Chelsea Super Cup final predicted XI: £50m man starts, 20-year-old keeps his place

Thomas Tuchel is potentially 90 minutes away from collecting his second piece of silverware with Chelsea in the form of the UEFA Super Cup.

The Blues just need to overcome Unai Emery’s Villarreal this evening and they will be crowned European conquerors once again.

Chelsea have remained undefeated during pre-season, in spite of the heavy rotation of players from match to match.

Now back with arguably his full-strength squad, Tuchel’s team selection has become even trickier.

Here is our stab at which XI we think will stride out at Windsor Park tonight.

One position that is pretty certified is Edouard Mendy in goal.

If Tuchel sticks to his trusted back three, the trio in front of Mendy might be Cesar Azpilicueta, Thiago Silva and Antonio Rudiger.

This is a very familiar-looking trident, but one that hasn’t featured together since the Champions League final in May.

All three were away on international duty and returned to Cobham late, but have had at least a few days back in training to get back up to speed.

Another recently back from his holidays is Ben Chilwell.

After his European Championship adventure, the £50m (Sky Sports) summer signing had a couple of weeks of rest before returning to Chelsea.

Tuchel has been using a variation of Christian Pulisic and Marcos Alonso at left wing-back, so expect Chilwell to reclaim his customary role.

On the opposite flank: Callum Hudson-Odoi.

The 20-year-old has played well during pre-season and despite the presence of Reece James back in the camp, he deserves to keep his place.

In between the wing-backs, Mateo Kovacic and N’Golo Kante, the pair that started the previous game against Tottenham Hotspur.

Keeping some kind of consistency, the front line should read Hakim Ziyech, Timo Werner and Kai Havertz.

These three began as a forward force away to Arsenal and at home to Spurs, with Havertz and Ziyech scoring three times between them.

Mason Mount is available, but it would be wise for Tuchel to maintain the rhythm of his side.

Chelsea Super Cup final predicted XI: Mendy; Azpilicueta, Silva, Rudiger; Hudson-Odoi, Kante, Kovacic, Chilwell; Ziyech, Werner, Havertz