No fewer than three fresh injury concerns have been confirmed at European champions Chelsea, on the back of the club’s meeting with Plymouth Argyle on Saturday.
The first player to have set alarm bells ringing in west London? Mason Mount.
Speaking on the back of the full-time whistle at Stamford Bridge this afternoon, Blues assistant coach Arno Michels, in charge of proceedings after Thomas Tuchel returned a positive test for Covid-19, revealed that Mount’s early withdrawal from proceedings came owing to a slight problem picked up after taking aim at goal during extra time:
Michels on injuries: “We had a couple of little injuries. Mason felt a little bit once in extra time with a shot. It was not a serious problem during the game. When he had this shot, he realised that he felt pain and we took him off. We will see, there will be further exams” #CFC
— Nizaar Kinsella (@NizaarKinsella) February 5, 2022
Chelsea’s woes did not end there, though, with Michels having gone on to reveal that both Hakim Ziyech and Cesar Azpilicueta too departed the action on Saturday with minor fitness problems:
Michels also said Ziyech and Azpilicueta came off with minor injuries. https://t.co/M2ZkhyYuNH
— Nizaar Kinsella (@NizaarKinsella) February 5, 2022
Kepa to the rescue
Tuchel-less (and often tooth-less) Chelsea ultimately managed to get the job done to book their spot in the 5th-round of the FA Cup this afternoon, emerging on the right side of a 2-1 scoreline.
This only came, however, after a full 120 minutes of action at Stamford Bridge, with Kepa Arrizabalaga the hero on the day.
After Marcos Alonso restored the Pensioners’ advantage late in the first-half of extra time, it appeared as though Chelsea had finally done enough to put a plucky Plymouth outfit away.
The Pilgrims simply refused to accept defeat lying down, though, eventually resulting in a spot-kick being awarded in their favour with a full 118 minutes on the clock.
Ryan Hardie’s ensuing effort, however, was not only kept out, but held onto by the aforementioned Kepa, to send Plymouth back to Devon with little more than pride to show for their efforts, and Chelsea on to the FA Cup’s Last-16.
? @ChelseaFC went 120 minutes with @only1argyle as a @CesarAzpi back-heel and Marcos Alonso extra-time winner saw them through to the #EmiratesFACup fifth round pic.twitter.com/Uybrfg5uGM
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) February 5, 2022
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