2 Ways Chelsea Can Line-Up For Premier League Opener Without 6 Key Players Revealed
Chelsea will be missing 6 key players to kick off the season owing to their incredible performances at the international level.
Having just finished their season in the Euro and Copa America finals on July 10th and 11th, Jorginho, Emerson, Mount, James, Chilwell and Thiago Silva will all get a good 3 weeks off to recuperate before coming back to club football.
Therefore, considering they are unlikely to be back and up to speed for the first game of the Premier League season against Crystal Palace on August 14, Chelsea would use a makeshift line-up against the Eagles.
With that being said, below is a look at 2 different ways Thomas Tuchel could choose to pick his team based on who impresses in pre-season and stays at the club.
Option 1
This line-up would be the best available performers based on last season and would probably be the safest option should none of the other 6 players be ready.
Here, Zouma, Christensen, and Rudiger already have a rapport and would fit in seamlessly next to one another in defense.
Kante and Kovacic will both have a chip on their shoulder following a disappointing Euros and Hudson-Odoi is a perfectly capable right-wing-back.
Finally, upfront, 3 of Chelsea’s mega signings of the last summer window could start together and the way he has been playing lately, there’s really no displacing Havertz from the starting XI.
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Option 2
In our option 2, let’s assume that Kurt Zouma is to be sold this summer, a surprise addition in Malang Sarr could make his debut on opening day.
Sarr is highly rated and if he can impress in pre-season, should be able to start making a mark on the Blues starting this season itself.
While highly-rated youngster Tino Livramento could be the man to fill in at right wing-back as he looks to follow Reece James and have a breakout year himself.
On the other hand, Tammy Abraham and his disagreements with Tuchel have been a topic for a while now but if he can impress, he could well be looking at starting the first game spearheading Chelsea’s attack.
What’s your opinion?
