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Chelsea are in the FIFA Club World Cup final after a gap of 10 years. Cesar Azpilicueta is the only member of the 2012 squad that lost to Corinthians in their last final.
They face Palmeiras, who have also previously appeared in the FIFA Club World Cup final. After a brilliant Champions League campaign last season, the Blues have a chance to get their hands on another trophy on Saturday.
Chelsea coach Thomas Tuchel will watch the FIFA Club World Cup clash from the stands
It is reported that although Thomas Tuchel will not be present on the touchline, Chelsea will make arrangements to accommodate the German at the Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium.
Assistant coach Zsolt Low will continue to manage the squad for the FIFA Club World Cup final. Although the Blues are certainly the favorites to win, they will not be taking their opposition lightly. They will be looking to avoid a repeat of their last final and win their maiden FIFA Club World Cup.
Let's now take a look at Chelsea’s most probable lineup for the final. A 3-4-3 formation has been chosen for their FIFA Club World Cup clash against Palmeiras.
Goalkeeper: Edouard Mendy
Although Kepa Arrizabalaga had briefly taken over Edouard Mendy’s duties for the past month, the latter is likely to rejoin the starting eleven for the final. Mendy represented Senegal in the AFCON and was a key feature in their victorious campaign.
Take nothing away from Kepa, however. The Spaniard may have been criticized in the past, but he has put in solid performances in the past month. His contributions in the FA Cup tie against Plymouth Argyle were immense, with the Spaniard saving an extra-time penalty and ensuring his side entered the fifth round.
With phenomenal performances in both the Premier League and Champions League, Mendy has established himself as the Blues’ first-choice custodian. He was named the AFCON's goalkeeper of the tournament and was FIFA's Best Goalkeeper in 2021. The Senegalese will be looking to add to his clean sheet tally in tomorrow's FIFA Club World Cup clash.
Center Back: Thiago Silva
Thiago Silva may be 37 but his performances are no indicator of his age. Silva joined the Blues on a free transfer in 2020 and has quickly established himself as a mainstay. The Brazilian's vast experience will be crucial if Chelsea are to win the FIFA Club World Cup.
With many Brazilian supporters in attendance, Silva will have a lot of fans on both sides. He recently expressed in an interview that Chelsea "came to win" and admitted it won't be easy. Silva has played against Palmeiras in the past and is aware of the threat they carry.
He will most likely feature in the FIFA Club World Cup tomorrow alongside two other centre-backs, like in the semi-final. Silva has already won numerous accolades, and the FIFA Club World Cup will be a nice little addition to his collection.
Center-back: Andreas Christensen
Andreas Christensen signed for Chelsea 10 years ago and has had his ups and downs with the Blues. The Dane’s contract expires at the end of this season and he has already caught the attention of Bayern Munich and Barcelona.
Christensen will surely be wanting to get his hands on the FIFA Club World Cup regardless of where he chooses to be next season.
Notably, Christensen was also absent for quite a while as he tested positive for Covid 19. He was part of the starting eleven against Al-Hilal and it would seem that he will start in the FIFA Club World Cup final.
Center-back: Antonio Rudiger
Rudiger has been one of the best center backs in the league this season. The German has been a brick wall at times, winning aerial duels and putting in robust challenges.
The 28-year-old is approaching the end of his Chelsea contract and is on the radar of many teams across Europe. Barcelona and Bayern Munich are thought to be keeping tabs on him.
The news off the pitch hasn’t affected Rudiger, who continues to put in commendable performances for Chelsea. He will be eager to display his defensive prowess in the final.
Right wing-back: Cesar Azpilicueta
Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta recently revealed in an interview that he was “very motivated” to win the FIFA Club World Cup. Azpilicueta was part of the Chelsea squad that lost to Corinthians in 2012 and will look to go all the way this year.
With Reece James ruled out, Azpilicueta will be taking over the right flank in the final. The Spaniard’s leadership skills have motivated his team-mates for years and he will be key if they are to win their first ever FIFA Club World Cup.
Azpilicueta also reaches the end of his contract this June, but he has made no decision on what he seeks to do in the future. Azpilicueta has a chance to make history and get his hands on the FIFA Club World Cup.
Central Midfield: Jorginho
Jorginho has been the engine in Chelsea’s midfield over the past year. The Italian has controlled games with ease and is a key man for Thomas Tuchel.
The midfielder, who won Euro 2020 with Italy and the Champions League with Chelsea, finished third in the Ballon d’Or last year. He will look to add the FIFA Club World Cup to his collection as well.
Jorginho played for 120 minutes against Plymouth in the FA Cup and played the first half of the semi-final. He will most likely start tomorrow's game as well. The Italian’s influence in the middle of the park will be key in deciding the outcome of the game.
Central Midfield: N’Golo Kante
N’Golo Kante has been one of the best defensive midfielders in the world over the past several years. The Frenchman's ability to read the play and put in immaculate challenges is unparalleled.
Kante missed Chelsea's FA Cup clash against Plymouth and played for 45 minutes in the semi-final against Al-Hilal. His defensive capabilities are phenomenal and he will most likely start over Kovacic in the FIFA Club World Cup final.
The 30-year-old's work rate has been so inspiring at times that fans believe he can put in top-notch performances even when he’s injured. Kante will be eager to get playing time and will look to form a formidable partnership with Jorginho in midfield.
Left wing-back: Marcos Alonso
Marcos Alonso is another of the Blues' defenders with bags of experience. Alonso has always had a wonderful ability to strike the ball, and has scored quite a few spectacular goals during his time at Stamford Bridge.
He is often criticized for his defensive errors and has been guilty of switching off at the worst possible times in the past. However, with Ben Chilwell injured, Alonso has been a key feature of the squad.
Alonso started in the semi-final and played for 87 minutes before being replaced by Malang Sarr. The Spaniard should be a part of the starting eleven in tomorrow's FIFA Club World Cup final as well.
Left-winger: Kai Havertz
After a few spectacular seasons with Bayern Leverkusen, Kai Havertz signed for Chelsea in the summer of 2020. The German joined the Blues for a sum of £75.8 million. Based on his price tag, Havertz may not be scoring or assisting as frequently as he would have liked. The German has 14 goals and 13 assists in 72 appearances for the Blues.
Nevertheless, he has had a few memorable moments with the Blues. Havertz's goal in the Champions League final against Manchester City proved to be a decisive one as the Blues went on to lift the trophy for the second time.
He will presumably start tomorrow's FIFA Club World Cup game on the left flank and could come into a narrower role alongside Lukaku. The German has proven to be a threat on the wing even though he traditionally plays down the middle.
Right-winger: Hakim Ziyech
After a slow start to life in England, it seems like Hakim Ziyech has finally found his feet with the Blues. The 28-year-old joined Chelsea from Ajax in the 2020-21 season but initially struggled to get playing time.
Ziyech recently announced that he has retired from international football after a row with manager Vahid Halilhodzic. He said he will no longer play for Morocco even if they qualify for the 2022 World Cup.
Ziyech has displayed his creativity and class on the right wing and was especially impressive in Chelsea’s win against Tottenham. Fans will hope to see more of the same from Ziyech in the FIFA Club World Cup final.
Assistant coach Zsolt Low has praised the Moroccan's recent performances and believes he is slowly getting better. Ziyech featured in the starting eleven in the semi-final and will most likely start in the FIFA Club World Cup final as well.
Striker: Romelu Lukaku
Romelu Lukaku made his return to Chelsea at the start of the 2021-22 season, 10 years after he first joined the club. Lukaku was signed for a whopping £97.5m, a deal that eclipsed their previous record purchase of Kai Havertz.
The Belgian made headlines in December when he openly admitted that he was unhappy with Chelsea. This led to the striker being fined and excluded from the starting eleven in the following game.
Lukaku has been misfiring of late and has had a dry spell in front of goal. He has eight goals in 25 appearances for the Blues across all competitions.
However, one cannot expect the Belgian to continue in this dismal form for long. Lukaku scored the only goal in their clash against Al-Hilal and he will be eager to find the back of the net again. It is almost guaranteed that he will be leading the attack in the FIFA Club World Cup final.
