GROUP H Wednesday 27th November 2019 17:55 Valencia V Chelsea Mestalla on Wednesday is a MUST win. 'I have no problem playing on the left': Azpilicueta ready to change position to make way for James. Valencia are currently 10th in La Liga. We lost 1-0 at home to Valencia and Barkley missed the penalty. We did have the better stats in the game, but we were not convincing. Hopefully we are a more settled and confident side now.
Chelsea v. Valencia TNT, 12:55PM EST This one is at the Mestalla. Are we a different team from the last time we lost to Valencia at home? We shall see. Our lineup back in September consisted of Christensen in the middle with Tomori and Zouma on either side. Azpilicueta and Alonso were wing backs. Across the middle we featured Jorginho and Kova. Up front was Willian, Tammy, and Mount. Christensen hasn't played for us in some time. Az has picked up his level. Jorg and Kova have a newfound understanding of each other, though it's likely Kante will play in Kova's stead. Rudiger is still out along with Barkley and Hudson-Odoi. Big match; I predict 2-2.
I think we're certainly a more composed, better oiled machine than when we last faced them. Some problems remain the same. We can do everything right 99% of the time but one or two bad mistakes will cost us. Jorginho being the epitome of that. We cannot give the ball away in midfield let alone when there's no cover behind you. I have no doubt Frank has hit this point home. An away win would be huge and I think our boys are up for it.
Chelsea boss Frank Lampard says their Champions League game in Valencia is a "must not lose" game rather than a "must win". Valencia have won just one of their seven Champions League matches against Chelsea (W1, D3, L3), winning 1-0 at Stamford Bridge on matchday one of this season's competition. Chelsea have played three away Champions League matches at Valencia without losing (W2, D1, L0) - they've only faced Schalke and Atletico Madrid as often away from home without defeat in the competition.
Chelsea have lost just one of their last 11 away Champions League matches in Spain (W3, D7, L1), though it came in their most recent visit in March 2018, a 3-0 reverse at Barcelona in the last 16. Chelsea are looking to record three consecutive away Champions League victories for the first time since winning five in a row during the 2003-04 campaign. Chelsea manager Frank Lampard could become the seventh manager to win his first three away Champions League matches - the six to do so are Fabio Capello (Milan, 1993), Luis Fernandez (Paris St-Germain, 1994), Antonio Oliveira (Porto, 1996), Claudio Ranieri (Chelsea, 2003), Pep Guardiola (Barcelona, 2008) and Santiago Solari (Real Madrid, 2019). Tammy Abraham has had more shots than any other Chelsea player in the Champions League this season (14) - however, the striker has found the net with just one of those shots and has scored as many own goals as he has goals (1).
My predicted Chelsea XI: Kepa; Azpilicueta, Zouma, Tomori, James; Kante, Jorginho, Kovacic; Willian, Abraham, Pulisic.
AC+ Zouma in the middle. Crossing all fingers and toes for this one. 1Arrizabalaga 24James 4Christensen 15Zouma 28Azpilicueta 7Kanté 5Jorginho 17Kovacic 10Willian 9Abraham 22Pulisic
Tomori injured? Nope he is on the bench 11Pedro 13Caballero 18Giroud 19Mount 23Batshuayi 29Tomori 33Emerson
So Mount is relegated to the bench once again. Da*n tough to not have room for one of the most productive offensive players this year, but who would you bench from Kante/Jorginho/Kovacic ? I thought there would be a chance he would displace Pulisic at LW simply for rotation reasons.
Christensen in the middle, but I was close for once. I think Dave at LB is an interesting choice. Alonso and Emerson's days are numbered. A new LB is on the cards.
There will be rotation and even changes in formation. Especially as the season moves on and players like CHO and RLC to return from injury. The good thing about young and up and coming players is that they are easier to bench.