Chelsea play their final game of the Europa Conference League group phase on Thursday as they host Irish outfit Shamrock Rovers.
The Blues have cruised through the group phase so far, winning all five of their matches to ensure automatic qualification for the first knockout stage.
Head coach Enzo Maresca has used an almost entirely different squad for games in the competition so far, compared to his first choice XI that he opts for in the Premier League.
The Italian is expected to make several changes to his line-up once again for this match, and here we predict the XI that he might select for Thursday’s game.
Goalkeeper
Filip Jorgensen may have only only made one Premier League appearance so far this season, but he has played seven times in Europe including against Swiss side Serviette in the play-offs to qualify for the Conference League. The Dane has kept two clean sheets and conceded four goals in his five group phase appearances so far, and he is in line to face Shamrock on Thursday.
Defenders
Youngster Josh Acheampong signed a contract extension with Chelsea earlier this week, and the 18-year-old could now be rewarded with his third senior appearance for the Blues, having made his first start against Kazakhstani side Astana last week.
In the centre of defence, Axel Disasi will likely be partnered by Tosin Adarabioyo. Disasi has started all five of Chelsea’s group games so far, captaining Maresca’s side on three occasions. Tosin, meanwhile, has started four of the five games so far but has also been given more game time than his French teammate in the Premier League.
Disasi – who could captain Chelsea on Thursday night – has scored once and provided two assists in the Conference League this season
At left-back, Marc Cucurella could make his first European appearance since a 4-1 win over Panathinaikos in October. The Spaniard was sent off after full-time against Brentford last time out and will therefore miss Chelsea’s game against Everton on Sunday, and Maresca could choose to give him a run out in midweek with Renato Veiga likely to play against the Toffees.
Midfielders
In midfield, Chelsea’s regular starters including Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez will be rested and likely not involved at all. Instead, Cesare Casadei is set to start having served a suspension against Astana last time out.
He could be joined by Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, who has struggled for game time since his summer move to Stamford Bridge. The Englishman is yet to start a Premier League match for the Blues, but has started four of their five Conference League group phase games.
Dewsbury-Hall has been a regular in the Conference League for Chelsea this season
Christopher Nkunku could return to the starting XI as an attacking midfielder. The Frenchman has been a regular and is the top scorer in the Conference League so far with five goals, but he sat out the trip to Kazakhstan last week.
Forwards
Youngster Tyrique George has made seven appearances for Maresca’s side this season, six of which were in the Conference League. The winger is yet to score at senior level but he is in line to start against Shamrock and will hope to change that.
Through the middle, Marc Guiu is set to start and will hope to add to the brace he netted against Astana in Almaty last week. All three of the Spaniard’s goals for Chelsea have been in the Conference League.
Guiu scored twice against Astana in Chelsea’s last Conference League game
On the left, Joao Felix could start with Mykhaylo Mudryk unavailable after returning an adverse finding in a routine drug test. Felix, who remains the fifth most expensive player of all time following his move to Atletico Madrid in 2019, returned to Chelsea over the summer after a loan spell two years ago but has since struggled for game time.
Predicted XI: Jorgensen; Acheampong, Disasi, Tosin, Cucurella; Casadei, Dewsbury-Hall, Nkunku; George, Guiu, Felix