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Chelsea welcome League One side Port Vale to Stamford Bridge at the weekend for an FA Cup quarter-final with Liam Rosenior once again expected to heavily rotate his Blues XI
It has been nothing short of a tumultuous week or so for Chelsea in what was supposed to be a break in club football. During the final international break of the season, which has now concluded, two of their most crucial players made some pretty damning comments.
Enzo Fernandez has flirted - and then some - with the prospect of departing Stamford Bridge in the summer transfer window, with the Argentina international keeping the door wide open for a move to Real Madrid. Marc Cucurella, meanwhile, berated his employers and their youth-based model, while also saying he would not have changed manager midway through the season.
Liam Rosenior will take his pre-Port Vale press conference on Friday morning, though there is unlikely to be too much in the sense of previewing the FA Cup quarter-final tie. The aforementioned comments will dominate the presser, at a time where Rosenior's focus should be on Chelsea and how they perform this weekend - but that's on his players and their comments.
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Both Fernandez and Cucurella could well be rested for the visit of Port Vale on Saturday evening. Robert Sanchez could keep his place in goal, with Filip Jorgensen set to be out for the foreseeable future after having surgery on a groin injury.
There could be a rare chance for Josh Acheampong on the right-hand side of defence. The 19-year-old has only appeared nine times in all competitions since Rosenior took over almost three months ago but could come in at right-back, given Malo Gusto represented France on international duty and Reece James remains injured.
Wesley Fofana was not called up by Les Bleus and could partner his compatriot Benoit Badiashile in the centre of defence. There is also a chance for Tosin Adarabioyo, but he might just miss out, while Jorrel Hato could be given an opportunity at left-back.
Romeo Lavia and Dario Essugo have both worked at Cobham for the past couple of weeks while others have been representing their countries, and could perform as the base of the midfield. It's not something we've seen loads of but given the options available to him, I wonder if Rosenior will look to use Estevao Willian as the No.10 against Port Vale.
Alejandro Garnacho could start on the right wing. The Argentine has played most of his football on the left-hand side for Chelsea, but Rosenior might look to rest Cole Palmer and Pedro Neto for the FA Cup tie, while Jesse Derry could make his full debut for the Blues.
The 18-year-old has made cameo appearances in the last two rounds in wins over Hull City and Wrexham and could be given a shock opportunity by Rosenior at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.
Marc Guiu will be hoping for a rare start but it is likely going to be Liam Delap instead. It is set to be a huge chance for Delap to try and impress Rosenior in what has been an underwhelming debut season with the west Londoners. Joao Pedro should ne nowhere near the pitch.
Potential Chelsea XI: Sanchez; Acheampong, Fofana, Badiashile, Hato; Lavia, Essugo; Garnacho, Estevao, Derry; Delap
Bobby has been reporting on Chelsea since May 2022. In that time, he has been front and centre in perhaps the club's most turbulent time with Roman Abramovich forced to sell, with Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital buying the Blues. Bobby is a regular at press conferences and matches, where he speaks to Liam Rosenior and numerous Chelsea players.
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