Chelsea will be without four key players for their huge Champions League clash in Turin against Serie A giants Juventus
Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel has ruled out Mason Mount, Reece James, Christian Pulisic and N’Golo Kante for the clash with Juventus.
The latter player has test positive for Covid-19 following early news that had revealed he would miss matches with the Turin side and Southampton.
The French midfielder had been ill in the run up to the game with Manchester City, with the Blues boss admitting that he maybe should not have started him.
Tuchel said in his press conference ahead of Juventus: “Christian, Reece and Mason are out due to injury and N’Golo tested positive [for Covid] and needs to quarantine according to government protocols.”
Blues star Mount was missing for Manchester City’s win over Chelsea after suffering a ‘surprise’ injury in the Carabao Cup clash with Aston Villa, despite seeing out the game and taking a penalty.
Tuchel had initially noted that if the game against City was played on Sunday, Mount may have been able to play but following the clash with Pep Guardiola’s side sounded much less certain about the star’s return. He said: “I absolutely don’t know, we have to see. In the end it will be a matter of hours as to whether he makes it or not.”
James, on the other hand, was forced off in the first half against Manchester City with an ankle injury, which required strapping. The German boss noted that the twisted ankle was ‘very painful’ for the wing-back following the defeat but admitted the club would have to see how the knock reacted in coming days.
Tuchel was able to provide an update on Tuesday however.
He said: “Reece’s injury is still very painful and it will come down to pain management in the end. How much he can accept but right no we’re looking at a minimum of one more week.”
But both have now been ruled out, alongside Christian Pulisic.
Leave a Reply