Enzo Maresca will ring in the changes when Chelsea and Panathinaikos lock horns at the Athens Olympic Stadium on Thursday.
Chelsea will be eager to return to winning ways and continue a fine start to the UEFA Europa Conference League campaign when they take on Panathinaikos at the Athens Olympic Stadium on Thursday evening. And Enzo Maresca does not have any new injury concerns hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture.
Maresca has a full-strength squad at his disposal, with only Cole Palmer, Romeo Lavia, and Wesley Fofana missing due to their exclusion from the UEFA Europa Conference League squad. Meanwhile, the away side’s travelling squad includes youngsters like Lucas Bergstrom Samuel Rak-Sakyi, Tyrique George, and Shumaira Mheuka.
Maresca discussed the goalkeeping situation during his pre-match press conference. While Filip Jorgensen was not in the matchday squad to take on Liverpool this past weekend, he is fit and available to take on Panathinaikos on Thursday. The Italian tactician also spoke about Mykhailo Mudryk, who did not feature in the group against Liverpool.
“Yes, he is available and is going to play,” the Chelsea manager said on Jorgensen before speaking about Mudryk, saying, “What I can say is we try to work with Misha every day and hopefully he can get better and better day by day with us.”
“It is more or less the same situation as Joao [Felix] as he is doing well but there are other players who are doing well too. The important thing in this moment is for him – and for the rest of the players – is that when they get the chance, they take it.”
Filip Jorgensen will take his spot between the sticks, with Chelsea lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him against Panathinaikos. The backline will feature Axel Disasi, Tosin Adarabioyo, Benoit Badiashile, and Renato Veiga.
As for the midfield unit, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Cesare Casadei should pair up in the double pivot. Joao Felix will reprise the no. 10 role, with Mykhailo Mudryk and Pedro Neto being the two wide attackers. Finally, there is no looking past Christopher Nkunku as the central striker.
Predicted Chelsea XI: Jorgensen; Disasi, Tosin, Badiashile, Veiga; Casadei, Dewsbury-Hall; Neto, Felix, Mudryk; Nkunku
