Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink is really impressed after seeing Mauricio Pochettino’s team selection for Chelsea against Middlesbrough on Tuesday night.
The Blues have confirmed via X their starting line-up for tonight’s huge cup tie against Championship side Boro.
It’s interesting to note that head coach Mauricio Pochettino has opted for an extra attacker in his line-up. The quartet of Armando Broja, Raheem Sterling, Mykhailo Mudryk and Cole Palmer will hope to cause he damage going forward.
Chelsea go into this evening’s Carabao Cup semi-final second leg losing 1-0 on aggregate. However, they should have belief of overturning that deficit at Stamford Bridge and reaching next month’s final at Wembley Stadium.
Hasselbaink has reacted to Chelsea’s starting XI against Boro with real enthusiasm.
“I do understand why they are playing Palmer as a No 10. They have got more attacking players now than two weeks ago. We all know they need to score goals,” Hasselbaink told Sky Sports’ Main Event channel (7:05pm, 23 January).
“It’s interesting. It’s good. It’s good to see Mudryk there. It’s good to see Sterling on the right. Middlesbrough is going to have a very difficult night.”
Chelsea confirmed starting line-up against Middlesbrough
Similarly, we’re really optimistic by the Chelsea team that will take the field tonight.
There’s width and directness by playing both Mudryk and Sterling, while Palmer can operate centrally as the creative hub.
On top of that, it’s fantastic to see Ben Chilwell back in the starting line-up and captaining the side at left-back.
Speaking via ESPN after Chelsea’s recent win over Fulham, Steve Nicol claimed Chelsea looked a better side when Chilwell played and returned from injury.
The 27-year-old defender is starting his first game since the end of September, so hopefully he comes through unscathed and delivers a match-wining performance.
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