Chelsea play host to Turkish champions Galatasary at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night in the second leg of their Uefa Champions League round-of-16 clash having drawn the opening encounter 1-1 in Istanbul last month, and these are the 11 players that we expected Blues head coach Jose Mourinho to send out in order to guide his side into the last of Europe’s premier club competition …
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GK: Petr Cech
The experienced Czech Republic international should be in for a quiet night at the Bridge this week, if the visitors’ results on the road in Europe over the years are anything to go by, although Cech being Cech, you can always rely on the shot stopper to be ready if called upon.
RB: Branislav Ivanovic
The muscular Serb has been one of one of his team’s most consistent performers so far in this campaign, with the west Londoners’ defence in particular having been virtually impossible to breach at times, meaning the full back may actually be required more in the opposition half of the field on Tuesday.
CB: Gary Cahill
Another defender who has been rock solid at the back for the Blues this season in partnership with skipper John Terry, so much so that Brazil international David Luiz has barely had a look for the west London club in this campaign.
CB: John Terry
One of, if not the, standout central defenders in the Premier League this season, the Chelsea captain will be expected to drive his side on from the front at the Bridge on Tuesday, while also keeping his concentration at all times so that the Turkish giants do not score a vital away goal.
LB: Cesar Azpilicueta
Mr Reliable has been exactly that throughout the campaign in an unfamiliar left-back role, so much so that normal first-choice left-back Ashley Cole has spent the majority of the campaign warming the substitutes’ bench instead.