Date: 20th August 2013 at 4:00pm
Written by:

chelsea v villa-378872

Jose Mourinho got off to a winning start on his return to Stamford Bridge during the 2-0 victory over Hull City Tigers on Sunday and has another opportunity to add three more points on the board against Aston Villa tomorrow.

The Villains did not enjoy the best of campaigns last season but they looked in good shape at the Emirates on Saturday. Paul Lambert’s side beat Arsenal 3-1 and although there’s some argument over a few refereeing decisions they were well worth their win.

David Luiz has been ruled out of contention but Mourinho anticipates that the Brazilian defender could return to the side next week. Having not played much over the summer I think it’d be unlikely Luiz will start in the next game against Manchester United, so the pairing that plays tomorrow night will likely be the one that Mourinho intends to start at Old Trafford on Monday.

There’s only one other injury casualty in the squad and that’s Tomas Kalas, who is still recovering from a small fracture in his leg but it is unlikely he’d have been considered for the Villa game in any case.

The XI I’d pick for tomorrow night:

P. Cech

C. Azpilicueta – B. Ivanovic – J. Terry (c) – A. Cole

Ramires – van Ginkel

V. Moses – Oscar – E. Hazard

F. Torres

A lot of fans are talking about shuffling the pack over the course of the season but continuity is also important and there’s no point making any more than one or two changes after only one game. We have a big match on Monday against United so if there are players that are in need of time on the pitch then we have to give it to them.

Ashley Cole worries me a bit at left-back as he was done for pace a few times in the Hull game and I reckon Lambert may have the likes of Gabriel Agbonlahor try have a go at him here. John Terry and Gary Cahill did okay on Sunday but I’d like to see the width that Cesar Azpilicueta offers on the right whilst Branislav Ivanovic may be better equipped to deal with Christian Benteke’s physical nature than Cahill.

Frank Lampard is in reserve in case we need him, as is Michael Essien, but I’d like to see Marco van Ginkel feature again. Ramires was brilliant on Sunday as the more defensive of the midfield pairing but Lampard wasn’t required to do much of it against Hull whereas Villa look a little bit quicker on the break and Mourinho has highlighted his as a threat.

Victor Moses had a really good pre season and is one of those players that needs time on the pitch so would warrant a start here. Just in case he isn’t available we may see more of Kevin De Bruyne or Andre Schurrle. If he’s fully fit then Juan Mata also needs to play in this match.

I’d stick with Fernando Torres up front as he was a big part of the action when we were looking at our best at the weekend and is better at linking up with the three lads behind him than either Romelu Lukaku or Demba Ba.

We’ll see what Mourinho has up his sleeve, but who would you choose in your Chelsea XI to take on Aston Villa?

 

14 responses to “Match Preview: Who’d be in your Chelsea XI v Aston Villa?”

  1. Sam Weller says:

    How about Mata???? You want Moses? Strange selection. Cech, Ivanovich, Cahill, Terry, Cole, Ramires, Van Ginkel, Mata, Oscar, Hazard, Lukaku

    • Anthony Williams says:

      I believe I mentioned Mata. As for Moses, he earned his chance by impressing during the pre season.

  2. RJA says:

    Lampard was brilliant Sunday but Jose probably wants to save him for ManU game… And also Hazard, DeBruyne and Oscar could do with rest as they all looked tires 2nd half. Essien deserves a start more than Ramires so mine would be Cech; Azpilicueta, Cahill, Ivanovic, Cole; Essien, Van Ginkel (or Ramires or Lampard); Moses, Mata, Schurrle, Lukaku

    • Anthony Williams says:

      Essien deserves to start more than Ramires on what basis? I cannot be the only one that thinks Ramires was solid on Sunday.

  3. Phrizzy says:

    Assessing Essien and Van Ginkel fitness would be bright.Also Azipilicueta.This game is about which players are best fit to handle/defeat United.Mata comes in because we must see how he performs.harzad retains his # because he needs to get @ his best first since Torres struggling.Just imagine him notching goals like Christiano.Harzad is our main focus and if you ask me should be taking our penalties not Lamps.He needs to get that idear that i need to score goals.that will also swipe all our striker’s search.He only needs to learn how to finish.My starting XI vs Aston Villa:
    Cech
    Azipilicueta Ivanovich Terry Ryan Essien Van Ginkel
    Moses Mata Harzad
    Lukaku

    • Anthony Williams says:

      Well, it’s about getting three points before we even think about United but Mourinho will have Monday’s game in mind but there won’t be wholesale changes and he won’t underestimate his opponent.

  4. ooooooop says:

    mikel nko

    • Rama says:

      to my side, jose mourinhou is coming with bright ideas of rotating the players expecially in small matches which is good. the match against aston villa i’d prefer open match since they are not good in attacking. cech. azpilicueta.ivanovic.terry.cole.van ginkel.ramires.debrayune.schurle..torres

  5. Vince says:

    Cech.
    Azpi, Cahill, Terry, Cole
    Essien, van Ginkel
    Schurrle, Oscar, Hazard
    Torres

    I think Cahill and Terry paired well. I like Ivanovic, but it will be good to see Azpiliqueta again. Cole MUST play, he looked slow and tired on sunday, so he needs game time to get back to full fitness.

    I can’t wait to see a fireing Essien in a blue shirt again, and will be good for van Ginkel along side an Anchor like Essien.

    We shouldn’t underestimate Villa so I wouldn’t rest to much of our best players, hence the inclusion of Hazard and Oscar, and will be good for them to get some more match fitness. Though we should have the Man United game in mind, and De Bruyne did very well, so we should save him and the likes of Lampard and Ramires.
    I don’t think Mata is fit enough for a start but should defenitaly come on as a sub.

    Torres should start, so Mourinho can get him back to his best, and Lukaku should also get some time from the bench.

  6. sodiq says:

    I just don’t know why we keep underrating gary cahill, dis guy is far better than ivanovic at centre back, iva makes costly mistakes as we have been seeing lately. My eleven is. Schawzer. Azpi. Cahill. Terry. Cole. Mikel/Essien. Ginkel. Mata schurrle. Hazard. Ba. We need azpi’s athletism. Cech should be left to relax for the man utd match as I can see schw guarding the net succesfully and Oscar to come in for mata. Debryune for hazard and Lukaku for Ba. Wit dis I see chelsea win 4-0

  7. sodiq says:

    Does anybody not wanna see schawzer in goal? I noticed dat bcos we have cech, nobody wants to talk about another goal keeper, it really affects us whenever cech is off(injury or suspension) take for example last season. When other keepers don’t get the chance, how on earth do u think cech will get more serious, I know cech can even do more dan what he is doing, but bcos there is no competition he does not get serious at times.When a goal keeper is getting fat everyday, how do u expect good from him, ask mr Hilario or would we like to see a fatter schawzer? Pls think about it.

  8. ajayi says:

    Schwzr
    Azpi ivanovic terry cole
    Mikel van ginkel
    Oscar mata hazard
    Lukaku

  9. Jose mourinho says:

    @writer, u have always done so well at ur team selection, but not today. Trust me the back four will still be the same, remember Jose said he sees ivanovic as right full back. Then in the dm essien is coming back. And there will be no Moses in the attacking 3 then lukaku is starting tomorrow. And that is I suspect Jose is gon do. But if I, and I mean if I should should select my team, then here are they
    Cech, ceaser, JT and ivanovich cole.
    Ramires and essien
    De bruyne hazard and mata (Oscar to come on later to take his place while hazard move left)
    Then lukaku

    • Anthony Williams says:

      Lol. Sorry, Jose.

      Thanks for the comments everyone.