Chelsea move into their massive Premier League fixture against Manchester United this evening with a depleted squad, as six first-team players remain sidelined for Liam Rosenior. The Blues have hit a rough patch, winning just once in their last six outings and failing to score in three straight league games. These absences couldn’t come at a worse time for a side desperate to keep their top-five hopes alive, leaving Rosenior with a real selection headache at Stamford Bridge.
Mykhaylo Mudryk is still serving a doping ban, stripping Chelsea of one of their most dangerous outlets on the wing. Meanwhile, Filip Jørgensen has been nursing a groin issue that required a minor operation. While Rosenior hasn’t officially crossed his name off the list, it’s highly unlikely the keeper will start today. There’s also the blow of losing Reece James; the captain picked up a hamstring injury against Newcastle in March, and while he’s back running on the grass, this game has simply come too soon for him.
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Defensive woes and long-term absentees for Chelsea
The problems run deeper in the backline. Levi Colwill has been a spectator all season following an ACL tear in pre-season. He’s making progress in training, but Rosenior recently admitted the England international is still several weeks away from being match-ready. Trevoh Chalobah is also a major doubt with an ankle knock, further thinning the defensive ranks. To top it off, Jamie Bynoe-Gittens hasn’t played since January due to a nagging hamstring problem, which is a frustrating situation for a player who arrived with such high hopes during the winter window.
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What’s at stake for the Blues?
Chelsea currently sit sixth in the table, trailing third-placed United by seven points and five behind Liverpool in fifth. The margin for error is almost gone. Rosenior was blunt with reporters this week, admitting the club are running out of time and needs to take charge of these final games.
One bit of good news is the return of Enzo Fernández. After a period away for disciplinary reasons, he’s back in full training and available to bolster the midfield. Chelsea can’t afford another flat performance today; with six key names missing, the players who do take the pitch will have to step up and carry the load.
