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Chelsea predicted XI vs Bournemouth: Possible 4-2-2-2 for preseason

By Olaoluwa Nwobodo

LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 14: Mateo Kovacic of Chelsea battles for possession with Dominic Solanke of AFC Bournemouth during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and AFC Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge on December 14, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 14: Mateo Kovacic of Chelsea battles for possession with Dominic Solanke of AFC Bournemouth during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and AFC Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge on December 14, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) /
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PORTO, PORTUGAL – NOVEMBER 03: Malang Sarr of FC Porto looks on during the UEFA Champions League Group C stage match between FC Porto and Olympique de Marseille at Estadio do Dragao on November 03, 2020 in Porto, Portugal. Football Stadiums around Europe remain empty due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in fixtures being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Jose Manuel Alvarez/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)
PORTO, PORTUGAL – NOVEMBER 03: Malang Sarr of FC Porto looks on during the UEFA Champions League Group C stage match between FC Porto and Olympique de Marseille at Estadio do Dragao on November 03, 2020 in Porto, Portugal. Football Stadiums around Europe remain empty due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in fixtures being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Jose Manuel Alvarez/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images) /

Chelsea has already played some preseason games but this is the first one that would be televised. Chelsea’s preseason has kicked off, albeit with just some returning loanees, academy players and a few first team players.

Thomas Tuchel did not deviate much from his starting lineups last season and understandably so. He was arriving in the middle of the season and he had no room for experiments. This preseason gives him the opportunity to take a closer look at some players that he had written off, as well as some players who he may not yet have figured out where to fit. Who starts the preseason friendly against Bournemouth though?

Jamie Cumming, Goalkeeper

Cumming played in the Peterborough preseason match and played fairly well. Cumming is currently Chelsea’s third goalkeeper and Tuchel hasn’t seen much of him yet. This is an opportunity for Cumming to stake a claim as a consistent first team member and he may even begin to make a play for a higher role than third choice keeper.

Davide Zappacosta, Right back

Zappacosta is a player that Tuchel definitely needs to see more of. Zappacosta started his Chelsea career very well, but that honeymoon period for him was relatively short. Zappacosta has not really been able to stake a claim in Chelsea’s first team since Maurizio Sarri left. Zappacosta now has a chance to impress Tuchel and show the German that perhaps he shouldn’t be in the market for a right wing back player after all.

Ethan Ampadu, Right centerback

Ampadu is another player that Tuchel needs to see more of. Ampadu played 25 games for Sheffield United last season and it’s a big step towards his development. He didn’t get a look-in, unsurprisingly, at RB Leipzig because they were completing for and in the Champions League that season. They had better centerbacks than him and Julian Nagelsmann had no reason to make a change in that backline. Ampadu was also injured a lot last season. If he does start, he needs to make the most of it, preseason game or not.

Malang Sarr, Left centerback

Tuchel is said to like what he has seen from Sarr so far. Sarr had a pretty rough loan at Porto, but like other players that Tuchel met at the club last season, he has a chance to stake his claim. Sarr showed enough at OGC Nice to give reason to believe that with the right coaching he could be something special. He had 100 caps in Ligue 1 by 21. Sarr could be adding to the centerback pecking order come the start of the season, but that would all depend on how he does in this preseason friendly.

Marcos Alonso (No. 3) Left back

Alonso didn’t actually play that many games under Tuchel, contrary to popular perception. He didn’t go to the Euros so he returned to the camp fairly early. He played against Peterborough and he got some fitness under his belt, which is important for a preseason. Alonso has been linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge though it’s very unlikely to happen.

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