https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/2021/08/16/
tuchel-updates-on-kante-and-lukaku-s-chances-of-facing-arsenal-a
Tuchel updates on Kante and Lukaku's chances of facing Arsenal and hints
at new formation
16 Aug 2021
Thomas Tuchel is hopeful that he will have both N'Golo Kante and Romelu
Lukaku available for selection for our next match against Arsenal and
revealed that Lukaku's arrival could prompt a change in system for
Chelsea.
https://i.imgur.com/KjRqelS.jpg
Our German head coach started by providing an update on Kante, who missed
our opening Premier League game, a 3-0 win over Crystal Palace at Stamford
Bridge on Saturday, due to injury.
However, Tuchel confirmed that the Frenchman's absence was mainly
precautionary, meaning he could well be back in time for Sunday's trip to
the Emirates Stadium.
'N'Golo felt discomfort in his ankle on Friday,' said Tuchel. 'He felt it
in the warm-up to the Super Cup match against Villarreal and he already
played a little bit in pain and overcame the pain in that game.
https://i.imgur.com/KzhTrf0.jpg
Kante missed Saturday's Premier League win over Crystal Palace
'But on Friday he felt it again and we decided to take him out and not to
take any risk now at the beginning of the season. I think N'Golo will be
back in the middle of the week to hopefully be ready for Arsenal.'
Tuchel is confident that Lukaku will be able to make his second Blues
debut in that same match, after the Belgian striker re-signed for the club
too late to be involved against Palace, due to current Covid-19 protocols.
'We expect Romelu to finish quarantine in time to be able to join team
training on Tuesday, because Monday is our day off. So we will try to
prepare him to play against Arsenal and hopefully he can be on the pitch.'
Tuchel also discussed the changing roles of Kai Havertz, Christian Pulisic
and Timo Werner, with that trio alternating between different positions
during pre-season and our first two competitive fixtures of 2021/22, and
how he feels Lukaku's arrival could benefit them.
That included the German dropping a big hint there could be a new role for
them to fill in the side, with the addition of our new striker opening up
more tactical options for the Blues.
'Every player wants to have a regular position he can fight for, I know
this very well, but at the same time it can be also a huge advantage to be
able to play in more than one position, because then you can be the
alternative for more minutes. So there's an up-side and a down-side.
'I'm very happy with Timo, Christian and Kai because they have put a lot
of effort and intensity into the team.
https://i.imgur.com/jXAQJJT.jpg
Pulisic and Werner both started against Palace, with the American scoring
our second goal
'With the addition of Romelu. We get the number-one striker and we want to
have him on the pitch. This is very clear. If you do this kind of
transfer, we are absolutely sure we want to have him on the pitch, but I
think he will lift the pressure off the shoulders of the young guys, from
Kai, Timo and Christian, because Romelu is the kind of personality who
loves responsibility.
'I think we have now with Romelu the chance also to play with two
strikers, like they did at Inter with him, or to continue with three
strikers. We will see now how this works out and we will find a solution
for the players around him.'