Chelsea is hoping for a clean bill of health as they attempt to stage a comeback against Real Madrid in the Champions League. The Blues received a boost with the return of Kai Havertz and Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who trained at Cobham on Monday, along with N’Golo Kante and Thiago Silva, who were rested in their recent match against Brighton.
Havertz’s return is particularly crucial for interim boss Frank Lampard as he is the club’s top scorer this season with nine goals across all competitions. Lampard had previously mentioned that Havertz was a minor doubt before their loss to Brighton, as he had experienced a minor issue with his knee, which he had felt during their match in Madrid last Wednesday. However, Lampard had confirmed that Havertz should be fit for Tuesday’s match.
The confirmation of Havertz’s return is a massive boost for the team as it means they will have a strong squad to rely on. The absence of Kalidou Koulibaly, who was injured in the first leg, and long-term absentee Armando Broja will not be felt as much. However, Ben Chilwell will be unavailable for selection as he received a red card last week in the Spanish capital.
The Blues are now hoping to save their season and win silverware in Europe with little left to play for in the last seven Premier League matches. Despite having a strong squad available, they will likely be forced to play a back four due to Benoit Badiashile not being registered for the Champions League due to UEFA’s 25-man squad limits. Reece James is expected to replace Trevoh Chalobah at right-back with Silva taking Badiashile’s place, and Marc Cucurella stepping in for Chilwell.
In midfield, Kante will start, while Havertz and Joao Felix are likely to replace Mykhailo Mudryk and Christian Pulisic, who started in the match against Brighton. Like Badiashile, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, David Datro Fofana, and Noni Madueke are also not registered for the upcoming match.
Overall, Chelsea will have a strong squad to rely on for their Champions League match against Real Madrid. Lampard will be hoping for a much-needed victory to keep their hopes of winning the competition alive. With a balanced lineup and strong players, Chelsea’s chances of success look good, provided they can maintain their focus and put in a solid performance on the pitch.
