsequent few years, so I’m excited to be a part of that.”
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Chelsea in Ipswich Workforce Information
Ipswich prime scorer Liam Delap, who’s being linked with golf equipment together with Chelsea, picked up a “actually heavy knock” in opposition to Wolves and has missed coaching periods this week, McKenna stated.
Ahead Omari Hutchinson has missed City’s final two video games and stays a doubt, whereas wingers Wes Burns and Chiedozie Ogbene, striker Samuel Szmodics and goalkeeper Arijanet Muric are long-term absentees.
Chelsea defender Wesley Fofana will miss the remainder of the season following hamstring surgical procedure however midfielder Romeo Lavia and striker Marc Guiu might return earlier than the tip of the marketing campaign.
Maresca might rotate his beginning line-up after retaining the likes of Marc Cucurella, Levi Colwill, Enzo Fernandez, Moises Caicedo and Nicolas Jackson in reserve for the 3-0 win at Legia Warsaw within the first leg of the Europa League quarter-finals on Thursday.
