Time for Blues to think inside the box
CHELSEA TO LOOK AT THEIR STRIKING OPTIONS AS MAIN MAN LUKAKU IS SET TO MISS OUT ON BRENTFORD CLASH
CHELSEA signed Romelu Lukaku to be the man.
The striker to put away the chances they missed last season and to lead the forward line while striking fear into the opposition defence.
He has showed his quality this season, but Thomas Tuchel has not always found the way to get the best out of the Belgium international.
However, there is no doubting he remains one of the first names on the teamsheet.
The Blues boss might have to make do without the services of the star striker against Brentford after he had to withdraw from his national team squad.
“Romelu Lukaku is suffering from muscle fatigue, same as Eden Hazard,” Belgium boss Roberto Martinez said.
“They’re not in best conditions to play. They’re leaving the national team camp due to these problems – I don’t know how long it will take.”
It is unlikely to be too serious but when the phrase ‘I don’t know’ is used it always feels a little more ominous. We take a look below at how Tuchel could line up his side without Lukaku.
■The same set up as versus Crystal Palace
■
With no Lukaku to pick for the opening Premier League match of the season, Timo Werner was the selection up top, flanked by a direct Christian Pulisic and Mason Mount.
Pulisic is continuing his return to fitness and could be in contention for the clash against Brentford, which could be timely given players returning from the international break and Lukaku’s fatigue.
Jorginho and Mateo Kovacic started against the Eagles, but with N’Golo Kante not meeting up with France, he could be more suitable to play in the midfield.
With Reece James still rehabilitating, Cesar Azpilicueta is likely to take the right wing-back slot, and Ben
Chilwell will be in a shootout with Marcos Alonso, who started the season well.
Trevoh Chalobah seems certain to start given numbers and Thiago Silva not returning until the day of the Brentford clash, and he could be joined by Andreas Christensen and Antonio Rudiger. XI: Mendy; Chalobah, Christensen, Rudiger; Azpilicueta, Jorginho, Kante, Chilwell; Mount, Werner, Pulisic
■Taking no injury risks
■
Antonio Rudiger did not train on Sunday and he was a doubt for Germany against North Macedonia on Monday evening, so it us likely Azpilicueta will slot into the back three alongside Christensen and Chalobah.
In turn, that would mean Callum Hudson-Odoi would come into the side at wing-back, despite getting a start in a more advanced position against Southampton.
The weekend may come too soon for either Kante or Pulisic, with the former only returning to individual training on Friday after his isolation period. XI: Mendy; Azpilicueta, Christensen, Chalobah; HudsonOdoi, Kovacic, Jorginho, Chilwell; Havertz, Werner, Mount.
■Making use of the stars that stayed at Cobham
■
Tuchel has an extended period working with the likes of Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Ross Barkley, Hakim Ziyech and more, albeit with a limited number and often in matches against the Blues academy stars.
However, Loftus-Cheek was impressive against the Saints before the break, while Ziyech looked reborn after time working with the German coach during pre-season.
Hudson-Odoi had no intention of joining with England’s youth ranks, in a bid to earn his way into the boss’s thinking, and could see himself in the side due to the injury concerns outlined above anyway.