Chelsea fans’ preferred lineup against Sheffield Utd: Gilmour, Jorginho in the pivot!

Chelsea take on Sheffield United in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup, a competition the Blues have become accustomed to winning since Roman Abramovic came in. I can imagine Thomas Tuchel wouldn’t mind a trophy in his first season in London so let’s hope Chelsea can do the job against a now Chris Wilder-less Blades team.

If you listen closely you can still hear Ram sobbing in the distance.

THE PEOPLE’S CHOICE

While rotation played a role, the formation wasn’t something the WAGNH community looked to change. The 3-4-3 has been working wonders and it’ll do so yet again ahead of the 4-2-3-1 (13%) and 4-3-3 (7%). Kepa Arrizabalaga rotates into the lineup after a lengthy absense, with Édouard Mendy (33%) getting some well-deserved rest.

The back three sees Toni Rüdiger and Kurt Zouma welcome back Andreas Christensen who replaces Cesar Azpilicueta (52%). This should also be the last game without Thiago Silva (3%) — rejoice! Marcos Alonso (13%) and Reece James (51%) start on the bench as Ben Chilwell and Christian Pulisic take up the wing-back positions.

Mateo Kovačić (36%) and N’Golo Kanté (24%) were phenomenal during the week and they deservedly get a breather here. That means Jorginho returns while young Billy Gilmour finally receives that opportunity to show his worth to the manager we’ve all been waiting for!

An attacking trident made up of Olivier Giroud, Mason Mount and Callum Hudson-Odoi leads the line for Chelsea which should make for an intriguing and intricate interplay against an Ampadu-less Sheffield United. All of Hakim Ziyech (14%), Timo Werner (21%) and Kai Havertz (28%) are rested. Fortunately, Tammy Abraham (4%) should make the bench.

On a side note: it goes without saying that Hudson-Odoi and Pulisic could just as much have swapped positions so imagine it as you will.

3-4-3 (79%)

Kepa (65%) | Rüdiger (57%), Christensen (82%), Zouma (74%) | Chilwell (61%), Gilmour (59%), Jorginho (75%), Pulisic (73%) | Hudson-Odoi (77%), Giroud (75%), Mount (75%)

MY PREFERRED CHOICE

I had no complaints with the community’s lineup and therefore went with the exact same starting eleven. If Abraham hadn’t just returned from a niggling injury one could have made an argument to start him ahead of Giroud, but a sub appearance should do nicely at this point.

Otherwise, there wasn’t much to add.

3-4-3

Kepa | Rüdiger, Christensen, Zouma | Chilwell, Jorginho, Gilmour, Hudson-Odoi | Pulisic, Giroud, Mount