Hello and welcome back to straight out of Cobham, the Chelsea FC focus podcast from the Athletic.

After our own winter break, we're back and boy have we got a lot to catch up on.

On today's episode, we'll look back on the Blues Cruise to the FA Cup fourth round, as well as reflecting on all the games that happened whilst we were away. We'll also look ahead to the weekend's match against Burnley at the bridge, catch up on what's happening slash happened away from the men's senior team, answer your questions, and meet another cult hero. That's all to come on straight out of Cobham. Yeah, hello again, listener. Thanks for inviting us into your ears. Whether you're a first-timer or an early adopter, we're grateful that you've hit the download button. If you could like and subscribe to you, that would be delightful. I'm Matt Davis-Adams, and every week I'm joined by the athletics team of Chelsea experts.

With me today, a Liam Toomey and Dominic Fifeield, Simon Johnson's off games this week after a punishing Christmas schedule.

Chaps, the festive period pretty relentless for footballers and therefore by association us too.

Liam, I know you managed to get away, though. Generally, have you found it?

Yeah, good. I'm slightly worried now, though, about us because I think we're sort of one injury away from an injury crisis, aren't we? We gave Simon three days off, and he used that time to get ill. Don, were you working pretty much relentlessly throughout? Yeah, although the output doesn't suggest that much. But yeah, I did a few games.

I followed teams up and down the country.

And, yeah, I love it in fairness.

I love the festive period.

I know we all bemoan the fact that they play too many games and, you know, tired legs, etc.

But the Christmas without it would be pretty dull, be honest yeah agreed good stuff let's crack on with the show and we'll start with the FA Cup game against

forest we'll get to what happened premier league wise in our absence shortly but as it's freshest

in our minds let's start with the felling of forest first half goals from callum hudson-Ado and Ross Barclay, remember him? Saw Chelsea easing to the fourth round for the 22nd successive season. Liam, you were there yesterday, as was I, the kind of routine win that Frank Lampard and Co have been craving this season. Yeah, definitely, and I think that was reflected in the team that he picked, you know,

10 senior internationals. The only person who wasn't was Reese James, who will be playing for England

sooner rather than later. So it was a really strong team. I think you really got the sense that

Lamp was keenly aware that he wanted a comfortable win at Stanford Bridge. And he's also

taking the FA Cup seriously.

The message coming from Chelsea all season long

has been that while this might be a transition,

Lampard is still being judged on how competitive Chelsea are

and it's not just top four, it's being competitive on all fronts.

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