Chelsea starting XI will be heavily rotated against Aston Villa

Chelsea is just four games into its 2021/22 campaign. The Blues have begun the season with a UEFA Super League trophy and seven points from three consecutive games, a solid start on all accounts. The addition of just two players this summer, Romelu Lukaku and Saul Niguez, will help Thomas Tuchel form his ideal starting XI for the biggest matches. We’ve likely seen the best version of this side (minus a swap at left wingback, perhaps) against Liverpool as it relates to personnel—although the performance was something to be proud of, as well.

The reigning European Champions only had to bring in a pair of players during the transfer window due to their already immense depth. Chelsea is seemingly two or three deep at every position on the pitch, which bodes well for a club competing in six competitions throughout the campaign. The Blues will likely play upwards of 60 competitive matches this year. Factor in injuries, regular rotation and international breaks and you’ve got a scheduling nightmare for most teams, but not Chelsea. Tuchel has yet to really rotate his team thus far, which is why the Aston Villa clash on Saturday provides him with the perfect opportunity.

Thomas Tuchel is expected to heavily rotate his Chelsea starting XI against Aston Villa due to the impact of the international break

The main reason to expect a plethora of personnel changes is the international break. Per usual, club football’s hiatus has not been kind to the Blues. Romelu Lukaku could miss time with a thigh injury and Kai Havertz came down with a sickness. Luckily neither seems serious—especially in the latter’s case, as he is back training—it’s just another layer of issues added onto the never ending fatigue of international football in the middle of the club season. It’d be shocking to see either Lukaku or Havertz in the starting line-up at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

Elsewhere, Thiago Silva could be suspended due to the club denying him travel. The 36-year-old plays a prominent role for Brazil, a country on the UK’s ‘red list’ for COVID-19. Many Premier League clubs refused to release their players to places on the aforementioned list due to the required 10-day quarantine upon their return. FIFA could take action against the clubs and hand out suspensions, although there is no word of whether or not it’ll do so yet.

Another individual who is of the utmost importance to his country is Cesar Azpilicueta. The Spanish fullback was recently named captain of Luis Enrique’s squad and if he is in the La Roja’s starting XI on Wednesday, it’s unlikely he goes the distance for Tuchel’s team just three days later. Reece James’ suspension for his controversial red card at Anfield also doesn’t do much to help matters. He’ll be out for the Blues’ clash with Villa on Saturday.

Who does The Pride of London expect to take the pitch in place of those absent?

It’s important to remember before diving into things that the opinion has always been heavy rotation—not wholesale changes. Edouard Mendy will likely retain his position between the sticks due to the fact No. 1 keepers seldom rotate for Premier League contests.

Trevoh Chalobah could make his return to the starting XI for the first time since the opening day of the season as Azpilicueta gets a much-deserved rest. Chalobah has spent the break working with Tuchel and a number of other Blues players, so he’ll be fresh and ready to take on the Villains. The middle centerback spot will be occupied by Silva if available. He put in a great 45-minute shift against Liverpool and unless FIFA decides to screw him over, he’ll get to build on that performance. If not, the youthful Andreas Christensen retains his place. Antonio Rudiger didn’t play Germany’s initial game this break, earning enough rest to assume his role of left centerback on Saturday.

James’ suspension and Azpilicueta’s rest mean Callum Hudson-Odoi could step into the right wingback role against the speedy Villa side. Hudson-Odoi was denied a loan move to Dortmund late in the window and if Tuchel doesn’t give him a chance to start with these circumstances, the Blues will have made a terrible decision on that front. Ben Chilwell has now had plenty of time to regain match fitness. Despite Marcos Alonso’s excellent start, the England international is the future of the position. Chilwell is an integral part to Chelsea’s starting XI, providing disciplined versatility at both ends of the pitch, he’ll make his 2021/22 debut against the Villains.

The midfield pivot is the trickiest duo to choose. N’Golo Kante left the French camp early into the break to continue rehabbing an injury suffered against Liverpool. His status is doubtful, so it’ll likely come down to three men: Jorginho, Mateo Kovacic and Saul. The Spaniard could be handed his Chelsea debut after a deadline day move. If that’s the case, expect the UEFA Men’s Player of the Year to start alongside the Atletico Madrid loanee. Jorginho’s thought to be more durable, so Kovacic gets some time off ahead of the Zenit bout.

Hakim Ziyech’s falling out with Moroccan manager Vahid Halilhodzic saw him spend the international break at Cobham. Guinean coups aside, Ziyech remaining in London was good for him as it allowed time for deserved R&R. His preseason form was incredible and it’s probably time he gets a chance to regain that confidence at the Bridge on Saturday. Another player who is brimming with confidence at the moment is Timo Werner. Werner’s enjoyed a fantastic international break and Lukaku’s knock provides him with an opportunity to lead the line again. The other spot on the wing is a crapshoot. In all likelihood, Mason Mount and Christian Pulisic will battle for a spot.

The Villa matches in September (Premier League and Carabao Cup respectively) offer the German manager perhaps the only chances at large-scale changes to the starting XI this month. Three days following the domestic clash, the Blues will welcome Zenit to SW6 for the Champions League’s first matchday of the new season. The remainder of the month’s schedule includes Tottenham, Manchester City and Juventus in what’s sure to be one of the hardest stretches of the 2021/22 campaign. Tuchel’s rotation will play a big part this year, beginning on Saturday.

Who would you like to see in the starting XI Saturday? Let us know in the comments or on Twitter!