Chelsea’s attempts to silence a leak in their camp appear to have failed – with a French news outlet publishing apparent details of their team selection hours before they are due to face Paris Saint-Germain.
France’s Onze Mondial this morning claim Wesley Fofana, at fault for goals in the first leg in Paris and against Newcastle United at the weekend, will be on the bench for the second leg at Stamford Bridge.
Instead, 20-year-old Jorrel Hato is reported to be starting at centre back alongside Trevoh Chalobah.
Right back Malo Gusto missed training on Monday through sickness and is also a doubt for tonight’s game leaving Chelsea having to revamp their back four.
Onze Mondial’s report is the second time in a week Chelsea’s team news has been ‘leaked’. Last week, boss Liam Rosenior vowed to investigate after his entire team selection for the Parc des Princes first leg made it into the French press hours before kick-off.
Wesley Fofana (left) is being dropped by Chelsea against PSG, if a leak is to be believed
‘I wasn’t aware,’ Rosenior said of the leak. ‘I’m sure we’ll get to the bottom of that if that’s the case.’
That hunt has seemingly failed, if Onze Mondial’s report proves to be true.
The latest report will spark more speculation around who in Chelsea’s camp is leaking information after news reached a French outlet for a second time.
Last year, Manchester United were extremely frustrated over accusations circulating online that Alejandro Garnacho – now of Chelsea – or Amada Diallo could be to blame for repeatedly leaking their line-ups before matches.
Sources told Daily Mail Sport United would not accept either player being wrongfully accused without any evidence whatsoever. Both players emphatically denied any wrongdoing, and there were concerns that online fan accounts are simply using the United stars’ names to grow their following.
Chelsea also have a large French contingent in their squad – including Fofana, Benoit Badiashile and Gusto – while many of their players have links to France through agents or sister club Strasbourg.
Liam Rosenior says he wants to get to the bottom of the leak issue – but it still seems active
Fofana, signed from Leicester City for £70million in 2022, has come under scrutiny after Chelsea shipped five goals in Paris before he was caught out in the defeat by Newcastle – as spotted by Jamie Redknapp on Sky Sports.
‘Look, he’s got a head start and yet, [goalscorer Anthony Gordon] catches up three yards on him,’ Redknapp said. ‘You can talk all you like about how the press was wrong, no. That, my friend, is wrong. Sprint.
‘He doesn’t, because he doesn’t believe he’s going to pass it to him. Then he has the audacity to put his arms out, I don’t know what he’s complaining about. If you run, you stop the goal.’
The rest of Chelsea’s team looks likely to include Robert Sanchez in goal – with under-fire Filip Jorgensen injured – and Marc Cucurella in defence.
Joao Pedro, Cole Palmer, Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo all look likely to start while Pedro Neto is free from a suspension threat. Reece James is injured and could be replaced by Romeo Lavia or Andre Santos.
