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UEFA Super Cup: Chelsea vs Villarreal predicted XI, 3-5-2 or 3-4-3?

By Olaoluwa Nwobodo

LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 15: Callum Hudson-Odoi of Chelsea during The Emirates FA Cup Final match between Chelsea and Leicester City at Wembley Stadium on May 15, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 15: Callum Hudson-Odoi of Chelsea during The Emirates FA Cup Final match between Chelsea and Leicester City at Wembley Stadium on May 15, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images) /
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Chelsea’s German midfielder Kai Havertz shoots past Arsenal’s German goalkeeper Bernd Leno to score the opening goal of the pre-season friendly football match between Arsenal and Chelsea at The Emirates Sadium in north London on August 1, 2021. (Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images)
Chelsea’s German midfielder Kai Havertz shoots past Arsenal’s German goalkeeper Bernd Leno to score the opening goal of the pre-season friendly football match between Arsenal and Chelsea at The Emirates Sadium in north London on August 1, 2021. (Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images) /

Hakim Ziyech (No. 22) Right winger, Morocco

If anyone has made a case for himself to start this game, it is Hakim Ziyech. Ziyech has contributed everything this preseason—including goals. He has shown his sharpness and quickness of mind in his decision making and coordination of the middle and final third play. He’s also the only one that has played all of the preseason matches for Chelsea, so his fitness is at a level higher than the rest.

Kai Havertz (No. 29) Center forward, Germany

Kai Havertz has played well this preseason. Coupled with his performances toward the end of last season, he will be one of the players Chelsea fans can expect to start against Villarreal in the Super Cup, especially after scoring the goal that put the Blues into the match in the first place. Havertz’s synergy with the other attackers will prove crucial especially against a Villarreal side that the Blues can expect to be compact.

Timo Werner (No. 11) Left winger, Germany

Even if Chelsea completes the signing of Romelu Lukaku before the Super Cup game on Wednesday (and subsequently registers him), he likely still wouldn’t start as he would barely have had time to train. This doesn’t mean he won’t get minutes in this game, if he’s available.

Timo Werner will be crucial in this game as he will be key to quality chance creation. It’s public knowledge that the German has had problems finishing for the Blues, but this is one of those games where his other qualities will perhaps be as important as his goal scoring, if not more. The Blues’ head coach and hierarchy have accepted that he would be more effective being played in a non-striker role and that’s why they’ve broken the bank for Lukaku. Match fitness is still a thing though and Lukaku barely has any at the moment. Werner could also use this match to stake a claim for the starting striker spot, it may not be of much use now, but he can do it for what it’s worth.

Next. Chelsea history in the Super Cup: A wonderful win, a sorry streak. dark

Who do you think makes Chelsea’s starting XI? Let us know in the comments or on Twitter!

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