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Chelsea predicted XI at Everton: Kovacic included in 4-3-3

By Nathaniel Kay

LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 08: Olivier Giroud of Chelsea scores his team's fourth goal during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Everton FC at Stamford Bridge on March 08, 2020 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 08: Olivier Giroud of Chelsea scores his team's fourth goal during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Everton FC at Stamford Bridge on March 08, 2020 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images) /
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LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – JULY 22: Mateo Kovacic of Chelsea looks on during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Chelsea FC at Anfield on July 22, 2020 in Liverpool, 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 Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – JULY 22: Mateo Kovacic of Chelsea looks on during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Chelsea FC at Anfield on July 22, 2020 in Liverpool, 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 Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images) /

N’Golo Kante (No. 7) Defensive midfielder, France

Some of the greatest joys in life are often the most simple. Hearing a child’s laughter, catching the morning sunrise, sleeping in fresh bedsheets, watching N’Golo Kante play as a defensive midfielder, etc. The decision to redeploy the world’s best intercepter back to his prior residency sounds straightforward, but has often been overcomplicated or shadowed by injury issues to the miniature marvel. Chelsea’s newly acquired back-bone would not be possible without Kante as their now fully operational, damage-free, spine.

Mateo Kovacic (No. 17) Central midfielder, Croatia

It is slightly astonishing that a winner of three Champions Leagues, an owner of 62 caps for his country and a possessor of a World Cup runners-up medal doesn’t get the attention that one of such pedigree deserves. Inside the Chelsea quarters, Mateo Kovacic is regarded in such high esteem, offering a delicate intricacy not yet established in any of the Blues central midfielders. From the outside, some are still quizzical as to why, at times, he has been preferred to Kai Havertz. The German starlet has struggled to reach his stride, whereas Kovacic has consistently been in motion, with previously formed partnerships alongside Kante and Mount.

Mason Mount (No. 19) Central midfielder, England

Mount’s exclusion from the Krasnodar match ended a run of 14 straight domestic appearances, alongside six for the national side, eight of those lasting the full 90 minutes. Wind him up and watch him go again, Mount’s abundance of energy could easily power a small village if he was hooked up to the main circuit. Stamina, matched with skill and subtlety, has made him virtually undroppable.

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