Three players that can help Chelsea and Newcastle United in the EFL Cup quarterfinal are listed by match90mins
The quarterfinals of the EFL Cup will take place this Wednesday. Tuesday will see three of the four games of this stage, with Chelsea and Newcastle United facing off at Stamford Bridge in the main match.
Chelsea defeated AFC Wimbledon, Brighton & Hove Albion, and Blackburn Rovers in the final three rounds while giving up just one goal to advance to the EFL Cup quarterfinals. They have fluctuated in form this season, though, as they easily defeated Sheffield United last weekend to get back to winning ways.
Conversely, Newcastle United has had greater difficulty on its path to the EFL Cup quarterfinals. The Magpies earned a date with Chelsea by defeating Manchester United and Manchester City in the previous two rounds. Similar to the Blues, the visitors triumphed over Fulham 3-0 this past weekend to get back to winning ways.
This season, Chelsea and Newcastle United have already faced off, with the Tyneside team winning easily 4-1. However, the EFL Cup matchup may be more competitive than the Premier League matchup. In light of this, The Hard Tackle has identified three players who, on Tuesday, have the power to swing the balance in their teams’ favor.
Ian Maatsen
Rather than an attacker, a full-back is first on our list. We’ll talk about Ian Maatsen before moving on to the attackers. He has had difficulty breaking into Mauricio Pochettino’s squad this season and is anxious to make an impression on Tuesday.
With great expectations of making an impression at Chelsea, the Dutchman returned this past summer from a fruitful loan stint at Burnley. However, it hasn’t happened yet this term, which has raised questions about his future. The young player is still highly regarded, and major league teams like Barcelona, Real Madrid, Juventus, and many more are interested.
According to sources, Chelsea is reportedly open to receiving bids for the adaptable 21-year-old in January. Maatsen’s time at Stamford Bridge is running short, therefore he needs to perform well in Wednesday’s match.
The young player has the capacity to cause Newcastle United problems from the flanks, and Chelsea may find him useful due to his delivery and inventiveness. Maybe, if he steps up to the plate, the West London team will keep him at Stamford Bridge despite his inability to consistently generate opportunities.
Callum Wilson
We now turn our attention to the attackers, the players whose performance will determine the outcome for both teams. Callum Wilson is our second choice; he will be crucial to Newcastle United’s victory vs Chelsea.
One of Newcastle United’s top players this season has been the England international. Whenever he is fit and available to represent the Tyneside outfit, he usually leaves his mark. His inability to maintain his current level of fitness is a persistent concern for him.
This season, the 31-year-old has also battled with some injury issues; he has just now been able to play again. However, Wilson must step up for Newcastle United to put together a winning streak now that Alexander Isak is sidelined. Therefore, his performance will decide whether or not the Magpies can defeat Chelsea and win the EFL Cup for the third time this year.
Broja Armando
There is one more striker on our list. However, he is unsure about his long-term place in the team, unlike Callum Wilson. We’re talking about Armando Broja, who, similar to Ian Maatsen, will be keen to impress and use his performance on Tuesday to change his luck.
The Albanian international’s time back at Chelsea following his loan stint at Southampton has been disappointing. A chronic knee ailment ended Broja’s 2022–2023 season and limited his availability in the first few games of the 2023–2024 campaign.
However, this term, every time the 22-year-old has entered the field, he has found it difficult to establish his dominance. Despite playing only 250 minutes, Broja has only managed one goal and one assist in his ten games thus far.
With his Chelsea future uncertain, the teenage striker will therefore have a point to prove. Anticipate him to be driven to establish himself as a Chelsea player against Newcastle United on Tuesday night at Stamford Bridge.
