{"id":10859,"date":"2026-05-19T19:56:31","date_gmt":"2026-05-19T19:56:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=10859"},"modified":"2026-05-19T19:56:31","modified_gmt":"2026-05-19T19:56:31","slug":"chelsea-line-up-strong-side-to-take-on-tottenham","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=10859","title":{"rendered":"Chelsea line up strong side to take on Tottenham"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"article-body\">\n<!-- Article Start --><\/p>\n<p><b><i>Chelsea take on Tottenham tonight at Stamford Bridge, knowing the crowd are desperate to see a performance.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<p><em>If you enjoy Chelsea News coverage and want to see more of it, add us as a preferred source on Google to make us a favourite and see more of our content.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Chelsea take on Tottenham this evening at Stamford Bridge, Calum McFarlane\u2019s penultimate in charge.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s a weird one \u2013 the Blues don\u2019t have a lot to play for, while Spurs can save themselves from relegation with a win. But the home team are surely going to play for pride against their old rivals. So who will McFarlane pick?<\/p>\n<h2>Chelsea to avoid playing at risk stars \u2013 but keep strong side<\/h2>\n<p><strong>Robert Sanchez<\/strong> is a no brainer in goal, even with Filip Jorgensen fit again.<\/p>\n<p>At the back, <strong>Reece James<\/strong> likely won\u2019t be risked having played on Saturday, so expect to see <strong>Malo want<\/strong> at right back. It\u2019s the same story with Levi Colwill, who will likely drop out and be replaced by <strong>Trevoh Chalobah.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Even <strong>Wesley Fofana<\/strong> has played a fair amount recently considering his injury history, but we\u2019d imagine he\u2019s risked to avoid changing the back line too much. <strong>Marc Cucurella<\/strong> should play at left back, assuming McFarlane doesn\u2019t persist with the back five he used against City.<\/p>\n<p>In midfield, Romeo Lavia is a doubt so expect <strong>Andrey Santos<\/strong> to start alongside <strong>Moises Caicedo<\/strong>with <strong>Enzo Fernandez<\/strong> ahead of them.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Pedro Neto<\/strong> should be fit enough for a first start in a few weeks, with <strong>Cole Palmer<\/strong> on the other flank and <strong>Jo\u00e3o Pedro<\/strong> leading the line.<\/p>\n<h2>In other news\u2026<\/h2>\n<p>Xabi Alonso is reportedly keen to change one thing at Chelsea that has been majorly holding them back in recent years.<\/p>\n<p>Chelsea star Joao Pedro will not be going to the World Cup with Brazil \u2013 it\u2019s surprising, but it\u2019s also great news for the Blues in many ways.<\/p>\n<p><strong>DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL CHELSEA NEWS APP FOR ALL THE LATEST UPDATES \u2013 STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ON THE APP STORE<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><em>Check out the latest edition of Simon Phillips\u2019 SPTC podcast here:<\/em><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"SPTC Podcast! Fresh Xabi Alonso to Chelsea news! Summer Transfer Plans! FA Cup Final Preview!\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/yiYy60DQcxI?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/span><\/p>\n<section class=\"more-stories std-mgn-b\">&#13;<\/p>\n<div class=\"row\">\n<header class=\"col-s-12 std-mgn-t\">More Stories about <span class=\"topic\">Calum McFarlane<\/span><\/header>\n<div class=\"post-container col-s-4\">\n<p>\t\t\t&#13;<\/p>\n<div class=\"img-cntr\"><picture><source type=\"image\/webp\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Working-copy-of-CNFeaturedHero-Image-Templates-2026-05-10T110753.085-190x107.jpg.webp 190w,https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Working-copy-of-CNFeaturedHero-Image-Templates-2026-05-10T110753.085-245x138.jpg.webp 245w,https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Working-copy-of-CNFeaturedHero-Image-Templates-2026-05-10T110753.085-320x180.jpg.webp 320w,https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Working-copy-of-CNFeaturedHero-Image-Templates-2026-05-10T110753.085-414x233.jpg.webp 414w,https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Working-copy-of-CNFeaturedHero-Image-Templates-2026-05-10T110753.085-630x354.jpg.webp 630w\" data-sizes=\"(min-width:1230px) 250px, (min-width:1020px) 20vw, (min-width:920px) 290px, (min-width:680px) 30vw, (min-width:394px) 130px, 33vw\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Working-copy-of-CNFeaturedHero-Image-Templates-2026-05-10T110753.085.jpg\" class=\"lazyload wp-image-160198 has-webp lazyload\" alt=\"Reece James replaces Andrey Santos.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Working-copy-of-CNFeaturedHero-Image-Templates-2026-05-10T110753.085-190x107.jpg 190w,https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Working-copy-of-CNFeaturedHero-Image-Templates-2026-05-10T110753.085-245x138.jpg 245w,https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Working-copy-of-CNFeaturedHero-Image-Templates-2026-05-10T110753.085-320x180.jpg 320w,https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Working-copy-of-CNFeaturedHero-Image-Templates-2026-05-10T110753.085-414x233.jpg 414w,https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Working-copy-of-CNFeaturedHero-Image-Templates-2026-05-10T110753.085-630x354.jpg 630w\" data-sizes=\"(min-width:1230px) 250px, (min-width:1020px) 20vw, (min-width:920px) 290px, (min-width:680px) 30vw, (min-width:394px) 130px, 33vw\"\/><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"post-container col-s-4\">\n<p>\t\t\t&#13;<\/p>\n<div class=\"img-cntr\"><picture><source type=\"image\/webp\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Getty-Images-22-190x125.jpg.webp 190w,https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Getty-Images-22-245x161.jpg.webp 245w,https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Getty-Images-22-320x210.jpg.webp 320w,https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Getty-Images-22-414x271.jpg.webp 414w,https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Getty-Images-22-630x413.jpg.webp 630w\" data-sizes=\"(min-width:1230px) 250px, (min-width:1020px) 20vw, (min-width:920px) 290px, (min-width:680px) 30vw, (min-width:394px) 130px, 33vw\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"671\" src=\"https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Getty-Images-22.jpg\" class=\"lazyload wp-image-118596 has-webp lazyload\" alt=\"Enzo Fernandez gets stuck in against Tottenham. (Photo by Justin Setterfield\/Getty Images)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Getty-Images-22-190x125.jpg 190w,https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Getty-Images-22-245x161.jpg 245w,https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Getty-Images-22-320x210.jpg 320w,https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Getty-Images-22-414x271.jpg 414w,https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Getty-Images-22-630x413.jpg 630w\" data-sizes=\"(min-width:1230px) 250px, (min-width:1020px) 20vw, (min-width:920px) 290px, (min-width:680px) 30vw, (min-width:394px) 130px, 33vw\"\/><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"post-container col-s-4\">\n<p>\t\t\t&#13;<\/p>\n<div class=\"img-cntr\"><picture><source type=\"image\/webp\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Getty-Images-6-190x127.jpg.webp 190w,https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Getty-Images-6-245x163.jpg.webp 245w,https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Getty-Images-6-320x213.jpg.webp 320w,https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Getty-Images-6-414x276.jpg.webp 414w,https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Getty-Images-6-630x420.jpg.webp 630w\" data-sizes=\"(min-width:1230px) 250px, (min-width:1020px) 20vw, (min-width:920px) 290px, (min-width:680px) 30vw, (min-width:394px) 130px, 33vw\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2250\" height=\"1500\" src=\"https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Getty-Images-6.jpg\" class=\"lazyload wp-image-160387 has-webp lazyload\" alt=\"Xabi Alonso looks on from the touchline.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Getty-Images-6-190x127.jpg 190w,https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Getty-Images-6-245x163.jpg 245w,https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Getty-Images-6-320x213.jpg 320w,https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Getty-Images-6-414x276.jpg 414w,https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Getty-Images-6-630x420.jpg 630w\" data-sizes=\"(min-width:1230px) 250px, (min-width:1020px) 20vw, (min-width:920px) 290px, (min-width:680px) 30vw, (min-width:394px) 130px, 33vw\"\/><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>&#13;<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<p><!-- Article End -->\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Chelsea take on Tottenham tonight at Stamford Bridge, knowing the crowd are desperate to see&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":10860,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pagelayer_contact_templates":[],"_pagelayer_content":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10859","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-chelsea"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10859","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=10859"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10859\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/10860"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=10859"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=10859"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=10859"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}