Chelsea vs Shamrock Rovers predicted XIs: Confirmed team news and probable line-ups | OneFootball

Chelsea host Shamrock Rovers at Stamford Bridge in the Conference League on Thursday, December 19, kicking off at 8pm and available to watch on TNT Sports 1.

Chelsea vs Shamrock Rovers Predicted XIs

Enzo Maresca is expected to make wholesale changes, meaning Thursday’s game could be another chance for the Blues’ youngsters.

Chelsea (3-4-3): Jorgensen; Acheampong, Adarabioyo, Disasi; Dewsbury-Hall, Rak-Sakyi, Chukwuemeka, Veiga; Neto, Guiu, George.

Shamrock boss Stephen Bradley has had a week to prepare following his team’s 3-0 win over Borac Banja Luka and could decide to start with the same XI.

Shamrock Rovers (3-5-2): Pohls; Cleary, Lopes, Grace; Burns, Watts. O’Neill, Poom, Honohan; Kenny, Farrugia.

Chelsea vs Shamrock Rovers Team News

Enzo Marseca has used this competition to rotate his Chelsea squad and could name the same team that started last week’s 3-1 win over Astana.

Wesley Fofana, Reece James, Omari Kellyman (all hamstring) and Benoit Badiashile (unknown) are out, while Romeo Lavia and Joao Felix are doubts.

Shamrock’s last outing and first game of this month was last Thursday’s 3-0 win over Borac in this competition.

Bradley could also name an unchanged team, having only looked to his bench against last week’s Bosnian visitors after his team had gone three ahead.

Chelsea squad building paying off

The Chelsea board’s activity in the transfer market over the last 18 months has led to several clever comments from pundits but Maresca’s management of his resources suggests he is the smartest man in the room.

The Italian has used this competition to give his fringe stars minutes and will do so again when Shamrock visit, with him certain to have one eye on Sunday’s Premier League trip to Everton.

A win at Goodison Park could lead to the Blues being top of the table at Christmas, depending on Liverpool’s result against Tottenham later on Sunday.

Last Sunday’s 2-1 win over Brentford was Chelsea’s seventh in a row and extended their unbeaten run to 10 matches.

They are also the clear favourites to win this tournament and, with this competition only four seasons old, they could become the first club to lift the Champions League, UEFA Cup/Europa League, Cup Winners’ Cup and Conference League trophies.

A Champions League return is undoubtedly their aim but winning this tournament would be significant for the club and Maresca, who is still a relatively rookie coach.

They are the only team to have won all five of their league phase matches, recording an aggregate score of 21-4, and should record another comfortable success against Shamrock.

Rovers also have a chance to advance straight into the last 16 and have, at the very least, already secured a play-off, with their 11 points four more than 17th-placed Real Betis.

Bradley’s side are undefeated in the Conference League, beating Larne and The New Saints as well as Borac, while drawing with both APOEL and Rapid Vienna.

With Thursday’s match their final outing of the year, the team from Tallaght will look to go out in style with a massive upset.

However, that appears unlikely, with the Blues again expected to demonstrate their depth by producing another convincing performance.