Three Chelsea players guaranteed to get a European start this week after Sterling’s outburst | OneFootball

A Thursday then a Sunday – it’s a pattern Chelsea are going to have to get used to, and in a way we’re happy to have it come so early in the season so we can get into our rhythm.

We’re had plenty of years with a midweek game, but a Tuesday or Wednesday in the Champions League really is a whole different arrangement to this one. Players can be stretched between both games in that format, while the Europa League and Conference League are really doing all they can to encourage managers to pick as different a starting team as possible.

The opposition will be weak and the rest time minimal. Thank god we’ve got so many players in our first team squad to keep happy with minutes, then, right?

Chelsea in preseason before their game against Man City.

Three players set for important minutes

Enzo Maresca had his first difficult lineup decisions of the season yesterday, while Thursday gives him a chance to bring others into the mix.

There are 3 we’re sure of seeing. First up is Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. It was likely a difficult call to leave him out of Sunday’s team given he knows Maresca and his setup, but Romeo Lavia’s excellent form made him impossible to leave out, and Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo’s price tags weigh heavy. Expect KDH to get significant minutes against Servette.

Also almost guaranteed a go is Marc Guiu. Nicolas Jackson was up to speed in time to play most of the game against Manchester City, but we’ll want him at full power again on Sunday against Wolves, so expect Guiu to get the nod in midweek as our only other true striker available.

Raheem Sterling would have been coming in without doubt, but after he made a fuss over Sunday’s selection he may be punished. That means Mykhailo Mudryk is a sure fire bet to play on the left wing, with Pedro Neto probably getting further minutes off the bench as he’s lined up for a start against Wolves.