Chelsea take face Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League knockout rounds on Wednesday evening, and Graham Potter has some important decisions to make.
Marc Cucurella of Chelsea warms up prior to the Premier League match between West Ham United and Chelsea FC (Image: Justin Setterfield)
Chelsea next travel to play Borussia Dortmund as they continue to look for their second win of the year after recording three draws in a row. The Blues utlised four of their January additions against West Ham but still saw Joao Felix’s goal ruled out thanks to former Chelsea defender Emerson Palmieri, as well as being denied a late penalty.
Felix, Enzo Fernandez, Mykhailo Mudryk, Benoit Badiashile and Noni Madueke all started the game while David Datro Fofana was on the bench against the Irons, but the latter trio will be unavailable for the trip to Germany. Graham Potter was only able to add three new players to his Champions League squad in a move that also saw Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang removed from the group to faciliate the January arrivals.
The Blues boss will see his options more limited but will have more to consider at the Westfalenstadion as a number of his injured stars continue their recovery. Kalidou Koulibaly, Denis Zakaria, Mateo Kovacic and Wesley Fofana were all involved in Monday’s training session, while Ben Chilwell continued his reintroduction to first team football with another substitute appearance at the weekend.
With changes guaranteed from Potter, football.london takes a look at some he can make
Benoit Badiashile replacement
Despite some very solid form from Badiashile, the Frenchman will not be present in Chelsea’s squad and Thiago Silva will have to find a new partner for the match. The Blues duo have formed a formidable unit in recent weeks and kept three clean sheets in four matches as a result.
Potter will need to find a new partnership for the Champions League however, and while there may be some consideration of resting Silva, the Brazilian’s form the season makes him almost certain to start after a period of more relaxed scheduling. Trevoh Chalobah, Koulibaly and Wesley Fofana will all be competing for the space alongside the Chelsea star who extended his deal last week.
Given Koulibaly’s weekend absence and Fofana having not played a competitive minute since October, Chalobah may be the way to go here even if it means shifting Silva to the left side of defence. However, it could be an opportunity for Potter to move to a back three too.
Marc Cucurella dropped
The form of Cucurella has been much debated in recent weeks with a contingent of Chelsea supporters growing frustrated. Potter has defended his charge but acknowledged he is not playing at his best form at the moment.
Generally, the Spaniard has not flourished but perhaps the extent of his woes has been a little exaggerated. However, with Chilwell having featured twice from the bench now, perhaps the time is right to take Cucurella out of the firing line to give the former Leicester star his first start since Chelsea’s last Champions League match.
Chilwell offers more going forwards and could expose the space Dortmund leave more effectively and then be substituted for his teammate if required in the second period.
Hakim Ziyech vs Mason Mount
Madueke is another player who will be required to miss out on Chelsea’s Champions League squad and Potter will have options such as Ziyech, Mount and Conor Gallagher available to deputise for the signing from PSV. All three players appeared from the bench against West Ham and will be keen for starting honours once again.
Ziyech has been well-trusted despite how close he came to departing Chelsea in January and while not the same profile as Madueke, may be the most natural fit on the right. Mount’s form has came into question in recent weeks and his benching at the weekend was much-needed, but whether returning to the starting lineup so swiftly would serve to benefit him is uncertain.
Much will depend on the shape, Potter prefers. Gallagher and Mount will be far more likely to be utlised if the Chelsea heach coach wants extra assurance in the centre of the pitch, with Joao Felix expected to start in forward role off of Kai Havertz. Particularly with the quality the likes of Jude Bellingham will bring in opposition.
source: www.football.london
