Hiddink calls for Chelsea to recreate title-winning performances

Would you rather your team focus on the league?

There’s no shame in MK Dons being defeated easily by the reigning Premier League champions, but this was a ludicrously poor defensive performance from the home side.

While there’s an extensive lower league programme, the FA Cup takes centre stage this weekend, creating another opportunity for one of those yearned-for upsets capable of cheering the nation’s football fans. MK Dons is the same team who won 4-0 against Manchester United in 2014 and could surprise the Blues on Sunday. They should both start in Chelsea’s central midfield against MK Dons, but Matić shouldn’t start as he struggled to defend the midfield against Arsenal’s quick players.

It’s unlikely manager Karl Robinson will rest his key players, but it’d be understandable if they weren’t giving this game its full attention.

The gulf in class between these two clubs obviously dictates the way the market is shaped, and even allowing for the fact that Chelsea have been a shadow of the title-winning side from last season they thoroughly deserve to be strong favourites.

Asked if MK Dons have another Alli in their midst, Robinson said: “If we had, our chairman (Pete Winkelman) would be doing cartwheels”.

MK Dons will put their troubles in the Championship aside as they look to follow in the footsteps of Bradford City and hand a giant killing to Hiddink’s side.

Chelsea have just signed another striker by the name of Alexander Pato and he is very talented and we just have to wait and see how he handles himself playing in England and in the Premier league.

“We know if they’re at their best they can beat anybody in the world”.

“We had some half-chances and there were moments where we were close, but we just couldn’t find the back of the net”.

Diego Costa was denied by an excellent save from David Martin then Oscar shot wide from inside the MK Dons box.

Writing on his blog for Titanbet, Barnes said: “The Dons are doing well in cup competitions, but I think with the way Chelsea’s season is going the FA Cup will have taken real importance”.

George Baldock has returned following his loan spell at Oxford, but is cup-tied after featuring against Swansea, while Matthew Upson (hamstring), Ben Reeves (thigh) and Carl Baker (ankle) are out.