Chelsea has been dealt a significant blow after Armando Broja was stretched off the Aston Villa game in excruciating pain.
Armando Broja was taken off the pitch on a stretcher with an agonizing knee injury that left him screaming in pain.
Chelsea took on Aston Villa in a Dubai-friendly game. as they prepare for the resumption of the Premier League after the World Cup break.
The Albanian forward started in the preseason resumption game, marshaling the front line for the Blues.
Twenty-five minutes into the game, Armando Broja collided with Aston Villa defender Konsa and was left screaming in pain.
The Inter Milan target was chasing down Konsa in the box and was about to win the ball from him with unguarded quick movements, which led him to miss the control and collided with the player.
Armando Broja fell awkwardly and helplessly to the ground and was in agonizing pain after sprawling to the ground.
He could not hold back the excruciating pain and was heard screaming loudly in agony.
Haunting screams from Armando Broja, this doesn’t look good at all.
— Barstool Football (@StoolFootball) December 11, 2022
Heartbreaking. Speedy recovery. 🙏 pic.twitter.com/rPhk4WDryA
Chelsea medical team had to hurry into the pitch with their stretcher and hurry him off the pitch.
Graham Potter brought in Dion Joseph to take his place in the game, but the Unai Emery-led team had already went one goal up after a brilliant build-up play saw John Mcginn opened the scoring for Aston Villa.
The news is a big blow to Chelsea with Premier League action set to return on Boxing Day December 26, 8 days after the end of the 2022 World Cup. However, Graham Potter will lead the Blues to their first match after the break the next day – December 27.
Chelsea return to league action on December 27 at home to Bournemouth.
And they prepare to welcome their whole squad back in just over a week’s time when the winter World Cup wraps up.
The likes of Mason Mount, Raheem Sterling and Conor Gallagher are set to reunite with the squad after England’s quarter-final loss to France.
Croatia’s Mateo Kovacic and Morocco’s Hakim Ziyech still remain in the tournament ahead of their pair of separate semi-finals.
Ziyech helped stun Portugal as Morocco became the first African side to reach the last four. He and his teammates will face France, 2-1 victors over England, in the semi-final.
While Kovacic’s Croatia will Lionel Messi’s Argentina, the new favorites of the tournament.
Injury update On Armando Broja
Graham Potter has provided a worrying update on the injury of Armando Broja after the game.
Speaking after the 1-0 defeat, Potter said it was too early to say how long the player is facing on the sidelines but conceded ‘it doesn’t look positive’.
‘It doesn’t look positive at the moment but it is too early to say. Fingers crossed but it is an awkward one”, the coach said.
Armando Broja has made 18 appearances for the Blues this season, but had started just two Premier League games.
Now, Graham Potter has depleted choices in his attacking options going into the Premier League resumption.
He is now left with Kai Havertz and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang as his only options through the middle in attack.
Chelsea resume their league campaign against Bournemouth on 27 December.
Armando Broja is the latest injury casualty in the Blues squad following key absences such as Reece James and Wesley Fofana who are continuing recoveries following their pre-World Cup injuries.
