I’m using one that makes sense given the subjective nature of availability. Especially given we had a defensive injury crisis.
Players can only impact when they are on the pitch getting minutes. Managers will want to win games so they will pick the best they can for those games.
It’s not necessarily that he has concussion it’s that he has said previously his worries about heading a football. Which is a key part of being a CB. There are many reasons why he may not start and it’s most likely due to not being fully fit and firing.
Look at my thread and look at the % minutes played. Chelsea have a huge squad that meant they rarely had the inability to field a specialist in their position.
James could be replaced by Gusto.
Chilwell by Colwill or Cucarella
Fofana by Silva, Colwill, Disasi.
Nkunku by Gallagher, Jackson, Sterling, Mudryk, Madueke and Palmer
Chuk and Lavia are not starters they were youth/squad options and still left Fernandez, Caicedo and Gallagher.
Sanchez had Petrovic (arguably better)
If you have a massive squad like theirs essentially the relative impact isn’t the same.
Bear in mind our best XI contains 2 teenagers and a 20 year old striker too. You’re placing extraneous load onto inexperienced players. The Chelsea team that was available most of the season only had Gusto as a U21 player in it for the majority.