Chelsea are undoubtedly among the favourites to win the UEFA Conference League this season but Enzo Maresca’s men can’t be complacent.
The Blues will be taking on a Gent side who have started the season in good form, sitting 3rd in the Belgian Pro League table after 9 games.
It won’t stop Maresca from ringing the changes, though, and you would expect most (if not all) of the players who faced Barrow in the Carabao Cup last week to feature in some capacity.
Press the next page as we predict Chelsea’s starting lineup to take on Gent at Stamford Bridge on Thursday night.
Goalkeeper and Defence
GK – Filip Jorgensen – will be keen to make his case to Maresca that he should be first choice after Sanchez’s two errors against Brighton.
RB – Axel Disasi – The Frenchman didn’t play well the last time he started at fullback so there’s a chance that Maresca will pick Josh Acheampong instead.
CB – Tosin Adarabioyo – harshly dropped for the Brighton match so will be keen to prove that was a mistake against Gent.
CB – Benoit Badiashile – doubts remain about the defender and he needs to show significant improvements if he is not to be written of as a poor signing.
LB – Renato Veiga – has looked composed in his opening few outings for the club since his arrival in the summer. Has the physicality to cope with the English game too.
Midfield
CM – Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall – it’s fair to say it’s been an underwhelming start to the midfielder’s Chelsea career and he will need to show more if he wants to start in league matches.
CM – Cesare Casadei – The decision to leave Romeo Lavia out of the Conference League squad was unfortunate as he could do with the minutes after his hamstring injury.
Moises Caicedo needs to be rested so this could be another opportunity for Casadei to impress after also being given a run-out against Barrow.
AM – Joao Felix – performed very well on his last start but he’s got a tough task on his hands getting past Cole Palmer.
Forwards
RW – Pedro Neto – Noni Madueke is currently in possession of the jersey for league games but the Portuguese international can stake his claim for more minutes by impressing in the Conference League.
CF – Christopher Nkunku – the forward has 6 goals in 9 appearances this season so he can’t do much more to catch the eye.
Nkunku will be hoping if he gets on the scoresheet again versus Gent, it will persuade Maresca to start him at the weekend against Nottingham Forest too.
LW – Mykhailo Mudryk – the Ukrainian looked lively against Barrow but consistency is the key for him if he wants to start ahead of Jadon Sancho.
0 Comments