Dynamo Kiev V Chelsea: News for Chelsea, Predicted Lineups, Live Stream, TV Info
Jose Mourinho has continued to send out warnings to his failing squad ahead of Chelsea's visit to Dynamo Kiev in the Champions League this week.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference on Monday evening, the Chelsea boss targeted Colombian striker Radamel Falcao, who has failed to impress since joining on loan from Monaco in the summer.
"I always go for the performance level. The best one plays," he told the press. "He has to give us more than Diego [Costa] because we normally play with one striker."
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Giving more is certainly what Chelsea need to do in Ukraine.
A defeat to Porto in their previous Champions League outing means a similar result against Kiev could leave them in a perilous position in Group G.
Kiev are currently top with four points, ahead of Porto on goal difference, with Chelsea a further point back. It means defeat will leave the Blues four points behind their opponents with just three games remaining.
Given two of the fixtures are at home to Porto and Kiev, Chelsea would still be within a realistic chance of progressing to the last 16, but they would be making things needlessly difficult in a group they were expected to top.
Mourinho doesn't see things that way, however:
"Even if we lose this match, we still have nine points to play for to make a possible 12.
But in these two matches against Dynamo if we can have four points, the situation will be much more comfortable.
We need to keep our tactical awareness, tactical discipline. We need the spirit, the effort, the concentration, because with results the confidence levels up. Confidence levels will come with results.
"
A win isn't desperate, but Chelsea must ensure they do not lose against Kiev to keep to build on the 2-0 victory over Aston Villa on Saturday.
Match Details
Date: Tuesday, October 20
Time: 7.45 p.m. BST/2.45 p.m. ET
Venue: Olympic Stadium, Kiev
TV Info: BT Sport (UK only)/Fox Sports (U.S. only)
Live Stream: BT Sport app or website/Fox Soccer2Go (U.S. only)
Last 5 games
| Sept. 23 | Obolon-Brovar 0-2 Dynamo Kiev |
| Sept. 26 | Dynamo Kiev 2-0 Hoverla |
| Sept. 29 | Maccabi Tel-Aviv 0-2 Dynamo Kiev |
| Oct. 4 | Vorskla 0-4 Dynamo Kiev |
| Oct. 16 | Dynamo Kiev 0-3 Shakhtar Donetsk |
| Sept. 23 | Walsall 1-4 Chelsea |
| Sept. 26 | Newcastle United 2-2 Chelsea |
| Sept. 29 | Porto 2-1 Chelsea |
| Oct. 3 | Chelsea 1-3 Southampton |
| Oct. 16 | Chelsea 2-0 Aston Villa |
Predicted lineups
Chelsea have the injuries beginning to pile up right now. Alongside long-term absentee Thibaut Courtois, Branislav Ivanovic remains on the sidelines with a hamstring injury, which means Cesar Azpilicueta is expected to continue at right-back.
Pedro picked up an injury at the weekend, which should open the door for Eden Hazard's return, while Loic Remy is also injured.
Dynamo Kiev (4-1-4-1): Shovkovski; Danilo Silva, Khacheridi, Dragovic, Antunes; Rybalka; Yarmolenko, Veloso, Garmash, Gusev; Kravets.
Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Begovic; Azpilicueta, Cahill, Terry, Rahman; Matic, Fabregas; Willian, Oscar, Hazard; Diego Costa.
Key players
Andriy Yarmolenko
Was Mourinho scouting him last week with a view to attempting to sign him?
Only the Chelsea boss really knows, but watching Ukraine take on Spain in Kiev last week, Mourinho would have got an idea of the threat that Yarmolenko poses his Chelsea team.
The Blues have been a soft touch defensively this season, so expect the Kiev attack to attempt to exploit that and make the most of the uncertainty.
They may have kept a clean sheet at the weekend, yet travelling to Ukraine is a different prospect altogether.
Yarmolenko has been in the news recently, and these things have a way of rearing their head in big matches. One way or another, the 25-year-old is going to be a big figure on Tuesday.
Eden Hazard
The Belgian has been making headlines for all the wrong reasons this week.
He was dropped from the Chelsea team that faced Aston Villa on Saturday, and he now faces a big challenge to regain the trust of his manager.
We all know what Hazard is capable of, but he simply hasn't delivered this season.
Now, with Chelsea looking for some inspiration to get their season well and truly back on track, the 24-year-old needs to step up to prove he's worth all the hype.
It's at times of need that the best players prove the difference and that's exactly what Hazard must do for Chelsea.
The Belgium international needs to prove to Mourinho that he's deserving of a place in the Chelsea line-up.
Prediction
Dynamo Kiev 1-1 Chelsea
Odds
Home Win: 17/10
Away Win: 9/5
Draw: 61/25
First Goalscorer: Eden Hazard (8/1)
*Odds via Odds Shark and Oddschecker
Garry Hayes is Bleacher Report's lead Chelsea correspondent. All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter @garryhayes.
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