In April 2022, the ‘Blues’ played in Spain with a completely different team than the one they present on Wednesday; They even changed coaches…
Football, the draw or fate willed it RealMadrid and the Chelsea meet again in the quarterfinals of the UEFA Champions Leaguethe same instance of the Championship in which they previously crossed paths only 12 months.
In April 2022, the Spaniards knocked out the English in one of the many epic nights the Santiago Bernabeu last course. However, and although only a year has passed since that unforgettable extra time that ended with Concha Espina’s men in the semi-finals of the Champions League, the ‘Blues’ have lived a true metamorphosis. Are too many changes the British have undergonenot only in the eleven expected to be drawn in the Spanish capital on Wednesday, but also in the dock.
Bank changes
For starters, it’s gone Thomas Tuchel as a coach (the German now works at the Bayer Munich). The current Chelsea manager, who was sacked a few days ago Graham Potter for bad results, it’s the legendary one Frank Lampard. The former England international, who is enjoying his second spell on the bench Stamford Bridgedebuted last weekend with a loss at home to wolves for the slightest difference.
Ranking changes
Chelsea’s current situation is very different from a year ago when it arrived at the Bernabéu to try to come back from 1-3 in London (it did, but fell in extra time) after a beating 0-6 to Southampton at the iconic St. Mary’s Stadium and being classified third of the Premier League (Thus ended the season.) Despite the result of the first leg, Madrid had reasons not to be wary and to be alert.
That reality remains far away, not in time (exactly a year passed) but in events: the ‘Blues’ now occupy the eleventh position in England and they are closer to the bottom (16 points separate him from Southamtpon himself, placed last) that of the Champions League (they are 17 points behind Manchester Unitedfourth in the table).
Template changes
Many millions of euros later, Chelsea has renewed its squad and next Wednesday they will have to miss a number of players who forced extra time at the Bernabéu last year.
That night of April 12, 2022, they jumped on the lawn of the ‘White Colosseum’ Edouard Mendy, Reece James, Thiago Silva, Rudiger, Marcos Alonso; Kante, Kovacic, Mount, Loftus-Cheek, Havertz and Werner. Pulisic, Ziyech, Jorginho and Saúl came in from the bench.
Of those 15 football players who took part in the second leg of the quarter-finals, it is expected that 11 don’t start. And it’s because technical decision (mandy, loftus cheek, Pulisic, Ziyech), by injury (Thiago Silva, Berg) or by have left the club (Marcos Alonso-Barca, Saul-Atleti, Rudiger-Real Madrid, Jorginho-Arsenal, Werner-RB Leipzig), only four players would be in the starting eleven Chelsea this Wednesday. They would repeat James, Kante, Kovacic and Havertz.
Chelsea’s XI for the Bernabéu on April 12 would be there Kepa Arrizabalaga, Reece James, Fofana, Koulibaly, Chilwell, Enzo Fernández, Kante, Kovacic, Havertz, Sterling and João Félix. Obviously a very different team to the one that won 2-3 in Madrid a year ago with goals from Mount, Rudiger and Alonso. If not even the goal scorers will be: Mount returns from injury, Rudiger and Alonso they left the club…
Source: Goal