Thomas Tuchel has made just one change to his Chelsea side for this evening's crunch Champions League quarter-final second leg against Real Madrid. The Blues will need to win by three clear goals at the Bernabeu if they are to secure their place in the last four of the competition.
Chelsea head into the game, having beaten Southampton 6-0. That was a much-needed confidence boost after back-to-back defeats to Brentford and Real. But Tuchel admits his side does face a huge uphill battle to turn things around in their quarter-final tie, especially at the Bernabeu.
"What chance? Not the biggest chance given the first game's results and given the competition and the opponent and the stadium we play. We never manage our input and our effort, and our belief by the chances we have for our result. We never did, and we will not start by giving less because it is very unlikely that we make it.
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"It is unlikely, but it is worth trying and trying means that we will play to our fullest and to our full limit because this is what we do, and we never manage our input and investment by the chances of having a result. This is what it is, it is a big night and a big match, and we will try to be in better shape and condition than in the first match."
Edouard Mendy, who made a crucial mistake in the first leg that allowed Karim Benzema to complete his hat-trick, keeps his place in the Chelsea goal. And the only change to the starting XI from the weekend comes in defence with Reece James replacing Andreas Christensen at right centre-back.
Thiago Silva occupies the central spot, and Antonio Rudiger keeps his place on the left of the backline. At right wing-back, Ruben Loftus-Cheek appears to have been given the role, having impressed at St Mary's. It is a bold call from Tuchel. On the opposite flank is Marcos Alonso, who will have a point to prove, given he started his career at Real Madrid.
There is no room for Jorginho in the Chelsea midfield with Mateo Kovacic, and N'Golo Kante deployed alongside each other. Ahead of them is a front three of Mason Mount, Kai Havertz, and after he scored two goals at the weekend, Timo Werner. The German forward has struggled for form throughout the season but has an opportunity to make a telling impact on the biggest stage.
Chelsea: Mendy; James, Silva, Rudiger; Loftus-Cheek, Kante, Kovacic, Alonso; Mount, Havertz, Werner
Chelsea substitutes: Kepa, Bettinelli, Christensen, Jorginho, Pulisic, Chalobah, Saul, Ziyech, Azpilicueta, Sarr, Vale.
