Chelsea to suffer defeat on their opening game of the season?

After achieving a solid and respectable run with the Italian national side among Euro 2016 this summer, Chelsea’s newly installed manager certainly has a lot to contend with down at Stamford Bridge throughout the upcoming domestic campaign.

 

Antonio Conte has nonetheless drafted in both Michy Batshuayi and N’Golo Kante, of Olympique Marseille and Leicester City respectively, to aid Chelsea's cause across the new season – and without the potential burden of Champions League football hanging above Blues fans this term – perhaps the new boss at Stamford Bridge could be in for a strong season after all.

 

But can the Blues really sustain the ever-lofty expectations of their fans throughout the 2016/17 campaign, or will Chelsea simply falter once more – starting with an opening-game defeat to Slaven Bilic’s West Ham United?

 

Although most Chelsea supporters remain optimistic ahead of their opening fixture of the 2016/17 season…

 

Easy start for chelsea expecting a easy 3-0 win on the opening day..

— Abdullah (@MainManAbduIIah) 15 June 2016

 

…some Blues fans find themselves slightly apprehensive over their club’s perceived lack of transfer activity so far this summer…

 

Conte needs to make MORE SIGNINGS!! Come on chelsea we need more

— Christian (@Chris_ioannou95) 9 August 2016

 

The newly sourced likes of Batshuayi and Kante could nonetheless serve to damage the Hammers’ hopes of causing a potential upset this evening…

 

Somehow it looks like Kanté and Batshuayi were glorious business. Best PL player plus French league top goalscorer for less than 65m.

— Lewis Stamford (@TheStamfordShow) 26 July 2016

 

…but whether or not the vast majority of West Ham fans agree, remains another matter altogether…

 

West Ham will beat Chelsea and lose to Bournmouth thats the West Ham way

— Owen (@OwenPayet) 12 August 2016

 

Without that all-important marquee striker signing however, an opening game victory could be much easier said than done…

 

Only West Ham would talk about signing a top striker and then sign a winger and pretend he's the striker

— West Ham Family (@westhamfam) 11 August 2016

 

Whilst tonight’s match is likely to prove a rather captivating contest one way or another…

 

I think Chelsea & West Ham will be a great game tomorrow, out of all the clubs I think they will be ready

— Sazz (@newganix) 14 August 2016

 

…perhaps Chelsea may ultimately need one or two matches of bedding-in time before truly getting to grips with their new Italian manager, Antonio Conte…

 

Conte: 'It's a derby and we know these games are very tough, but we want to play, start the season and give satisfaction to our fans.' #CFC

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) 12 August 2016