Making wholesale changes to his starting line-up has been a consistent and unwelcome theme for Graham Potter during his reign as Chelsea manager. Amid injury crises and poor results accumulating for the Blues boss, he has been continually searching for the winning formula among his vast and expensive squad.
However, in arguably his most crucial week as Chelsea manager, he may have found a solution in the form of an old favourite. Against Leeds United last weekend, Potter reverted to a back-three - a system popular with former boss Thomas Tuchel - and stuck with it again for the win against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League.
As such, the need for significant changes may have lessened, as it seems highly probable Potter will continue to adopt this shape at the King Power Stadium. However, he still faces a number of selection headaches due to the sheer nature of the deep resources in the playing staff at his disposal.
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This is on top of recent additions to the treatment, as Reece James, Raheem Sterling, Mason Mount and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang all look set to miss out. The former’s absence will be particularly felt, and is perhaps one of the key conundrums for Potter as he chooses his replacement.
So with that said, he’s a look at three ways Chelsea could line-up, all of which keeping with the 3-4-2-1 set-up, to try and maintain their positive momentum against Leicester City.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek return
Chelsea put in one of their best displays of the season in seeing off Borussia Dortmund 2-0 at Stamford Bridge. Every player in the starting line-up did enough to stake a claim for a regular place in the side.
Potter may therefore feel the best way to follow up Tuesday’s huge victory is by keeping the side as similar and settled as possible. That being said, the former Brighton boss will not be able to keep a wholly unchanged line-up as both Reece James and Raheem Sterling look set to miss out through illness and a tight hamstring respectively.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek deputised for James at right-wing-back against Leeds and could slot back in. Elsewhere, Sterling’s absence may lead to Noni Madueke coming in on the right.
Starting XI : Arrizabalaga; Fofana, Koulibaly, Cucurella; Loftus-Cheek, Fernandez, Kovacic, Chilwell; Madueke, Havertz, Felix.
Mykhailo Mudryk decision
One key selection dilemma for Potter will be that of Mykhailo Mudryk. Having been a regular in the side since his January arrival from Shakhtar Donetsk, Potter opted to leave the Ukraine international as an unused substitute for both recent victories at Stamford Bridge.
Having reportedly had ‘private conversations’ with the 22-year-old to explain why he’s lost his place in the side, Potter may choose Sterling’s likely absence as the ideal opportunity to reintroduce Mudryk into the side.
Starting XI : Arrizabalaga; Fofana, Koulibaly, Cucurella; Loftus-Cheek, Fernandez, Kovacic, Chilwell; Mudryk, Havertz, Felix.
Cesar Azpilicueta return
Although Loftus-Cheek filled in at right-wing-back last Saturday, that was in the absence of both recognised right-backs in the squad. This time however, Potter will have Cesar Azpilicueta back available to him having finally recovered from the concussion he sustained in the loss to Southampton.
Although he is perhaps better suited to a full-back role as opposed to a slot at wing-back, Potter may trust his defensive capabilities more against some tricky Leicester wingers.
Starting XI : Arrizabalaga; Fofana, Koulibaly, Cucurella; Azpilicueta, Fernandez, Kovacic, Chilwell; Madueke, Havertz, Felix.
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