Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino hints Benjamin Chilwell will return to the left-back position against Brighton and Hove Albion
Chelsea manager, Mauricio Pochettino, has indicated that Ben Chilwell is expected to participate in the match against Brighton & Hove Albion tomorrow.
Although the English star has been on the bench for the club’s previous two games, the manager didn’t directly confirm his spot in the starting lineup for Wednesday evening.
However, it appears that the left-back will, at the very least, see some playing time on the field. He has already made six appearances this season but recently lost his spot to Levi Colwill.
In a pre-match press conference before Chelsea’s third-round Carabao Cup clash with the Seagulls at Stamford Bridge, Pochettino spoke about the possibility of the 26-year-old taking the left-back spot. As quoted by Football London, the Argentine said:
“I am so happy with Levi and the way he is playing. He is providing the team with a very good balance. Chilly has the possibility to play tomorrow. We were using him maybe not in his best position because he was a winger, that is why when we start to play with Mischa, our thought was to keep Levi in the position.”
The upcoming match will raise curiosity about Chilwell‘s position on the field. This season, he has been deployed in a more advanced role, while Colwill has filled in at his traditional left-back position. If Pochettino intends to reintegrate the former Leicester City star into the starting lineup against Brighton, it would be logical to place him in the left-back position.
Considering that Chelsea are playing at home and the Carabao Cup is perhaps their most realistic opportunity to win a trophy this season, an early exit at this stage would be heartbreak.
Given the importance of the match, Pochettino should consider deploying a natural winger, such as Mykhailo Mudryk or Noni Madueke, on the left side of the attack. If he chooses to place Chilwell in that position instead, it could reduce the Blues’ attacking moves in a knockout game.
In such a crucial match, the Blues need to be more attacking, so if the English defender is on the field, it makes sense for him to revert to his left-back role. However, it remains uncertain whether he will be directly incorporated into the starting XI or used as a substitute for Colwill.
One player who has been affected the most by this Colwill-Chilwell battle is Marc Cucurella. The Spaniard has not started a single Premier League game this season, with just one appearance coming in the Carabao Cup.
During the summer, there were discussions about the left-back going on loan to Manchester United. However, the transfer didn’t materialise. Still, the situation looks less clear, with Pochettino preferring other options ahead of the former Brighton star.
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It seems that he could get chances only in Cup matches. The player would not hesitate to look for options if he doesn’t get any playing time this season. The left-back spot is attracting a lot of competition at Stamford Bridge this season, and it remains to be seen which defender holds his place firmly in the team.