https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/2021/11/26/
tuchel-press-conference-ahead-of-manchester-united
Tuchel updates on Chilwell knee injury, Kante and Lukaku availability and
rules one more out for United
26 Nov 2021
Ben Chilwell's knee injury continues to be assessed by the Chelsea medical
staff, with Thomas Tuchel indicating today that the defender could be
sidelined for at least the next six weeks.
https://i.imgur.com/oMG5OOW.jpg
The Chelsea head coach was speaking at his customary pre-match press
conference via video link from Cobham following our penultimate training
session before Sunday's Premier League clash with Manchester United.
As well as Chilwell, Mateo Kovacic will also miss the Sunday afternoon
game and N'Golo Kante is a major doubt, the latter having been forced off
before the break in our midweek win against Juventus and the former having
missed the past month.
'Ben is out,' stated the boss. 'He has a partial injury of his ACL
[anterior cruciate ligament] and the decision is to treat it
conservatively.
'The next six weeks will tell the story if he makes it and will be fully
available, or if he needs surgery after that.'
Pressed on the likelihood of the England international requiring an
operation in the new year, Tuchel added that the immediate focus was on
managing the issue and the first signs were positive, with the player also
remaining in good spirits.
'I only care about the next six weeks,' he said. 'We are positive because
the first reaction of his body is good so we hope it stays like this.
'Everybody's focus is on the next six weeks to get him back on the pitch.
After all the examinations, it's a very sensible decision so there is no
pressure. The decision is made and the next weeks will give the direction.
https://i.imgur.com/3MJVvhP.jpg
'There is never a good moment for big injuries or injuries in general but
Ben is actually very positive at the moment. I just spoke to him a few
minutes ago and his body has responded well to the first treatment and the
injury so we have to focus on the positive things.'
Tuchel will also have a decision to make with his central midfield
selection, ruling Kovacic out and indicating that Kante was unlikely to
make it either.
'Kova is still out for the game on Sunday,' he added. 'N'Golo twisted his
knee a little bit [against Juventus]. He feels quite better since the game
but it seems like he will be out for some days or one week maybe. We have
a little hope but it would be almost a miracle if he makes it [to play Man
United].'
https://i.imgur.com/aHgfQf5.jpg
Kante, who scored last time out in the Premier League, is likely to miss
our next game against Man United
Meanwhile, Romelu Lukaku has been back in team training over the past week
but is unlikely to start against his former club.
'If you ask the player, he will say he can start for sure!' added Tuchel.
'But there is a bit of a difference between being ready for training and
ready for games, and also between being ready for games and for Premier
League games.
'This is another step. We only have three changes so the possibility that
he starts is not very high because we cannot be sure what happens in
between matches. We have to find the balance between giving minutes but
also being competitive for 90 minutes with the guys who play.'