Chelsea have been boosted by the return of Cole Palmer and Trevoh Chalobah as they prepare to face Copenhagen in the UEFA Conference League Round of 16 first-leg tie tonight (Thursday).
The Blues, dealing with several injury setbacks, will be without Nicolas Jackson, Noni Madueke, and Marc Guiu.
Wes Fofana and Romeo Lavia alongside Palmer were not registered at the beginning of the tournament as part of a workload management strategy.
However, the inclusion of Palmer, Chalobah, and Mathis Amougou offers much-needed depth and versatility to the squad.
They were not added to the squad list at the beginning of the tourney.
In a statement released on the club’s website earlier today, Chelsea expressed confidence in their reinforced lineup, stating, “We have a few players out, but we’re confident in the squad we’ve assembled.
“The additions of Palmer, Chalobah, and Amougou bring versatility and depth, which will be crucial against a well-organized Copenhagen side.”
Chelsea’s journey to the Round of 16 has been dominant, with the Blues winning all six group-stage matches and scoring 26 goals — more than triple Copenhagen’s tally.
Christopher Nkunku has been instrumental in their campaign, contributing five goals and three assists.
Copenhagen, meanwhile, had a rocky path to this stage, finishing 19th in the group phase and narrowly overcoming Heidenheim 4-3 on aggregate in the play-offs.
The Danish league leaders come into this clash off a goalless draw against Aalborg, while Chelsea have had a full week to rest and prepare.
Chelsea have fond memories at Parken Stadion, having won all three of their previous visits, including victories over Copenhagen and Nordsjaelland.
Reflecting on this, the club added, “The team is well-prepared and eager to extend our unbeaten record here. Every game from this stage is like a final, and we’re approaching it with that mindset.”
Conference League knockout
The knockout stage stakes are high, especially with the ‘away goals’ rule scrapped.
If the aggregate score is level after 90 minutes of the second leg, extra time and penalties will decide the winner, with VAR in operation.
Disciplinary management could also be crucial. While no Chelsea players risk suspension for the return leg, Copenhagen’s Mohamed Elyounoussi, Rodrigo Huescas, and Marcos Lopez will miss the Stamford Bridge fixture if they receive yellow cards tonight.
The road to the final in Wroclaw, Poland, on May 28, remains daunting, with a potential quarter-final clash against either Molde or Legia Warsaw on the horizon.
Should Chelsea and Tottenham both progress to the last eight, UEFA has confirmed that the Blues’ home and away legs will be reversed to prevent fixture congestion.
PUNCH Online reports that the UEFA Conference League, launched in 2021, is Europe’s third-tier club competition, sitting below the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League.
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