Ancelotti to Drop Chelsea Experience?

Rumours have emerged after Carlo Ancelotti's press conference ahead of Chelsea's home game with Blackburn that the Italian might drop the out-of-form Michael Essien and Didier Drogba in favour of youth players Josh McEachran and Daniel Sturridge, who both impressed in last weekend's demolition of Ipswich Town in the FA Cup.

With the Londoners out of sorts in the league and Blackburn having won their last three, the game is sure to be high tempo, but Chelsea have a fantastic record against Blackburn, particularly at home, and I have them down to win the game in this week's predictions.

It would be a huge shock, in my eyes, if Drogba in particular was left out, given he was the Premier League's top scorer last season and hassles defences even when he doesn't play well.

There's been some speculation over who will start up front, but Ancelotti can't afford any slip ups.

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It would be a huge boost for Blackburn if the Ivorian's name is missing from the team sheet and Chelsea can't afford to hand away any advantage with the way their playing.

A loss of form from the striker would seem a good reason to drop him, but surely if they are to muster any title challenge, Drogba has to be playing and he has to find his form.

That might only come with game time and surely there are enough goals in a Chelsea side for whom Nicolas Anelka hasn't scored in the league since they travelled to Blackburn in October.

Similar might be said of both Florent Malouda and Frank Lampard, although the England international has been injured, who have both scored only once in the same time period.

You would think that this form, which has seen Chelsea take seven points from the last 27 available, only 10 less than they lost in the whole of last season.

Maybe Ancelotti has something up his sleeve, or maybe he's been told to change things by Roman Abramovic, who has been strangely quiet since Russia won the 2018 bid, despite the manager saying they need to buy a centre back.

Perhaps that centre back could be someone of the stature of Christopher Samba, who will again skipper Rovers today despite criticising the club's new owners, Venky's, and their lack of communication with the players.

Florent Malouda had a fantastic start to the season but, like several other Chelsea players, has gone off the boil over the last month.

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It will be interesting to see how the Stamford Bridge crowd react to the introduction of youth tomorrow, if the gaffer decides for it, which I don't think he can afford to with his job seemingly on the line amongst the managerial chop and changing in England's top flight.

It's been some time since the Blues really clicked in the league and tomorrow is a fantastic chance to re-start their season and really turn it on.

Will Drogba start later? What will the score be? Please discuss below.