Chelsea put in a heroic display at the Bernabeu on Tuesday night, and while it may not have been enough to secure their progress to the semi-finals of the Champions League, manager Thomas Tuchel would have been delighted with his player’s character and resolve.
The Blues now have only one chance left to lift silverware this season in the FA Cup, so the semi-final against Crystal Palace on Sunday is a massive game.
Edouard Mendy started the quarter-final against Middlesbrough so the Senegalese international is likely to be given the nod by Tuchel for the match at Wembley too.
To combat Wilfried Zaha on the left wing, captain Cesar Azpilicueta could be recalled to play as the right-sided centre-half, with Reece James moving out to wingback, and Ruben Loftus-Cheek making way.
The five-day gap since the Madrid game means the rest of the five-man defence of Thiago Silva, Antonio Rudiger and Marcos Alonso should be fit enough to start this weekend
There could be one change in midfield. Jorginho may replace N’Golo Kante, with the in-form Mateo Kovacic retaining his place. Timo Werner, Mason Mount and Kai Havertz deserve to start as the front three once again after their exploits in Madrid.
Chelsea’s Predicted XI To Play Crystal Palace:
Mendy, James, Azpilicueta, Silva, Rudiger, Alonso, Jorginho, Kovacic, Mount, Havertz, Werner
