Chelsea will aim to secure a spot in the FA Cup fourth round when they lock horns with Charlton Athletic at The Valley on Sunday night. Liam Rosenior has a new roster issue to worry about ahead of his side’s latest fixture.
Marc Cucurella is the latest absentee after being sent off in the Premier League game against Fulham earlier this week. Meanwhile, Levi Colwill (knee), Dario Essugo (thigh), and Romeo Lavia (hamstring) remain in the treatment room due to their long-term injuries.
Additionally, Mykhailo Mudryk’s suspension continues after he failed a doping test several months ago. Meanwhile, during his pre-match press conference, Rosenior did not provide fitness updates on any players. However, the English tactician discussed the quality of his squad.
The Chelsea manager said, “I’m very excited to work with this group. I’ve had two wonderful days being welcomed by them and by everyone – I feel at home already. The players have been magnificent with me and their engagement and how they’ve made my staff and me at home, and now I want to get into the games with them.”
“They are outstanding and talented players with huge potential and the job for me is to turn that potential into reality. Having potential is one thing; I’m potentially a very good coach, the players are potentially – although some of them already are – world-class players. But we can’t be potentially a world-class team; we need to be a world-class team. That’s where I’m trying to take the club.”
Rosenior also gave special mention to Reece James, the club captain. The Chelsea boss said, “I’ve analysed the recent games we’ve played in and I have to say that Reece, in terms of his impact on the group, in terms of his performances when he’s been on the pitch, he’s growing every day.”
“It’s exciting to be working with Reece at this stage of his career because I think he has levels that he can go even beyond what he’s performing now. I think that’s where a lot of these players are. What I’ve learned in the last two days, not just about Reece or the leadership group, all the players want success. All of them are honest. They’ve worked magnificently for me the last two days and I can’t wait to get to know them better.”
Filip Jorgensen will take his spot between the sticks, with Chelsea lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him against Charlton Athletic on Saturday. The backline will feature Josh Acheampong, Wesley Fofana, Benoit Badiashile, and Jorrel Hato.
As for the midfield unit, Moises Caicedo and Andrey Santos will line up in the double pivot. Estevao Willian will reprise the no. 10 role, with Alejandro Garnacho and Jamie Gittens being the two wide attackers. Finally, Joao Pedro will lead the line for the away side against Charlton Athletic this weekend. So, Cole Palmer, Liam Delap, and Pedro Neto will be backup options on the bench.
Predicted Chelsea XI: Jorgensen; Acheampong, Fofana, Badiashile, Hato; Caicedo, Santos; Gittens, Estevao, Garnacho; Pedro
