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Football London
Football London
Sport
Adam Newson

Kepa decision, Alonso dropped – Three Chelsea changes Thomas Tuchel must make against Palmeiras

There is a chant that reverberates around Stamford Bridge from time to time. It's simple enough and not exactly subtle on the part of those Chelsea supporters. Still, it gets the job done.

"We've won it all. We've won it all. We've won it all."

However, the chant isn't exactly correct. Chelsea have enjoyed huge success over the last two decades. Premier League titles have been won, Champions League crowns claimed. But there is one trophy that has eluded the Blues, one piece of silverware yet to be claimed in the Roman Abramovich era.

That is, of course, the Club World Cup. Chelsea had the opportunity to win the tournament in 2012 but fell to defeat against Brazilian side Corinthians in the final. It was the nadir of Rafa Benitez's ill-advised tenure.

Tomorrow, Thomas Tuchel and his players have the chance to put things right. Chelsea take on Palmeiras, another Brazilian side, in this year's Club World Cup final. Win and the Blues really have won it all.

It won't be easy, however. Palmeiras supporters have arrived in Adu Dhabi in their hundreds in recent days. The match will feel far more like a home fixture for those in green.

"We expect a very hard game in the final with a lot of spectators from Brazil," assistant coach Zsolt Low said after Chelsea's 1-0 semi-final win over Al Hilal on Wednesday.

"It will feel like an away game. That makes things more difficult but we're ready to play the final. We're here to win.

"We know they (Palmeiras) are a very big club in Brazil. They have a lot of good players. In the coming days, we'll watch the videos and analyse their games. We'll be well prepared."

Chelsea will need to be close to their best to overcome Palmeiras, who won the Copa Libertadores in November. There can be none of the sloppiness that impacted the Blues' display against Al Hilal.

As a result, Tuchel – who could still make the final if he produces two negative PCR tests – and his coaching staff will have to make several big decisions ahead of tomorrow's game.

And here are three Chelsea changes we feel should be made.

Edouard Mendy for Kepa Arrizabalga

This would not be an entirely popular decision among certain Chelsea supporters, but it is one that should happen regardless.

Kepa has performed extremely well over the past month in the absence of Mendy, who was away winning the Africa Cup of Nations with Senegal. But the Blues' first-choice stopper joined up with the squad in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday morning and trained yesterday.

Kepa Arrizabalaga starred for Chelsea during their win over Al Hilal but is not guaranteed to start the Club World Cup final after Edouard Mendy rejoined the squad (Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)

Mendy will be focused and ready to make his return to the starting XI. And let's not forget that his form in the Champions League last term was crucial to Chelsea winning the competition and thus competing at the Club World Cup.

The 29-year-old deserves to start the final; Kepa does too given his performance against Al Hilal and form since the turn of the year. Yet there can be no sentiment as the Blues attempt to be crowned world champions.

Mendy is the better goalkeeper and it's why he must start.

Malang Sarr for Marcos Alonso

Alonso was handed a start in the semi-final against Al Hilal in his preferred role at left wing-back. Unfortunately, it didn't result in the 31-year-old rediscovering his form.

The Spanish international failed to offer any kind of threat in the final third – his usual strong suit – and Thiago Silva twice felt the need to have a word with Alonso after some slack defending.

Alonso was replaced late into Wednesday's contest by Malang Sarr and that is a switch that should happen ahead of the final, although it does require a change of system on the part of Tuchel and his coaching staff.

Sarr is no wing-back but he has proved himself a solid if not spectacular left-back option over the past month.

A move to 4-2-2-2 or 4-3-3 would not only help the Frenchman but would also place more creative responsibility on Chelsea's attacking players, something which will be needed against Palmeiras.

Mason Mount for Andreas Christensen

Not a like-for-like change, of course, but one that is likely to be made if Chelsea move away from their 3-4-2-1 formation for the final.

Mount started the game against Al Hilal on the substitutes' bench having picked up a knock in the FA Cup fourth-round win over Plymouth at the weekend.

He was given the final 18 minutes on Wednesday's match, however, and should've got his name on the scoresheet after being teed up late on by Romelu Lukaku.

In a 4-3-3, Mount is an ideal eight. He has the energy to break forward from midfield and has added a greater goal threat to his game this term. But he is also a willing worker and will press and harass opponents out of possession.

If Tuchel was to go with a 4-2-2-2, Mount would likely occupy the forward role on the right flank, as he did against Tottenham last month.

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