Chelsea at Middlesbrough predicted XI: Experimental 4-3-3
Thomas Tuchel and his men will be traveling to the Riverside Stadium to take on Chris Wilder’s Middlesbrough in the quarterfinals of the FA Cup. Tuchel got to the final of this competition last season and Chelsea has reached the final in each of the last two seasons. The Blues have not won it either time though. They now have to find a way to knock out a Middlesbrough side that has already knocked out Manchester United—who had Cristiano Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes—and a Tottenham Hotspur side that featured Son Heung-min and Harry Kane. Suffice it to say, it’s not an easy task to knock off the Boro, especially at Riverside Stadium.
Therefore, who does Tuchel entrust with the tall task of defeating Middlesbrough?
Kepa Arrizabalaga (No. 1) Goalkeeper, Spain
Kepa Arrizabalaga will definitely start this match. He played all FA Cup games last season, including the final. Chelsea did lose the final, but that was the only game the Blues lost in the competition, albeit it was the most important one. Tuchel doesn’t have many chances to involve the Spaniard, so you can expect him to start this cup clash. Arrizabalaga’s last involvement was the fifth round of the FA Cup between Chelsea and Luton Town. The Blues’ No. 1 has really gotten a new lease of life under Tuchel’s tutelage though, which has instilled confidence in him.
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Cesar Azpilicueta (No. 28) Right back, Spain
Cesar Azpilicueta was Chelsea’s best player in its last match against Lille in the second leg of the Champions League Round of 16 match. The sanctions imposed by the United Kingdom’s government mean that Chelsea cannot renew the contracts of players, so the Blues do not have that option with Azpilicueta. The Spaniard seems more likely to go anyway, and Chelsea fans wish him all the best wherever he decides to go next. Azpilicueta embodies the longevity, tenacity and dominance that Blues fans have seen in only a handful of club legends. The fans can only pray that Azpilicueta is replaced with someone with even half his tenacity and professionalism.
Thiago Silva (No. 6) Centerback, Brazil
Speaking of perfect centerbacks, Thiago Silva is one. Silva wins 70 percent of his aerial duels. Every Premier League player who has won up to 30 aerial duels at that success rate is at least two inches taller than the Brazilian. Silva commands Chelsea’s back line with alarming ease and efficiency, even at his age, which is incredible.
Antonio Rudiger (No. 2) Centerback, Germany
Antonio Rudiger has everything that you’d want in a centerback. The reason he cannot be trusted in a two-man central defense system long-term has nothing to do with ability. He’s very good in duels, he has the pace and awareness to track runners and he is a good tackler of the ball. His tendency to get caught out of position while dribbling (yes, I know, I speak on this a lot and you’re tired of hearing it) is the only thing that hinders the German from being the perfect centerback.
Marcos Alonso (No. 3) Left back, Spain
Marcos Alonso has become a scapegoat again for not being whatever player fans wish he was. Alonso will carry on with his job as he has always done, and do his best. Fans are quick to criticize him when they feel he has had a bad game, but are always mute with praise when he does play well. He’s likely to play this game because even though Chelsea not having any other option for this role, the Blues don’t play again for two weeks, so Alonso doesn’t need to be rested.