Chelsea Set for Tough Times Post International Break With Gruelling Fixture List After Slow Start

• Chelsea are having a slow start to the Premier League season, with just four points from four games
• The Blues lost to Nottingham Forest at Stamford Bridge this weekend after wastefulness cost them
• Pochettino's men can enjoy some breathing space during the international break, but more challenging times await

It would be appropriate to call Chelsea the wicked, as the Bible passage says 'no rest for the wicked'. The international break will perhaps give breathing space to the struggling Blues, but tougher times await.

Mauricio Pochettino is not finding it easy as the new Chelsea boss. After five competitive games, he has amassed just four points in four Premier League games and progressed to the third round of the Carabao Cup.

According to SportBible, the points tally after four league games is the Blues' worst start to a Premier League season since the 1995/96 season as pressure builds on Pochettino to turn it around.

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Tougher times await for Chelsea

The international break for September couldn't have come at a better time for The Blues, as it affords some more time for injured players to recover, particularly Benoit Badiashile and Armando Broja.

It won't get easier for the team after the break; a run of four fixtures against Bournemouth, Aston Villa, Fulham, and Burnley awaits in the league, with the Carabao Cup third-round game against Brighton in between.

The October break then sets in, but what lies on the other end of it is even more tricky for the Londoners - three consecutive London derbies against Arsenal, Brentford, and Tottenham are followed by a visit to the Etihad to play champions Manchester City.

Each time it appears like the team is choking, a break saves the day, only for games to resume and new rounds of fixtures to come, with tough games against Newcastle United, Brighton, and Manchester United following the November break.

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Speaking to Chelsea TV after the loss to Forest, Pochettino expressed disappointment and lamented his team's lack of cutting edge in front of goal, but also saw some positives in their play.

Tough October awaits Arsenal

Chelsea are not the only ones facing difficult months ahead. Their London rivals, Arsenal, have a tough October to look come after they returned to the UEFA Champions League after eight years, as Sports Brief reported.

Mikel Arteta's men face two away trips in the Champions League and a tough game against Manchester City, who pipped them to the title last season, amongst other fixtures.