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Chelsea predicted XI for Wolves: Everything on the line

By Michael DeVito

LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 19: Mason Mount of Chelsea looks on during the FA Cup Semi Final match between Manchester United and Chelsea at Wembley Stadium on July 19, 2020 in London, England. Football Stadiums around Europe remain empty due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in all fixtures being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Alastair Grant/Pool via Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 19: Mason Mount of Chelsea looks on during the FA Cup Semi Final match between Manchester United and Chelsea at Wembley Stadium on July 19, 2020 in London, England. Football Stadiums around Europe remain empty due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in all fixtures being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Alastair Grant/Pool via Getty Images) /
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Chelsea’s French defender Kurt Zouma (L) vies with Liverpool’s Egyptian midfielder Mohamed Salah during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Chelsea at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on July 22, 2020. (Photo by LAURENCE GRIFFITHS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Chelsea’s French defender Kurt Zouma (L) vies with Liverpool’s Egyptian midfielder Mohamed Salah during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Chelsea at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on July 22, 2020. (Photo by LAURENCE GRIFFITHS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /

Frank Lampard has some questions to answer as his Chelsea side takes on Wolves in the last match of the season. Here’s the predicted XI.

This is it, the game of the season. They all count the same, but when all the money is on the table, the game at hand has to be the most important for Chelsea. All that is needed is a draw to win the prize, but that thinking leads to losses. The Blues must go all out to win in this one and that’s what they need to do. Here’s the XI who will hopefully get the job done at Stamford Bridge.

Willy Caballero (No. 13) Goalkeeper, Argentina

This one is not clearcut. Kepa Arrizabalaga at times has been great, but more often than not, he’s been poor. The Liverpool game was a case in point. Chelsea needed one-point desperately and one would have thought that a point was attainable when the team scored three goals. It wasn’t—and the lack of assertiveness on a cross against Liverpool seemed to drain his teammates’ confidence in the keeper, as well. The choice here is Caballero.

Caballero is no Petr Cech, but if he’s on his game, he can be very good and a clean sheet is not unattainable. Absent an occasional howler, he can make a big save and can handle the ball fairly well. It’s all on him. Caballero has the opportunity to make his mark at Chelsea with a signature performance Sunday. The Blues gave him a contract extension, he can earn all of it with a win in this game they desperately need against Wolves. Frank Lampard goes with his gut and selects Caballero.

Cesar Azpilicueta (No. 28) Right back, Spain

Chelsea goes with Cesar Azpilicueta at right back in this one, it’s a no-brainer. He’s no wunderkind in the attack, but he can defend better than anyone. The defense may be the key to this one, so the Spaniard gets the nod at his best position on the right.

Azpilicueta also has to exert his captaincy Sunday. He needs to be vocal and directing if Chelsea is to rebound in this game after the pummeling at the hands of Liverpool. One of the qualities that this team needs is a forceful leader. Whether he is the long-term leader or not, Azpilicueta has to step up and lead the Blues.

Antonio Rudiger (No. 2) Centerback, Germany

In central defense, Chelsea has options that are all fairly good, but none are great. In this big game, it is essential to go with your most experienced central defender alongside Kurt Zouma and that’s Antonio Rudiger. Rudiger’s season has been a mixed bag for Chelsea thus far. At times, he has been solid as granite, but at others, he has been lacking. Some in the media are questioning his long-term status at the club due to his contract situation as his deal has yet to be extended. That’s a story for another day.

For now, Chelsea has to beat Wolves and Rudiger is their best option as one of the two central defenders. He is decent in the air, that is a deficiency that Chelsea has to remedy big-time in the offseason. But again, for now, Rudiger gets the nod at one central defender spot.

Kurt Zouma (No. 15) Centerback, France

Zouma gets the nod at the other central defender position. Zouma is Chelsea’s best centerback overall and in the air. He loses few aerial battles further up the pitch and that is an anomaly in this current squad, Olivier Giroud excepted.

Unfortunately, Zouma is prone to mistakes and they can be very costly ones. Both Zouma and Rudiger have to play it safe, play it smart, and not give up an easy goal. This may limit them somewhat in advancing the ball up the pitch, but that’s not one of their strength in the least anyway. This is a game that should be won in the attack, not lost on defense. Play as mistake-free as possible and protect the ball. Don’t mess up.

Marcos Alonso (No. 3) Left back, Spain

At left back, Marcos Alonso is the simple choice in a back four. Emerson has fallen completely out of the picture under Lampard and is not an option any longer. Lampard likes Alonso usually in a 3-4-3 setup, but even in the 4-3-3, Alonso is the best bet here. Alonso’s defense isn’t the best, but the attack suffers when he’s not at left back. Azpilicueta is also clearly better on the right.

Alonso has his defensive deficiencies, that’s obvious, but he makes up for some of that with his ability to push the ball up the left into midfield and assist in the attack. He is also capable of scoring a goal here and there and can contribute on set pieces, though he hasn’t had much opportunity to do so of late. The options at left back are not the greatest in the present and attention will be paid to that position in the summer, but for now the best option against Wolves is the Spaniard.

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