Thomas Tuchel has made five changes to his Chelsea side for this afternoon's FA Cup quarter-final against Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium.
Following prolonged negotiations with the UK government, the Blues were able to travel up to Teeside by plane and stay over in a hotel ahead of the match. There was no five-hour coach journey.
That should give the Blues every chance of progressing to the semi-finals for the third consecutive campaign, although Middlesbrough will not prove easy opposition having already knocked Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur out of this season's competition.
READ MORE: Middlesbrough vs Chelsea LIVE: Confirmed team news, kick-off time and score updates from FA Cup
"I expect an FA Cup atmosphere," Tuchel said during his pre-match press conference. "An emotional stadium, an emotional crowd. We love the competition. I love the FA Cup. So we expect a tough away match against a strong team. Not more than that. But this is what we expect, and it will be a challenge for us."
Tuchel has opted to stick with Edouard Mendy for this afternoon's game. The Senegal international hasn't featured in the FA Cup thus far with Kepa Arrizabalaga used in the last two rounds. However, the Spaniard isn't in the match-day squad.
In a change from the midweek win in Lille, the Blues are expected to be set up with a back four. Cesar Azpilicueta will be used at right-back with Thiago Silva and Antonio Rudiger at the heart of the defence. Malang Sarr will occupy the left-back role ahead of Marcos Alonso, who is on the substitutes' bench.
Jorginho steps out of the Chelsea midfield and is replaced by Ruben Loftus-Cheek. The England international will continue as the Blues' number six with Mateo and Mason Mount, who has been named in the latest Three Lions squad by Gareth Southgate, will be the two eights.
There are changes in the attack. Kai Havertz steps out of the starting XI despite his fine form in recent weeks and Romelu Lukaku is given an opportunity to impress. The striker hasn't found the net for the Blues since the World Club Cup final but has struggled for minutes.
Hakim Ziyech is back in on the right of the attack and will be hoping to rediscover the fine form he was in prior to suffering an injury last month. On the left is Christian Pulisic. Timo Werner is among the substitutes. As is academy graduate Harvey Vale, who will be hoping to add to his five senior appearances.
Chelsea: Mendy; Azpilicueta, Silva, Rudiger, Sarr; Loftus-Cheek, Mount, Kovacic; Ziyech, Lukaku, Pulisic
Chelsea substitutes: Bettinelli, Alonso, Kenedy, Chalobah, Kante, Barkley, Havertz, Vale, Werner
