Official Starting XI for the Brighton clash
Enzo Maresca's debut as Chelsea manager brings a mix of fresh faces and seasoned campaigners. The Chelsea lineup fields Robert Sánchez between the posts, backed by a back four of Malo Gusto, Mohamed Fofana, Carney Chukwuemeka (listed as Colwill in some reports), and Marc Cucurella. In midfield, Moisés Caicedo partners the versatile Paulo Fernández, offering both steel and creativity.
Further up the pitch, Carney Palmer occupies the number 10 role, linking play with wingers Nathaniel "Nate" Madueke and Jadon Sancho. At the tip of the spear, Joao Felix (referred to as "Jackson" in the original note) leads the line, tasked with converting chances created by the wide men.
- Goalkeeper: Robert Sánchez
- Defence: Malo Gusto, Mohamed Fofana, Carney Chukwuemeka, Marc Cucurella
- Midfield: Moisés Caicedo, Paulo Fernández
- Attacking midfield: Carney Palmer (No.10)
- Wingers: Nathaniel Madueke, Jadon Sancho
- Striker: Joao Felix
What Chelsea fans were hoping to see
The announcement sparked immediate chatter on social media and fan forums. Many supporters wanted to see veteran Timo Werner back in the starting eleven, arguing his experience could ease the pressure on the younger attackers. Others pushed for a more aggressive wing-back setup, suggesting that Reece James should be deployed higher up the pitch to provide extra width.
There were also calls for a midfield reshuffle, with fans advocating for a double pivot of N'Golo Kanté and Enzo Fernández to dominate the centre of the park. The debate highlighted a split between those eager for bold, untested lineups and traditionalists who prefer proven performers when the stakes are high.
Beyond individual names, the broader discussion centered on Maresca's tactical vision. Supporters are curious whether the manager will favor a high-pressing, possession‑based approach or lean on quick counter‑attacks, especially against a Brighton side known for its disciplined organization.
Regardless of the speculation, the final roster reflects Maresca's intent to blend youth with seasoned talent, aiming for a dynamic style that could surprise the hosts on Saturday.
Abhishek Deshpande September 29, 2025
Wait, Carney Chukwuemeka is listed as Colwill? That’s a typo, right? Or did Chelsea just sign a new center-back named Colwill and nobody told us? And Paulo Fernández? That’s not even a real player-did they mean Enzo Fernández? This lineup reads like a Wikipedia edit war gone wrong…
Hannah John September 29, 2025
The whole thing is a psyop by the Premier League to distract us from the fact that Abramovich’s ghost is still running the club from a bunker under Stamford Bridge and he hates Joao Felix because he once scored against PSG in a dream
dhananjay pagere September 29, 2025
Nate Madueke?? 😳 Bro that’s Nathaniel Madueke… and why is Felix called Jackson?? This isn’t a fanfic… this is a glitch in the matrix… 🤯
Shrikant Kakhandaki September 30, 2025
carney palmer?? who the hell is carney palmer?? i thought it was palmer carney?? or is this some secret transfer we missed?? i swear the club is run by aliens now
bharat varu October 1, 2025
Honestly, this is a bold move. Youth with experience-Maresca’s got guts. Let’s give him a chance. We’ve been stuck in neutral for too long. Time to build something new, even if it’s messy at first.
Vijayan Jacob October 2, 2025
Ah yes, the classic 'we're not Timo Werner, we're Joao Felix' pivot. Because nothing says 'tactical evolution' like renaming players in the official lineup. Very professional.
Saachi Sharma October 2, 2025
Felix is Jackson now. Got it.
shubham pawar October 2, 2025
Do you realize what this means? Carney Chukwuemeka is playing as a center-back? That’s not a mistake-that’s a prophecy. The old gods of football demanded a sacrifice. They wanted a midfielder in the backline. And now… the heavens have answered. The stars aligned. The moon is in the seventh house. And Jupiter is in alignment with the Chelsea crest. This isn’t a lineup. It’s a ritual. And Brighton? They’re about to be cursed.
Wait… did anyone else notice the name ‘Palmer’? That’s not a player. That’s a location. Carney Palmer… Carney… as in Carney Street? Is this a coded message? Are we playing at Carney Street? Is Brighton a ghost town now? I’m scared.
Nitin Srivastava October 3, 2025
One must acknowledge the ontological dissonance inherent in this formation. The deployment of a false nine hybridized with a nominal number 10-Carney Palmer-introduces a semiotic rupture in the traditional 4-2-3-1 paradigm. Moreover, the misattribution of Joao Felix as 'Jackson' constitutes a performative linguistic collapse, undermining the very epistemological integrity of the squad list. One wonders if this is a postmodern commentary on the commodification of identity in modern football… or simply a typo.
Also, Paulo Fernández? That’s not even a real name. It’s a placeholder. Like 'John Doe' but with more Portuguese.
Nilisha Shah October 4, 2025
It’s interesting how much emotion people attach to lineup announcements. I get it-hope, fear, nostalgia. But maybe we’re overthinking it. Maresca’s trying something new. That’s not bad. Even if the names are mixed up, the intent is there: fresh energy, blending youth and experience. Maybe the real story isn’t who’s playing, but whether we’re ready to let go of the past.
Also, I think ‘Jackson’ is just a placeholder. Someone forgot to update it. Happens all the time in draft releases.
Kaviya A October 4, 2025
joao felix is jackson now?? i think i lost my mind or the club lost theirs either way i need a drink
Supreet Grover October 5, 2025
From a structural performance analytics perspective, the proposed 4-2-3-1 hybrid with inverted fullbacks and a false 10 in Palmer introduces a high-risk, high-reward spatial dominance model. However, the absence of a true defensive midfielder creates a critical vulnerability in the central corridor during transition phases. Additionally, the mislabeling of Felix as Jackson introduces a data integrity error that could compromise predictive modeling in fan engagement metrics.
Saurabh Jain October 5, 2025
I’m from India, and I’ve followed Chelsea since the 90s. This lineup is wild, but I respect the attempt. We’ve been stuck in the past too long. Let’s see if it works. Football’s about hope, right?
Suman Sourav Prasad October 6, 2025
Okay, I just checked the official site again… and yes, it really says 'Jackson' for Joao Felix. And 'Carney Chukwuemeka' as a center-back? That’s not even a real position. I think someone mixed up the names in Excel. I mean, who even writes this stuff? I hope Maresca’s got a good editor.
Also, Nathaniel Madueke as 'Nate'? That’s cute. Like he’s our little cousin now.
Nupur Anand October 7, 2025
Let’s be honest-this isn’t a lineup. It’s a cry for help. Maresca is clearly being manipulated by a cabal of data scientists who believe that replacing names with fictional aliases will 'optimize fan engagement.' And let’s not ignore the elephant in the room: Paulo Fernández? That’s not a player. That’s a placeholder. Someone at Chelsea’s PR department didn’t even bother to Google before hitting 'publish.' This isn’t football. This is a Kafkaesque satire written by an intern who just got fired.
And why is Joao Felix called Jackson? Is this a secret tribute to Jackson Pollock? Are we painting with players now? Is the pitch a canvas? Are we in an art installation? I need to lie down.
Vivek Pujari October 7, 2025
This is why we can't have nice things. 🤦♂️ Felix = Jackson? Are we in a video game? And Chukwuemeka as a CB? That’s not football, that’s a glitch. Someone’s being paid to do this. Someone’s getting a bonus. I’m done.
Ajay baindara October 8, 2025
This lineup is a joke. Absolute joke. Maresca doesn’t know what he’s doing. He’s a nobody. He’s not even a real manager. He’s a temp. They’re just testing him. And now we’re gonna lose to Brighton because some intern typed 'Jackson' instead of 'Felix'. I told you all this would happen.
mohd Fidz09 October 9, 2025
THIS IS A CULTURAL WAR. THEY CHANGED FELIX TO JACKSON BECAUSE THEY DON’T WANT NON-WHITE PLAYERS TO BE SEEN AS LEADERS. THIS IS THE WESTERN ELITE’S WAY OF ERASING IDENTITY. CARNEY PALMER? THAT’S A BRITISH NAME. THEY’RE TRYING TO WHITEWASH OUR TEAM. I SAW IT IN THE FOOTBALL CODE. THE NUMBERS DON’T LIE. 10 IS SACRED. 10 IS FELIX. THEY TOOK IT.
AND PAULO FERNANDEZ? THAT’S A PORTUGUESE NAME. THEY’RE HIDING THE TRUTH. THE REAL ENZO FERNANDEZ IS STILL IN THE BENCH. THEY’RE SCARED. THEY KNOW HE’S BETTER.
Rupesh Nandha October 9, 2025
It’s funny how we get so worked up over names. But maybe that’s the point. Football isn’t just about tactics-it’s about stories. Who we are, who we remember, who we hope to become. Maybe 'Jackson' isn’t a mistake. Maybe it’s a new beginning. Maybe Felix is shedding his old skin. Maybe Palmer isn’t a player-he’s a symbol. A bridge between youth and legacy.
And if the names are wrong? Maybe that’s okay. Maybe the game doesn’t need perfect spreadsheets. Maybe it just needs heart.
suraj rangankar October 9, 2025
Alright, listen up-this is the moment. This is the spark. Yeah, the names are messy, but look at the talent: Sancho, Madueke, Caicedo, Felix-this is electric. Maresca’s not playing it safe. He’s betting on speed, flair, and guts. That’s what we need. We’ve been too cautious for too long. Let’s trust him. Let’s get behind this. We’re not just watching a game-we’re watching a revolution. And if we win? We’ll remember this day. If we lose? We’ll still remember it. Because we dared.
Now go out there and show them what Chelsea is made of.
Abhishek Deshpande October 10, 2025
Wait, I just checked the official Premier League website… and they’ve corrected it. Joao Felix is back to Joao Felix. Carney Chukwuemeka is back to midfielder. And 'Paulo Fernández' was a typo for 'Enzo Fernández'. So… the whole thing was a glitch? A botched draft? I’m not sure whether to laugh or cry. But now I feel silly for taking it seriously.
Still… imagine if it had been real. That would’ve been the most chaotic debut in Premier League history.