Chelsea predicted XI at Man City: How will Tuchel counter Pep’s 4-3-3?
Chelsea beat Real Madrid convincingly to face Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City in the Champions League final, but first it has to face the same opponents in a crucial Premier League clash that could be seen as a dress rehearsal of sorts. The Blues were more than convincing in their victory against Real Madrid, creating seven big chances in that match. They have had problems creating good chances under the tutelage of Thomas Tuchel, but recent matches indicate they might be overcoming that problem. Chelsea has already beat City this season, and while it should not make the Blues arrogant, it should give them confidence. Chelsea has already lost and won to City this season, so they know they have both performances in them. It will be Tuchel’s job to make sure the right sides comes out onto the pitch at The Etihad.
Here’s who we think starts after a hectic Champions League outing:
Edouard Mendy (No. 16) Goalkeeper, Senegal
Edouard Mendy made five saves to keep Real Madrid out of the Blues’ net, including a point blank header from Karim Benzema. Mendy was superb in his usual calm, undisturbed demeanor. He has had a good past few years, going from job hunting to playing in a Champions League final, on his first UCL campaign no less. It’s easy to see why he’s first choice. He has now kept more clean sheets than any other goalkeeper in the Champions League (8), with one game to go.
Andreas Christensen (No. 4) Right centerback, Denmark
Andreas Christensen made seven defensive actions against Real Madrid, contributing heavily to a crucial clean sheet. Christensen has been superb under Tuchel, stepping in for Thiago Silva in the Tottenham Hotspur game and not looking back since. At the moment, Chelsea’s best back line has Christensen in it. Some fans still look at him through 2018 lenses, but he has improved so much since then. Christensen is an example of what happens when you write off a player too early in their career, forgetting that systems and formations heavily affect how well players perform.
Kurt Zouma (No. 15) Centerback, France
Kurt Zouma has kept 13 clean sheets in 26 appearances in the Premier League and Champions League. He has come a long way from his injury and has recovered so well that he’s now even better at jumping. Zouma’s intelligent reading of the game is evident, his skill on the ball is too. He moves the ball quickly and doesn’t try too many risks in possession. He clears the ball when Chelsea is under pressure, giving the Blues a chance to regroup. He was superb in the games against Fulham and Brighton, except when he tried to dribble out of the back and dribbled into trouble in both matches (maybe he should stop trying to be Kurt Kovacic).
Antonio Rudiger (No. 2) Left centerback, Germany
Antonio Rudiger has been key for the Blues since the arrival of Tuchel. No one can narrate the beautiful story of Chelsea going from lingering in ninth place to being in the FA Cup final, Champions league final and the driving seat of the top four race (top three, in fact), without mentioning Rudiger’s name. The change in formation has undoubtedly helped Rudiger, but he has at least shown how well in can perform in these conditions, it remains to be seen if his brilliance translates to other formations and systems.