Mauricio Pochettino has just nine Chelsea veteran players to pull from as his team prepares to face Tottenham on Thursday night. Axel Disasi and Thiago Silva have now added their names to the Blues’ absentee list, meaning a defensive restructuring is in the works at Stamford Bridge. Express Sport looks at how Pochettino’s side could line up. . .
Goalkeeper: Djordje Petrovic
While Robert Sanchez is still in partial formation with the team, Petrovic remains between Pochettino’s posts. Chelsea have been connected with a number of goalkeepers ahead of the summer transfer window, and the 24-year-old will be keen to explain why he deserves to stay. . 1 opposite Spurs.
Defenders: Alfie Gilchrist, Trevoh Chalobah, Benoit Badiashile, Marc Cucurella
Silva has announced that he will leave Chelsea at the end of the season, and the Brazilian foreigner may have already played his last game for the club after suffering an injury last week. With Disasi also sent off, Pochettino will count on Gilchrist to intervene and start his second league game.
Chalobah will play his natural role at centre-back, with Cucurella at left-back while Ben Chilwell continues his rehab programme.
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Midfielders: Conor Gallagher, Moises Caicedo, Cole Palmer
With Enzo Fernandez recently undergoing surgery, Gallagher and Caicedo are very likely to remain Chelsea’s double pivot until the end of the season. The duo have behaved well together before and they hope Palmer can find his common thread from the central areas. Cesare Casadei may offer a choice option in the dugout, and the former Leicester City loanee will likely be the most experienced player in the Blues’ dugout despite being just 21 years old.
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Forwards: Noni Madueke, Nicolas Jackson, Mykhaylo Mudryk
Pochettino will rely on his Chelsea top three to step up his efforts in the coming weeks, with doubts over trios. Madueke has shown promise in his recent appearances and showed he has a lot to offer the Blues, scoring his fourth goal of the season last weekend.
The Blues are firmly looking for offensive reinforcements this summer and Jackson and Mudryk are among the stars who could be replaced by new signings. With European football at stake, the duo will have to prove their worth before the end of the season. or threatens to warm up the bench next season.
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