Chelsea has unveiled Champions League squad for the knockout phase, with Christian Pulisic included along with three of the club’s new signings.
There was, however, no room for another signing from earlier in the season: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Manager Graham Potter had some difficult decisions to make for his 26-man squad after Chelsea spent massively in the transfer window on eight new players. UEFA rules state that only three new players can be registered ahead of the knockout round, however.
Potter selected João Félix, Mykhaylo Mudryk and Enzo Fernández as the three new players, with new arrivals David Datro Fofana, Noni Madueke, Andrey Santos, Gabriel Slonina and Benoit Badiashile all missing the cut.
Aubameyang was perhaps the biggest name who was omitted, however. The Gabon striker has struggled since joining the Blues in a deadline-day move from Barcelona, scoring just three goals in 17 games with the club so far.
Pulisic, meanwhile, did make the cut in a potentially good sign for his injury status. Potter said the USMNT star is out “a couple months” with a knee injury suffered in early January, which will almost certainly see him miss the last-16 first leg against his former club Borussia Dortmund on February 16.
But he could recover in time for the second leg on March 7 and should he avoid any setbacks, would likely be available for any quarterfinal match should Chelsea advance.
Chelsea Champions League squad
Goalkeepers: Edouard Mendy, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Marcus Bettinelli
Defenders: Trevoh Chalobah, Cesar Azpilicueta, Reece James, Wesley Fofana, Kalidou Koulibaly, Thiago Silva, Marc Cucurella, Ben Chilwell
Midfielders/Attackers: Enzo Fernandez, Mason Mount, Conor Gallagher, Mateo Kovacic, N’Golo Kante, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Christian Pulisic, Raheem Sterling, Kai Havertz, Mkyhailo Mudryk, Denis Zakaria, Hakim Ziyech, Carney Chukwuemeka, Joao Felix
