Chelsea vs Al Hilal predicted XI: 4-1-4-1 to get to Club World Cup final?

Chelsea's Italian midfielder Jorginho gestures on the pitch after the English FA Cup fourth round football match between Chelsea and Plymouth Argyle at Stamford Bridge in London on February 5, 2022. - Chelsea won the game 2-1 after extra time. - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images) /

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LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 05: Romelu Lukaku of Chelsea reacts during the Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round match between Chelsea and Plymouth Argyle at Stamford Bridge on February 5, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Craig Mercer/MB Media/Getty Images) /

Kai Havertz (No. 29) Right winger, Germany

Kai Havertz has simply been a victim of his own hype. I know … I know … that’s not his fault, but these things have a way of impacting perception. Havertz, in recent weeks, has not played as much as he’d have liked, though in the weeks leading up to that, he hadn’t played as well as Tuchel would have liked. At the moment, he rightly has Callum Hudson-Odoi, Romelu Lukaku, Mason Mount and Hakim Ziyech ahead of him. Yes, even Lukaku. Lukaku hasn’t been as bad as many fans have made him seem, but that’s something the whole fanbase and the Belgian will have to live with until he finds his footing. His comments in that infamous interview mean he’ll get this reaction from the fans every time he doesn’t score. Havertz does deserve some minutes and he may likely get them Wednesday when Chelsea faces Al Hilal in the semifinal of the Club World Cup.

Romelu Lukaku (No. 9) Striker, Belgium

Whether anyone wants to admit it or not, it’s in Tuchel’s, Chelsea’s and the fans’ best interest that Lukaku starts scoring again. Yes, the comments from his interview were annoying and everyone has a right to be pissed at the striker. However, it is time to stop calling for him to be sold because he won’t be in reality. Not only will he not be sold, he will continue to get game time until he hits his stride goal scoring wise. Replacing him with Havertz in the line-up solves nothing, as he’s a £100 million asset that the Blues cannot simply offload, so the earlier they can get a tune out of the Belgian again, the better. Wherever you think the 28-year-old marksman’s head or heart is at, Chelsea is stuck with him regardless and not just for the rest of the season. You may as well back him because if he does well, the Blues do well.

Callum Hudson-Odoi (No. 20) Left winger, England

Callum Hudson-Odoi was not great against Plymouth. He was particularly poor in the first 15-20 minutes of the match. He really does need to make better decisions in the final third and in general. He was rightly subbed off in the 64′ after a sub-par showing. Hudson-Odoi should be able to have a big impact against Chelsea’s Club World Cup semifinal opponent though.

Questions to be asked of Chelsea ahead of Club World Cup. dark. Next

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