Chelsea, DESPITE Their world-class options, are like every other team in the Premier League-they hate going to Stoke.
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Known for direct play and brute strength, Stoke City are England's hard man. Forged under Tony Pulis, and now attempting to restructurings of sorts under Mark Hughes, taking three points at the Britannia Stadium is Easier than thought Accomplished.
Jose Mourinho has two options When Selecting His XI for Monday's clash: The Portuguese can send a team to "play football" or I can Attempt to match Stoke's physicality.
Undone by Oussama Assaidi in the 90th minute last year, Chelsea Should Have on Their Minds revenge.
Last season, Mourinho Attempted the former option, starting Ramires, Andre Schurrle, Eden Hazard, Fernando Torres and Juan Mata. Eventually losing a back-and-forth thriller 3-2 in the dying moments, Chelsea Might look to use the term esta Latter approach.
Though some sections of this game will acerca Have them flowing football, Mourinho must choose in key areas where to bolster His XI. The double pivot of Nemanja Matic and Cesc Fabregas is an automatic choice, and the decisions start from there.
Playing Fabregas on the right of the pivot leaves gaps When I attacks, Matic is capable of filling them When the Blues lose possession, but Mourinho May try to add pace on the right wing to counteract the Spaniard's forward Movements. The first option Appears Willian, but the Chelsea boss Could Be tempted to start Schurrle-as I Scored Both goals vs. Chelsea the Potters last year.
Centrally, Mourinho-Depending on the right wing-you have two options. If I opts for Schurrle, then a it opens possibilities for Willian to play the "No. 10" role, with Hazard on His left. Should Willian play on the right, then a likely Oscar Seems to choice in the central attacking midfield. Possibly wanting Schurrle's creativity and goalscoring prowess, however it, seeing Oscar Rested for the first 70 minutes would not shock.
A Known fire starter, Digeo Costa must keep His cool vs. Stoke City.
Up front, Diego Costa Should Have a field day. His physical personality Should mesh perfectly With Stoke, but the £ 32 million striker must keep His Head. If any game has "Costa straight network card" marked on it, You Might wager on Stoke City away.
Chelsea's back-four shouldnt be tampered comfortable with. The strength and power provided by John Terry, Branislav Ivanovic, Gary Cahill and Cesar Azpilicueta is the best on offer in England.
What must be kept, though, is discipline.
Stoke will invariably camp in a low-defensive block and ask the Blues to break them down. Ivanovic will see this as an opportunity to play outside right, rather than right full-back; Chelsea just thus must take notice of Stoke's counter-attacking options. Should the Blues find Themselves too far forward, the likes of Bojan Krkic or Mame Biram Diouf Have the requisite pace to punish.
The most interesting selection coming into esta fixture for Chelsea is Between the posts, as Thibaut Courtois' status for the match is unknown. Petr Cech has played well in the Belgian's absence; Should there be any risk of re-injuring himself Courtois, one would expect caution to be taken With The 22-year-old.
Bleacher Report'sdanieltiluk // Formation Builder
Chelsea's starting XI vs. Projected Stoke City
Other than Schurrle's possible introduction-and the subsequent omission of Oscar-this Blues outfit will not drastically Differ from the team We have Witnessed since the season's commencement.
With Manchester City closing the distance on Saturday, there Should be massive inspiration for Chelsea to Maintain Their three-point advantage atop the Premier League table. Given City's 1-0 loss to Stoke at the Etihad, beating the ground Their stalwart at Potters Would certainly be a positive message for Mourinho's men to disburse.
Soruce: bleacherreport
