Chelsea Football Club has shown significant progress in recent weeks following a shaky start to their season. After facing challenges, including a 3-1 defeat to Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League, the team has bounced back with three consecutive victories, including a notable 2-1 win against Liverpool.
Chelsea’s Current Standing
The Blues currently sit fifth in the English Premier League with a total of 14 points. This positive trend reflects not only their improved performance on the field but also progress in addressing physical fitness issues among players.
Injury Updates and Player Participation
- Enzo Fernández participated in training ahead of a crucial match against Ajax.
- Marc Guiu returns to the squad after a brief loan stint at Sunderland.
- Liam Delap is close to recovery but is not yet training with the team.
Manager Enzo Maresca expressed cautious optimism regarding Fernández, emphasizing the need to protect the captain while he recovers from injuries that have plagued the squad.
Ajax’s Struggles
Chelsea will face Ajax, a club that is currently facing difficulties. Under the management of John Heitinga, Ajax has not yet secured a win in the Champions League group stage after losing both of their opening matches against Inter Milan and Olympique de Marseille.
Ajax’s Situation in Eredivisie
- Ajax is positioned fourth in the Eredivisie.
- The team is nine points behind league leaders Feyenoord.
This lack of success presents an opportunity for Chelsea, which is favored to secure another win. However, Chelsea must focus on maintaining discipline after receiving four red cards in their last six matches across all competitions.
Coaching Philosophy
In discussing his team’s disciplinary issues, Maresca stated he prefers a nurturing approach to coaching. He believes in teaching players to make better decisions rather than administering strict punishments for mistakes.
Projected Lineups
For the upcoming match at Stamford Bridge, here are the anticipated lineups:
| Chelsea XI | Ajax XI |
|---|---|
| Robert Sánchez | Jaroš |
| Malo Gusto | Gaaei |
| Tosin | Šutalo |
| Chalobah | Baas |
| Cucurella | Rosa |
| Caicedo | Klaassen |
| Lavia | Gloukh |
| Neto | Taylor |
| Enzo Fernández | Edvardsen |
| Gittens | Weghorst |
| George | Godts |
The match will be officiated by German referee Felix Zwayer, with Sören Storks as the VAR official. It is set to kick off at 21:00.
