da gbg bet： Chelsea will be without as many as 14 first-team players for their London derby against Tottenham on Thursday.
da supremo： Article continues below
Article continues below
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Blues face Spurs in high-stakes London derbyBoth teams have European ambitionsChelsea struggling to manage injuriesWHAT HAPPENED?
The Blues have been dealt two fresh injury blows, with both Thiago Silva and Axel Disasi set to miss this week's London derby against Spurs. Chelsea already had Wesley Fofana, Levi Colwill, Reece James, Malo Gusto, and Ben Chilwell out, meaning Mauricio Pochettino faces a defensive injury crisis. Furthermore, Romeo Lavia, Enzo Fernandez, Lesley Ugochukwu, Christopher Nkunku, Raheem Sterling, Carney Chukwuemeka and Robert Sanchez are also working their way back from fitness issues. Amid their injury woes in 2023-24, 14 would be the most players the Blues have been without on any given matchday.
AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Chelsea can still qualify for the Europa League this season, as they sit six points behind sixth-placed Manchester United, with this week's fixture marking their game in hand. Spurs, too, have European ambitions, as they sit fifth, seven points behind Aston Villa with two games in hand.
WHAT POCHETTINO SAID
Speaking to reporters before the game, Pochettino said: “Okay, not good news because we cannot recover any players from the last list, and we have to add two more players, Thiago and Disasi; they will not be available for tomorrow."
He added: “We have a big challenge against a great team like Tottenham. It’s good. It is going to be a great game. It’s a good chance for some kids to be on the bench and to have the possibility to maybe play. When this opportunity appears, it is about saying to the kids that this is about being here and playing in the first team for Chelsea."
On Chelsea's ongoing injury woes, he added: “I need to be honest. Always in a new process and structure. There are always things we can do better. We all feel the responsibility. Some circumstances are difficult to explain why, and it is difficult in one sentence. Of course, we are working to try to improve. We have wonderful medical staff with experience of managing clubs and being in this business. Sometimes, in some period, we need to put some formation on the table to be better in communication, dynamics, and strategy, to combine all our knowledge and coordinate what we can improve.”
(C)Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT?
Thursday's encounter is likely to be a fiery one, although Spurs have their own injury concerns; first-team defenders Destiny Udogie and Ben Davies are both out, as are Ryan Sessegnon, Timo Werner, and Manor Solomon.