Chelsea kick off their Convention League marketing campaign with a go to from Swiss facet Servette on Thursday night.
Within the first leg of their play-off, Chelsea will probably be trying to construct a wholesome lead they’ll take to Geneva subsequent week. If the Blues can conquer their opponents over two legs, they’ll attain the newly expanded league section of the Convention League for the 2024/25 season.
Enzo Maresca’s facet will probably be monumental favourites for Thursday’s assembly and rightly so, however confidence is hardly at an all-time excessive in west London. An iffy pre-season tour of the USA, a questionable switch window and an underwhelming 2-0 defeat to Manchester Metropolis of their opening Premier League fixture imply there’s already stress on the previous Leicester Metropolis coach.
Right here is how he may line Chelsea up for Thursday’s duel.
GK: Filip Jorgensen – The summer time signing might be handed his aggressive debut for the Blues, with Robert Sanchez maybe reserved for the Premier League. The previous Villarreal stopper will probably be determined to make a constructive first impression.
RB: Malo Gusto – Reece James is just suspended in home competitors however the English defender is unsurprisingly combating harm, which means Gusto could also be requested to step in as soon as extra.
CB: Benoit Badiashile – With Wesley Fofana a shock omission from the squad to face Servette, there’s a probability Badiashile comes into the beginning XI. The Frenchman’s standing within the hierarchy of Chelsea’s gazillion central defenders is ready to develop into clearer within the close to future.
CB: Levi Colwill – The left-footed defender endured a tricky battle with Erling Haaland on the weekend however ought to have issues simpler in opposition to a Servette facet who’ve misplaced three of their final 5 matches.
LB: Renato Veiga – The versatile defender got here on for Marc Cucurella in opposition to Man Metropolis, with the latter struggling a slight knock late within the match. Veiga may fill in in opposition to Servette, a facet he is aware of nicely given his Basel connections.
DM: Kiernan Dewsbury-Corridor – Whereas not a defensive midfielder, Dewsbury-Corridor may operate in a deep-lying position in opposition to Servette. Probably being handed his first begin for the Blues, he must make a fast begin to life at Stamford Bridge given the immense competitors for locations in midfield.
DM: Romeo Lavia – Chelsea’s strongest performer in opposition to his outdated employers Man Metropolis, Lavia has made a formidable begin underneath Maresca. After being taken off early in opposition to the champions, he may make solely his second Chelsea begin this Thursday.
RW: Cole Palmer – Chelsea’s reliance on Palmer was alarming final season and so they might lean on the attacker within the early days of the Maresca period. He is nonetheless the shining gentle in an ever-changing squad.
AM: Christopher Nkunku – The Frenchman struggled in opposition to Man Metropolis off the left-hand facet and will function in behind a central striker on Thursday. That attacking midfield position is the place he thrives and he ought to pull the strings in opposition to Servette.
LW: Pedro Neto – The £54m summer time signing appeared vigorous after coming off the bench on the weekend and he will probably be licking his lips on the prospect of opening his Chelsea account on Thursday.
ST: Marc Guiu – The 18-year-old confirmed glimpses of his potential throughout pre-season and has a chance to point out Maresca why he deserves to be a part of Chelsea’s squad for the 2024/25 marketing campaign.
