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.
CM: Nemanja Matic
Talk about hitting the ground running since swapping the Portuguese for the English capital during the January transfer window, with Matic now one of the very first names down on the team-sheet such is the holding midfielder’s importance to the west Londoners.
RM: Ramires
Despite seeing red for an horrific studs-up challenge during Chelsea’s shock 1-0 loss at Aston Villa on Saturday night, the all-energy Brazil international will still line up on the right-hand side of the Blues’ midfield when Gala come to town this week.
LM: Andre Schurrle
Mourinho will want his side to play with width against the Turkish giants at the Bridge on Tuesday night, and as a result, the Germany international should therefore get the nod to hug the left-hand touchline in an attempt to stretch the visitors’ midfield and back four.
AT: Eden Hazard
Still Chelsea’s most dangerous and effective attacking player on current form, as the Belgium has been all campaign long for his side, although relatively speaking the youngster’s form has just started to tail off slightly of late.
ST: Samuel Eto’o
Fernando Torres may have recovered from his groin injury, however, the veteran Cameroon striker will get the nod against Gala as he always does for the big games for Chelsea.
AT: Willian
Another Brazilian who was sent off in the west Midlands on Saturday and yet who will still get chosen for this huge match for the Blues, where a moment of magic from the twinkle-toed wide man could in the end prove the difference between victory and defeat.