Chelsea FC will look to get their 2015/16 season started this weekend, after a disappointing 2-2 draw with Swansea City last Saturday. The only problem is that their opponents this Sunday are Manchester City.
The Blues had a pretty atrocious pre-season. During a three-match tour of the United States, they managed to win zero games, losing to the New York Red Bulls, and drawing the fixtures with PSG and Barcelona.
The most concerning part of that trip was Diego Costa limping off with hamstring troubles in the last game. The talismanic Spaniard would then sit out the FA Community Shield and subsequent Fiorentina friendly, both of which Chelsea would lose 1-0.
Even with this, there was still hope that Jose Mourinho would sprinkle some pixie dust over the squad and everything would click into place come the opening Premier League fixture against Swansea City. It didn’t happen. Swansea could have easily won the clash too, especially after Thibaut Courtois was sent off for denying Bafetimbi Gomis a clear goalscoring opportunity.
Nevertheless, Chelsea will look to regroup and put in a much better performance at The Etihad. While my colleague Zahir Gilani reminded us that the Blues only took four points from Man City away, WBA away and Swansea at home last season, Chelsea know that 1 point from the opening two games will create a psychological chasm.
With that in mind, here is Chelsea’s predicted XI for the Man City meeting.
Next: Goalkeeper
Asmir Begovic
Didn’t think that I would be writing that so early into the season. Yep, Asmir Begovic will take up his position between the sticks on Sunday afternoon after the events of the Swansea game.
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Thibaut Courtois was shown a red card by referee Michael Oliver after clattering into Bafetimbi Gomis on the edge of his area on Saturday. While no-one really argued against his decision to award a penalty, sending off the Belgian proved a bit more controversial.
Whether or not you agree, Chelsea appealed the decision and subsequently lost, meaning that Courtois will serve his one-match suspension and be unavailable to face City this weekend.
As a result, bar some freak incident, Begovic will be handed the gloves and will start his first competitive game for Chelsea. When he came on against Swansea, he showed why the Blues spent £8million on him and I wouldn’t be too worried.
However, should Jamal Blackman for some reason be forced to play in goal instead, then there may be cause for concern.
Next: Full-Backs
Cesar Azpilicueta and Branislav Ivanovic
If we believe the most recent rumours, Chelsea have finally come to an agreement with Augsburg over a suitable fee for Baba Rahman. With personal terms already agreed, the left-back was reportedly in London yesterday to complete his medical.
Now, even if that deal is confirmed today, it seems unlikely that three days preparation will suffice to warrant the Ghanaian a starting spot for Sunday’s big game.
And that is a shame.
Unfortunately, Ivanovic continued his pre-season form and was terrible against Swansea. He was taken apart by Jefferson Montero and looked completely off the pace. It may be time that he takes a back seat at the Premier League level.
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However, Chelsea have literally no replacement and thus Ivanovic should start again. Furthermore, Mourinho may give one of the club’s most loyal servants the benefit of the doubt instead of picking the likes of Kurt Zouma in an unfamiliar right-back position.
Dave, meanwhile, has no competition at all really until Baba Rahman settles in.
Next: Centre-Backs
John Terry and Gary Cahill
While doubts circle over Terry’s ability to play week in, week out, we are too early into the season for those to be relevant.
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Additionally, the captain’s performance against Swansea did nothing to warrant being dropped while his immense experience of a big match atmosphere will be invaluable to the side on the day.
Cahill, meanwhile, is possibly more under threat from Kurt Zouma at this point in time, but again his performance against the Welsh side wasn’t particularly bad.
However, Jose Mourinho may contemplate including Zouma for a number of reasons. His pace may be vital to foiling City’s slick passing play while his physical presence is arguably greater than that of Cahill. Having said that, the Frenchman’s occasionally rash and reckless behaviour may convince him otherwise.
Next: Centre-Midfield
Nemanja Matic and John Obi Mikel
Matic is an integral part of this Chelsea squad. While he may not have found his passing range so far this season, his mere presence is enough to help the Blues break up opposition play. Only injury is likely to unseat him from his defensive midfield role.
With regard to Mikel, this choice is inspired by Mourinho’s classic tactic of just getting a point out of away games against the big four. The boss, especially since the start of his second spell at the club, has approached big matches away from home with the objective of securing a draw. Therefore, he may pick the harder-working and more defensive Mikel over Cesc Fabregas in the second midfield position.
This decision may be facilitated by Cesc’s relative ineffectiveness during last weekend’s game, and the pre-season ones before it. Ramires was originally my pick in this role, but circumstances have seemingly conspired against it as you will see in the next slides. Ruben Loftus-Cheek, meanwhile, is too inexperienced.
Next: Wings
Willian and Eden Hazard
Willian has been arguably Chelsea’s best player since they returned from their summer break. He has been pacy and eager to take on defenders, spotting passes that no-one else on the Chelsea squad is currently able to. If Mourinho is to win on Sunday afternoon, it will likely be Willian who will emerge as the man of the match.
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Eden Hazard, on the other hand, is proving to be the Zlatan Ibrahimovic of Stamford Bridge. He is capable of being on another planet in terms of his footballing ability, but sometimes literally does nothing. The FA Community Shield and the Swansea game are examples of the latter.
Having said that, as is always the case with mercurial, potentially game-changing talent, they must start every game. Especially the big ones.
Next: Attacking Midfield And Striker
Ramires and Diego Costa
Oscar was impressive last weekend, and showed his skill with the dead ball with a couple of great free-kicks. While his goal may have been fortunate to find the net, the ball itself was a great delivery. No-one is still quite sure what the (lack of) celebration was about, though. Dissent? Eric Cantona? Either way Oscar has started this season as he has done any other: in great form.
Unfortunately, Jose Mourinho said in his press conference that Oscar had picked up a knock in training and is thus a doubt. As a result, the boss may use this as an opportunity to set-up more defensively and employ Ramires is a deeper No.10 role. I would have orginally chosen Ramires alongside Matic, but with this Oscar development I reckon Jose will look to use both Ramires and Mikel.
Diego Costa should start after proving his fitness against Swansea. He played the full 90 minutes despite not featuring in the previous two pre-season fixtures and more importantly showed no obvious irritation with his hamstring. Mourinho himself said that the Spaniard was happy with how his body reacted in the subsequent days. Good news.
How do you think the Blues will line-up? Let us know in the comments below!
Next: Match Preview: Chelsea FC Look To Kick-Start Season Against Man City