Chelsea has a monumental task ahead of them in Bayern Munich. With injuries and suspensions rife, how will the Blues line up in Germany?
It is almost over. A year of unforgettable highs and head and lows. Chelsea enters into the Champions League quarter final second leg clash against Bayern Munich knowing anything other than a phenomenal performance and turnaround will conclude their campaign in Germany.
3-0 down from the opening tie, which seems like light years away now, seems pretty unassailable bearing in mind the destruction Bayern induced as the romped to another Bundesliga title. And taking into consideration that Frank Lampard has been dealt several injury blows, that will considerably affect his team selection. But hey, stranger things have happened! Here is the XI that he will hope to perform miracles in Munich.
Willy Caballero (No. 13) Goalkeeper, Argentina
Lampard seemed to hammer the final nail into Kepa Arrizabalaga’s coffin after leaving him out of the FA Cup final. His undertaker was Willy Caballero. The veteran keeper will be thrown in at the deep against a rampaging Bayern front line and will be offered no mercy by the likes of Robert Lewandowski or Kinsley Coman.
Kurt Zouma (No. 15) Centerback, France
Caballero will hope those ordered to protect his net have the game of their lives if they are to have any hope of clinching something from the tie. Of the trio, Kurt Zouma is most likely to prevail from the precipice if he has a proactive evening in Munich. Expect him to stand up to the powerful Pole, matching him for strength and overcoming him with speed. It is just the numerous other dangers he as to worry about.
Andres Christensen (No. 4) Centerback, Denmark
Cesar Azpilicueta’s injury will arguably leave the greatest impact upon this Chelsea side, not only for his defensive quality, but also his natural leadership as the club captain. Andres Christensen will merely fill in, rather than replace the Spaniard, but he can simply not afford to shrink into the shadows under the glaring attention of Bayern and their barrage of attacking talent.
Antonio Rudiger (No. 2) Centerback, Germany
Antonio Rudiger’s return from injury was meant to signal the downfall of the Blues defensive woes. This has evidently not been the case as Chelsea continue to ship goals at a destructive rate, which will come as music to the ears of Munich’s menacing forwards. On the plus side, Rudiger has found more comfort in a three, with less responsibility in directly marking the opposition.