Just one day ahead of Chelsea’s Group Stage Champions League clash against Juventus, Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel revealed four players who will not be making the trip to Turin.
In the press conference leading up to the match, Tuchel named N’Golo Kante, Mason Mount, Reece James, and Christian Pulisic as the four players.
Reasons for Squad Absences
The most surprising absence was Kante, who the manger revealed had tested positive for Covid-19. Due to government protocols and safety regulations, the Blues midfielder did not participate in training on Tuesday. He will stay behind from making the team trip to Italy.
The other three absences were due to injuries previously sustained. Reece James became injured during the first half of Chelsea’s 1-0 loss to Manchester City last weekend. It was communicated afterwards by the club that James had twisted his ankle and was in quite a bit of pain.
Mason Mount is still out due to a knock he received last week during the team’s Carabao Cup match vs Aston Villa. Christian Pulisic however, has been out since September 9th. He too suffered an ankle injury while playing for the USMNT.
While the list of absences may be a blow for Chelsea fans, the Juventus camp may now be breathing a small sigh of relief. Juve have a few notable injured players of their own and the squad in general have struggled all season to find a sense of rhythm and confidence.
Tuchel however, remained focused on tomorrow’s match. “We play Juventus at Juventus. It’s a no-brainer that demands respect to the quality and tradition of the club. We need to refocus and regroup and face a tough challenge with positive energy and determination to bounce back from our defeat.”
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