Kepa And Ziyech To Start, Mount On The Bench: Chelsea’s Predicted XI To Face Barnsley

David Tully

3 years ago

Categories: Chelsea News, Galleries, Match Previews

Tags: Barnsley, Chelsea, Kepa Arrizabalaga

Thomas Tuchel will be delighted with his start as Chelsea manager and he’ll want to keep the momentum going by progressing through to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup this evening.

With the Blues facing Championship side Barnsley, it’s likely that Tuchel will select a rotated team for this one, even though their next league fixture is against Newcastle on Monday night.

The Tykes have not won a league game since late December but they did beat Norwich City in the last round earlier this month so they will not be pushovers.

Press the next page as we predict Chelsea’s starting lineup to take on Barnsley.

GK – Kepa

Tuchel says he is giving the Spaniard a fresh start and he will be hoping to see a good performance from the 26-year-old at Oakwell tonight.

Kepa’s confidence has undoubtedly taken a knock over the past year and it remains to be seen if Tuchel’s appointment will inspire the goalkeeper to up his game.

RWB- Reece James

The 21-year-old could be rested for this game but Tuchel does have limited options to play in the right wingback role. Callum Hudson-Odoi would be the obvious alternative but he may be needed further up the field due to other injury problems.

James didn’t make much of an impact against Sheffield United so he’ll be looking to impress his new manager against Barnsley.

CB – Kurt Zouma

The Frenchman has barely had a look-in since Tuchel’s arrival, which will undoubtedly concern the defender, and he’ll need to make the most of this chance if, as expected, he is selected to start.

It’s been a strange season for Zouma who seemingly had formed a formidable partnership with Thiago Silva in the opening months of the campaign but this will only be his third appearance since the New Year.

CB – Andreas Christensen

The Dane looks so much more comfortable playing in a back three and, with Silva likely to miss the Blues’ next two games, he will be given an extended run in the side to show Tuchel what he can do.

Christensen is more exposed in a back four and his weaknesses are not as obvious when he has protection around him.

CB – Antonio Rudiger

The German defender is seemingly Tuchel’s lieutenant in the dressing room and it’s unlikely that he’ll be dropped for this match.

Rudiger made up for his own goal against Sheffield United with some excellent last-ditch defending and the game at Bramall Lane pretty much sums him up as a player.

LWB – Marcos Alonso

After being left on the bench at the weekend, it’s anticipated that the Spaniard will replace Ben Chilwell for the FA Cup clash, with Barnsley unlikely to pose much of a threat going forward.

Tuchel is expected to select Alonso when Chelsea are anticipated to have most of the ball in matches. His strengths in the final third of the pitch can be best utilised in such fixtures.

CM – Billy Gilmour

Tuchel put the 19-year-old on the bench for the first time at the weekend and the Blues boss has stated that the midfielder is very close to being selected in games.

With that being the case, it will be hoped that Gilmour will be given the chance to show what he can do in tonight’s match.

CM – N’Golo Kante

The Frenchman has been surprisingly overlooked in Chelsea’s last couple of games by Tuchel despite being fully fit so you would expect the midfielder to start tonight.

Kante has had an up and down season by his standards and he will want to set down a marker to show he still possesses the drive and energy to play at the highest level.

RW – Hakim Ziyech

Tuchel’s treatment of the Moroccan international has been interesting. After being rested for the Burnley game, he was an unused substitute versus Tottenham and the Blades.

Whether there is something Ziyech is not doing in training which is keeping him from starting, it is not known, but he is expected to feature this evening.

CF – Tammy Abraham

With both Timo Werner and Olivier Giroud having started the match at Bramall Lane, it is assumed that Abraham will be selected for the FA Cup.

The 23-year-old hasn’t been seen since being subbed at half-time against Burnley so he has it all to prove to Tuchel.

LW – Callum Hudson-Odoi

The participation of both Kai Havertz and Christian Pulisic is in doubt and, with Mason Mount likely to be rested, it could mean Hudson-Odoi gets to start in his favoured left-wing role.

After starting on the bench against Sheffield United, he is likely to feature more prominently at Oakwell tonight.