Chelsea Faces Pressure to Deliver Against League One’s Lincoln City in Carabao Cup Clash
LINCOLN, UK – September 26, 2023 - Chelsea travels to Sincil Bank this Tuesday to face Lincoln City in the 1/16 final of the Carabao Cup, a match carrying significant weight for manager Enzo Maresca amid a recent run of underwhelming results. While heavily favored against the League One side, the Blues are under pressure to rediscover form and avoid further setbacks following a challenging week.
Chelsea enters the fixture needing a victory to regain momentum after a 2-2 draw with Brentford, a 3-1 loss to Bayern Munich, and a 2-1 defeat against Manchester United.These results have yielded only one point from a possible six in the Premier League and a Champions League opening-day stumble, fueling scrutiny of Maresca’s leadership. A potential elimination from the Carabao Cup could further jeopardize his position. Analyst Baptiste Couturiaux, writing for Sportytrader.com, notes the importance of the match for Maresca, suggesting a loss could “weaken the place of the former Leicester City technician.”
Lincoln City, currently third in League One, intends to capitalize on Chelsea’s vulnerability. The team boasts an impressive recent record of 12 games played with only one defeat – eight wins and three draws - and aims to disrupt the London club from the opening whistle. Manager Michael Skubala’s squad is persistent to leverage home advantage and challenge the perceived superiority of their Premier League opponents.
Despite the disparity in league standings, Lincoln City’s strong form suggests they are capable of posing problems for Chelsea. The Carabao Cup match presents an chance for both teams: for Chelsea, a chance to reset and build confidence; for Lincoln City, a potential upset and a statement of intent.
