It would be safe to say that Calum McFarlane had quite a few surprises up his sleeve for the game against Nottingham Forest. The Chelsea boss named Jesse Derry in the starting XI. That is a move that not many would have predicted, despite the fact that Alejandro Garnacho had struggled for form for weeks now.
Even more surprisingly, Garnacho was not even named on the bench. But he was not the only winger missing from the matchday squad altogether.
Pedro Neto, who has been a mainstay on the wings for Chelsea, whether it be on the left or the right, was also not on the bench. So, is that a choice on the part of McFarlane? Are they injured? Or has there been a falling out behind the scenes?
Why Garnacho and Neto were dropped vs Nottingham Forest
Bobby Vincent has confirmed that both Garnacho and Neto are dealing with knocks and have missed the game as a result. They have not been left out.
It would be safe to say that Garnacho has not even come close to meeting expectations since his move from Manchester United in the summer. He has scored just one goal in the Premier League this season.
On the other hand, Neto remains an important part of this team. Even against Leeds United in the FA Cup semi-final, he was the only one who set up Enzo Fernandez’s winner. So, his absence could have an impact. Then again, the Portuguese winger has had his critics as well for slowing down the game and not providing enough quality at times.
Chelsea need to win against Nottingham Forest to keep European hopes alive
Chelsea will need to get a result in this game if they want to keep their slim hopes of European qualification alive. The Champions League spots are as good as gone. But at the very least, the Blues will want to make one of the European competitions.
That is easier said than done, considering their recent record. Of course, Nottingham Forest will already have one eye on their upcoming Europa League semi-final. And that could prove to be an advantage for the Blues in this game.
But then, Nottingham Forest cannot afford to be far too relaxed either. They are not a million miles away from getting dragged back into the relegation race. West Ham United, in 18th spot, are just three points behind them.
