Evening Standard
·29 August 2024
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·29 August 2024
Enzo Maresca rests the likes of Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson
Chelsea have made changes as expected for tonight’s Europa Conference League play-off tie away at Servette.
The Swiss side must overturn a two-goal deficit in the play-off tie to deprive the Blues of a first trip to the Conference League group stage.
A much-changed XI beat Servette at Stamford Bridge last week the Chelsea boss has again rotated his side.
Enzo Maresca registered his squad for the tie before the first-leg lead was opened up, so there ware no opportunities for the likes of Raheem Sterling or Ben Chilwell as well as a swathe of youngsters.
Tyrique George and Josh Acheampong are the youngsters on the bench, along with the likes of Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson.
Reece James is still out with a hamstring injury, with Maresca hoping he will be back in action after the looming international break. Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia have also been carrying knocks since the win at Wolves, with the latter also not expected back until after the internationals. Caicedo, though, does make the bench here.
Joao Felix joined after the registration deadline so won’t fly out with Chelsea, while Malo Gusto and Pedro Neto are also not involved.
Marc Guiu leads the line in Switzerland, while Mykhailo Mudryk and Christopher Nkunku get chances to impress. Noni Madueke remains in the side after his hat-trick against Wolves.
Starting XI: Jorgensen, Disasi, Adarabioyo, Badiashile, Veiga, Fernandez, Dewsbury-Hall, Madueke, Nkunku, Mudryk, Guiu
Subs: Bettinelli, Sanchez, Cucurella, Colwill, Acheampong, Caicedo, Palmer, George, Jackson
Time and date: 7.30pm BST on Thursday August 29, 2024
Venue: Stade de Geneve
TV channel: Chelsea TV