Chelsea take on Manchester United in the Premier League this weekend and the manager has confirmed the absence of Ben Chilwell as well as N’Golo Kante.
Ben Chilwell injured his knee during the win against Juventus and while the full extent of the injury is still not known but Thomas Tuchel has made it clear that the left-back will be out for at least six weeks.
‘Ben is out,’ the manager said in his pre-match press conference. ‘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.
‘I only care about the next six weeks. 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.’
The ACL injury means Ben Chilwell will require surgery and the six-week time frame means Chelsea are not going to hurry into deciding on the surgery.
This is not the only injury absentee since the Blues will also be missing N’Golo Kante who also twisted his knee in the same game.
The manager said: ‘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].’
Chelsea confirm Ben Chilwell has a partial ACL injury and the club will decide whether he needs surgery in six weeks.
N'Golo Kante will also miss this weekend's Manchester United game with a twisted knee. pic.twitter.com/t1dZZHVIXC
— B/R Football (@brfootball) November 26, 2021
The absence of Ben Chilwell means that Marcos Alonso will play as the left wing-back but it’s the midfield that could be the major cause of concern for the manager.
Along with Kante, Mateo Kovacic is also out which means Ruben Loftus-Cheek will pair up with Jorginho and this pair might not be the best-suited to keep players like Bruno and Ronaldo at check.
Despite these two injury absentees, the Blues are still the favourites to win on Sunday but Ben Chilwell and Kante are key to whatever Tuchel’s side does on the pitch and without them, Chelsea might struggle to unfurl their plan with the utmost season.
