Thomas Tuchel has – as expected – named a very strong Chelsea side for this afternoon's FA Cup fourth-round clash against Plymouth Argyle but the German will not be on the bench having tested positive for Covid.
The Blues head coach confirmed at his pre-match press conference he would only be picking players from his first-team squad; as a result, the likes of Xavier Simons, Charlie Webster, Lewis Hall and Harvey Vale were all in action for the Development Squad against Arsenal last night.
"This game is about being ready after a one-week break and after one week of training. It’s about being ready and getting ready to win the next game and to restart the engines,'' Tuchel said.
The German has been true to his word with ten full internationals included in the starting XI for the visit of the League One side to Stamford Bridge.
Kepa continues in goal for the Blues with Edouard Mendy at the African Cup of Nations. Marcus Bettinelli, who was in the starting XI for the third round, is among the substitutes.
The absent Tuchel has decided to select a back four and Cesar Azpilicueta is handed a start at right-back. With his centre-back options bolstered, the Chelsea head coach has named Andreas Christensen and Antonio Rudiger in the side.
Malang Sarr, who has become an important part of the squad in recent weeks, is named ahead of Marcos Alonso at left-back.
In midfield, Jorginho is handed a somewhat surprising place in the side alongside Mateo Kovacic, who has enjoyed an outstanding campaign thus far. There is no N'Golo Kante in the match-day squad.
In what may be a three-man support line behind Romelu Lukaku, Hakim Ziyech starts on the right, Mason Mount begins through the middle, and Callum Hudson-Odoi, after impressing against Tottenham prior to the international break keeps his place on the left of the attack.
Chelsea: Kepa; Azpilicueta, Christensen, Rudiger, Sarr; Jorginho, Kovacic; Ziyech, Mount, Hudson-Odoi; Lukaku
Chelsea substitutes: Bettinelli, Sharman-Lowe, Alonso, Chalobah, Kenedy, Barkley, Saul, Havertz, Werner
