On Wednesday night, Chelsea booked their place in the Champions League quarter-finals. This evening, they could clinch their spot in the FA Cup semi-finals. Not bad for a club supposedly in crisis and shrouded in uncertainty, but then few thrive amid chaos quite like the Blues.
This ability to win when least expected and to overcome adversity has served Chelsea extremely well during the Roman Abramovich ear, which will shortly be coming to an end as bids to purchase the club off the Russian – who has been sanctioned by the UK government – had to be submitted before 9pm last night.
It's why few expect Middlesbrough to pull off yet another FA Cup shock this evening. Chris Wilder's side have already eliminated Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur on route to the quarter-finals but Chelsea are a very different outfit. They know how to get the job done in cup competitions, and especially so under Tuchel.
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"I expect an FA Cup atmosphere," the Chelsea head coach said at his pre-match press conference. "An emotional stadium, an emotional crowd. We love the competition. I love the FA Cup. So we expect a tough away match against a strong team. Not more than that, but this is what we expect. It will be a challenge for us."
Tuchel will be without Ben Chilwell (knee) and Saul Niguez (covid) for today's clash at the Riverside Stadium while there were doubts over Callum Hudson-Odoi and Reece James' fitness. The latter did undertake first-team training yesterday but may not be risked for the quarter-final tie.
Throughout this season's FA Cup, Tuchel has tended to heavily rotate his starting XI. Yet with an international break immediately following this evening's game, he is likely to name a strong side in order to ensure Chelsea secure their place in the semi-finals at Wembley.
Kepa Arrizabalaga is expected to start in goal for the Blues. The Spaniard has been named between the posts in the last two rounds – against Plymouth Argyle and Luton Town – and has established himself as Chelsea's domestic cup goalkeeper this term with Edouard Mendy still the undisputed number one.
Andreas Christensen limped off in midweek against Lille and the Dane is unlikely to be risked. So that will mean Trevoh Chalobah comes back in on the right of Tuchel's defence and Thiago Silva occupies his normal central role. Antonio Rudiger can then be deployed on the left.
Cesar Azpilicueta produced an impressive display in France and should keep his spot at right wing-back. On the opposite flank is expected to be Marcos Alonso, who returned against Lille after his covid-enforced absence against Burnley, Norwich City and Newcastle United.
N'Golo Kante is likely to start in centre midfield for Chelsea before heading off to represent France and should be partnered by Mateo Kovacic, who was brought off at half time on Wednesday. Jorginho, who has reasserted his place in the starting XI in recent weeks, can drop to the bench.
Kai Havertz has led the Chelsea attack superbly over the past month but this tie feels like a chance to give Romelu Lukaku an opportunity to restore some confidence. That the Belgian isn't going away on international duty is another reason to have him in the starting XI.
Hakim Ziyech should be fresh having only played the final few minutes against Lille and Timo Werner may be handed yet another chance to find some form. The German did also score and grab two assists in the last round against Luton and was also on the scoresheet against Chesterfield in the third round.
Predicted Chelsea side: Kepa; Chalobah, Silva, Rudiger; Azpilicueta, Kante, Kovacic, Alonso; Ziyech, Lukaku, Werner
