Chelsea (H) | Pre-Match Thread

[daflanger]

I am still tired from last nite!! Can we just throw 11 players on and play to win?

 

[omri]

same line up, get in done.

after give them ralex, 2 weeks and start think about the final.

 

[Blue Calx]

Get this won and then prepare for the final and in-between all that carry on taking the piss out of Stetford Rovers

 

[FantasyIreland]

I assume that Sterling, Jesus, Cancelo, Laporte and Rodri will come back for this one. Whilst he might be temptd to go "full strength" to get a psychological boost if we have them in Istanbul, I think he will be desperate to give those players more opportunities to play a part in our success and to reward them for the commitment.

Agree,and hope.Also,obviously dependant on tonight,i'd rather not their very capable manager get a close up view of what he needs to counter and stop.

Could have done without this fixture in truth.

 

[Kunlover]

Ederson
Cancelo Dias Laporte Mendy
B. Silva Rodri De Bruyne
Sterling Aguero G. Jesus

Cancelo, Laporte and Rodri will definitely start. So 3 changes from yesterday definitely. The rest I'm not sure, but those 3 will definitely start at Saturday.

 

[Didsbury Dave]

Agree,and hope.Also,obviously dependant on tonight,i'd rather not their very capable manager get a close up view of what he needs to counter and stop.

Could have done without this fixture in truth.

He's already had a view, hasn't he? We absolutely bossed the game at their place around Christmas. Was Lampard still manager then?

 

[Project]

Such a strange, strange game to select a team for.

It’s both a nothing game we can afford to rest players, and one in which we can win the league. Fascinated to see what Pep does with it.

 

[Vialli98]

We have shown we can beat you when you heavily rotate, so you know, please do that so we can squeeze Liverpool out of the top 4. I'm not sure we can win at the Etihad against your full strength side. I predict 2-1 City, if you're full strength, and 1-2 Chelsea if you rotate more than 6 players in.

 

[mancityscot]

We have shown we can beat you when you heavily rotate, so you know, please do that so we can squeeze Liverpool out of the top 4. I'm not sure we can win at the Etihad against your full strength side. I predict 2-1 City, if you're full strength, and 1-2 Chelsea if you rotate more than 6 players in.

probably about right tbf. We wont go full strength for this, could foresee 5 or 6 changes. Wont be a side like the fa cup semi though.

 

[kaz7]

The lads used every ounce of energy last night , body and soul, i think it will be heavy rotation , not so much that we dont win, want it sown up this week

 

[blueparrot]

We have shown we can beat you when you heavily rotate, so you know, please do that so we can squeeze Liverpool out of the top 4. I'm not sure we can win at the Etihad against your full strength side. I predict 2-1 City, if you're full strength, and 1-2 Chelsea if you rotate more than 6 players in.

I'm expecting 7 or 8 changes, but I'm also expecting you to either rotate or have tired players too. Still expect a win for us either way.

 

[Blue Pete]

Rotate. Between now and end of season all players need to get game time. Keep them fresh and keep them in condition

 

[Man_City_Loyal]

strong team, get the 3 points and rest the players ready for the final and play the squad players

 

[kippaxoldboy]

I`m going to reserve judgement I think until later tonight. If they get to the final I think Pep will go all out, full strength for the win to put down a strong message. If they fail they will do everything possible to win in order to secure top 4 status for next year. Either way it will be a tough game.

 

[Tricky_Trev]

I want the B team for this one. Chelsea have more need for the points and could beat even our best 11. That would be a bit of a disaster to then go into the CL Final (should they get there) with that doubt in our minds. If they beat our B team again it has no bearing on the CL.

We also put in a huge effort on a slushy pitch, so rotation makes sense from a fatigue/recovery point of view as well.

Cancelo, Ake, Laporte, Mendy, Rodri, Sterling, Jesus, Aguero and Torres all to start please.

 

[WesthoughtonJohn]

Depends on tonight's result for me - Madrid win go strong and get the league done, Chelsea win don't give them ANY clue what we might have in store for them in the final (and don't risk any sniddy injuries to key players)

 

[chaddblue]

Full strength. Win the game. Win the title

Then rotate in every single game left up to the final

 

[remember arthur mann]

Not worried about the chavs, played a hashed up team against them last time who were mostly in first gear, if Pep picks the right team can't see any problem.

 

[Vialli98]

I'm expecting 7 or 8 changes, but I'm also expecting you to either rotate or have tired players too. Still expect a win for us either way.

We may rotate, but it won't be more than half the team as I suspect City might do. We'll rotate the forwards as they have been regularly rotating anyway, so whoever out of Havertz, Werner, Ziyech, Pulisic etc don't start tonight will likely start the City game. If you make 7-8 changes and we make, say, 4 which was the amount of changes we made for the cup semi then I'd make us favourites for the game, especially considering the fact you have all but mathematically sewn up the title anyway.

 

[plattlanebenches]

Same team as last night. Put the league to bed. Don’t care after that. Plenty of rest before CL final. Dippers aren’t going to catch Chelsea.