Chelsea and Graham Potter are in desperate need of three points against Leeds United. The manager’s team selection featured three alterations to the side that lost 2-0 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last Sunday.
That game proved costly in more than one way for the Blues, as it also resulted in Thiago Silva sustaining a knee injury that has ruled him out for around six weeks. Meanwhile, Potter was dealt another blow on Friday when Reece James missed training due to a tight hamstring.
In their places were Benoit Badiashile and Wesley Fofana, as Potter reverted to a back-three. The other change saw Mateo Kovacic return from illness in place of Hakim Ziyech, who had to make do with a place among the substitutes.
READ MORE: Confirmed Chelsea team vs Leeds United – Fofana and Badiashile start, Havertz keeps place
Speaking to Football Daily, Potter explained his team selection: "We lost Thiago and Reece so enforced changes.
"Mateo’s back from illness, so Benoit and Wesley can come in for Reece and Thiago and we’ve got a team we believe in and believe that we can play well and believe that we can win."
When asked whether he would reveal if his side was to line up in a back-three or back-four system, Potter replied: "Not really. No, you can guess."
The head coach was also asked to comment whether he thought this was a good or bad time to play Leeds United, who recently appointed Javi Gracia as their new manager. "Well it’s never a good time or a bad time, it’s just a time," Potter responded.
"You have to play the opposition, we have respect for everybody in the Premier League, that’s how it is. We need to focus on ourselves, we need to attack well, we need to play with spirit and fight for the three points."
Chelsea starting line-up: Kepa; Fofana, Koulibaly, Badiashile; Loftus-Cheek, Enzo, Kovacic, Chilwell; Joao Felix, Havertz, Sterling.
Chelsea substitutes: Bettinelli, Aubameyang, Chalobah, Mudryk, Zakaria, Ziyech, Gallagher, Chukwuemeka, Madueke.
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