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Chelsea at Zenit St. Petersburg predicted XI: 3-4-2-1 with heavy rotation

By Olaoluwa Nwobodo

Chelsea's Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku celebrates after scoring the opening goal of the UEFA Champions League Group H football match between Chelsea and Zenit St Petersburg at Stamford Bridge in London on September 14, 2021. (Photo by DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS / AFP) (Photo by DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP via Getty Images)
Chelsea's Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku celebrates after scoring the opening goal of the UEFA Champions League Group H football match between Chelsea and Zenit St Petersburg at Stamford Bridge in London on September 14, 2021. (Photo by DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS / AFP) (Photo by DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP via Getty Images) /
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LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 22: Malang Sarr of Chelsea during the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Chelsea and Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge on September 22, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by James Williamson – AMA/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 22: Malang Sarr of Chelsea during the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Chelsea and Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge on September 22, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by James Williamson – AMA/Getty Images) /

Chelsea has already qualified for the UEFA Champions League Round of 16, but whether it tops Group H or not depends on how the Blues perform in their trip to St. Petersburg. Chelsea has a considerable number of injuries to key players, so Thomas Tuchel has to choose where to play his best available players because the games are now tightly packed and the same players cannot play three games apart.

Therefore, who do we think makes the German’s starting XI against Zenit?

Kepa Arrizabalaga (No. 1) Goalkeeper, Spain

Kepa Arrizabalaga started in Chelsea’s 3-0 win in the Premier League against Tottenham Hotspur earlier in the season. He was very good in that game, and he showed the Blues have a very good goalkeeper they can look to when they need to rotate between the sticks. Chelsea needs to rest players and while goalkeepers have a different recovery rate than others, this is an opportunity to get Arrizabalaga involved in the Champions League action. Edouard Mendy currently has four clean sheets to his name, more than any other goalkeeper after five games played, he’s showing why he is the best keeper in the Champions League.

Cesar Azpilicueta (No. 28) Right centerback, Spain

Cesar Azpilicueta started against Manchester United and while he wasn’t stellar, he was not Chelsea’s problem. In the captain, the Blues have a player that can deputize in many different positions, and with as many injuries as Chelsea has currently, Azpilicueta is now even more valuable to the side. The Spaniard did provide the assist for the only goal of the game the last time these two sides met. Chelsea needs to rest as many players as it can because it has another game three days after this one against Leeds United.

Andreas Christensen (No. 4) Centerback, Denmark

Andreas Christensen seemed to fall short against Watford because Tuchel felt the need to bring in Thiago Silva at halftime. That halftime change was as much down to Saul having a bad game as anything else though. Christensen did not have a good game against West Ham, all things considered. Christensen will likely be needed against Zenit though, and he will be tasked with playing out of the defense and playing through pressure throughout the entirety.

Malang Sarr (No. 32) Left centerback, France

Malang Sarr’s last game was against Southampton in the Carabao Cup in a game where he, like many other players in the same contest, was judged harshly. He is likely to have this kind of game again because he will be playing with a lot of players he hasn’t played with in a while. Chemistry will be off, as well as team cohesion. Nevertheless, Sarr has a chance to make a case for himself to start in subsequent, more important games in this busy December schedule.

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