Chelsea manager, Antonio Conte, has left out Victor Moses from his starting 11, as they open their Champions League campaign at home to Qarabag.
Moses is replaced by summer signing, Davide Zappacosta, who arrived at Stamford Bridge from Torino.
Conte had hinted that he will make significant changes to his team to face.
The Blues’ return to Champions League action, falls within a gruelling September run of seven matches in 21 days across three competitions.
After Qarabag, Conte must prepare his squad for the visit of rivals Arsenal, to Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
“We played a tough game [against Leicester City] and for sure now if we play seven games in 21 days, it’s not easy,” Conte said on Monday.
“For this reason it’s normal to prepare some rotations [in the team]. I trust all my players in my squad. There is the necessity to rotate and to play game by game. a tough game against Arsenal. Then Carabao Cup [against Nottingham Forest], then two days more against Stoke, then Atletico Madrid, then Man City.
“I think it’s normal and there is the necessity to do rotation. Otherwise you arrive to play the rest of the games with your team without energy.”
Chelsea XI vs Qarabag: Courtois, Azpilicueta, Christensen, Cahill, Zappacosta, Kante, Fabregas, Alonso, Willian, Pedro, Batshuayi.
Comments