Thiago Silva Chelsea FC
Thiago Silva Chelsea FC

Chelsea take on Real Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday and before the 1st leg, some players have returned to training at Cobham.

The Blues had their final training session on Tuesday morning and Cesar Azpilicueta, Mason Mount, N’Golo Kante and Thiago Silva have all trained with the first team.

Silva damaged his knee ligaments in the match against Tottenham Hotspur but unfortunately, he will not be fit for the Real Madrid game. His return to training is a big boost but the central defender is still one or two weeks away from getting back to match fitness.

Cesar Azpilicueta has been absent for some time after suffering a head injury and even though he should be in line to face Real Madrid but the full-back will not start ahead of Reece James. At the best, he will be in the matchday squad so that’s backup for the right-back position.

Mason Mount’s last appearance was against Tottenham in February and since then, he has been out due to a pelvic injury. Mount was one of Lampard’s favourites during his first stint at the club so it will be interesting to see how the interim boss handles him now that the midfielder has lost his form.

Mount will not get into the starting line up against Real Madrid and honestly, with the kind of form that he is in right now, Chelsea are not going to miss him very much.

Both Mount and Thiago Silva have been in the travelling 24 players squad but it’s highly unlikely that either of them will be in the first XI on Wednesday night.

N’Golo Kante is the only player amongst the four who is a sure starter because he was rested for the Wolves game just so that he remains fully fit for the 1st leg against Real Madrid.

The French midfielder has come back from a long injury lay-off so his game time is being managed but someone like him can actually help stop the Madrid juggernaut.

When Chelsea were at the top, he was one of the best defensive midfielders in the world and if he can keep Modric and Kroos quiet then the Blues can nick this one.

Under Graham Potter, the Premier League side were playing in a 3-4-2-1 system but Lampard has straightaway reverted to his favoured 4-3-3 formation. This means the Blues are going to play with two central midfielders, Enzo Fernandes and N’Golo Kante.

Honestly, Chelsea, as a team, have no chance of beating Real Madrid but if one of their players can come up with a moment of individual brilliance in both legs then a miracle is possible.