Chelsea vs Manchester United Champions League: Squad of Chelsea

Chelsea and Manchester United are going to take one each other in the much-awaited final of Champions League tonight at the Luzhniki Stadium of Moscow, Russia. You know that this is going to be first ever final of Champions league that features two English clubs. Except the ankle injury of Ashley Cole, both teams go head to head with full strength squad. Here, in this entry, I am writing about the probable squad of Chelsea that will face Manchester United tonight.

While browsing though net, I came across the possible squads of the two sides given in a Reuters article. Here, I am stating the possible Chelsea squad from that article:

Possible Squad of Chelsea from Reuters:

1-Petr Cech; 4-Michael Essien, 26-John Terry, 6-Ricardo Carvalho, 3-Ashley Cole; 10-Joe Cole, 13-Michael Ballack, 4-Claude Makelele, 8-Frank Lampard; 11-Didier Drogba, 21-Salomon Kalou

Well, to be honest, I do not totally agree with this line up. Here is my explanation:

Goal Keeper:

Petr Cech is the automatic choice and he has been playing successfully under the Chelsea goal bar. However, he has to be at his best to stave off the challenge from Wayne Rooney, Carlos Tevez, Cristiano Ronaldo etc.

Defense

I totally agree with the back four given in the Reuters article. Carvalho and Terry have made an effective combination in the central defense of Chelsea. In the left back, Ashley Cole is appropriate. However, if he can not recover from his ankle injury, then Wayne Bridge would come to replace him in the left back position. Michael Essien has the versatility to play in the midfield too. However, sporting him in the right back position brings variation in its attack, allowing Essien go up overlapping the midfielders that could well deceive the opposition midfielders and defenders.

Midfield

In the midfield of Chelsea, I think, Florent Malouda should be given the left wing position, because I think, he is more effective than Salomon Kalou. Kalou could be well-fitted in a 4-3-3 position. I agree that Claude Makelele should be included as the holding midfielder. With the presence of Michael Ballack and Frank Lampard in the midfield along with right wing Joe Cole, it seems that Salomon Kalou seems to be put in as the long striker. However, I think, if Avram Grant plays Ballack as a deep-lying central forward, it would effective for Chelsea.

Striker

There is no doubt, Didier Drogba deserves a place up front. If Kalou is put as a striker then, I think, it could be effective. That means, it would be a 4-4-2 formation. However, Nicolas Anelka or Andriy Shevchenko has the ability to make a partnership with Didier Drogba in the front of Chelsea.