Chelsea take on Southampton in the Premier League this weekend and forwards Romelu Lukaku and Hakim Ziyech are expected to be absentees for this game.
With the 2nd leg vs Real Madrid just a few days away, Thomas Tuchel is likely to use some benchwarmers against the Saints but that plan might not be 100% successful after these two injury setbacks.
Callum Hudson-Odoi still remains on the sidelines after he had picked up a back injury in the first week of March and along with him the names of Romelu Lukaku and Ziyech have also been added to the injury list.
The Chelsea boss said in his pre-match press conference: “Callum Hudson-Odoi is still out and we have a little doubt over Romelu and Hakim Ziyech,
“They were not in training yesterday and we need to see if they are able to join in today’s session. We need a test and confirmation following training, to see if they are available for tomorrow. Romelu has achilles pain, it’s nothing serious but it is just quite painful for him.
“With Callum, it doesn’t look too good and it is not a matter of days at the moment, its more a matter of weeks.”
Will the absence of Romelu Lukaku and Ziyech be a big issue for Chelsea?
Hakim Ziyech and Romelu Lukaku had both come off the bench in midweek against Real Madrid so both of them were expected to start this weekend.
Glenn Hoddle on Romelu Lukaku: "He’s got to look himself in the mirror and say I’ve got to get the best out of myself. He is no way near the player he was since he had that interview. Since he had that injury, I don’t know if he is fit enough." pic.twitter.com/TP4oNkD8Ep
— Chelsea fans club (@AkinolaFelix11) April 6, 2022
Neither of them has been in great form recently so it was pretty logical that they will be used to see the Saints game out so that players like Mount, Havertz and Pulisic can be properly rested.
Now, that won’t be possible any longer since apart from Lukaku, Tuchel has Timo Werner at his disposal and the German has been equally bad this season.
It will be a major risk trusting Werner as the main centre-forward but then Thomas Tuchel cannot risk using Kai Havertz as well. Any unwanted injury to Havertz will potentially end Chelsea’s chances of making a comeback against Real Madrid.
Ziyech and Hudson-Odoi’s injury will also be an issue but Chelsea have players like Ruben Loftus-Cheek who can fill that void.
Thomas Tuchel has obviously not ruled out either of them for Saturday’s game but we doubt if he will risk using them at the St Mary’s Stadium.
Will these two players be absent against Real Madrid as well?
Chelsea take on Madrid in the 2nd leg next week and Tuchel has already made it clear that the injury sustained by Romelu Lukaku is not serious. The Belgian should be back in contention for the 2nd leg but we don’t think he is going to get a start.
Not much is known about Ziyech’s injury so we will have to see how he holds up in the next few training sessions.