Chelsea travel to South Wales on Tuesday night to take on League One leaders Cardiff City in the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup.
The Blues ended a run of four games without a win by beating Everton 2-0 in the Premier League at Stamford Bridge on Saturday and will now be aiming for successive victories to progress to the League Cup semi-finals.
However, Cardiff have already beaten top-flight Burnley and Championship Wrexham to reach the last eight and so it won’t be a stroll in the park for Enzo Maresca’s side.
The game is set to kick off at 8pm and will be broadcast on Sky Sports Main Event with coverage starting at 7.30.
Chelsea predicted lineup vs Cardiff
Chelsea Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Jorgensen; Acheampong, Adarabioyo, Badiashile, Hato; Caicedo, Santos; Estevao, Buonanotte, Gittens; George.
Chelsea team news vs Cardiff
Chelsea boss Maresca is expected to make wholesale changes for the trip to Cardiff.
Goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen has been the Blues’ League Cup keeper this season and should again start between the sticks. Josh Acheampong and Jorrel Hato will fill the full-back positions with Marc Cucurella suspended after being shown two yellow cards in this season’s League Cup. Tosin Adarabioyo and Benoit Badiashile will pair up in the centre of defence.
Moises Caicedo is available again domestically after being banned following a sending-off against Arsenal in November and will play alongside Andrey Santos in midfield. Tyrique George should lead the line with Estevao, Facundo Buonanotte and Jamie Gittens the three behind the forward.
Marc Guiu is another option upfront, with the attacker eligible to play despite already appearing for Sunderland in the competition this season.
Liam Delap is out with a shoulder injury, while Romeo Lavia and Dario Essugo are both out with thigh problems. Levi Colwill is a long-term-absentee having needed surgery for an ACL injury.
Cole Palmer, meanwhile, has played three games this month and scored against Everton, but likely won’t be risked in Cardiff as he continues his comeback from a groin problem and toe injury.
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No excuses for Blues in Welsh capital
Chelsea boss Maresca described the build-up to Saturday’s win against Everton as ‘the worst 48 hours’ he had experienced since joining the Blues.
The victory over the Toffees came after defeat by Atalanta in the Champions League saw the West Londoners go four games without a win.
Feeling he and his players were not supported after losing in Italy, some observers believe the comments were aimed at people internally at the club, with Maresca insisting he was happy with the backing the team got from the fans.
Chelsea need a victory against Cardiff, because should the Blues go out of the League Cup to a League One side, you can expect Maresca’s comments to come into sharper focus.
Losing in South Wales would mean the Blues had won just one in six and so questions and debate about the Italian’s stewardship at Stamford Bridge would surely come to the surface.
However, beat Cardiff, and the noise will be about the players bouncing back and reaching the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup.