Chelsea FC: The Starting XI Andre Villas-Boas Must Use Against Bayer Leverkusen

André Villas-Boas has managed Chelsea to its worst league start in 11 years. 

With Valencia certain to defeat Genk, it is imperative that Chelsea defeat Bayer Leverkusen in their Champions League group.

A loss to the German club and a win for Valencia will see Leverkusen on top with Chelsea tied with Valencia. 

It will also heap more pressure on Villas-Boas, who will have to entertain the idea of being fired. 

Nonetheless he can avoid being fired if he starts this 11 and abandons the high line of defence that has debilitated his own team instead of nullifying opposing attacks. 

Goalkeeper: Petr Čech

Petr Čech is still playing in pain after having broken his nose against Blackburn Rovers.

It will be his 83rd UEFA Champions League game, and hopefully he can keep a clean sheet. 

Right Back: Branislav Ivanović

Chelsea's defence have enough problems without José Bosingwa, let alone starting him and then praying he remembers to track back.

When he plays, Chelsea's defence deteriorates as more openings appear.

He only plays because he offers Chelsea what Dani Alves offers to Barcelona, tough is this really the case? 

Bosingwa has yet to score or provide an assist against Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur.  

Branislav Ivanović has to start as he's more solid and unfortunately has become a better right back than centre back.  

Centre Back: John Terry

For those advocating that John Terry be benched, who will come in to replace him? 

Alex? The guy who has more use bombing in free kicks and is dreaming of a Juventus move in January. 

Terry must start because he is the heart of the team, and his poor displays aren't a sign of him deteriorating moreso a sign of the team (let alone him) not being able to cope with André Villas-Boas' insistence in playing a high line. 

Centre Back: David Luiz

David Luiz played badly against Liverpool but at least he didn't make any mistakes that led to his team conceding goals. 

Every passing week, the reasons for moving into midfield stack up over the reasons for keeping him in defence. 

Left Back: Ashley Cole

This would be the perfect opportunity to give Ryan Bertrand a chance. 

Oh, he's not in the squad. 

So whose the backup left back? Paulo Ferreira.

Forget about it. 

Let's just hope Ashley Cole will be able to dominate the winger or forward in his vicinity. 

Centre Midfielder: Oriol Romeu

Oriol Romeu had an outstanding game in the 5-0 victory over Genk, which was rewarded with not even featuring in the next Premier League game. 

Where is the incentive to succeed?

The only reason to justify John Obi Mikel in the starting 11 was that he could efficiently retain and distribute possession. 

Mikel's error led to Liverpool's opening goal, and it's time to give Romeu a chance. 

Centre Midfielder: Ramires

As long as Ramires has a 90 percent plus passing success rate and runs himself into the ground, I see no reason for him not to start. 

Centre Midfielder: Frank Lampard

There is no doubting Frank Lampard's talents and what he brings to this team. 

Those who called for him to be axed were left with egg in their face as he scored four goals in two games after he warmed the bench against Swansea City. 

Interesting fact: Lampard's last three goals have all been headers. 

Attacking Midfielder: Juan Mata

Juan Mata doesn't even stay out wide so André Villas-Boas may as well tell the Spaniard, "OK, you get to play in the centre."

For the first five or so minutes of the game, you see Mata meandering out wide and then next thing you know he's drifted into the centre. 

Give him peace of mind so he doesn't need to symbolically move out wide to say "Look boss, I'm playing out wide." 

With Mata in the centre, the 4-3-3 changes into a 4-3-1-2. 

Change we can believe in. 

Centre Forward: Daniel Sturridge

With a 4-3-3, the three forwards are essentially two wingers and a centre forward, but since Juan Mata is playing behind, the formation changes to a 4-3-1-2. 

This entails two centre forwards and relieves Daniel Sturridge of being played out wide, where he still scores goals. 

How many goals will he score once he plays centrally? 

Centre Forward: Fernando Torres

What sense does it make in benching Fernando Torres when his primary objective is to prove Liverpool wrong?

Walk the walk after having talked the talk (I have no idea why he continues to talk about Liverpool). 

What Fernando Torres needs is to score goals, and benching him isn't going to help him score goals. 

My Starting 11 (4-3-1-2)

Ditch the high line of defence and you don't need a defensive midfielder to cover the backside of John Terry. 

That being said, John Obi Mikel is perhaps one of the slowest players in the squad yet he's the one that is supposed to cover Terry. 

In the games I've seen Oriol Romeu play, it reminds me a bit of Sami Khedira during his Stuttgart days. 

Covers a lot of ground, can go box-to-box, adept tackler, solid passer and a good team player. 

You do not get that with Mikel because he is so limited. 

Let's see what I think.

My Prediction of Andre Villas-Boas' Starting 11 (4-3-3)

Considering Andre Villas-Boas' history with benching players, I cannot envision John Obi Mikel starting because if so, how would Frank Lampard and Fernando Torres feel? 

On paper it looks good but there are two problems: 1) the high line and 2) two forwards in the 4-3-3 who do not provide width and prefer playing centrally.

You might ask well what's the big brouhaha with Mata drifting into the centre? 

He isn't sticking to the tactical formation of a 4-3-3 so if he doesn't do it, why should Daniel Sturridge do it? 

When you don't have possession as a wide forward, you have a defensive obligation to track the opposing full back. 

Mata doesn't bother because he's in the centre, so against Liverpool, José Enrique had a free night. 

Your Opinion

Comment below with your preferred starting lineup and formation. 

What do you think the result against Bayer Leverkusen will be?

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