Chelsea’s initial lineup against Aston Villa saw Ben Chilwell given a break, with Palmer stepping in to fill his role, while Mudryk found himself on the bench.

Mauricio Pochettino is directing Chelsea’s focus towards the upcoming FA Cup clash against Aston Villa following their recent Carabao Cup success. Despite a setback in the first leg against Middlesbrough, the Blues are determined to keep their hopes of a cup double alive.

Unai Emery’s Aston Villa, currently sitting in the Premier League’s top four, presents a daunting task for Mauricio Pochettino’s Chelsea. Despite their defeat to Chelsea earlier in the season, Villa has shown resilience, suffering only three losses across all competitions and remaining on par with top clubs like Arsenal and Manchester City.

Pochettino is keen to rectify their previous loss against Villa and is preparing his team for a strong response. With an impressive unbeaten streak of nine games at home and a looming encounter with league leaders Liverpool, Chelsea’s fans are hopeful for another display of excellence from their team.

As Chelsea prepares to face Aston Villa in the FA Cup, Mauricio Pochettino faces decisions regarding squad management, particularly with regards to returning players like Ben Chilwell and Carney Chukwuemeka. While the squad remains largely unchanged from their dominant performance against Middlesbrough, injuries to Christopher Nkunku and Malo Gusto require careful consideration.

With the need to balance game time and progress in the FA Cup, Pochettino may consider strategic alterations to the lineup. However, goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic is expected to retain his place as a key figure for Chelsea.

Given the short turnaround between matches, Pochettino might opt for tactical adjustments. Alfie Gilchrist could potentially step in at right-back, prompting a defensive reshuffle with Axel Disasi moving centrally and Benoit Badiashile slotting in beside him. This could allow the vice-captain to rest, with Levi Colwill returning to the left side of defense.

As Mauricio Pochettino navigates the need to balance the squad and manage fatigue, Cole Palmer could potentially find himself receiving a well-deserved rest in the upcoming FA Cup clash against Aston Villa. With the stakes high, Pochettino’s strategic planning is expected to result in a lineup that combines elements of consistency with necessary tactical adjustments to tackle the challenge posed by Villa.