boss Graham Potter will discover out tonight whether or not he made the best choice in leaving Benoit Badiashile out of his Champions League squad following the membership's continued spending spree in January. The signing of Enzo Fernandez on deadline day noticed Chelsea's spending below Todd Boehly attain £600million.
There have been eight new arrivals at Stamford Bridge in January, though Malo Gusto remained at Lyon on mortgage till the tip of the season whereas Andrey Santos is ready for a piece allow. However the massive variety of signings additionally created an issue for Potter waiting for the Champions League.
UEFA guidelines state that solely three new gamers could be registered for the Champions League knockout levels. It meant that Potter had to select from Fernandez, Mykhaylo Mudryk, Joao Felix, Badiashile, David Datro Fofana and Noni Madueke to take up the three spots.
The previous Brighton boss in the end selected Fernandez, Felix and Mudryk for his Champions League squad, whereas Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was additionally axed having performed within the group levels. Aubameyang's omission was to permit for Potter to make use of up the three out there slots for brand spanking new signings.
Chelsea used 24 gamers within the group levels with Jorginho the one one to depart in January, that means another participant needed to be omitted of the 25-man squad. Fernandez, Mudryk and Felix have already established themselves as regulars since becoming a member of Chelsea.
The Argentina worldwide caught the attention in his debut in opposition to Fulham earlier this month whereas each Mudryk and Felix have added one other dimension to Chelsea's assault. However Chelsea have appeared much more stable on the again since Badiashile's arrival with the younger Frenchman establishing himself as the most effective accomplice to Thiago Silva.
Badiashile helped Chelsea hold three clear sheets in his first three video games earlier than the 1-1 draw with West Ham final day out. The 21-year-old gives extra steadiness to Chelsea's again line as a left-footed defender and he is shortly slotted into Potter's system.
However Potter will now need to revert again to a special defensive unit for tonight's Champions League conflict in opposition to Dortmund. Each Kalidou Koulibaly and Wesley Fofana are doubts for the match, though the latter has taken half in full coaching and shutting in on a return from his lengthy harm lay-off.
Cesar Azpilicueta, Trevoh Chalobah or Reece James might be wanted to fill in on the centre of defence if neither Koulibaly or Fofana are deemed match sufficient to begin. It is a headache Potter could effectively have finished with out, however is a results of the mass signings made in January.
Solely time will inform if Potter made the best name in leaving the in-form Badiashile out of the Champions League squad.