Chelsea manager José Mourinho has caused a stir with his team selection for their Champions League opener at home to Israeli side Maccabi Tel Aviv. He's left a handful of his star names on the bench, while giving opportunities to a couple of the team's youngsters. Quite whether that's because Maccabi aren't very good, or because he's unhappy with Chelsea's run of poor form is unclear, but it's probably some combination of both.
Chelsea bench stars, start kids against Maccabi Tel Aviv
José Mourinho isn’t scared of Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Summer signing Baba Rahman starts at left back and Kurt Zouma at center back, while Ruben Loftus-Cheek is given the nod alongside Cesc Fàbregas in midfield. Loïc Rémy starts up top, with Branislav Ivanović, Diego Costa, Nemanja Matić and John Terry all benched.
According to UEFA, Maccabi line up in a 4-3-3 formation, which is a little more proactive than the back five that some had tipped them to play before the game. Former Palermo man Eran Zahavi spearheads their attack, and is flanked by one of Maccabi’s two Tal Ben Haims. The other starts at center back, and coincidentally used to play his domestic football for Chelsea.
Chelsea starting lineup (4-2-3-1): Asmir Begović; Baba Rahman, Gary Cahill, Kurt Zouma, César Azpilicueta; Cesc Fàbregas, Ruben Loftus-Cheek; Eden Hazard, Oscar, Willian; Loïc Rémy.
Maccabi Tel Aviv starting lineup (4-3-3): Predrag Rajković; Omri Ben Harush, Eytan Tibi, Tal Ben Haim I, Yuval Shpungin; Nosakhare Igiebor, Gal Alberman, Nikola Mitrović; Avraham Rikan, Eran Zahavi, Tal Ben Haim II
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