We should expect a freer, more aggressive approach this evening now Europa League football has been secured. Zenit were criticised by former players for playing very conservatively against the Swedes. Veteran Mikhail Kerzhakov was between the sticks in Sweden and conceded from Malmo’s only accurate shot, their first goal in the competition for six years. Defensive midfielder Wilmar Barrios might be drafted into the usual back-three unless they revert to a four.įirst-choice goalkeeper Stanislas Kritsyuk is also sidelined for several months after knee surgery. Centre-back Dmitri Chistyakov is suspended tonight, sent off for two bookable offences at Malmo when his side were already a goal down. Semek has hinted at changes ahead of the weekend league clash with second-placed Dynamo Moscow. At some stage soon Kepa Arrizabalaga will need a sharpener ahead of Edouard Mendy’s January departure to the Africa Cup of Nations. His coach may want to rest the heavily used Brazilian and/or Toni Rudiger if possible, though, with Malang Sarr among the limited options available. Thiago Silva has been outstanding, making vital goal-line clearances and winning 90 per cent of aerial duels in this competition. In this competition the Blues still have the tightest defence, conceding the fewest goals (one), shots on target (five), expected goals against (2.85), and racking up the most clean sheets (four, and in six of the past seven). Only four players have taken on opponents to set up more goals. Hudson-Odoi has been Chelsea’s creator-in-chief in the Champions League, too. Should Marcos Alonso be rested, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Christian Pulisic, as well as Saul, are left wing-back options. N’Golo Kante remains sidelined, Mateo Kovacic is now isolating with Covid, and UEFA Men's Player of the Year Jorginho has been playing with pain and has not travelled.įiguring centrally could be Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Mason Mount, Ross Barkley or Saul, though Reece James, who occasionally finishes games anchoring midfield, and Andreas Christensen would offer a protective approach. Midfield has been a troublesome area recently and opponents have scored after possession was surrendered in our half. Tuchel has confirmed he will include players who need minutes to acquire matchday rhythm and to share the workload. That said, with European knockout football in February confirmed, recovery times and the imminence of three domestic league games over nine days will dominate thinking as much as injuries. Now would be a good time to restart the run of clean sheets that made the deposed Premier League leaders so formidable.
![spb hospitality spb hospitality](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E5VNKjqXoAIFRHH.jpg)
The two goals from Thiago Silva and Mason Mount would have been enough to win every other match played by the Blues so far this season.
![spb hospitality spb hospitality](https://nmgprod.s3.amazonaws.com/media/files/b5/20/b52036e36518347b0371a3aed1b67352/cover_image_1608124144.jpg)
In recent weeks there has been a lack of certainty in the Blues’ chance-creation, but a sudden tendency to make individual errors of judgment has undermined the team’s greatest strength: defending. Creative thinking may be on the cards tonight as the Londoners look to secure top billing in Group H, but not at any cost. The devilry is in those details as the season enters its most attritional period and problems stack up. Thomas Tuchel acknowledged in the wake of the West Ham defeat that Chelsea ‘are not good enough in the details at the moment, but there’s no need to start doubting the big picture’.
![spb hospitality spb hospitality](https://i3.ytimg.com/vi/ijmgS6L6bt4/hqdefault.jpg)
No English team has won in St Petersburg but the Blues have bagged all the points on three previous visits to Russia in this competition, most recently a 4-0 win at Krasnodar in October 2020.
![spb hospitality spb hospitality](https://nextluxury.com/wp-content/uploads/ideas-for-gravel-driveways-with-stone-pavers-contemporary-design.jpg)
Zenit are the Londoners’ 195th different opponent in all competitions, and the fifth from their country. Like the group leaders, the Old Lady has injury problems and may face the Swedes stripped of Chiesa, Danilo, De Sciglio, Kulusevski, McKennie and Ramsey. Matching or bettering Juventus’s result at home to Malmo will seal top spot in Group H as the Blues have superiority over the Bianconero in head-to-head matches. This evening London’s most glamorous club pays a first-ever visit to the city dipped in gold (though currently a winter wonderland), St Petersburg, for the wrap of the Champions League group stage.Ĭhelsea’s early kick-off against hosts Zenit will take place in the all-weather Gazprom Arena, at the tip of an island buffeted by Baltic winds, and the outcome could propel the Blues to seeded status in Monday’s Round of 16 draw.