Chelsea are on the verge of reaching another European final as they prepare for Thursday’s match against Djurgarden.
Chelsea are in pole position to reach the final of this season’s Conference League, but they need to get the job done in their two-legged semi-final clash.
The Blues secured a significant 4-1 away victory over Swedish club Djurgarden in the first leg. Now, they’ll be hoping to wrap the tie up on Thursday at Stamford Bridge.
Marc Guiu may return to Chelsea’s squad against Djurgarden for the first time since early February because of a hamstring problem, but head coach Enzo Maresca hinted at possibly giving him more recovery time.
Chelsea predicted XI vs Djurgarden
The Chelsea Chronicle predicts the Blues XI we’re expecting to see start the match at home to Djurgarden.
Filip Jorgensen
It’s likely to be a return between the sticks for Filip Jorgensen, the designated cup goalkeeper. Swedish media praised Filip Jorgensen after the Blues shot-stopper pulled off some great saves in the first leg versus Djurgarden.
Josh Acheampong
At right-back, we’re predicting a 13th first-team appearance for Chelsea youngster Josh Acheampong. While he’s not getting too many chances in the Premier League, the 19-year-old defender looks so impressive when he features in other competitions.
Tosin Adarabioyo
Tosin Adarabioyo could start as the first of two central defenders, and he rarely lets the team down when he’s on the pitch. He’s one of the few individuals that injects genuine experience and leadership when he plays.
Benoit Badiashile
Another change at centre-back sees Benoit Badiashile recalled to take his usual starting position in a Conference League match. Even though he’s not in the best XI, Benoit Badiashile is still happy at Chelsea.
Malo Gusto
Malo Gusto could start at left-back against Djurgarden to give Marc Cucurella a much-needed rest. The versatility of Gusto has made him an important individual for the squad this term, but he’s reached nowhere near the same levels as last season.
| Competition | Appearances | Starts |
| Premier League | 29 | 19 |
| Conference League | 3 | 2 |
| FA Cup | 2 | 1 |
| Conference League qualifiers | 1 | 0 |
| Carabao Cup | 1 | 1 |
Reece James
The fact that Chelsea captain Reece James hasn’t started either of the previous two league matches means we expect him to start against Djurgarden. Enzo Maresca claimed Chelsea are better with Reece James playing in the team, but there’s now a dilemma about fitting all the best players in the same XI.
Moises Caicedo
Fresh off a victorious time at Chelsea’s end-of-season awards, Moises Caicedo may start for just the third time in this year’s Conference League. He’s usually kept in reserve in Europe because he’s started every Premier League match this season, but we’re predicting he’ll get a start and 45 minutes at home against Djurgarden.
Noni Madueke
Noni Madueke slots into the predicted XI on the right wing, even though he’s looked dangerous on the left flank in recent league games. Djurgarden defender Keita Kosugi admitted he couldn’t handle Noni Madueke in last week’s first leg.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall
It would be a surprise if Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall doesn’t continue his run in the Conference League, starting 10 out of 11 games since the group stages kicked off back in October. He usually impresses in these European ties as an advanced midfielder, but he’s still got zero chance of overtaking Cole Palmer.
| Appearances | Starts | Goals | Assists |
| 11 | 10 | 3 | 2 |
Jadon Sancho
Jadon Sancho could start on the left wing against Djurgarden and he’ll have good memories of scoring against them a week ago. The winger’s contribution of four goals and 10 assists across all competitions this season is a steady return.
Tyrique George
To complete the predicted XI, Chelsea youngster Tyrique George may get another chance to lead the line. Even though he’s come through the Blues academy as a winger, the versatile attacker hasn’t looked out of place when he’s filled in at striker on a few occasions for the first team. These are the types of games where he needs to try to send out a strong message to Maresca with his performance. Hopefully, he can add to this season’s tally of two goals and four assists in the senior side.
