The Champions League is back, although Chelsea could not have drawn a tougher opponent than Atletico Madrid. La Liga leaders may well represent Thomas Tuchel’s biggest challenge of the season, with tactics and team selection needing to be perfect. Chelsea would certainly have a first quarter-final since 2014.
THE PEOPLE’S CHOICE
There was no surprise in the lineup, as the WAGNH community remained at 3-4-3, with players like 4-2-3-1 (12%) and 4-3-3 (9%) far behind. Likewise, Édouard Mendy remains unconcerned about Kepa Arrizabalaga (6%).
With Thiago Silva still out, a three-man defense from Toni Rüdiger, Andreas Christensen and César Azpilicueta should work very well. Kurt Zouma (46%) returns to the bank. Ben Chilwell is preferred to Marcos Alonso (40%) as a full-back after a poor performance by the latter over the weekend. On the other side, it is Reece James, who has no competition with Callum Hudson-Odoi playing up front.
N’Golo Kanté and Mateo Kovačić’s center was not at his best, as Southampton drew with Chelsea on Saturday, but Jorginho (40%) again failed, with Billy Gilmour (2%) little more than one. afterthought.
Hakim Ziyech (15%) was well off the pace on Saturday and the community responded accordingly, favoring Mason Mount and Hudson-Odoi ahead of him. Christian Pulisic (38%) and Kai Havertz (25%) are just back from an injury and therefore voters saw no need to rush them. Timo Werner leads the line ahead of Tammy Abraham (14%) and Olivier Giroud (38%).
3-4-3 (73%)
Mendy (93%) | Rüdiger (85%), Christensen (66%), Azpilicueta (80%) | Chilwell (57%), Kanté (74%), Kovačić (82%), James (60%) | Hudson-Odoi (63%), Werner (83%), Mount (91%)
MY FAVORITE CHOICE
Yes, I stay with Jorginho. The team feels unbalanced without him on the pitch, especially since the move to the Tuchel system. Although Kanté should also be useful against opponents who try to catch him on the counterattack, I have a feeling that we will need Jorginho here a lot.
I was a little doubtful about who should start at the front. Giroud seems like the right choice against a physical and deep team like Atlético, but I understand why the community ended up staying with Werner, even though I don’t see how he will do better against this strong defense. I hope I’m wrong.
I also kept Alonso on the team, despite his recent poor performance, as my instinct tells me that he will face Diego Simeone’s men. A little more height on the sides wouldn’t be too bad.
3-4-3
Mendy | Rüdiger, Christensen, Azpilicueta | Alonso, Jorginho, Kovačić, James | Hudson-Odoi, Giroud, Mount