The Chelsea lineup that should start against Porto

Thomas Tuchel needs a response
Thomas Tuchel needs a response / Clive Rose/Getty Images
facebooktwitterreddit

To say Chelsea need to bounce back from losing 5-2 to West Brom feels like a bit of an understatement.

That defeat wasn't exactly the best way to prepare for a Champions League quarter-final tie with Porto, but Thomas Tuchel must find a way to keep the past in the past and rediscover the kind of form that saw Chelsea comfortably beat Atletico Madrid in the last round.

Let's take a look at how he should set his side up.


1. Goalkeeper & defenders

Edouard Mendy
Mendy needs to be at his best / Clive Rose/Getty Images

Edouard Mendy (GK) - The West Brom game wasn't his finest, but Mendy is still Chelsea's starter and doesn't deserve that spot taken away from him just yet.

Cesar Azpilicueta (CB) - It's times like this that Azpilicueta needs to show why he's Chelsea's captain. The Blues need his leadership and composure to bounce back in style.

Andreas Christensen (CB) - Thiago Silva looked rusty against West Brom. He was unlucky to get sent off, but Chelsea can't have that kind of uncertainty again, particularly given Christensen has been excellent.

Antonio Rudiger (CB) - If Rudiger's clash with Kepa Arrizabalaga truly is a thing of the past, he should start here. Kurt Zouma was nowhere near good enough against the Baggies.

2. Midfielders

Billy Gilmour
Gilmour deserves a chance to impress / James Williamson - AMA/Getty Images

Reece James (RM) - To see James clashing with Azpilicueta shows he cares. He'll want a huge reaction here, and Chelsea need that kind of commitment.

Mateo Kovacic (CM) - N'Golo Kante trained on Tuesday but probably isn't ready to start, meaning the option to hand both Kovacic and Jorginho the spot on the bench they deserve isn't there. Let's go with the lesser of two evils, Kovacic.

Billy Gilmour (CM) - Jorginho does not deserve to retain his spot in the team, and while you can argue that turning to Gilmour is a little risky, most fans would rather take a chance on the Scot than give Jorginho another run out.

Ben Chilwell (LM) - Rested for the West Brom game, it's time to bring Chilwell back into the fold.

Mason Mount (AM) - In his 45-minute cameo, Mount justified his status as Chelsea's best player right now. In a game of this magnitude, he's the first name on the team sheet.

Kai Havertz (AM) - Havertz also spent most of the West Brom game on the bench, so he should be raring to go for this one.

3. Forward

Olivier Giroud
Giroud knows all about scoring on the biggest stage / James Williamson - AMA/Getty Images

Olivier Giroud (ST) - It would be nice to see Tammy Abraham given the chance to prove himself here, but on such a big stage, Giroud and his European goalscoring record should earn him a start.


For more from ​Tom Gott, follow him on ​Twitter!