Chelsea interim head coach Frank Lampard has confirmed changes will be made from the Real Madrid game for this weekend's Premier League clash against Brighton. The Blues are still searching for their first win in April after a defeat this past Wednesday in Spain came four days on from a loss to Wolves, and the challenges don't get any easier with in-form Brighton rocking up to Stamford Bridge on Saturday.
Two changes were made from the Wolves team for the Champions League quarter final against Los Blancos with N'Golo Kante and Ben Chilwell returning in place of Kai Havertz and Conor Gallagher. Those decisions also saw a formation change occur with Lampard opting to play a back five against Carlo Ancelotti's side, a plan that appeared to backfire after just five minutes.
Chilwell will be suspended for the return fixture in west London after being sent off in the first meeting of the tie. With no need to rest the full-back for Madrid's arrival next week, his place in the starting XI is likely guaranteed especially following Lampard's update on the status of Kalidou Koulibaly who left the Santiago Bernabeu with an injury.
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"No, he won't be available for either game," the 41-year-old said in response to Koulibaly's chances of playing in the next two fixtures.
"A hamstring injury, it will be a matter of weeks rather than days. He's a very good, very experienced player. Albeit, people talk a lot about our squad but when you work and sometimes you haven't got lots of cover and the Champions League squad is different to the Premier League squad."
"It's a disappointment for him and for us, but opportunity and we carry on without him. Hopefully, he gets fit as quick as he can."
Reverting from a back five to four now looks likely, but Lampard has also dropped a major hint that changes in particular positions could also be on the cards. He said: "Tomorrow [Saturday] will be an opportunity for some players who didn't play in the Champions League, possibly didn't play at the weekend, to come in because it's a game where we absolutely need freshness and energy as well. So every opportunity, they should take."
January signings Noni Madueke, Mykhailo Mudryk and Benoit Badiashile have been offered limited minutes in recent weeks but could all be set for a return. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang could also potentially be handed a surprise start after his 23-minute cameo against Wolves, with the Blues desperate for a goal scorer.
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