Rotherham’s Final Four? Chelsea Have Other Ideas
Chelsea and Rotherham United meet in a Champions League semi-final first leg on 29 April, with a place in the final at stake over two matches.
A place in the UEFA Champions League final is the prize when Chelsea host Rotherham United on 29 April, but neither side can settle the argument in one night. The first leg begins a two-match semi-final, with the return at Rotherham on 7 May.
Chelsea lead the English Premier Division with 85 points from 31 games, while third-placed Rotherham have 61 from 33. Chelsea have won 28 of their 31 league games, drawing one and losing two; Rotherham have won 19, drawn four and lost ten in 33.
Their domestic positions are no guide to a European tie in which Rotherham have already shown they can trouble the Blues: they beat Chelsea 2-1 on 5 January. Chelsea answered with a 3-0 win at Rotherham on 15 March, after taking a 4-0 home victory last August.
Antonio López and Norberto Pico are now with Chelsea after spells at Rotherham, while Tony Konneh is on the other side after ten seasons at Chelsea. None will need reminding that this is more than a league meeting.
Chelsea come into the week after beating Newcastle United 1-0 in the English FA Cup on 20 April, but their immediate focus is Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier Division on 23 April. Pablo Ferrer, a regular at centre-forward, is out with whiplash. The larger test follows: two legs, English rivals, and a final within reach for whoever gets the better of the other.