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Football London
Football London
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Oliver Harbord & Alan Smith

Reece James in and Mason Mount returns - How Chelsea should line up against Valencia

Chelsea are in Champions League action tonight when they look to qualify for the last 16 against Valencia.

A win for the Blues in the Mestalla Stadium would see Frank Lampard's team into the knockout stages of the competition and tick off a big target for Lampard.

However, a defeat and the more likely scenario is that the club drop into the Europa League for the second time in two seasons.

The last time the two teams met at Stamford Bridge, Rodrigo scored the only goal of the game for the Spanish side, while Chelsea are also coming off the back of a 2-1 defeat to Manchester City.

Here is the team that our football.london writers think Lampard should pick tonight/

 

 

Oliver Harbord

Mason Mount was left on the bench for the Manchester City clash, however I would bring him back into the starting XI to face Valencia.

The England international gives the Blues a lot of energy in the defensive side of the game while Lampard trusts him to do the job needed in attack.

The other area that I would sort is the left-back position, with Emerson having a tough time in the City defeat.

Reece James needs another outing in the first team, so putting him right-back and shifting Cesar Azpilicueta would solidify the defence.

Kepa; James, Zouma, Tomori, Azpilicueta; Kante, Jorginho, Kovacic; Willian, Abraham, Mount.

Alan Smith

There is one big call here: Cesar Azpilicueta starting at left back with Reece James coming in on the left.

Aside from that the only other change to make from the defeat away to Man City should be putting Mason Mount on the left of the front three instead of Christian Pulisic.

The American was poor against City and Mount offers greater defensive output.

The impetus of Pulisic and Michy Batshuayi off the bench could swing the game and, therefore, Chelsea’s Champions League destiny should the game be in the balance.

Kepa; James, Zouma, Tomori, Azpilicueta; Kante, Jorginho, Kovacic; Willian, Abraham, Mount.

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