Chelsea will begin preparations after one day off on Monday ahead of their midweek trip across to the English Channel to take on Lille in the second leg of their Round of 16 Champions League tie.
The Blues won the first leg by 2-0 courtesy of goals from Kai Havertz and Christian Pulisic.
Since, then a lot has changed in such a short space of time. Roman Abramovich has been sanctioned and there were and still are worries that the club won’t have enough money for travel to France for this midweek trip.
“My last information is we are getting a plane. So we can go by plane and come back by plane. If not, we’ll go by train. If not, we’ll go by bus. If not, I’ll drive a seven-seater. Honestly, I will do it. You can mark my words, I will do to arrive there,” Thomas Tuchel reflected in his post-match press conference on Sunday.
“If you asked me 20 years ago, 30 years ago, if I would join a Champions League match at the sideline and what I was willing to do, I’d say, ‘ok, where do I have to be and when?’ Why should this change?
“I will be there and we will be there. Of course, organisation wise, there are some negotiations going on and talks, but it doesn’t influence me. That’s what I mean, we have brilliant guys who organise the travel and we have, in every department, such committed people that at the moment things feel pretty normal.”
On the pitch, the Blues did pick up a win at the weekend after overcoming Eddie Howe’s in-form Newcastle side courtesy of a late winner just before second half stoppage time.
The Blues were short in the wing-back position and were missing a few other players against the Toon, so with that in mind, football.london bring you all the latest injury news ahead of LIlle second leg clash.
Thiago Silva
There was some confusion as to why the Brazilian was absent from the whole match day squad for Sunday’s clash in SW6.
Now, Silva had gone down a couple of times in the Norwich game but made it through the full 90 but with those moments in mind, supporters worried if he had suffered some form of injury.
However, football.london understands that the veteran defender was ‘rested’ and indeed should make a return for this fixture.
Expected return date: Lille (A)- March, 16.
Reece James
Since his return, the right-back had been phenomenal with his performance levels as demonstrated in his last outing against Burnley.
The England international has missed most of 2022 with a hamstring injury before he suffered muscular issues three matches into his return.
It was understood that he would return to the squad for Newcastle but Tuchel revealed he picked up a ‘re-injury’.
(Image: Marc Atkins)
What Tuchel said: “We are running out a little bit of right wing-backs.
“Reece James has unfortunately had a re-injury.”
Expected return date: Unknown
Callum Hudson-Odoi and Cesar Azpilcueta
Both players had been the talk pre-match by manager Tuchel who was forced to play Malang Sarr at wing-back whilst Trevoh Chalobah played on the other side.
Azpilicueta has played 45 minutes midweek before being withdrawn through illness whilst Hudson-Odoi has been so out of form recently.
Tuchel didn’t say why both were out but did clarify that both were missing pre Newcastle.
What Tuchel said: “Azpi is out and Callum Hudson-Odoi who can play there is also out.”
Post-match, Tuchel reiterated: “As you are aware, we started with a 4-1-4-1. Azpi (Cesar Azpilicueta) was out, Reece James was out and Callum (Hudson-Odoi) played there [at wing-back] and was out.”
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Expected return date: Lille (A)- March 16 for both players.
Marcos Alonso and Christian Pulisic
The Spaniard had been missing due to Covid-19 in the last few games but did recover in time to be an unused sub in Chelsea’s squad for the Newcastle clash.
Pulisic meanwhile also picked up some mysterious illness that may had been the same one Azpilicueta had contracted but the American did make a brief cameo in west London on Sunday.
What Tuchel said: “Christian Pulisic has only just come back and is on the bench, so we’ve had to e a little bit creative.”
Post-match, Tuchel said: “Pulisic came from some days off feeling sick so we struggled to find a right wing-back. Marcos struggled through his corona times and we were not sure if he could make it so we started in a 4-1-4-1.”
Expected return date: Lille (A)- March 16 for both players.
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