Chelsea's 2022/23 season is practically over following Tuesday's Champions League exit at the hands of Real Madrid. Frank Lampard's men fell to a 2-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge to crash out of the competition 4-0 on aggregate.
The Blues now have seven games left of the season and require a major swing in form if they are to salvage any sort of positivity. Following last week's 2-1 home defeat to Brighton, Chelsea find themselves 17 points behind the top four places.
This weekend, the west Londoners are out of action due to Manchester United's participation in the FA Cup semi-final against Brighton, meaning Lampard will have a full week at Cobham to prepare his players for the visit of Brentford.
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The Bees make the short journey across London on Wednesday evening looking to bolster their hopes of finishing in the European places. Thomas Frank's men are ninth, four points off Brighton in seventh, but have suffered a bump in their form as of late with no win in their last five and three straight defeats.
Lampard will have a close eye on Brentford's clash with Aston Villa on Saturday, with the Blues boss hoping to win his first game back in charge in SW6. And he will be handed the best possible chance of doing so by having a full squad to choose from on Wednesday.
One player who will be hoping to return to the pitch is Kalidou Koulibaly. The defender suffered an injury in the first-leg defeat to Real Madrid and has missed the last two games. "A hamstring injury, it will be a matter of weeks rather than days," Lampard previously said.
"He's a very good, very experienced player. It's a disappointment for him and for us, but opportunity and we carry on without him. Hopefully, he gets fit as quick as he can."
Many would have noticed Reece James feeling his hamstring against Real Madrid. The wing-back has featured in the last six games for Chelsea after suffering with a number of setbacks this season.
Despite his concern on Tuesday, he soldiered on and completed the full 90 minutes. The weeks rest will provide James with the opportunity to give his body a breather after being heavily influential in Chelsea's side in the last month.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek will be hoping to gain further minutes on the training field after last featuring in Graham Potter's final game in charge against Aston Villa. The Cobham graduate returned to the Chelsea squad on Tuesday but was an unused substitute.
Armando Broja is the only long-term absentee at the club after Cesar Azpilicueta returned to the matchday squad.
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