It is crucial that Chelsea bounce back to winning ways against Sporting Lisbon
Jose Mourinho has caused quite a stir ahead of kick off tonight by stating that Ruben Loftus-Cheek would be involved in some capacity. Although many predict he will start, I am not so sure!
This is a game the boss wants to win and he will ensure he sets his team up to do so. We are aware the Eden Hazard, John Terry and Willian have all been rested, so I expect Andre Schurrle, Kurt Zouma and Mohamed Salah to replace them.
This is no easy game as Sporting are aware that they only need a point to qualify for the next round. A defeat to Chelsea could leave their hopes in tatters if Schalke can beat Maribor.
Chelsea need to bounce back from Newcastle defeat
Chelsea need a performance after tasting defeat for the first time at St James' Park last weekend. We are fortunate enough to have a game just a matter of days after, to try and shake it out of our systems and it's important we put things right starting this evening.
I want to see Chelsea play their expansive game and to play at a quick tempo. Foreign teams that come up against English opposition would always struggle in my view if teams from our league played at their normal tempo. It's important that we do not get sucked into a the slow tempo that 99% of all teams that come to the Bridge try to adopt.
Chelsea have the quality in depth to win this comfortably, we just need to get out there and do it.
I expect Chelsea to line up as follows:
Cech, Azpilicueta, Cahill, Zouma, Luis, Fabregas, Mikel, Schurrle, Oscar, Salah and Diego Costa.
Jose Mourinho will demand a reaction from the defeat at the weekend and I am sure he will get exactly that! Chelsea to win this one 3-0.