Chelsea are playing a game again today as things stand without 10 players, some of which due to Covid-19 positives.
This is the second game in a row now where Thomas Tuchel’s side are hideously depleted and he has been forced to call upon academy players in order to at least name a full squad this time around.
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Against Wolves on Sunday they did not have that option and had to name a squad of just 14, 2 less than you can name, and two of the subs were goalkeepers.
This created big problems for many players including N’Golo Kante, who had to play 90 minutes even after being advised he could only play 45 after his injury return.
Kovacic returned from Covid-19 and had to play in the second half as well, which Tuchel reveals was a huge risk and could have had further implications.
As reported by The Daily Mirror, Tuchel said:
“Nobody needs to cry for us. But I would like to play us right now.
“But I cannot see a connection to this. They are happy when a game for other clubs gets postponed because of Covid but for us they are happy when we play because we have a lot of money?
“If people think that it’s a good state of mind for a group to arrive with a group of 14 people, having 10 Covid cases and three days of consecutive positive tests.
“If people think this is a good state of mind to produce high level performance in sports or wherever you work, I will not try one second to change their mind, I am happy for them if the world is so easy.
“Maybe an example: What we did with N’Golo Kante in 90 minutes was close to being irresponsible to let him play for 90 minutes against Wolverhampton. Will he be involved in the squad now against Brentford? Simply, no.
“If I catch Covid, hopefully I don’t, I am not sure I would go for a run straightaway after ten days. Or do sports. But Mateo Kovacic did. I put him on on the field. I took the risk. I could have left him at home so we arrived with only 13 players and took one from the academy who were already shut down because of Covid.
“So the problem will increase and the situation will increase, and we cannot let players suffer because other players are not there. It’s simply impossible.
“We have to protect our players and protect the health, and that’s why we brought in the academy. It’s no secret and we think about playing with them.â€
