Chelsea predicted XI for Bayern: 3-4-3 to stick around longer

Many Chelsea fans will be feeling much better about the Bayern match after the Tottenham win. Many will also want 3-4-3 to stick and may get their wish.

This run of games was clearly going to be rough, but there was a big red circle around the Bayern fixture. As it was almost a decade ago, many see little hope against the German juggernauts. But the Blues prevailed that day and many will like the Blues’ chances better after the Tottenham victory. The 3-4-3 worked and that may be enough to convince Frank Lampard to stick with it for the big first leg clash.

Willy Caballero, 13, Goalkeeper, Argentina

Caballero starting would be the ultimate admittance that Kepa Arrizabalaga’s time at the club is done. It is not even that Caballero is necessarily better, but he certainly passes the eye test better and remains confident even after his mistakes. Arrizabalaga could get his recall and that would not be unlikely, but most evidence points towards the Argentine.

Cesar Azpilicueta, 28, Left back, Spain

Azpilicueta has gone a long way towards showing fans he can be a modern fullback but there is still something special about seeing him in a back three. He still acts like a fullback, but the formation shields his weaknesses better while accentuating his strengths. Antonio Conte switched to the formation in (small) part because of Azpilicueta’s flexibility and with the rise of Reece James, it is time for Lampard to do the same.

Andreas Christensen, 4, Center back, Denmark

Come to Chelsea they said. Break your nose they said. Play like a world class player in a mask they said. Okay, maybe no one said that exactly as Christensen was being signed but it is beyond an urban myth (or is it simply a universal truth?) that Chelsea players perform amazing with protective headgear. Christensen is just the latest to don the mask and turn up big.

Antonio Rudiger, 2, Center back, Germany

It is not necessarily a knock on Rudiger to say he was the weakest link in the back three against Tottenham, because overall the team was good if unlucky. But it is hard not to look at Rudiger’s occasional hiccups as of late and wonder where in the world Fikayo Tomori is. Ever since his illness in January, the Englishman has basically been persona non grata. Tomori would be amazing in a back three operating like Azpilicueta does, but in the meantime it will need to be Rudiger.