Mateo Kovacic has just left Croatia’s game with Wales after picking up an injury, significantly hurting Frank Lampard’s plans for next weekend, with N’Golo Kante already likely to miss the match with Newcastle.
Chelsea fans were devastated, not only because they like Kovacic, but also because they know that this mean Ross Barkley is likely to start against the Magpies. On Twitter fans were bemoaning the England international’s new starter status.
You can see an amusing collection of the reaction here:
Get this through your thick skull. Barkley is STREETS above Mount. Mount is a dead baller. It's not even remotely comparable.
— helmholtz watson (@JosipIIicic) October 13, 2019
Jorginho – Barkley pivot incoming 🤦
— Fiyinfoluwa ☁️ (@Fiiyinfoluwa) October 13, 2019
Kovacic, Kante, Reece. So Barkley against Newcastle 💀💀💀💀
— Tony Tony Chopper (@Shorrul) October 13, 2019
I don’t think he’s bad it just takes time to learn the system. Have to remember most WRs break out in year 2 or 3
— Spicy Bijan Mustardson (@BarkleyforPrez) October 13, 2019
Barkley in the pivot? Kill me now
— . (@Chimera_211) October 13, 2019
Barkley in the pivot? Kill me now
— . (@Chimera_211) October 13, 2019
https://twitter.com/ckaay_13/status/1183480838735978496
https://twitter.com/Whoisstxrm/status/1183477903406878720
Barkley looked alright when came on for England v Czech republic tbf. Not ideal obvs, but should be doin Newcastle even so
— P George Jnr (@pgeorgejnr) October 13, 2019
Now Kova. So we'd be expecting a Barkley fair.
— Baaankaaaiiii (@O_G_Papi) October 13, 2019
Ross Barkley vs Newcastle then pic.twitter.com/bhosSpTfYT
— rMethodology (@RRmethods2210) October 13, 2019