Chelsea will need to take all of the positivity they can from the manic 4-1 win over Tottenham on Monday as they prepare for an even bigger challenge to come. The Blues are in the middle of a run of games that will see them take on a number of high quality opposition in the space of a month.
Having managed to just about overcome the atmosphere and unexpected aggressive nine-man tactics from Ange Postecoglou it is the visit of table-topping Manchester City up next. Pep Guardiola’s side are the new leaders having put Bournemouth to the test and were able to rely on Erling Haaland against Young Boys on Tuesday night as well after an injury concern.
The Blues have a more pressing set of issues to deal with though and it remains a case of one step forward and two steps back on that front. Chelsea welcomed back Reece James into the starting XI for a Premier League game for just the second time this season, the first since the opening day draw with Liverpool.
He managed 76 minutes of the eventual win over Spurs, playing until Chelsea took the lead in north London with Malo Gusto replacing him. There was also an extra 12 minutes of added time in the first half to consider with the game being played at an electric pace. Ahead of the games to come that is a monumental boost for Mauricio Pochettino but there was a worry to another key player.
Enzo Fernandez also didn’t see out the game and was taken off just after the hour mark. He was on the receiving end of a rough challenge from Cristian Romero. As Argentine teammates there was no love lost between them as the Spurs man crunched into a tackle inside the box, ultimately handing Cole Palmer the chance to equalise from the spot, but also doing some damage to Fernandez.
He played on after getting a set of studs scraped down his shin and ankle but was seen with a large ice pack on his leg after the game and on the bench. The 22-year-old took to social media afterwards, writing: “Thank you all for your messages. I am good, working in my recovery to get to the weekend in the best way [blue heart emoji].”
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There is hope that he will once more be able to anchor the midfield against City, especially with depth in the centre of the park not a massive strength right now. Romeo Lavia had been expected to challenge for one of the roles but is still yet to make his debut. He is one of those attempting to get back to fitness in the coming weeks with a view to playing after the international break.
He has also been active online, giving an update on his recovery. “Late one” he posted on Instagram with images of him doing some stretches and strength work. Unfortunately for Pochettino Lavia is far from the only player yet to make a first team appearance this season.
Christopher Nkunku is still absent as well having been ruled out for around four months during pre-season. “[Nkunku] is doing really well, working hard, I think he’s really close,” the Pochettino said of the 25-year-old last month. “As soon as possible we can have him involved again.
“After the next internationals maybe he could be involved. He’s a player that when you see the goals he scored last season, he provides goals, and I think we’re missing goals. That’s why we think he’s a player that can be important for us.”
Fabrizio Romano has now revealed just how Chelsea plan on getting him back into the side. “Understand Chelsea decision is to take no risks with Christopher Nkunku’s comeback,” he wrote on X (formally Twitter). “It’s not expected to happen this weekend vs Manchester City. Chelsea still planning with Nkunku back after the next international break.”
That will come as great relief as goalscoring continues to be a major problem for the Blues, especially against stubborn defensive blocks. Armando Broja promises to change that but is on the sidelines once more. He had been expected to be on the bench against Tottenham but was left out of the squad.
“Today [Friday] we were talking and maybe he will be available to be on the bench for Monday,” Pochettino said last week. “Hope he can be involved.” The Albanian may well return here if deemed fit enough.
Trevoh Chalobah, Carney Chukwuemeka, Ben Chilwell and Wesley Fofana all remain out for now as well with the make-up of the squad still looking some way off the ideal group Pochettino would have for games of the calibre Chelsea are up against.
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Olivia Martin is a dedicated sports journalist based in the UK. With a passion for various athletic disciplines, she covers everything from major league championships to local sports events, delivering up-to-the-minute updates and in-depth analysis.
