Ben Chilwell is in the Chelsea team to face Everton today, his first start for the club since his bad injury against Juventus last November.
It’s a rather surprising move, given he looked really off the pace in preseason. But with Marc Cucurella not up to speed yet and Marcos Alonso left out of the squad as he negotiates a move away, Thomas Tuchel has clearly decided that he’s not going to go with Emerson Palmieri, and has risked a perhaps slightly half baked Chilwell.
Starting XI to face Everton! 👊🔵 pic.twitter.com/ke5E5bk4oW
— Talk Chelsea (@talkchelsea) August 6, 2022
Perhaps Tuchel feels he has no other option, or perhaps Chilwell is just fitter than we all expected. Either way, let’s hope he gets through today with no issues.
It seems almost certain that we will see Cucurella later in the game for his debut, as Chilwell surely isn’t ready for 90 Premier League minutes just yet.
But whatever happens, this is good progress for Ben in his recovery.
