Chelsea begin their Conference League campaign with the visit of Swiss side Servette on Thursday evening.
In the first leg of their play-off tie, Chelsea will be looking to build a healthy lead that they can take to Geneva next week. If the Blues manage to conquer their opponents over two legs, they will reach the newly expanded league stage of the League of Conferences for the 2024/25 season.
Enzo Maresca’s side will be huge favorites for Thursday’s encounter and rightly so, but confidence is hardly at an all-time high in west London. An uncertain pre-season tour of the United States, a questionable transfer window and an underwhelming 2-0 defeat to Manchester City in their Premier League opener means the former Leicester City manager is already under pressure.
Here’s how it could spin Chelsea ready for Thursday’s duel.
GK: Filip Jorgensen – The summer signing could be his competitive debut for the Blues, with Robert Sanchez perhaps reserved for the Blues. Premier League. The Villarreal striker will be desperate to make a positive first impression.
RB: Bad flight – Reece James is only suspended for domestic competition, but unsurprisingly the England defender is struggling with injury, meaning Gusto could be called upon to step in once again.
CB: Benoit Badiashile – With Wesley Fofana a surprise omission from the squad to face Servette, there is a chance Badiashile could make the starting eleven. The Frenchman’s position in the hierarchy of Chelsea’s million centre-backs will become clearer in the near future.
CB: Levi Colwill – The left defender has held on a tough battle with Erling Haaland at the weekend but should have the easiest of things against a Servette side that has lost three of its last five games.
LB: Renato Vega – The versatile defender replaced Marc Cucurella against Man City, who suffered a slight knock late in the game. Vega could deputize against Servette, a team he knows well given his Basel connections.
DM: Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall – Although not a defensive midfielder, Dewsbury-Hall could function in a deep-lying role against Servette. Potentially making his first start for the Blues, he needs to make a quick start to life at Stamford Bridge given the immense competition for places in midfield.
DM: Romeo Lavia – Lavia, Chelsea’s best player against his former employers Man City, has made an impressive start under Maresca. Having been withdrawn early against the champions, he could make just his second Chelsea start this Thursday.
RW: Cole Palmer – Chelsea’s reliance on Palmer was alarming last season and they can lean on the striker in the early days of the Maresca era. He’s still the shining light of a team in constant flux.
AM: Christopher Nkunku – The Frenchman struggled against Man City on the left wing and could operate behind a centre-forward on Thursday. That attacking midfield role is where he thrives and should pull the strings against Servette.
LW: Pedro Neto – The £54m summer signing looked in good spirits after coming off the bench at the weekend and will be licking his lips at the prospect of opening his Chelsea account on Thursday.
ST: Marc Guiu – The 18-year-old showed his potential during pre-season and has the chance to show Maresca why he deserves to be part of Chelsea’s squad for the 2024/25 campaign.
