Chelsea have had a turbulent start to the season with changes in ownership and management alongside a busy start to the campaign.
After the takeover by Todd Boehly’s consortium in May, manager Thomas Tuchel was sacked in early September after three defeats in all competitions from the start of the season.
He was replaced by Brighton’s Graham Potter, who has produced an upturn in fortunes with a draw and four wins in his first five games ahead of Sunday’s game at Aston Villa.
Under Tuchel, the Blues started the season with a win – 1-0 at Everton – a draw – 2-2 with Spurs – and a defeat – 3-0 at Leeds.
They then beat Leicester and West Ham each 2-1 at Stamford Bridge, either side of a 2-1 defeat at Southampton, before the 1-0 Champions League loss away to Dynamo Zagreb which ended Tuchel’s reign at the club.
In Potter’s first game, they were held to a 1-1 draw by Red Bull Salzburg, but have since won 2-1 at Crystal Palace and beaten Wolves 3-0, while doing the double over AC Milan in Europe – 3-0 at home and 2-0 away.
Chelsea have won a string of honours over the years, both domestically and in European football.
They have been crowned League champions six times (five of those being in the Premier League), have lifted the FA Cup eight times and the League Cup five times.
The Blues have also won the Champions League twice – beating Bayern Munich 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in the final in 2012, and again last season with a 1-0 win over Manchester City.
They have also been Europa League champions twice and won two Cup Winners’ Cups.
WHO’S IN CHARGE
Graham Potter was named as Chelsea boss last month in succession to Thomas Tuchel, as mentioned earlier.
His job at Brighton, where he spent nearly three-and-a-half years after being appointed in May 2019, was his second in British football, after spending the 2018/19 campaign in charge of Swansea.
This followed seven-and-a-half years at the helm of Swedish side Ostersunds FK.
When he took over in January 2011, the club had been relegated to the country’s fourth tier but he transformed their fortunes by winning back-to-back promotions in his first two seasons in charge.
They finished 10th in their first year in the second tier and at the end of the 2015 campaign were promoted to the top division for the first time in their history.
Ostersunds won the Swedish Cup, their first major trophy, two years later to qualify for the following season’s Europa League.
Their success continued with the side qualifying for the group stage and finishing second before facing Arsenal in the round of 32. Although the Gunners won the first leg 3-0 in Sweden, Graham’s side earned a famous 2-1 victory at the Emirates to bow out 4-2 on aggregate.
Graham played more than 300 games as a full-back in the Football League and Premier League for Birmingham, Stoke, Southampton, West Brom, York, Boston and Macclesfield and also earned one England Under-21 cap.
WE’VE MET BEFORE
Despite being such near neighbours, Brentford and Chelsea have rarely met in competitive games over the years.
We did play each other three times last season – twice in the Premier League and once in the Carabao Cup – but before that we had only met 10 times in the League, although we have been drawn together three times in the FA Cup – twice in the last decade.
Last season’s matches were memorable for different reasons.
The Blues’ 1-0 win at the BCS was earned thanks to a goal from Ben Chilwell and a string of saves from Edouard Mendy.
The Carabao Cup quarter-final, in which we were also at home, was won by a late own goal by Pontus Jansson and a Jorginho penalty.
However, the game at Stamford Bridge in early April was the highlight of many a season for lots of Bees fans as we wrapped up a shock 4-1 win.
Antonio Rudiger hammered Chelsea ahead early in the second half, but a brace from Vitaly Janelt, and goals from Christian Eriksen and Yoane Wissa gave us all three points.
Our first meeting in the FA Cup came at Griffin Park in the third round in 1949/50, when we were in the Second Division (now Championship) and Chelsea were in the top flight. And it was the visitors who went through 1-0 thanks to an early goal from Jimmy Bowie.
We were drawn at home to the Blues again in the fourth round in 2012/13 when we were in League One and we nearly pulled off a shock victory.
Marcello Trotta gave us the lead just before half-time, only for Oscar to level after the break. Harry Forrester put us 2-1 up with a 73rd-minute penalty, after a foul on substitute Tom Adeyemi, but Fernando Torres ruined our dreams with a late equaliser as it finished 2-2.
In the Stamford Bridge replay, we held out until the 54th minute before Juan Mata gave Chelsea the lead, and then further goals from Oscar, Frank Lampard and John Terry completed a 4-0 win for the hosts.
It was the same scoreline when we again met in the fourth round in 2016/17, with Chelsea being drawn at home this time.
Willian and Pedro had the Blues 2-0 up after only 21 minutes, and Chelsea struck twice more in the last 21 minutes through Branislav Ivanovic, in his farewell appearance for the club, and Michy Batshuayi, from the penalty spot.
We’ve only won four of our 10 league meetings, including doing the double in 1938/39, have drawn one and lost five.
Our past league results – all in the top flight with Brentford score first – are:
1935/36 – (H) W 2-1 (A) L 1-2
1936/37 – (H) W 1-0 (A) L 1-2
1937/38 – (H) D 1-1 (A) L 1-2
1938/39 – (H) W 1-0 (A) W 3-1
1946/47 – (H) L 0-2 (A) L 2-3
2021/22 – (H) L 0-1 (A) W 4-1
OPPOSITION VIEW
BBC London Sport producer and lifelong Chelsea fan Lucy Oliva, who also produces the Athletic’s Chelsea podcast Straight Outta Cobham, looks at the managerial changes at Stamford Bridge, analyses the season so far and recalls last season’s meetings.
Q – How much of a surprise was it when Thomas Tuchel was sacked?
A – While Thomas Tuchel was undoubtedly loved by Chelsea fans for guiding the club to Champions League glory and steadying the ship through a period of real uncertainty at the end of the Abramovich era – there was a sense that things had gone stale at Stamford Bridge.
The strain of the situation had become clear over summer, with Tuchel being vocal about just how difficult it had been to juggle being a football coach and the public face of the club – when all he wanted to do was train his players. A malaise had set in on the pitch – and with new owners behind the scenes with fresh ideas and a different approach – it felt perhaps inevitable that they would take the club in a new direction.
But he is fondly remembered and will always be held in high regard by supporters.
Q – Since his arrival, what, if anything, has Graham Potter changed and how would you say he has done?
A – It’s hard to put a finger on exactly what’s changed but there does seem to be a new lease of life around the place. In the month or so that he’s been in charge there has been more attacking impetus – and with an embarrassment of riches in terms of forward players, it’s perhaps inevitable that they’re taking the opportunity to show that they can do!
So many of Chelsea’s “star” players were underperforming and looked to be lacking in confidence by the end of Thomas Tuchel’s reign in charge. Look no further than Mason Mount – who over the first few games of the season was without a goal or assist – but has looked rejuvenated under Graham Potter – and was awarded man of the match out in Milan – having only been on the pitch for 45 minutes!
It is still early days so hard to pass total judgement, but the sounds coming out of the club suggest things are rosy.
Q – Given the managerial upheaval, how would you assess the Blues’ season so far?
A – That defeat out in Zagreb was a real low point – and ultimately cost Thomas Tuchel his job. But all signs since then have been largely positive – with minutes being shared around the squad and things looking far more solid at the back.
The suspect away form will be a source of comfort for Brentford – with the defeats against Leeds, Southampton and Zagreb spelling the end of Tuchel’s reign. It was a last-gasp moment of magic from Conor Gallagher at Selhurst Park that rescued the win against Palace – so to some extent the jury is still out as to whether all their issues on the road are solved.
Q – What would be a successful campaign for Chelsea in 2022/23?
A – As ever – Champions League football is an absolute must. I think given the upheaval at the club over the summer with the new ownership coming in and turnover of players – there was an awareness that it would take time for the new regime to settle in. Add in Thomas Tuchel’s departure and the poor start to the campaign – and a top four spot was looking potentially out of reach.
But given how well Graham Potter has settled in his short time in charge – it feels like the Blues are on track to cement their place amongst the Premier League’s elite. Manchester City still feel a distance off – but there are positive signs that this side can mix it with the best of the rest.
Q – Mason Mount and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang have been doing well in recent weeks – who are the other key players to watch out for?
A – Reece James suffered an injury scare against AC Milan but the early signs are that it’s not as serious as first feared – so if he features at the Gtech then the Bees will know they’re in for a busy night at both ends of the pitch. Another real fans’ favourite is James’ fellow defender Trevoh Chalobah – who’s been given his opportunity following the injury to big-money summer arrival Wesley Fofana. Incredibly – Chelsea have never lost a game when he’s been named in the starting line up – and he should be more than a match for Ivan Toney in terms of his physicality and pace.
And then there’s Armando Broja – who’s made a number of impressive cameo appearances – including scoring his first goal in Chelsea colours against Wolves. There are calls for him to be given a chance from the start – but his minutes are being managed along with Aubameyang and Kai Havertz. I’d expect him to feature in some capacity on Wednesday night.
Q – What impact do you think the split season will have on Chelsea and are lot of players due to be away at the World Cup?
A – The Blues have a host of international stars which means Cobham will be a very lonely place from mid-November onwards. With a core of English talent, the big question will be whether the likes of Conor Gallagher – and perhaps a shock late push from Ruben Loftus-Cheek – will join Reece James, Mason Mount, Ben Chilwell and Raheem Sterling in Gareth Southgate’s squad. The shock omission of Italy from Qatar means Jorginho will enjoy some time off – and it could be the perfect chance for young Albanian striker Armando Broja to pick up some tips from the Gabonese international Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Strangely – the enforced break that Graham Potter had at the start of his time in charge probably came at the perfect time to allow him to settle in – so another break where he gets to further scout out the youth set-up in particular at Cobham may not be the worst thing at all.
Q – What do you remember about last season’s three Bees-Blues matches?
A – It would be hard to forget (as much as Chelsea fans wish they could!) that shock 4-1 defeat at the hands of the Bees at Stamford Bridge in April. Memorable in different ways was the narrow 1-0 win back in October at the BCS – where the Blues somehow hung on despite an extraordinary barrage in the last 20 minutes or so. Edouard Mendy pulled off some stunning saves – but he’s taken a back seat to Kepa Arrizabalaga since Potter has been in charge. Chelsea were well aware they’d got incredibly lucky to come away with all three points that night.
It wasn’t plain sailing in the League Cup either through recollection – but Tuchel had made wholesale changes with a couple of players making their debuts. The Jansson own goal followed in quick succession by a Jorginho penalty sealed the deal – but the cavalry was called in off the bench to get over the line, so it was another difficult test for the Blues.
Q – Finally can you give me an expected Chelsea formation and line-up please?
A – Kepa
Chalobah Silva Koulibaly
Azpilicueta Kovacic Gallagher Cucurella
Mount Sterling
Aubameyang
If we’ve learned anything from Potter’s time at the club so far – it’s that he’s not afraid to make changes! So predicting his starting XI is a risky business. The likes of Havertz, Loftus Cheek, Chilwell, Jorginho and Pulisic are all likely to feature at some point too (and James if injury isn’t serious).
HOW TO FOLLOW THE GAME IF YOU CAN’T BE THERE
If you can’t get to the Gtech Community Stadium for Wednesday’s sold-out 7.30pm kick-off, and want Brentford commentary, audio coverage is available via the new Buzz Box, currently on a free trial.
Coverage starts half an hour before kick-off and is advert-free, with Mark Burridge, who has Jonathan Douglas alongside him on Wednesday.
There is also live commentary on BBC London Digital and online.
The match is being shown live on Amazon Prime, with coverage starting at 6.30pm.
IAN WESTBROOK
@ianwestbrook
PUBS IN BRENTFORD AND TRAVEL NEWS
For Chelsea fans coming to the Gtech Community Stadium, there are plenty of pub options pre and post-match and all are most welcoming and away-fan-friendly (as it should be).
The pub areas are split into two zones. There is the area around Brentford’s old Griffin Park stadium. The pubs there are still very busy on match day frequented by Bees locals before heading down the road to the stadium at Kew Bridge which is only 15 minutes walk.
Then there is the area in and around the stadium in Kew Bridge.
It is possible, if you have a good early start, to savour a few pubs in and around Griffin Park and Brentford zone before heading off to the pubs in the Kew zone or even vice versa if you so fancy.
Pubs in Griffin Park/Brentford zone (still very lively but easier to get a pint)
When at Griffin Park, Brentford was well known for its four pubs – one on each corner of the ground. Three are still operating.
The Griffin is closest to the old away end and has always been very popular with both home and away fans and has its regulars who still make the journey down to the new stadium from there on matchday. The New Inn is on the other side which used to also be popular with away fans before the move. The Brook pub is the other option if you want to savour a pub in and around what is left of our old home. Worth a peep if you want to reminisce about old Brentford.
About five minutes’ walk away from the old ground are two pubs which are enormously popular. The Globe (Windmill Rd) is a “lively but comfortable” pub on matchday. Incredibly friendly and cosy, it has always been popular with a selection of away fans who fancied having a beer a few minutes further walk away from the ground without having to queue six persons deep. After the move to the new ground, The Globe has retained many of lot its regulars from the Griffin Park days and with screens throughout the pub and in its sheltered beer garden, it shows both Premier League and EFL football before and after each match.
Meanwhile around the corner, The Lord Nelson (Enfield Rd) is another incredibly friendly and cosy away-friendly pubs about one minute walk from The Globe. Again with a TV screen for live sports and a lovely beer garden, this is another pub frequented by “away fans in the know”.
The other pub worth checking out in the Griffin Park region is The Black Dog Beer House, formerly The Albany, on Albany Road, if you like your real ales.
There are plenty of other pubs in and around Brentford High Street including real ale pub Magpie and Crown (Brentford High Street) and the cosy Brewery Tap (Catherine Wheel Road) near the river.
For a Griffin Park area pub crawl before heading over to Kew we recommend the following: Take the Piccadilly line to Northfields station. Turn left and walk for 2 mins and you will come to The Plough (Northfields Ave). Then walk to The Lord Nelson (10 min walk from The Plough) & then The Globe (1 min walk from The Nelson) en-route before hitting The Griffin (8 min walk from The Globe) and then The Black Dog (2 mins from The Griffin). You can also try and do the other three pubs on the corner whilst down here if you fancy.
Then you can then either walk (15 minutes from The Globe/The Nelson and The Griffin/Black Dog ) or take a train from Brentford station (which is five minutes walk away from both The Globe/The Nelson and The Griffin/Black Dog) or a bus (237/267) to Kew Bridge.
Trains run at 24 and 54 minutes past the hour to Kew Bridge from Brentford and take two minutes.
Pubs in the Kew Bridge zone (very busy on match days)
Right next to Kew Bridge station, you will find the Express Tavern – an ale pub with a retro feel. The pub has been refurbished in readiness for the new football season and needless to say, is popular before the match due to its close proximity to the stadium.
Across the road by the river is One Over the Ait – a spacious boozer right next to Kew Bridge. This pub is situated on the location of the now-demolished Oxford & Cambridge pub where Brentford Football Club was founded in 1889.
Across Kew Bridge and the River Thames, there are two pubs on Kew Green – the Cricketers and the Greyhound – very close to the pier where Brentford fans have embarked on their away journeys by water to F*lham, Orient, Charlton, West Ham and even Southend.
North of the river along hoity-toity Strand on the Green, you will find The Steam Packet, in an old Cafe Rouge, and The Bell and Crown. A bit further down are The City Barge and the Bulls Head – two pubs side-by-side in which you would often see Ant and Dec hanging out.
There is also The Pilot which you can get to coming out of the BACK entrance of Gunnersbury station and we believe the old John Bull pub at the front of the station has been refurbed as The Gunnersbury but we have never been there so can’t give it a rating.
Transport to Brentford and Kew Bridge
The simplest on paper to get to Brentford FC from town is to get the tube to Waterloo (Northern, Jubilee lines) or Vauxhall (Victoria Line) and then take the Overground train to Kew Bridge, which is right by the stadium. Brentford is one stop further on if you are on an ‘Original Griffin Park Pub’ mission.
With trains from Waterloo being only twice an hour (22 and 52) and taking 28 minutes, we normally recommend people jump on the tube from King’s Cross or Euston and head to Northfields or South Ealing on the Piccadilly Line as it is quicker (including the time getting across London and waiting at Waterloo) and trains are more frequent.
It is only 40 minutes max station by tube to station meaning you could be in a Brentford pub within an hour of embarking your train at Kings Cross, Euston or Liverpool Street.
The other station option is Gunnersbury. You can walk to the stadium from Gunnersbury tube station (District line) in 25 minutes or take a bus (H91, 237, 267, 110), but note that it is closed for entry for one hour after the match.
For the Brentford/Griffin Park pubs you can get the Piccadilly line tube to Northfields station from King’s Cross or Euston (35 minutes) then walk down to The Plough, The Globe, The Lord Nelson and The Griffin and other pubs from there.
The new stadium is around 25 minutes’ walk from South Ealing station – if you don’t fancy Gunnersbury – or you can get on the 65 bus from across the road which will drop you almost outside in 15 minutes.
You can also pick up the 65 bus from Ealing Broadway (district and central line) which will take you to the new stadium in 25 minutes.
You can check out Transport for London’s guide to travel on the Tube and Overground.
