Thomas Tuchel has just taken his prematch press conference ahead of the game against Leeds this weekend, and as always it was mainly bad news in terms of injuries.
First on the list was an update on N’Golo Kante, who limped off against Tottenham last weekend with just a few minutes to go, clutching his hamstring.
In quotes picked up by Football.London, Tuchel admitted the problem was “quite serious.”
“We’re talking about weeks. So not good news. We are disappointed and sad because N’Golo was super important and was super fit. He will be out for several weeks.”
That’s bad news for Kante, bad news for Chelsea, but good news for players like Conor Gallagher, who will now get an earlier than expected chance to step up and impress in the first team, with the window still wide open.
It could yet prove to be a career defining moment for Gallagher, who was teetering on the brink or being sold, loaned or staying put.
The rest of injury news is less significant, but still affects Tuchel’s ability to be flexible and make changes this weekend.
“Armando [Broja] will be out for days and cannot come with us to Leeds. Mateo Kovacic as well, he’s still out with knee problems. Christian Pulisic had Achilles problems but he trained today. So let’s see [on him].”
Kovacic being out means a Jorginho-Gallagher pivot is almost certain, while the Broja absence means we will one again be playing with a false 9, with no 9 at all on the bench to come on later in the game.
No problem The game has wining in Sha allah
Gallaguer es un 6 no un 5, en vez de Gorgojinho debería entrar Chalovah como pivote