Chelsea goes into the FA Cup needing all the rest they can get during this run. Momentum is desperately needed for it too though.
Chelsea really needs whatever momentum they can get going into this crazy month. The Blues also need to take whatever rest they can get through rotation or otherwise. Hull City is a beatable opponent, but the FA Cup remains Chelsea’s best chance for silverware and the Blues will want to take no chances given their current form. Frank Lampard needs to decide how much is enough to get past Hull City to advance.
Willy Caballero, Keeper, 13, Argentina
Listen, it is a cup against a Championship side. That should be enough to justify Caballero for a day. But honestly, has he not just earned a chance in general? Sure, maybe Lampard and staff still trust in the potential of Kepa Arrizabalaga over the long term. There is scant evidence of that right now however. Caballero deserves a shot against Hull and, crazy as it may be, maybe more.
Cesar Azpilicueta, Right back, 28, Spain
Lampard said Reece James should be ready to go for the weekend match but there is really little need to risk him. Let the crossing machine have his day off and let the captain get to work on his “natural side” as much as that means anything anymore. Azpilicueta can hopefully push the side into the next round by sheer force of will.
Kurt Zouma, Center back, 15, France
Lampard has done some weird stuff at center back as of late. On the one hand, he has stabilized and gone with one partnership again. On the other, it is the complete opposite of the one that worked earlier in the season (even if it may have been injury enforced). Andreas Christensen and Antonio Rudiger are not quite cutting it together, so it is time to bring back the oldies but the goodies.
Fikayo Tomori, Center back, 29, England
Tomori’s sudden disappearance from the first team squad is perhaps the strangest thing about Chelsea right now. Is he suffering from a mysterious injury like Ross Barkley was in the first half of the season? Did he just fall out of favor? Regardless, it seems high time Tomori returns to the XI to make his case for best center back on the team again.
Emerson, Left back, 33, Italy
Emerson will be the player he is but at least the false narrative that went on and on during the back end of Antonio Conte’s second season and the front end of Maurizio Sarri’s season is gone. Emerson is just not what Chelsea needs in a left back. At least not a starting one. He should be completely fine against the likes of Hull City, but honestly most Premier League sides seem to give him trouble anymore.