Chelsea have enjoyed a fantastic season so far but it would not be an exaggeration to state that the Blues will be in for a make or break match when they square off against French side Paris Saint-Germain in the second leg of the Champions League Round of 16 tie in midweek.
While the Blues looked destined to win the Premier League title, manager Jose Mourinho will be desperate for his side to do well in the Champions League as well and one can be sure that the Portuguese boss will demand his players to earn qualification into the quarter finals of the competition by overcoming the tough PSG side.
Heading into the game, Chelsea hold the slight advantage as they managed a 1-1 draw in the first leg away from home but it has to be said that the Blues performed very poorly on the night and they will need to put in a much improved performance if they are to see off the challenge of PSG this time around.
Here is the Strongest Possible Lineup for Chelsea on the day –
Goalkeeper
Thibaut Courtois was arguably the main reason why Chelsea managed to escape from the Parc des Princes with a draw last month as he made a string of fantastic saves throughout the match.
While the young Belgian will probably not be worked as much as he was during the first leg, one can be sure that he will have to perform very well in order for Chelsea to qualify.
Defence
The full back duo of Branislav Ivanovic and Cesar Azpilicueta have been fantastic so far this season and it is safe to assume that the two defenders are certain starters for the clash on Wednesday night.
The same can be said about John Terry as well and he will be key in shutting out the dangerous PSG attack. However, it remains to be seen who will partner Terry in the heart of the defence.
Gary Cahill has been in and out of the team in recent times and young Kurt Zouma seems to have overtaken the Englishman as the first choice centre back under Mourinho.
That said, Zouma has been used in a defensive midfield position in recent times due to the absence of Nemanja Matic and as a result, Cahill could start in midweek.
Midfield
Nemanja Matic suffered a freak injury while celebrating Chelsea’s League Cup victory against Tottenham a few weeks ago and it remains to be seen whether the Serbian star will be fit enough to start on Wednesday night.
If indeed Matic is ruled out, there is a great chance that Kurt Zouma will be lining up in midfield. Zouma has performed exceptionally well in that position and Mourinho will certainly have no qualms about using the young man in midfield once again.
Cesc Fabregas will be partnering Zouma in midfield while the wide positions will be occupied by the duo of Eden Hazard and Willian. Juan Cuardrado also remains an option though.
In the playmaker’s position, Oscar has been the usual starter this season but his performance levels have dipped in recent times and the young Brazilian could well be replaced by the energetic Ramires.
Attack
Diego Costa simply relishes the big matches and he will surely be pumped up for the clash against PSG on Wednesday night. The striker has returned to form lately and he will be crucial in leading the line for the Blues.
If indeed things do not go as planned for Chelsea, the duo of Loic Remy and Didier Drogba provide more than capable reinforcements.
(4-5-1)
Via – Lineup Builder
