So here's a quick refresher. The Blues were in the Midlands, Aston Villa to be precise. A win was needed to guarantee a place for Thomas Tuchel's
side in the top four. Fail to achieve that and Chelsea would need a favour from, of all clubs, Tottenham Hotspur.
The game didn't go as planned. Former Blue Bertrand Traore put Villa ahead just before half time and shortly after the restart, Anwar El Ghazi converted from the penalty spot. Ben Chilwell did pull a goal back but it wasn't enough, it didn't give Chelsea what they needed.
PROMOTED STORIES
Fortunately, Tottenham overcame Leicester City at the King Power and so the Blues' top-four spot – and Champions League football – was secured even before Chelsea lifted the big-eared trophy in Portugal at the end of May.
The point of this history lesson is the following: Aston Villa can't be underestimated when they visit Stamford Bridge on Saturday. Dean Smith's side has the quality to claim a result if Chelsea are not in the right frame of mind.
And that can happen after an international break. Players are weary, both mentally and physically, from travelling across continents. Some may not even return to Chelsea's training base at Cobham until Friday morning, barely 24 hours before the clash with Villa begins.
These are all factors Thomas Tuchel has to consider when picking his starting XI. There are also fitness concerns for the German to contend with.
Yet all being well, many of the positions within the side are easy to fill. Edouard Mendy, having produced an excellent display in the 1-1 draw against Liverpool last time out, will keep his place in the Chelsea goal.
Cesar Azpilicueta, fresh off captaining Spain for the first time, should be rested for this one and that would allow Trevoh Chalobah to start on the right of the back three. Antonio Rudiger will take his spot on the left.
0 comments:
Post a Comment