Chelsea takes on Norwich City in what should be another one-sided Premier League affair. It will be interesting to see how the Blues react to the situation given the numerous off-field distractions they are being tasked with facing at this moment in time. Meanwhile, the Canaries seem destined for relegation and their bounce between the Championship and Premier League continues. It’s one of the top teams in the league against a bottom of the table Norwich City side from Carrow Road.
Here’s a look at who The Pride of London expects to start the contest for Thomas Tuchel’s side:
Edouard Mendy (No. 16) Goalkeeper, Senegal
Edouard Mendy is the best goalkeeper in the world. He has bailed the Blues out more often than not this season. The Senegalese has an incredible story and his performances have been brilliant since he came to Stamford Bridge. Mendy averages 2.5 saves per game and he has only conceded one goal from long range this season. He made an incredible double save against Liverpool to deny Sadio Mane from close range, displaying his incredible reflexes. His distribution has been shaky on a few occasions in recent times as one clearance against the Red led to a clear chance for Mohamed Salah, which Thiago Silva eventually cleared. Mendy should be more of a spectator against a side like Norwich City, and he shouldn’t be expected to do much in such a game.
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Trevoh Chalobah (No. 14) Right centerback, England
I have several reservations about the Andreas Christensen situation, which is a topic for another day. I believe that Trevoh Chalobah should be starting ahead of Christensen, considering his imminent agreement with Barcelona. Chalobah has had a massive breakthrough season and he has done well to cope with the pressure that comes with being a young centerback at Chelsea. He missed a lot of football over the past couple of months, and his performances have been rusty recently. However, that doesn’t change the fact that the Englishman has been highly reliable over the season, and this is the time to show faith in those who actually want to play for the Blues.
Thiago Silva (No. 6) Centerback, Brazil
There is only one man who has been Chelsea’s Player of the Season up until now—Thiago Silva. The Brazilian hasn’t put a foot wrong all season and he has rescued the Blues in countless situations. There seems to be a different level of passion and care in Silva’s game, and the young players can only learn from his experience. What is fascinating is that Silva hasn’t committed a single error that led to a goal or even a shot. Silva ideally deserves some rest, but the squad has been struggling with untimely injuries and his presence is needed in the final stage of this season.
Antonio Rudiger (No. 2) Left centerback, Germany
Antonio Rudiger has taken the league by storm since Tuchel’s arrival. His performances have been rock solid and he has attained a level of consistency that has been missing in his previous campaigns. However, the contract negotiations have been worrying and the situation looks even more uncertain with the club available for sale. It is being reported that the club was close to matching Rudiger’s expectations, but the chaotic situation of the club now means that nothing is certain. Fans can only hope that the German will sign soon and continue his brilliant run at Stamford Bridge. Expect Rudiger to put in another strong performance against Norwich. The Canaries will probably get a taste of his crazy side, as well.