Chelsea starting XI vs. Man U: Another start for Gilmour, Guehi and James
By George Perry
Frank Lampard is continuing what he started against Grimsby Town, bringing Billy Gilmour and Marc Guehi back into the starting XI. A few other Chelsea regulars will enjoy a night off against Manchester United, as well.
Frank Lampard knows what he wants out of the Carabao Cup: a chance for his youngest youth to play and a chance for his nearly overworked regulars to have a night on the bench. That Chelsea are playing Manchester United is not much of a concern.
Billy Gilmour, Marc Guehi and Reece James reunite in the starting XI for the first time since the tie against Grimsby Town. Callum Hudson-Odoi, Christian Pulisic and Michy Batshuayi line up in the front, rewarding the latter two for their recent performances and continuing with Hudson-Odoi’s full integration to the regular XI.
The midfield will be the most interesting part to watch, though. Gilmour and Ross Barkley formed the double pivot against Grimsby Town. The two complemented each other reasonably well, as Gilmour played deeper and Barkley has the attacking focus. Chelsea had an endlessly inventive and experimental midfield rotation (even that word has too much structure) against Grimsby Town.
Barkley is injured, so this time Gilmour is joined by Mateo Kovacic and Jorginho. Kovacic and Jorginho each have their well-defined attributes in bringing the play out of Chelsea’s defensive third. Once established in possession, Kovacic and Jorginho have both been staying high, with Jorginho sitting slightly deeper to pass and Kovacic looking to run between the lines.
Kovacic and Jorginho imply that Gilmour will be the deepest-lying midfielder, a role that Jorginho has nominally played. With Gilmour, Chelsea will have not just a deep-lying midfielder (a positionally-based term), but a defensive midfielder (a functionally-based term). Gilmour also has a wider passing range over longer distances and more creative angles than Jorginho, or at least he did against Grimsby Town.
With an opponent like Manchester United, this could be a test of Gilmour’s readiness to become a deputy for N’Golo Kante. Jorginho has been somewhat place-holding for Kante throughout the season, and it has left the Blues with all sorts and shapes of space between midfield and defence. Bringing Gilmour into the side will alleviate Jorginho’s defensive duties, allowing him to focus on pointing, shouting and one-touch passing. With Kante’s injury spells seemingly frequent and prolonged, a proper option to replace him is no longer optional: Chelsea need a player to connect the defence and midfield in possession, and screen the defence in transition.
If Chelsea are sufficiently ahead in the late stages of the game, Frank Lampard has one more debut up his sleeve if he so chooses: Tariq Lamptey is on the bench. For purposes of rest, experience and making everyone feel like they are part of the team, Lampard will surely hope to bring use Lamptey, Pedro and Olivier Giroud as his subs.
Next. Predictions vs. Man U: We know who's really at the wheel. dark