Andrey Santos will replace Moises Caicedo in the Chelsea starting lineup when they take on Leeds United at Elland Road on Wednesday.
Chelsea will be eager to return to winning ways in the Premier League when they lock horns with Leeds United at Elland Road on Wednesday. Enzo Maresca has a new roster issue to worry about ahead of his side’s latest fixture.
Moises Caicedo is the latest absentee after being sent off in the game against Arsenal this past weekend. Meanwhile, Levi Colwill (knee), Dario Essugo (thigh), and Romeo Lavia (hamstring) remain in the treatment room.
Additionally, Mykhailo Mudryk is indefinitely unavailable after failing a doping test several months ago. Meanwhile, during his pre-match press conference, Maresca provided fitness updates on Cole Palmer, Essugo, and Lavia. The Italian tactician also revealed that Reece James will get some rest on Wednesday.
The Chelsea manager said, “He [Palmer] is available. the last game, Cole was on the bench but with ten players, it was more complicated for Cole [to return] as he needs to come back to a [full] fitness condition. He is available and can start the game. The idea with him is to start giving him minutes until he is ready to play 90 minutes.”
“Romeo is still trying to recover. Dario, he was okay and started some sessions with us. Now he needs to slow down a little bit so he will be out again, hopefully nothing important. The rest are all fine. I would like to start him [James], but we need to do the right thing.”
Robert Sanchez is an automatic pick between the sticks, with Chelsea lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him against Leeds United on Wednesday. The backline will feature Malo Gusto, Tosin Adarabioyo, Trevoh Chalobah, and Marc Cucurella. So, Reece James and Wesley Fofana will get some rest this midweek.
As for the midfield unit, Andrey Santos will deputise for Caicedo as Enzo Fernandez’s partner in the double pivot. Joao Pedro will reprise the no. 10 role, with Estevao Willian and Pedro Neto being the two wide attackers. Finally, Liam Delap will lead the line for the away side against Leeds United on Wednesday. So, Cole Palmer will be a backup option on the bench for the Blues.
Predicted Chelsea XI: Sanchez; Gusto, Adarabioyo, Chalobah, Cucurella; Andrey Santos, Enzo Fernandez; Estevao, Joao Pedro, Neto; Delap
