Dugout Discussion

Hazard deployed as a false nine as both Aguero and Sterling start

Gameweek 27 came to a conclusion earlier this afternoon with two matches held at Old Trafford and the Emirates, so our focus now switches to the EFL Cup final between Chelsea and Manchester City.

Kick-off at Wembley is at 16:30 GMT.

Both of these sides blanked in Gameweek 27, of course, as a result of this tie.

Pep Guardiola has made only one change to his starting XI from the side that beat Schalke in midweek, with Oleksandr Zinchenko starting instead of Ilkay Gundogan.

That alteration means that Aymeric Laporte will move back over to centre-back, with Fernandinho pushed forward into his usual central midfield position.

Sergio Aguero and Raheem Sterling start in a front three with Bernardo Silva again.

Leroy Sane is among the substitutes, though Gabriel Jesus hasn’t recovered from injury to make the bench.

Eden Hazard starts as a central striker in Maurizio Sarri’s usual 4-3-3, with Gonzalo Higuain only among the substitutes.

Marcos Alonso is not part of the match-day squad, so Emerson Palmieri starts at left-back.

Both of these sides return to Premier League action on Wednesday evening: Chelsea face Spurs at Stamford Bridge, while City take on West Ham at the Etihad.

Chelsea XI (4-3-3): Kepa, Azpilicueta, Luiz, Rudiger, Emerson, Jorginho, Kante, Barkley, Willian, Hazard, Pedro.

Manchester City XI (4-3-3): Ederson, Zinchenko, Laporte, Otamendi, Walker, Fernandinho, Silva, De Bruyne, Bernardo, Sterling, Aguero.

1,786 Comments Post a Comment
  1. TAT
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    This is one of the strangest things I've seen i a cup final for sure.

    1. Jimmers
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      In any game, never mind a Cup Final

      1. TAT
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Quite possibly!

  2. Twisted Saltergater
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Caballero only 4.7m...

  3. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    OMG Kepa. Scenes. I've never seen this.

  4. LǝgleSs e|even
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Zola is fuming too!

  5. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Sarri can't keep his job after that. Clearest sign that the players don't give a hoot about Sarri. The players are playing for themselves.

    1. fclackless [Brazil Nuts]
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Abramovich started this years ago by encouraging player power

  6. Emiliano Sala
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Missed game for some minutes
    What happened about kepa?

    1. Business Cat
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      He refused to be substituted...stayed on the pitch

  7. Hybrid.power
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Lol, if kepa fails in the shootout now

  8. GreennRed
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    https://youtu.be/8jmUk6T-4sA

    Ollie will be very surprised if Rashord plays v Palace.

  9. jaybradlights
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Never seen a man so angry at their Willy not getting any action

    1. GreennRed
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      I hate when my willy doesn't get any action 😉

  10. pingissimus
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Ok he’s slightly pricier but why is no one going Wood over Barnes?

    His form is even hotter and it really doesn’t get any more differential.

    1. Kiwivillan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Slightly pricier

    2. Stats Don\'t Lie
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Price factor and barnes on pens

      1. pingissimus
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Burnley and pens.

        It’s like one in 4 years isn’t it?

    3. GreennRed
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Not much hotter than hot.

  11. Weasel Boy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Any Kepa owners should ditch now.
    He aint playing next game.

    1. George Sillett
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      How do you know ?
      It may be that Sarri won't be there for the next game.

      1. Weasel Boy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Yeah i guess if they lose he could very likely go.

  12. Tcheco
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Can't wait for the whistle

  13. DGW blindness is for Kinnea…
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    The most entertaining league in the world

  14. Deulofail
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    I think there are some crossed wires here. Commentators assuming Kepa is ruling the dressing room. In reality, Kepa is just (unprofessionally) saying that he's fine to continue, whereas Sarri wants to be safe, and might prefer Willy for pens anyway.

    1. Deulofail
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      In other words, Sarri might be happy to get Willy on for the pens any way, but that may not have crossed Kepa's mind.

    2. Ógie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Plus Willy would know the City players well from his days there.

    3. Shultan
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Doesnt matter if Kepa says he's fine...if a manager wants to take you off you go off & not undermine him

      1. Deulofail
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Of course, but have you heard the commentators?

  15. teknicolourfox
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Disgusting behaviour from the player

    1. Twisted Saltergater
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      unbelievable

      1. hsakrujd
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        This is what happens when Mngrs are changed every 5 games

  16. FPL DONKEY
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Might get Caballero for the blanks

  17. -GK22-
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Sarri will destroy zola later

    1. LǝgleSs e|even
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Why?

    2. GreennRed
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Not in a football contest.

  18. LǝgleSs e|even
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Kepa to save 3 in the shootout and win this for Chelsea. Sarri gets sacked tmrw. Fairytale win! Welcome to the club Zidane!

  19. DGW blindness is for Kinnea…
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    It'd be funny if Chelsea win on penalties and Sarri explains this was a tactic to distract City

  20. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Time to show your worth, Mr Kepa.

  21. Mysterion
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Willy not getting any action tonight then? 🙁

    1. Deulofail
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Hard luck

    2. jaybradlights
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Firing blanks

  22. Shultan
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    So the players are in charge on chelsea!

    1. Tcheco
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Nothing new here

    2. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      always were

  23. teknicolourfox
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Rudiger all over Sarri

  24. Top Lad Dakes.
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    What is happening?

  25. Ohhh Shola Ameobi
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Hope Kepa has to take a penalty and slips, letting City win it. If ever a player was a personification of the club...

    1. George Sillett
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      "If ever a player was a personification of the club ..."
      So what exactly do you know about the ethos of Chelsea FC?
      Do you go to every game or is this pure supposition ?

      1. Ohhh Shola Ameobi
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        I think you can get all you need to know from the last Mourinho season.

        1. George Sillett
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          What's that got to do with Kepa ?

  26. LǝgleSs e|even
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Luiz shooing away the cameraman

  27. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Sarri in a no-win situation now. If Chelsea win then Kepa was right to stay on and ignore Sarri. If Chelsea lose, Sarri gets blamed for losing and not having the respect of the players.

  28. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    I am watching 20-25+ years of football and have never seen this.

    You better save it all Kepa

  29. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Kepa is a disgrace, drop him for the rest of the season

    Willy has the inside knowledge of city players

    1. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      agree

  30. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    You better be a hero Kepa !!!