Chelsea have secured a place in the next season’s Champions League after Arsenal’s loss to Newcastle United and the Blues still have one game in hand.
Tottenham are just two points behind Chelsea but if Chelsea can beat Leicester City on Thursday night, they will be able to hold onto the third spot on the Premier League table. Finishing third or fourth doesn’t matter too much but Thomas Tuchel will not want to end the season on a flawed note, especially after their FA Cup loss to Liverpool last weekend.
Leicester City’s push for a top-four spot had fizzled out long ago and while the Foxes have nothing much to play for right now. Brendan Rodgers has numerous injuries in his squad but his players’ shoulders haven’t dropped yet because they have won their last two matches.
The Blues manager will want to see a proper response from his players after the FA Cup loss and with the third spot on the table still up for grabs, Tuchel will not gamble using a second-fiddle side on Thursday night. The manager might look to reshuffle the pack though, bringing in some of the players who could not make it to the first XI on Saturday.
Chelsea team news vs Leicester City:
Thiago Silva was struggling in the final so the manager will probably keep him on the bench this week. If Silva is not used then Azpilicueta will come into the side as the third central defender.
Christensen is possibly on his way out of the club which is why he chose not to play in the final so Tuchel will resist using him against Leicester City.
Speaking about Christensen, Tuchel had said last week: “[We’re] not sure yet, and at the weekend. [He] came on the morning of the [FA Cup final] and told me he was not ready. He had his reasons, they stay private and confidential, but it was not the first time.”
N’Golo Kante was only fit enough to be on the bench at Wembley but the Frenchman will come into the first XI, in place of Mateo Kovacic.
Ben Chilwell has returned to training with the youth team after his long injury lay-off but the full-back will only make a comeback next season.
The club has updated: “Ben will be able to join in team training with the youth, this will be his next step in the weeks and hopefully, he can join our training at the end of the season.”
Back in the mix!@BenChilwell 👏 pic.twitter.com/xFg4YHt5vL
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) May 17, 2022
Timo Werner sustained a slight hamstring issue during warm-up on Saturday and even Kia Havertz missed the final with a hamstring injury so neither of them will be risked on Thursday night.
With both the forwards out, Romelu Lukaku will hold onto his place in the side.
Chelsea’s injuries before the Leicester City clash:
Thiago Silva – Will possibly be rested.
Timo Werner – Hamstring injury – Will possibly be rested.
Kai Havertz – Hamstring injury – Ruled out.
The Romelu Lukaku stats of Inter Milan compared to Chelsea stats. Needs perform better for us. pic.twitter.com/8eByU664bN
— Frank Khalid (@FrankKhalidUK) May 11, 2022
Mateo Kovacic – Ligament injury – Late fitness test.
Callum Hudson-Odoi – Back injury – Ruled out.
Ben Chilwell – Cruciate ligament injury – He’s just returned to training.
Chelsea predicted line up vs Leicester City:
Goalkeeper: Edouard Mendy.
Defenders: Chalobah/Silva, Rudiger, Azpilicueta.
Midfielders: Jorginho, N’Golo Kante, Reece James, Marcos Alonso.
Forwards: Mason Mount, Hakim Ziyech, Romelu Lukaku.
