Chelsea team news vs Leeds United: Blues will be missing three key players
Chelsea team news vs Leeds United: Chelsea will be traveling to Elland Road to face Leeds United on Sunday (21 August). The Blues will be without three key players for that game.
Thomas Tuchel revealed that midfield maestro N’Golo Kante is absent, while Mateo Kovacic and Armando Broja will also be missing.
N’Golo Kante and Mateo Kovacic are both expected not to appear after the former was forced off with a hamstring issue against Tottenham Hotspur last weekend.
The Frenchman was replaced by Conor Gallagher in 84 minutes. The Blues drew 2-2 with Tottenham Hotspur owing to a controversial afternoon at Stamford Bridge.
Kovacic was kept out by a knee injury this season while Armando Broja, who is a 90th-minute substitute, is also expected to be missing against Leeds.
“We are talking about weeks, which is not good news,” said the ex-Borussia Dortmund and PSG boss on the injury of Kante.
“We are disappointed and sad because N’Golo was super fit. Armando will be out for days, Kovacic still has knee problems.”
Tuchel was left unimpressed by Mike Dean when he admitted that he made a mistake on Cristian Romero’s hair pull on Marc Cucurella.
The Chelsea boss revealed he was underwhelmed by the comments of VAR official Dean, who accepted that he should have ordered a review of Romero’s tussle with Cucurella in Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Tottenham.
Romero was seen pulling Cucurella to the ground by his hair before Harry Kane headed in an added-time leveler at Stamford Bridge.
This resulted in Tuchel and Antonio Conte being both sent off full-time in the fall-out, with the Blues boss lamenting Kane’s goal standing.
Both managers are expecting to receive FA sanctions after being charged for their dugout clashes. But the two coaches are hoping to avoid touchline bans.
Dean admitted that he should have asked referee Anthony Taylor for the review of the Romero-Cucurella incident on the pitchside monitors. This step might have allowed Chelsea to play out a 2-1 victory.
Tuchel acknowledged that he was not able to take much solace in Dean admitting a mistake over an incident he considered so clear and obvious at the time.
“Well hopefully I am not too honest, but if the mistake is that big and that obvious what is the point of not admitting it if the whole world sees it?” said Tuchel.
“I struggle to be fully impressed by the statement. It is so clear and obvious I cannot understand how a referee cannot make the right decision.”
Leeds commenced with a good start to the new campaign and they will be in full confidence for this game.
The Blues played out a match with a 2-2 draw at home to Tottenham Hotspur. The game saw Thomas Tuchel being sent off after the final whistle after an altercation with Antonio Conte.
The Chelsea boss is set to be banned from the touchline at Elland Road. On the other hand, the loss of Kante has come as a blessing for Leeds.
Leeds is focusing on their own game plan. They will feel confident to see Kante missing the game. He is going to be a big miss on Tuchel’s side.
The Frenchman is an engine in midfield and he belongs to a group of the world’s best defensive midfielders. Kovacic emerged as an important player for the Blues in the recent past.
Broja was targeted by a host of clubs this summer. But Chelsea did not let him go. This decision shows that Tuchel has immense faith in the young talent.