Chelsea vs Club America predicted XI: Does Sterling start in 4-3-3?

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Chelsea’s Moroccan midfielder Hakim Ziyech (R) celebrates scoring the opening goal with his teammate Chelsea’s German midfielder Kai Havertz (L) and Chelsea’s English midfielder Callum Hudson-Odoi (C) during the UEFA Champions League group H football match Malmo FF v Chelsea FC in Malmo, Sweden on November 2, 2021. (Photo by Jonathan NACKSTRAND / AFP) /

Hakim Ziyech (No. 22) Right winger, Morocco

Hakim Ziyech is linked with a move to AC Milan. He recently parted ways with his agent of 12 years, so it’s clear that it wasn’t an easy decision in the slightest. Despite the links to Italy, his decision to part ways with his agent suggests that either he wants a move away and his agent is not negotiating one as aggressively as he wants, or he wants to stay with the Blues and his agent is negotiating one against his will. Either way, Chelsea fans can only support him in whatever he chooses to do at this stage in his career. He’s 29 years old now, and he doesn’t have a lot of prime years left—he needs to play as much as he can now before he retires.

Kai Havertz (No. 29) Center forward, Germany

Kai Havertz slots in at center forward by default as Romelu Lukaku has departed, for the second time in his career. This time for Inter Milan. Many have made a lot of excuses for Havertz, but those excuses almost automatically dry out this season. Havertz is likely to be Chelsea’s key goal outlet this season as the main center forward. The German will need to use this opportunity to know how well to complement new signing Raheem Sterling, as he and Sterling move off the ball often. In a two-striker formation, one of the two needs to drop back more often than the other. Havertz and Sterling have to figure out between themselves who drops back and who runs in behind. Havertz has magnificent hold-up skills and he has the height to receive long balls to his chest or head. Sterling has the trickery and pace to run in behind. It just might be that simple.

Raheem Sterling (N/A) Left winger, England

Thomas Tuchel has been given full control of the transfer window and will no doubt want to get his signings up and running as quickly as possible. This means testing Sterling with match instructions and trying him in as many formations as possible this preseason. Tuchel will want Sterling integrated into Chelsea’s style of play as soon as possible. Sterling will either play as the left winger most of the time in a 4-3-3, or as a left forward in a 3-5-2. The 3-5-2 is a formation Tuchel wanted to explore, but he had to shelf that plan when his main wingbacks got injured. Chelsea fans will no doubt want to see their new talisman in full royal blue kit for the first time, and who knows, maybe a goal or two against Club America.

Chelsea defender Levi Colwill could be on the way out. dark. Next

Who would you like to see start for the Blues against Club America on Saturday? Let us know your thoughts in the comments or on Twitter!

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