Pat Nevin: What Chelsea need against AC Milan and the ex-player factor - chelsea fc

Having watched Chelsea start a busy month with a win, Chelsea legend Pat Nevin gives his thoughts on the late show at Crystal Palace, ponders the curse of the returning player, and anticipates a special Stamford Bridge night I have been saying for quite a few weeks now this season’s Premier League could be the most interesting it has been for many, many years. Yes, the top of the league is currently populated by the usual suspects, Liverpool apart, but that hides the fact there is a fearlessness coursing throughout the entire division. Graham Potter was right at the centre of it all before he came to Chelsea, with his Brighton side showing absolutely no dread wherever he took them. They appear to be carrying on in the same style now he has gone, with Klopp, Anfield and the Kop the latest to get the treatment at the weekend by Trossard and co. Patrick Vieira’s Crystal Palace showed the same level of disregard for our status by bravely putting out an ultra-attacking line-up at Selhurst Park. It underlined how difficult it is going to be for just about anyone to string a run of wins together this season. Arsenal have got off to a flyer, and well done them, but they too fought hard to get past Palace on the road earlier in the season, and they came a cropper in their first real test away from home, at Manchester United.It will be a trial on the road every week. A certain amount of belief, confidence and resolve will be needed every single time, but also a willingness to keep on going right to the end. Scoring in the last minute sometimes feels like luck, but it is amazing how often over the years good teams manage to break down resistance right at the death. Kai Havertz in the 88th minute to win us three points against West Ham was a great example, but it seems to be a season when huge, match-changing events happen time and again in the dying embers of games. Effort throughout, and indeed good tactical and personnel changes late on, will be crucial this season.