Date: 6th November 2012 at 7:16pm
Written by:

Tomorrow’s game against Shakhtar Donetsk has to be considered a must win for Chelsea if we’re to qualify for the knockout stages of the Champions League as anything less than three points will make life difficult, especially as Juventus are expected to pick up maximum points against FC Nordsjaelland in Turin.

Ashley Cole will miss the game with a hamstring injury and Frank Lampard is still out injured, whilst there’s question marks over both David Luiz and Juan Mata but hopefully they’ll be fit to take part.

The team I’d choose:

P. Cech

B. Ivanovic – G. Cahill – J. Terry (c) – R. Bertrand

Ramires – J. Mikel

Oscar – J. Mata – E. Hazard

F. Torres

I’m confident that Ryan Bertrand can step into Cole’s shoes at left-back, especially as Cole hasn’t looked himself in recent matches anyway and could probably do with a rest. It’ll be good to see John Terry back in the starting lineup as this is a night when you’ll need your leaders and we’ve shipped 10 goals without him, so I’d put him straight back into the team.

Midfield picks itself if Mata is fit. If not, I’d put Victor Moses in there and move Eden Hazard central.

If only we had a better option than Fernando Torres. We don’t, unfortunately, and although I wouldn’t mind experimenting with Hazard up top in what is described as a ‘false 9’ role, I don’t think Roberto Di Matteo will go for it. Daniel Sturridge is another option if Torres does his usual disappearing act.

Who’d be in your Chelsea XI for tomorrow night’s match? Have your say in the comments section below

 

31 responses to “Who’d be in your Chelsea XI v Shakhtar?”

  1. Mike says:

    I WILL SAID IT AGAIN STOP PLAYING TORRES OR ELSE YOU WILL BE SACK

    WAKE WAKE WAKE UP DI MATTEO UR JOB IS ON THE LINE!!!!!!

  2. uksonic says:

    Robeto will be sack if Chelsea do not qualify frm the group stage. Cech, Ivano=Cahill=Terry=Bertran, Mikel=Ramires, Oscar=Mata=Hazard, Moses

  3. We d fans have run out of patient wit Torres cos he has been given muc tym bt ye yet he remain a shadow of of hmsef. Di mateo its high tym u shine ur eyes bt Torres shine it 4 u wit a sack. I cant imagin a striker dat is nt hungry 4 goals nd lukin dull in front of goal 2 b in chelsea lineup in evry game. Torres is a big flop nd must b benched 4 odas 2 shine in dat role (sturridge, moses). I wil go wit Cech…Ivanovic…Terry… Cahil…Bertrand..Mikel..Ramires…Oscar..Mata..Hazard..Sturridge/Moses.Luiz is makin 2muc mistakes at d backline nd shud b relegated 2 d bench 4 Cahil

  4. Bodunde says:

    Please RDM dont use torres even let agree we dont have striker torres is flop sturrige is selfish.use hazard instead

  5. Bodunde says:

    …………………………..cech………………………
    Invanovic…..liuz……terry…..bertrand
    ………ramires……………..mikel…………..
    Moses…………….oscar…………….mata
    ……………………..hazard………………………
    Sub marin sturrige torres

  6. Arinze anthony okoye says:

    RDM u knw wt’s gud 2 do bt u refused 2 do dt.torres doesn’t hv any space anymore in our starting eleven.he is 2 slugish nd he has no strength 2 disturb our oponents backline.above all he dn’t hv scoring sense at all.infact,let him be benching 4rm nw so dt he wl make more improvement.so i wl go wt ds lineup against shakhtar- cech,terry,cahil,ivanovic,bertrand,mikel,ramires,mata,hazard nd moses.let him play hazard as d striker.