Chelsea at Aston Villa predicted XI: 3-5-2 with the return of strikers

Chelsea seems to have most of its preferred first choice players fit after the injury crisis that was made worse with a COVID outbreak. The Blues have missed most of their preferred starting central midfielders for up to three weeks now, but they may have all of them fit and ready to go on Sunday. Chelsea won the reverse fixture of this match 3-0, but that flattered the west London club. The Blues will need to do better in this clash as Aston Villa is a lot more structured and less careless under Steven Gerrard. Chelsea now sits six points behind league leader Manchester City, so it cannot afford to drop any more points unnecessarily.

All of that being said, who does Tuchel trust to bring home all three points from Aston Villa?

Edouard Mendy (No. 16) Goalkeeper, Senegal

Edouard Mendy returns to the line-up, though Kepa Arrizabalaga had a magnificent game against Brentford midweek. Mendy kept his first clean sheet in four games against Wolves, though the Blues didn’t score, so the excitement of the clean sheet is watered down a bit. The Blues can be sure they’re in safe hands when Mendy travels for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, but for now, Tuchel will do well to play is first choice XI, and Mendy is still Chelsea’s first choice goalkeeper.

Trevoh Chalobah (No. 14) Right centerback, England

Trevoh Chalobah was one of Chelsea’s better players against Brentford in the Carabao Cup quarterfinals. Chalobah has been one of the Blues’ more consistent players this season, period. He played in a middle of the three centerbacks and was very comfortable. Chalobah is the embodiment of Tuchel’s principles: play well and keep earning minutes. Chalobah also showed that young players have more of a say in breaking into the first team than many fans indicate.

Thiago Silva (No. 6) Centerback, Brazil

Thiago Silva was rested against Brentford and rightly so. If the Blues need their best centerback to overcome Brentford then they don’t deserve to overcome the Bees. Silva has been very good for Chelsea this season. Tuchel has catered to his lack of pace with the protection he has on both sides. Yet, ironically, it often ends up being Silva doing the protecting.

Antonio Rudiger (No. 2) Left centerback, Germany

Antonio Rudiger is one of the few players in the squad who doesn’t have a replacement close to his level waiting in the ranks. Rudiger’s flank has been exposed in recent times, partly due to him almost always roaming forward and otherwise due to him not having as dedicated a central midfielder in his flank to cover him. Lastly, because of the absence of Ben Chilwell. The one thing everyone is sure of is that Rudiger is as much part of the problem of Chelsea’s defensive issues lately. The clean sheet against Wolves was needed though, and it will go a long way in restoring the confidence of the defensive players.