How should Chelsea line up against Valencia to begin Champions League campaign?

A quick turnaround from Saturday sees Chelsea take on Valencia on Tuesday in the first group game of this year’s Champions League campaign. We’re now into the meaty part of the schedule, with important games coming every 3-4 days/ It’s where head coaches will earn their keep, rotating the squad to keep players fit, happy, and firing.

Unfortunately for Chelsea, we still don’t have a fully healthy squad to choose from. Antonio Rüdiger lasted just 45 minutes over the weekend and limped off with a new injury, the severity of which is not yet known. And while Mateo Kovačić started and Pedro was fit for the bench on Saturday, neither N’Golo Kanté nor Emerson are likely to be ready yet. Meanwhile, Academy duo Callum Hudson-Odoi and Reece James are starting to knock on the door, which will surely open soon but perhaps not quite yet.

So it’s not ideal, but the schedule waits for no one.

Choose wisely.

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