Estevao Willian and Liam Delap will return to the Chelsea starting lineup when they welcome Pafos FC to Stamford Bridge on Wednesday.
Chelsea will be eager to return to winning ways in the UEFA Champions League when they host Pafos FC at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night. Liam Rosenior has a new injury concern to worry about ahead of his side’s latest fixture.
Tosin Adarabioyo is the latest absentee after picking up a hamstring injury this past weekend in the game against Brentford. The former Fulham defender has joined Levi Colwill (knee), Romeo Lavia (hamstring), and Dario Essugo (thigh) in the treatment room.
Additionally, Rosenior is sweating over the fitness of Malo Gusto, Enzo Fernandez, Jamie Gittens, and Estevao Willian, with the quartet recovering from an illness. Mykhailo Mudryk’s suspension continues, as he failed a doping test over a year ago. Meanwhile, during his pre-match press conference, Rosenior provided fitness updates on the players who have been recovering from the illness.
The Chelsea boss said, “Enzo Fernandez was ill yesterday – he missed training – and there were signs of it during the game against Brentford, which goes to show the type of performance that he put in. Fortunately, Estevao has been back in training. Jamie Gittens is back in. Malo Gusto is back involved, which is great, as he’s another outstanding player.”
“There are a few coughs but the players are working really, really hard. It’s not just at this club – many clubs at this time of year, you’re going to get that. So, it’s about making sure the players are right for the game tomorrow. Enzo trained today, but none of those lads [who’ve been ill] are 100 per cent, it’s a bad illness.”
“We’ll make a decision on Enzo tomorrow and what he looks like in terms of starting or from the bench. Tosin won’t be available for this game. Unfortunately for Tosin he felt something in his hamstring, which is going to rule him out for the next few weeks. I can’t be anymore precise than that at this moment in terms of any timelines.”
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 Pafos FC on Wednesday. The backline will feature Josh Acheampong, Wesley Fofana, Benoit Badiashile, and Jorrel Hato.
As for the midfield unit, Andrey Santos will join Moises Caicedo in the double pivot, with Joao Pedro reprising the no. 10 role. Finally, Liam Delap will lead the line for the home side against Pafos FC, with Tyrique George and Estevao being the two wide attackers. So, Alejandro Garnacho, Pedro Neto, and Cole Palmer will be backup options on the bench for the Blues.
Predicted Chelsea XI: Sanchez; Acheampong, Fofana, Badiashile, Hato; Caicedo, Santos; Estevao, Pedro, George; Delap