Frank Lampard has already taken some big steps towards revealing his Chelsea team that will take to the field against Brighton on Saturday. The Blues' caretaker boss, whilst still searching for his first win, goal or positive result in charge, has one eye on mid-week with the improbabal Champions League comeback against Real Madrid the main priority.
That being said, Chelsea could do with taking some form of confidence into that game at SW6 on Tuesday. When they came from behind to beat Borussia Dortmund in the last-16 it was a nervy victory against Leeds the weekend before that helped provide a small uplift.
Although the scale of this challenge is much larger, finding a way to boost the moral of the Stamford Bridge crowd ahead of the visit of Carlo Ancelotti and his seasoned European warriors would go someway to lifting the mood. First is the visit of Roberto De Zerbi's Brighton.
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The former Shakhtar Donetsk manager has impressed since taking over on the south coast from Graham Potter but isn't likely to come face-to-face with a full-strength Chelsea side, that's after Lampard revealed that Kalidou Koulibaly would be missing from the game after his second-half injury against Madrid at Santiago Bernabeau.
"No, he won't be available for either game. A hamstring injury, it will be a matter of weeks rather than days," Lampard said before the game. Meanwhile he has also confirmed Kepa Arrizabalaga's place as number one under his watch too. "I don’t see any reasons to do anything differently at the moment, with Kepa’s performances and maturity," he said.
"I’ve maybe matured as a coach as I’ve come back, he has matured as a player. I think he has been in good form and Edou has had a couple of injuries. He is still carrying a small one at the moment so the position as you see it doesn’t change. I’m not judging anything on my previous time at the club as opposed to what is in front of me now."
Kepa had been sideline under Lampard after his poor form with Mendy the impressive replacement. Outside of those two there several first team stars that may well be afforded a rest with the view to being fully fit against Madrid, and Lampard hinted at those changes.
"They can't all play," he said. "The maths doesn't work as such. In the period I'm here firstly I want to win football matches because we are Chelsea and that is what is expected from us from myself and fans.
"Secondly, I want to be part of a process in this period where players have an opportunity. If they train, if they deserve to play, then they get an opportunity on the pitch and they can show what they can do.
"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."
It opens up the chance for Benoit Badiashile to feature once more after the 22-year-old missed out on Champions League squad selection. Meanwhile Mason Mount could return having not started since early February. Those decisions tie in with the fitness concerns around Thiago Silva and N'Golo Kante.
The Brazilian was rushed back into the fold for the trip to Madrid having not played for over six weeks. He could be afford extra time to recover for the second leg whilst Kante was rested against Wolves last weekend after starting his first game since August before that. He will need to be in peak physical shape to give his side any hope against Madrid.
Ben Chilwell is also an interesting option. He is suspended for mid-week but can play against Brighton. If Chelsea wanted to prepare for the game though it could mean a start for Marc Cucurella or youngster Lewis Hall.
Elsewhere Pierre-Emerick Aubemayang will be fighting for a spot on Saturday with Kai Havertz and Christian Pulisic. He is unavailable for the crunch match on Tuesday after his European squad omission.
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