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Think Chelsea will be taking it easy on Sporting Lisbon because today's match is 'meaningless'? Think again. So says Filipe Luis, at any rate:
The fact we’ve already qualified doesn’t affect our mindset, not when you play for a big club like Chelsea. You have to always give your best because if you sleep for one second maybe tomorrow you’re not going to be here. The pressure is really high on us and so we have to keep the level really high. Winning this game is the best thing we can do. We’re ready for it.
-Source: ChelseaFC.com.
With top spot secured, Blues will be rotating heavily for this evening. But, perversely, that might make them more dangerous. Those who haven't had a look in at the first XI for a while will be determined to prove a point, and we've already seen how excited Ruben Loftus-Cheek is by the prospect of getting on the pitch. Everyone involved will be well up for the match, which might not have been the case if the regular team was asked to go out there and go through the motions.
All of which is bad news for Sporting, who stand only two points above Schalke 04 going into the final matchday. If they want to advance, they'll have to either get a result at Stamford Bridge or hope Maribor do them a favour in Slovenia. Either way, a fired up Chelsea side is not really what our guests are looking for.