Thomas Tuchel has made two changes to the Chelsea side that lost to Aston Villa on the final day of the Premier League season ahead of tonight’s massive Champions League final against Manchester City.
Chelsea fans will be delighted to see that hero N’Golo Kante is back for the all-important clash after a little injury scare, with the Frenchman replacing Mateo Kovacic in midfield.
Tuchel’s only other change sees Kai Havertz brought into the starting lineup for Christian Pulisic, the German star has looked much better in the final third of the season after a nervy start to life in London.
The Blues look to be sticking with the 3-4-3/5-2-3 formation that has helped them turn around their season under Tuchel’s tutelage, with Reece James and Ben Chilwell out at wing-back.
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Team news is in! ?#UCLFinal pic.twitter.com/BrKdO0jdId
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) May 29, 2021
Here is how some of the Blues faithful have reacted to Tuchel’s teamsheet:
Awful decision to start Jorginho, he’s gonna be run over by city’s midfield
— ??KAKAROTO?? (@AAsmoke) May 29, 2021
Why is Jorginho starting???????
— ME (@iMuna_3) May 29, 2021
Kovacic is fully fit as well as Billy. Now we have Jorginho, who constantly make mistakes in the last few games. If he made mistakes again tonight, there’s only one to blame and it’s TT, not Jorginho.
— Nutz (@GSL_IV_) May 29, 2021
Jorginho better play the game of his career tonight, because i wasn’t expecting to see him starting. I, with many others hoped for Kante/Kova.
— ????? ??? ??????? (@Dazzshallperish) May 29, 2021
Worried about Jorginho.
— Karo (@Karovoni) May 29, 2021
Tammy can’t even appear in the bench??I feel for him…take heart @tammyabraham
— Branitez da rebo (@da_rebo) May 29, 2021
In the champions league final, Tuchel has kept 2 left backs on the bench but omitted Tammy Abraham….I am shocked
— Mohommad Anas Hamid (@mohommadanas) May 29, 2021
It appears as though the main concern from a large section of Chelsea fans is Tuchel’s decision to start Jorginho, as the ace has struggled in big games in the past and importantly doesn’t really have the legs to contend with the tireless creative midfielders like Kevin de Bruyne and Bernardo Silva.
It’s a massive call from Tuchel, one which appears to leave him facing the sole blame should things go wrong tonight, but it’s worth noting that the Blues are already considerable underdogs for the tie.
Chelsea will battle against a very attacking side from Pep Guardiola as they look to get their hands on club football’s most prestigious honour and leave City on the wrong side of a massive upset.
As a fan, I was so fascinated about the performance of my solid, collosal and extraordinary Chelsea FC. All the strategies put in place really worked out well.
Kante, Havertz, Mount, Azpi, Rüdiger Christensen, “always an active Mendy, etc all gave good accounts of themsekves. Excellent!