Chelsea Football Club will be aiming to return to winning ways this Saturday evening as they take on Aston Villa at Villa Park. Ahead of this pivotal clash, manager Enzo Maresca has provided updates on his squad, revealing a mixed bag of injury news that could impact their performance.
On a positive note, Malo Gusto has successfully regained fitness and is available for selection, providing a much-needed boost to the squad. However, Chelsea has suffered a significant setback with Noni Madueke, who has been ruled out after sustaining a hamstring injury during last weekend's match against Brighton & Hove Albion. Madueke's absence adds to a growing list of injured players, which includes Benoit Badiashile, Wesley Fofana, Omari Kellyman, Romeo Lavia, Marc Guiu, and Nicolas Jackson, all of whom are grappling with various fitness issues.
Compounding Chelsea’s challenges, Mykhailo Mudryk remains suspended due to a doping violation, further complicating Maresca's selection choices. During his pre-match press conference, Maresca addressed Madueke’s situation, stating, “We don't have any update on the injuries. We don't have any additional injuries, which is good. Noni will probably be out until the international break. We can have most of the players back after the international break, maybe all of them, and it can be a big boost for us.”
Maresca also took the opportunity to commend Aston Villa and their manager Unai Emery, acknowledging the progress the team has made under his stewardship. He remarked, “Aston Villa are a very good team. Since the new project with Emery, they are doing fantastic. This season you can see in the Champions League they finished in the top eight to qualify for the knockout phase, which is an unbelievable achievement for the club, plus they are fighting to finish in the top four of the Premier League.”
In terms of tactical setup, Chelsea is expected to adopt a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Filip Jorgensen likely to start in goal, taking precedence over Robert Sanchez. The defensive line should feature Reece James, Tosin Adarabioyo, Levi Colwill, and Marc Cucurella.
In midfield, Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez are anticipated to form the central pairing, while Cole Palmer will occupy the no. 10 role. The wide positions are set to be filled by Pedro Neto and Jadon Sancho, with Christopher Nkunku leading the line in attack against Aston Villa.
The predicted Chelsea XI for the match is: Jorgensen; James, Tosin, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez; Neto, Palmer, Sancho; Nkunku. As Chelsea prepares to face a formidable opponent in Aston Villa, the focus will be on maximising their available resources to secure a vital three points. The challenge is significant, but with the right adjustments, Chelsea could find the spark needed to reignite their season.