Rob Daly, official club commentator, presenter and pundit
Chelsea’s FA Cup set-up
Interim boss Callum McFarlane surprised many and posed a tough question for Manchester City at Wembley, by lining up 3-4-2-1.
Malo Gusto and Marc Cucurella could play to their attacking tendencies at wing-back while Cole Palmer and Enzo Fernandez, in support of striker Joao Pedro, drifted wide.
At the heart of defence, Levi Colwill played crucial line-breaking passes in to midfielders Reece James or Moises Caicedo – although the defender’s involvement is not guaranteed after back-to-back starts.
“Yeah, we need to be careful with Levi,” explained interim boss Callum McFarlane of his defender, back from an ACL injury this month.
“He's obviously come in the back of a very serious injury. He's performed well in those two games… we'll see how he reports and we'll make a decision on that. But definitely, I agree, we have to manage him right.”
How much will Chelsea change things?
There are further decisions, with MacFarlane asked about whether Reece James and Joao Pedro came through the FA Cup final okay too.
“With all the players, we have to see how they come back in (Monday)… hopefully it's positive signs today when they report and when they train,” he said.
Romeo Lavia missed it after picking up a knock but, despite the season-ending injury for Brazil winger Estevao too, Chelsea aren’t short of options.
Also, keep an eye out for the Blues’ long throw, with Marc Cucurella’s launch leading to a great chance for Enzo Fernandez to equalise at Wembley – a move plotted by set-piece coach Bernardo Cueva.
“He came up with the idea and saw a weakness that he felt that we could expose and we were unlucky that we didn’t,” said McFarlane.
Familiar faces
Roberto De Zerbi could come up against a number of his former players.
Joao Pedro scored 20 goals for him at Brighton in the 2023/24 season, while Colwill and goalkeeper Robert Sanchez played for him too, but the Spurs Head Coach was pressed about one man in particular.
“I think (Moises) Caicedo now is one of the best midfielders in the world because he’s a complete player, with the ball, without the ball, but also our midfielders are very good – Palhinha, Bentancur, Gallagher and the others Gray, Bissouma, Bergvall, Pape Sarr – and I'm happy because I'm working with my players,” he said.
Midfield is where Spurs are best stocked and we’ll see if Rodrigo Bentancur, Joao Palhinha and Conor Gallagher, the trio to start the last two games, get the nod again.
Spurs selection
Against Leeds, Spurs played slightly higher up the pitch, with Opta’s average positioning showing Richarlison played more as an orthodox number nine, rather than dropping to overload midfield with the three named above.
De Zerbi is still short on attacking options with Dominic Solanke not quite ready – on the injury list with Xavi Simons, Dejan Kulusevski and Wilson Odobert.
It’s more about having options from the bench – with Lucas Bergvall and Djed Spence deployed in attacking roles as introduced subs.
But James Maddison’s cameo against Leeds was extremely encouraging – with Spurs’ number 10, after his 85th minute introduction, desperate to play forward and make things happen, nearly winning a penalty too.
“Once I had my first couple of touches with the ball, it felt like I'd never been away, so that felt good and the crowd gave me so much positivity every time I touched the ball,” he said.