Chelsea return to the competition once described as the “holy grail” by their Russian owner Roman Abramovich.
The Blues are back in the UEFA Champions League after a year’s sabbatical and now looking to start on a high.
Chelsea have been placed in a group which is described by many as the ‘group of death’ alongside perennial Champions League competitors Atletico Madrid, Italian biggies AS Roma and Azerbaijani debutants Qarabag FK.
Antonio Conte seems to have steadied the ship after the opening day disaster against Burnley with three wins on the trot away to Tottenham and Leicester and at home against Everton.
The boys open their Champions League campaign on a relatively easier note as they welcome newcomers Qarabag to Stamford Bridge.
The match might turn out to be an extremely important one even if it is easy as the group is a tough one and it might go down to head-to-head.
Conte’s presser ahead of the game had a few vital insights as to how he might set the side up and what he expects from his men.
Michy Batshuayi is expected to start ahead of Morata, while Conte revealed Hazard will again start on the substitutes’ bench and Davide Zappacosta is in line to make his first Stamford Bridge appearance. Captain Gary Cahill is set to return from suspension and Andreas Christensen could get a rare chance.
“Eden is in the squad and is working very well towards the best physical condition, but I think he needs a bit more time to continue to improve and to not to take stupid risks with him. Now he’s available and will be on the bench,” said Conte.
“Álvaro’s playing very well, scoring and he is totally involved in our style of football, and improving a lot. But don’t forget he played the whole game with Spain and at Leicester. I have to check and then to make the best decision. It is normal when you play seven games in 21 days that it is necessary to rotate, but I am very calm.
“The English teams have difficulties because the league is very tough here. In the past, before the Champions League, I rested players. But in England, it is very difficult to do this. You risk a lot. But we are ready and for this reason, we must rotate all the squad.
“You play a medium team (in England) and you can lose the game. You know there are six or seven teams in this league fighting for the title. You are never relaxed in England. You have to play a tough league and then two cups. We are starting to play the Champions League. To play 60-65 games at a high level is not easy.”
Asked if he will be taking a big risk by leaving out the likes of Morata and Hazard, Conte added: “I think when you make the decision there is always a risk. The risk could be to play with the same players I did against Leicester and then it would be why didn’t you change the team? This is our job.
“We must use our eyes and our previous experience as player and coach. If you win, it was the best decision and if you lose it was the worst decision. I must be realistic and calm and try to make the best decision for these seven games in 21 days. To play every three days honestly is not easy for the players to play every game.”
As for Qarabag, they have started the season brightly winning all three of their games so far in the Azerbaijan Premier League with striker Mahir Madatov scoring 3 in 3.
Their unpredictability makes this an exciting contest and expect Chelsea to go all guns blazing in the first match on their way to repeat the success of 2012.
