Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel has provided a fitness update on the club’s squad, ahead of their fast-approaching showdown with LOSC Lille.
In quotes released late on Sunday evening, the German tactician has unveiled the latest on a trio of players to have missed out on the club’s Premier League derby clash with Crystal Palace yesterday afternoon.
First on the agenda were Cesar Azpilicueta and Callum Hudson-Odoi, both last-minute scratches from the matchday squad at Selhurst Park.
Tuchel, though, remains hopeful that the pair will recover in time to play at least some part in Chelsea’s Champions League last-16 first-leg clash with French outfit Lille on Tuesday night:
Thomas Tuchel on Cesar Azpilicueta and Callum Hudson-Odoi’s injuries: “We try, we try to have them for Tuesday. Azpi has some groin problems and felt a pain in the last action of the day before yesterday’s (Thursday’s) training.
— Adam Newson (@AdamNewson) February 20, 2022
“Callum tried yesterday in training but also felt some pain around the Achilles, a bit of inflammation, but the pain was too strong so that is why both were out.” #CFC
— Adam Newson (@AdamNewson) February 20, 2022
Looking certain to miss out on the Pensioners’ return to European action, on the other hand, is Mason Mount.
After picking up an ankle injury during the Club World Cup final triumph over Palmeiras, English international Mount remains on the treatment table at Stamford Bridge.
Tuchel, though, has not yet ruled out the possibility of the 23-year-old marking his return to action next weekend, when Chelsea go head to head with Liverpool in the finale of the League Cup.
Ziyech makes the difference
Tuchel’s troops, of course, will head into the club’s clash with Lille with spirits high in the camp, on the back of a last-gasp victory on Saturday afternoon.
After sealing glory at the Club World Cup, as alluded to above, Chelsea made the trip to south London, for a Premier League derby meeting with Crystal Palace.
And, on the back of a tense affair, the Blues ultimately emerged with all three points, courtesy of a last-gasp strike on the part of wide-man Hakim Ziyech:
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