Chelsea will take on Bundesliga club Werder Bremen in their final pre-season game on Sunday. Ahead of the match, the Blues had announced a 23-man squad that travelled to Germany on Saturday.
Unlike the other pre-season tour games (30-man squad), here the squad has been trimmed to 23 and barring any major transfer activity next week, this could be Chelsea’s final first-team squad ahead of the new season.
GOALKEEPERS: Thibaut Courtois, Asmir Begovic, Jamal Blackman
DEFENDERS: Branislav Ivanovic, John Terry, Cesar Azpilicueta, Gary Cahill, Michael Hector, Ola Aina
MIDFIELDERS: N’Golo Kante, Nemanja Matic, Cesc Fabregas, Oscar, Eden Hazard, Willian, Nathaniel Chalobah, Pedro, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Juan Cuadrado, Victor Moses
STRIKERS: Diego Costa, Michy Batshuayi, Bertrand Traore
Interesting to note are the players that have not travelled with the squad. For instance, Loic Remy has been left out along with young American Matt Miazga. Antonio Conte has hinted recently that Miazga could move out on loan to gain experience. The same can be about Kenedy (impressed last season) who didn’t make the cut here. Remy is likely to drop down the pecking orders behind Diego Costa, Michy Batshuayi while Bertrand Traore could be given more chance this season ahead of the French striker. A permanent move looks more likely for Remy.
Juan Cuadrado and Victor Moses, Chelsea loanees who returned to the club this summer, are included. Michael Hector, who has barely featured in pre-season has made the squad as well.
Conte used a 4-2-4 system against AC Milan in Chelsea’s previous friendly game and the Italian will likely to use the same formation against the Bundesliga outfit as well.
Chelsea’s probable starting XI vs Werder Bremen: Courtois, Terry, Cahill, Azpilicueta, Aina, Fabregas, Kante, Willian, Hazard, Costa, Batshuayi
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