Chelsea might have beaten Malmo 4-0 in the Champions League but the win has come at a cost as Romelu Lukaku and Timo Werner both came off injured in that match.
Romelu Lukaku was on the receiving end of a bad challenge from Lasse Nielsen while Werner pulled his hamstring. And both the forwards had to be taken off before the half-time whistle.
The Belgian international had already gone into this match with a bit of fatigue and speaking after the match, the manager has confirmed that both the players will be out for some time.
“If I knew before I wouldn’t have done it. But you can’t know it before and it was necessary that he was on the pitch and he started very strong,” he said, as per Sky Sports.
“I spoke with him about the situation, that I think he carries a bit of mental fatigue around with him. I think that is also normal but he is our number nine and is our reference upfront.
“It’s not a muscle injury or because of physical fatigue. He is a little bit overplayed, this is my opinion and maybe I’m not even right. But this was a moment to give him confidence and let him play. I don’t regret it, things like this can happen. It was bad luck.
“Romelu twisted his ankle with the foul in the box and Timo has a hamstring injury. It will take a while for both of them. We need more examinations to be more precise but they will be out for some matches.”
Romelu Lukaku and Werner’s injuries: Good news for Tuchel?
Romelu Lukaku was the marquee signing for the Blues during the summer but his performance graph has seen a dip in the past few weeks. Likewise, Timo Werner has also found it hard to replicate his form from the Bundesliga.
Lukaku has scored three goals in the league so far but almost all of his goals have come against the so-called minnows(two vs Villa and one against Arsenal). This is why we think, his injury is low-key good news for the Chelsea boss.
Lukaku leaves the game with an injury. pic.twitter.com/9ymHTPxOfF
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) October 20, 2021
The manager has one of the biggest squads in the English top division so finding an alternative will not be a problem for him. Yes, Lukaku and Werner had formed a good partnership but players like Havertz and Loftus-Cheek can also do this same job.
Also, Chelsea do not play any big side in the next few weeks so using fringe players will not be an issue for the manager. Their next big match is against Leicester City on the 20th of November and by that time both Timo Werner and Romelu Lukaku should be fully fit.
This period will also be useful for Romelu Lukaku to get some much-needed rest and regain his focus for the remainder of the season. On the other hand, the fringe players will get a chance to showcase their talents and secure a regular spot in the side.
