Mateo Kovacic has come in for N’Golo Kante, who is not fit enough to make the bench as Chelsea prepare to take on Aston Villa at Villa Park.
Thomas Tuchel has made just one change to the side that started in the game against Leicester City as Chelsea get set to lock horns with Aston Villa at Villa Park. There are no shuffles in goal, though, with Edouard Mendy retaining his spot ahead of Kepa Arrizabalaga.
The five defenders all keep hold of their places as well, and it will be interesting to see if Reece James or captain Cesar Azpilicueta is deployed in the three-man central defensive unit, where Thiago Silva and Antonio Rudiger are certainties. The status of Ben Chilwell’s position is certain as well, with the Englishman set to start as the left wing-back.
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The first and only change to the starting lineup comes in the midfield unit, with N’Golo Kante not deemed to be fit enough to even be named as a substitute. In the Frenchman’s stead, Mateo Kovacic returns to make his first start since early April, with Jorginho his central midfield partner.
Finally, the attacking trifecta is unchanged as well, with Timo Werner likely to be leading the line for Chelsea against Aston Villa, with Mason Mount and Christian Pulisic playing off of him. In some pleasing update, Kai Havertz is fit enough to make the bench.
Chelsea Starting Lineup: Mendy, Azpilicueta, Silva, Rudiger, James, Kovacic, Jorginho, Chilwell, Mount, Werner, Pulisic
