With their best defender and their best winger injured, Chelsea have to get creative with their lineup for the Champions League final. The absence of Ramires' defensive abilities on the wing was always going to be a problem for the Blues, but the magnitude of the problem is amplified by the absences of John Terry and Branislav Ivanovic in defense. Chelsea could use a defensive winger to help Jose Bosingwa and Ashley Cole defend against Bayern Munich's prolific wide players, and without Ramires, they don't have a natural one.
Bayern Munich Vs. Chelsea, 2012 UEFA Champions League Final: Ryan Bertrand Expected To Start At Left Midfield
Chelsea FC blog We Ain't Got No History explored the possibility of starting young left back Ryan Bertrand on the left wing, and it sounds like this is more than wild speculation. The young left back will get the starting nod on the left wing according to various sources, and We Ain't Got No History likes Roberto Di Matteo's bold attitude.
Starting Bertrand is a hugely gutsy call, and it might just play off. Jupp Heynckes doesn’t have a reputation for being particularly bold, and if Chelsea are going to win this we’ll have to rely on a brilliant performance from the players and some gambles from the manager. This, I think, is a step in the right direction.
We’ll have updates throughout the week in our 2012 UEFA Champions League Final StoryStream. For more on Bayern, head over to Bayern Munich blog Bavarian Football Works. For more on the Blues, check out Chelsea FC blog We Ain’t Got No History. For more on the entire world of football, follow @SBNationSoccer on twitter.
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