Chelsea's starting lineup has been leaked again by French media just before their home match against Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League round of 16 second leg tonight. The "Blues" face PSG at Stamford Bridge this evening.
Ahead of tonight’s decisive UEFA Champions League round of 16 second leg, where Chelsea host Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea faces a recurring problem as their starting XI has been leaked to French media for the second time this week before the match.
French media outlet Onze Mondial revealed Chelsea's expected starting XI for tonight’s match, reporting that Wesley Fofana will not start due to illness, and 20-year-old defender Yorrel Hato will partner Trevoh Chalobah in central defense.
This is the second time within seven days that Chelsea's team plans have been leaked publicly before a UCL match, raising serious questions about the club’s internal information security.
Looking back to before the first leg of the round of 16, French journalist Fabrice Hawkins posted Chelsea’s starting XI on X over eight hours before kickoff. Not only were all 11 players named correctly, but their positions were accurately detailed, including the secret decision to start Filip Jørgensen instead of Robert Sánchez. Chelsea eventually lost 2-5, conceding three goals in the final 16 minutes.
After the first leg defeat, Chelsea coach Liam Rosesnier said in a press conference, “I was not aware of this. I am sure we will investigate the source if this is true. Incidents like this happen too often nowadays.”
However, just a few hours before tonight's game, Rosesnier appeared to contradict himself, stating, “This will not happen again,” only for Onze Mondial to report Chelsea’s starting XI once more. It remains to be seen if this second leak is accurate, but if it is, it strongly suggests there is a mole within the club.
Chelsea enters this match trailing 2-5 on aggregate and needs at least three goals to have a chance to advance. Yet, someone inside the club or close to the team is secretly passing information to the opposition, which could prove to be a more dangerous adversary than the opponent on the pitch.