Chelsea have received a significant boost ahead of their UEFA Conference League Round of 16 first-leg tie against Copenhagen tonight (Thursday) with the return of Cole Palmer and Trevoh Chalobah to the squad.
The Blues, dealing with a number of injury issues, will be without Nicolas Jackson, Noni Madueke, and Marc Guiu for the clash. Additionally, Wes Fofana and Romeo Lavia, along with Palmer, were initially left off the squad list at the start of the tournament as part of a workload management strategy.
However, with Palmer, Chalobah, and Mathis Amougou now included, Chelsea have added crucial depth and versatility to their lineup, which had previously been thin. In a statement released on their official website earlier today, the club expressed confidence in their reinforced squad, saying, “We have a few players out, but we’re confident in the squad we’ve assembled. The additions of Palmer, Chalobah, and Amougou bring versatility and depth, which will be crucial against a well-organized Copenhagen side.”
Chelsea’s journey to the Round of 16 has been impressive, with the Blues winning all six of their group-stage matches and scoring a remarkable 26 goals—more than three times Copenhagen’s tally. Christopher Nkunku has been particularly instrumental in their campaign, contributing five goals and three assists.
Copenhagen, on the other hand, have faced a much more difficult route to this stage, finishing 19th in their group and narrowly overcoming Heidenheim 4-3 on aggregate in the play-offs. The Danish league leaders come into the match following a goalless draw against Aalborg, while Chelsea have had a full week of rest and preparation.
Chelsea have fond memories at Parken Stadion, having won all three of their previous visits, including victories over both Copenhagen and Nordsjaelland. Reflecting on this, the club added, “The team is well-prepared and eager to extend our unbeaten record here. Every game from this stage is like a final, and we’re approaching it with that mindset.”
The stakes are high in the Conference League knockout stage, especially with the scrapping of the ‘away goals’ rule. If the aggregate score is level after 90 minutes of the second leg, extra time and penalties will decide the winner, with VAR in operation. Disciplinary management will also be key—while no Chelsea players are at risk of suspension for the return leg, Copenhagen’s Mohamed Elyounoussi, Rodrigo Huescas, and Marcos Lopez will miss the Stamford Bridge fixture if they receive yellow cards tonight.
Looking ahead, Chelsea’s road to the final in Wroclaw, Poland, on May 28, promises to be challenging, with a potential quarter-final clash against either Molde or Legia Warsaw. Should both Chelsea and Tottenham progress to the last eight, UEFA has confirmed that the Blues’ home and away legs will be reversed to avoid fixture congestion.
As Chelsea prepares for their latest Conference League challenge, they will aim to continue their impressive form and edge closer to the prestigious final.
