Chelsea are preparing for what could be Liam Rosenior’s toughest and most important game so far. A trip to Napoli in the Champions League, the eighth of eight group games.
Currently, Chelsea sit in eighth place in the Champions League first-round table. The Blues are one of eight clubs sitting on 13 points, but only the top three of those eight are positioned in the top eight.
PSG and Newcastle are in sixth and seventh, Chelsea in eighth, followed by Barcelona, Sporting, Man City, Atletico Madrid and Atalanta. All on 13 points. A massive game then for Rosenior and Chelsea, tomorrow.
How do you stop a centre-forward like Romelu Lukaku? 🛑
He should be fit for Napoli vs Chelsea
Romelu Lukaku's record against Chelsea
Photo by Alberto Gandolfo/BSR Agency/Getty Images
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But also, for Napoli and Antonio Conte. The Serie A champions have won just two of their seven games in Europe this season and currently sit in 25th. One place outside of the play-offs. Conte’s men need a result.
Why Gianfranco Zola expects clash to be difficult for Napoli
In the last few weeks, those with access to social media might have seen an impassioned rant from Scott McTominay, who bemoaned Napoli’s injury list and explained how Napoli are doing well, despite them.
Well, former Napoli and Chelsea icon Gianfranco Zola has now told Italian media, as per Il Napolista, that Napoli’s injury issues make Wednesday almost an impossible task. Two have been ruled out this week.
Romelu Lukaku of SSC Napoli celebrates after scoring
Photo by Cesare Purini/Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Images
Vanja Milinkovic-Savic and David Neres’ absences take the total to seven missing players, a list which also includes Kevin De Bruyne, Billy Gilmour, Matteo Politano, Amir Rrahmani and Pasquale Mazzochi.
Romelu Lukaku is fit, but he only appeared as a late sub on the weekend, a first game back. So, Napoli are struggling and Zola thinks this makes Chelsea favourites to win at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium.
“The number of key injuries is huge. They’re missing key players, but the way they are facing the situation is admirable: they can lose, but they’re playing to the end. A sign of courage, it’s personality,” Zola said.
“It’s a complete identification with the character of his coach: he never gives up, like Conte. they have so many extenuating circumstances this year, it’s not easy to manage the situation that has arisen.”
DISCUSS: Who would win Chelsea’s Loanee Player of the Season so far? 🏆
Chelsea’s best loanees in the 2025/26 season:
Ted Curd (Boreham Wood)
Omari Kellyman (Cardiff City)
Jimmy-Jay Morgan (Peterborough United)
Mike Penders (Strasbourg)
Mamadou Sarr (Strasbourg)
Aaron Anselmino (Recalled from Borussia Dortmund)
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Zola picks Scott McTominay as the difference maker
McTominay has been a revelation since moving to Naples. There is a growing trend that players who leave Man United after a spell on the fringes go and join a club and blossom. Rasmus Hojlund is on fire, too.
But none like McTominay. A £25m signing, he won Serie A Player of the Season last term and finished 18th in the Ballon d’Or rankings. Zola picked him as the difference maker, but won’t support one side.
“McTominay is the man who can provide the breakthrough. He has the immense depth of those who can make a difference. I’ll sit in the armchair with the two scarves and enjoy, and may the best man win.”
Chelsea themselves will be without Tosin Adarabioyo, while Cole Palmer’s availability will be revealed in Rosenior’s press conference at 6.30PM this evening. Filip Jorgensen could return to the Chelsea squad.
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