Jose Mourinho has found his surprise Ivanovic replacement

branislav ivanovic
branislav ivanovic
Kurt-zouma-chelsea-arsenal
Kurt Zouma is set to play right back against Aston Villa

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho will consider starting Kurt Zouma as his right back in place of the injured Serbian full back Branislav Ivanovic.

Chelsea play Aston Villa this weekend in a must win encounter and Mourinho will use Zouma as the makeshift full back instead of going for the new signing Baba Rahman.

Baba Rahman joined Chelsea from Augsburg this summer and is yet to make his Premier League debut. The African full back has played for Chelsea in the Champions league and impressed in his first start for the club against Tel Aviv.

According to The Telegraph, Jose Mourinho is set to bank on Zouma’s Premier League experience against Villa and play him as the right back. Azpilicueta is set to continue as the left and John Terry will partner Gary Cahill at the heart of the Chelsea defence.

It is a surprising decision considering Zouma is a centre back and Baba Rahman has not got his Premier League debut yet. Everyone would have expected the left back to get his first league start against Villa.

Ivanovic picked up a hamstring injury during the international break and has been ruled out for three weeks.

This could well be the final season for Ivanovic at Chelsea. He is nearing the end of his contract at Chelsea and the Premier League champions are yet to offer him an extension.

The Serbian has been abysmal so far and Chelsea fans are unlikely to miss him. Also the likes of Zouma and Baba Rahman should get more playing time over the next few weeks.

If the young defenders manage to impress Mourinho over the next few games, it could well be curtains for Ivanovic at Stamford Bridge.

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