The latest Chelsea team news, injury updates and predicted starting XI ahead of the FA Cup final.
Chelsea take on Manchester City in the FA Cup final on Saturday, a game which offers them their final chance to make something memorable out of a season which has descended into chaos since the departure of Enzo Maresca – but their preparations for the biggest match of the season have been hampered by a string of injury issues.
First-choice goalkeeper Robert Sánchez and wingers Pedro Neto and Alejandro Garnacho are among the players battling to return in time for the trip to Wembley, and in total caretaker manager Calum McFarlane may be missing as many as seven first-team players for final.
With kick-off fast approaching, we’ve collected all of the latest Chelsea team news below along with our prediction for the likely starting line-up for the FA Cup final.
Sánchez, Neto & Garnacho among Chelsea doubts for FA Cup final
Several players face late fitness tests ahead of Saturday's showpiece match, including Robert Sánchez, who missed the 1-1 draw with Liverpool last weekend following a clash of heads with Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White the week before, and widemen Pedro Neto and Alejandro Garnacho, neither of whom have played since the semi-final victory against Leeds United at the end of April.
McFarlane offered a positive update on all three players during his pre-match press conference, saying that the trio had all trained in the build-up to the final and adding that there were “positive signs” that they could all be involved in some capacity.
With Sánchez apparently out of the concussion protocol, he is expected to take the gloves back from Filip Jörgensen, while Neto and Garnacho will compete to start on the left flank – which has become a problem position due to the absences of Jamie Gittens (hamstring) and Jesse Derry (head).
Gittens is expected to miss the next two games and faces a battle to be involved in the game against Sunderland on the final day of the Premier League season, while youngster Derry is not expected to play against this season as it stands.
Colwill & James in good shape ahead of Manchester City match
McFarlane also provided positive updates on centre-back Levi Colwill and club captain Reece James, who have both recently returned from injury lay-offs – both are said to have “trained well” over the past week and appear to be trending towards starting the FA Cup final against Manchester City. James could feature in a midfield role after unconvincing recent displays by Roméo Lavia and Andrey Santos.
The Blues will be without Brazilian wonderkid Estêvão Willian, whose hamstring injury has not only ended his season but also ruled him out of the World Cup. The winger is not expected to undergo surgery, but was left out of his country’s preliminary squad for the summer.
The only other definite absentee is Ukrainian winger Mykhaylo Mudryk, who is serving a four year suspension after being found to have taken a banned substance. He is appealing the ruling with the Court of Arbitration for Sport, but will not be reinstated soon enough to play again this season if he is successful.
Chelsea predicted line-up vs. Manchester City (4-2-3-1): Sánchez; Cucurella, Colwill, Fofana, Gusto; Caicedo, James; Neto, Fernández, Palmer; João Pedro.
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