Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel has the luxury
of a fully-fit squad for his side’s second leg of their Champions League
quarter-final bout with Porto on Tuesday.
Goalkeeper Edouard Mendy claimed his seventh successive Champions
League win in a 2-0 first leg triumph, and another win here would see him go
level with Fabien Barthez as the goalkeeper with the most consecutive Champions
League victories at an English club.
Tuchel had to make do without Thiago Silva at the weekend due to
suspension, but the well-rested Brazilian could be rotated into the defence as
Kurt Zouma makes way, while Andreas Christensen will hope to earn a start over
Antonio Rudiger.
N’Golo Kante was fit enough to appear as a substitute in the
win at Selhurst Park, and with Tuchel aiming to keep his players fresh before
the weekend’s battle with Manchester City, Kante is in contention to start over
Jorginho.
In line with Tuchel’s policy of shuffling the pack, Reece
James and Marcos Alonso could feature out wide in place of Callum Hudson-Odoi
and Ben Chilwell, despite the latter’s crucial goal in the first leg in Seville.
Mason Mount is simply undroppable right
now, but Tuchel may not be prepared to risk Christian Pulisic again after his
recent injury worries – despite his brace at the weekend – so Hakim Ziyech is
in line to occupy a spot behind the striker.
Who that striker may be is up for debate, as Kai Havertz enjoyed
one of his best games in a Chelsea shirt against Crystal Palace, while Timo
Werner, Tammy Abraham and Olivier Giroud are waiting in the wings. Given the
latter’s former success in Seville, and overall strong form in this season’s
tournament, he may be chosen to lead the line.
Chelsea possible starting lineup:
Mendy; Azpilicueta, Silva, Christensen; James, Kovacic, Kante,
Alonso; Ziyech, Mount; Giroud
No comments