With Graham Potter taking over as manager this weekend, Chelsea might be about to enter a new era. Following the 1-0 Champions League loss by Dinamo Zagreb to the Blues, Thomas Tuchel was fired on Wednesday morning....CONTINUE READING THE FULL ARTICLE>>>
Owner Todd Boehly is acting rapidly to try to appoint Potter as Brighton’s manager, and the English coach is traveling to London for discussions regarding the opening. If Potter is hired, his first job will be to get Chelsea ready for their Saturday noon Premier League match against Fulham in the West London derby.
There might be a few adjustments from the victory over West Ham. They would include inserting Marc Cucurella, who proved capable of filling the position under Potter at Brighton, into the back three with Wesley Fofana and Thiago Silva.
Ben Chilwell would then have the chance to play left wingback again, six days after coming off the bench to score Chelsea’s equalizer against West Ham. Mason Mount, who began the win over the Hammers, is anticipated to replace the injured Ruben Loftus-Cheek in a midfield three.
Pierre-Emerick is also open to make his first Premier League start since moving back to England. On his Chelsea debut against Dinamo Zagreb, the former Barcelona and Arsenal forward scored, but the goal was disallowed for offside. The likely victim who will make room for Aubameyang is Christian Pulisic.
Potter might also choose to start with the same back three who competed in the loss to Zagreb, with Kalidou Koulibaly joining Silva and Fofana in the group. After that, Cucurella would return to the left, with Jorginho another option for the midfield.
And up front, the England international might move to the right rather than lining up behind Sterling and Aubameyang to form a 3-4-2-1. After that, Sterling would occupy the left side of an offensive front three with Aubameyang running the show.
Following their victory over Everton at Goodison Park on the opening weekend, Chelsea has dropped their previous three away games in all competitions.
Let us take a look at two ways Chelsea could lineup at the weekend if Graham Potter secure a move to the club:
Chelsea’s first possible lineup:
Goalkeeper: Mendy
Defenders: Fofana, Thiago Silva, Cucurella
Wing-backs: Reece James, Chilwell
Midfielders: Mount, Jorginho, Kovacic
Attackers: Aubameyang, Sterling
Chelsea’s alternative lineup:
Goalkeeper: Mendy
Defenders: Koulibaly, Thiago Silva, Fofana
Wing-backs: Reece James, Cucurella
Midfielders: Jorginho, Gallagher, Kovacic
Attackers: Aubameyang, Sterling
