Photo by David Horton - CameraSport via Getty Images
Photo by David Horton - CameraSport via Getty Images
Chelsea’s next game in the Premier League is against Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium on Friday.
The last time the Blues faced Brentford, they beat them 2-0 at Stamford Bridge. It was the last occasion they kept a clean sheet in the English top flight.
Xabi Alonso will be desperate for a similar scoreline on Friday, but he has a very different team to that one.
That afternoon, Robert Sanchez started in goal, while Marc Cucurella, Trevoh Chalobah and Tosin Adarabioyo were all named in defence.
Trevoh Chalobah of Chelsea trips over Kevin Schade of Brentford
Photo by Jacques Feeney/Offside/Offside via Getty Images
Further forward, Enzo Fernandez was deployed in midfield and Alejandro Garnacho was utilised in attack.
A lot has obviously happened since that victory. Liam Rosenior is no longer manager, while all six of those players have left Stamford Bridge! When Chelsea make the short trip to the Gtech on Friday, their team is going to be almost unrecognisable.
Alonso will be wishing that he still had Fernandez after his display in Sunday’s Manchester derby.
Fernandez shone for Manchester City in their 1-0 win against rivals Manchester United at a time when Chelsea are having a midfield crisis, which is partly because of his move to the Etihad.
Enzo Fernandez for Man City
Photo by Shaun Brooks – CameraSport via Getty Images
Moises Caicedo and Jordan Henderson are injured, and Alonso has been hesitant to start Valentin Barco in the Premier League.
As a result, Malo Gusto has even had to play in midfield at times, which has not gone down well with supporters.