Chelsea: Three things to look for as Blues begin Premier League hunt

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MAY 08: A general internal view of Etihad Stadium, home stadium of Manchester City under overcast skies featuring the giant LED scoreboard showing Manchester City and Chelsea emblems during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Chelsea at Etihad Stadium on May 8, 2021 in Manchester, United Kingdom. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Matthew Ashton - AMA/Getty Images) /

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LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 10: Kai Havertz of Chelsea celebrates after scoring their team’s first goal during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Chelsea at Selhurst Park on April 10, 2021 in London, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images) /

2. Who is risked against the new look Palace?

As Tuchel puts it, going into extra time was the worst thing that could have happened to Chelsea physically. So many players are in the early stages of fitness thanks to the Euros and Copa America. N’Golo Kante being a possible injury and Hakim Ziyech being a definite injury only makes things harder.

Much of Tuchel’s XI is going to pick itself. Ideally, he won’t want to play Thiago Silva, the English, or the Italians but he may have little choice. Many of the players who are fit (or at least nearly fit) had to go the full 120 against Villarreal and Tuchel will now have to choose between risky those guys or risking guys who barely have any time under their belt this preseason. It could be a ragtag XI against Palace but regardless, the team will need to get the job done before they run out of gas.

All of this would be easier if Palace were an easy team to predict at the moment but they are the most unpredictable team in the League suddenly. Patrick Vieira is now the manager and though he has managed at NYCFC and Nice, what he brings to the table is an unknown. Crystal Palace released most of their first team squad from last season and they are still building a new one. The team will be a bit of an unknown tactically and who plays will only make things harder for Tuchel.

At best, this game turns into a slog that Chelsea wins. At worst, a tired Chelsea is unprepared for a Palace team that they would have found difficulty in preparing for.

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