The manager of Chelsea, Thomas Tuchel on Monday gave updates on some of his players including Thiago Silva, Kai Havertz, Christian Pulisic, and Callum Hudson-Odoi ahead of Chelsea’s last-16 Champions League match against Atletico Madrid.
The German tactician confirmed that the club’s veteran defender, Thiago Silva would not be available for the Champions League first leg match which is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, February 23, at 21:00.
Thiago Silva who has been very impactful since he joined Chelsea from Paris Saint Germain last summer, has been out with an injury since February 4. The 36-year-old defender sustained the injury in the first half of the Premier League match between Chelsea and Tottenham. The game ended 1-0 in favor of Chelsea.
Silva was seen training recently ahead of Chelsea’s league match against Southampton on Saturday, February 20, but he was not fit enough to feature in the match which ended 1-1.
He did not travel with Chelsea to Bucharest, Romania where the Champions League round of 16 first leg match against Atletico Madrid is scheduled to hold.
“He is not available,” Thomas Tuchel said. “He is training right now. We are leaving and he is not available.”
Thomas Tuchel confirms the availability of Kai Havertz and Christian Pulisic
Kai Havertz and Christian Pulisic will be available for Chelsea against Atletico Madrid on Tuesday. They are part of Chelsea’s delegates to Bucharest and they may be in action against the La Liga team at the National Arena if Thomas Tuchel deemed them fit for the game.
Recall that Christian Pulisic has been battling with different degrees of injuries which has only enabled him to start once under Tuchel. As for Havertz, he has not played for Chelsea since January 31 despite being without any known injury.
“Very happy that both of them are in the group,” Tuchel said. “They trained with us, no complaints, and they travel with us.”
Callum Hudson-Odoi is now in a good mood
When Chelsea played against Southampton, football fans were surprised that coach Thomas Tuchel had to substitute Callum Hudson-Odoi minutes after he introduced him into the game.
After the Premier League game which ended 1-1, Tuchel was asked why he decided to make such a drastic decision, the German tactician said he had to do that because the England international’s attitude was not right.
More so, Tuchel confirmed that he had to address the winger in front of his teammates and the youngster has been in a good mood afterward.
“We decided to speak to Callum in front of the whole group not alone,” he said. “For us, it was not a big thing. I know it can be sometimes.
“Still I did it and we had the only reaction we wanted he went back to a good mood and trained well. This is the lesson for us to learn.”
👉🇷🇴 The Blues are Bucharest-bound!#ATMCHE pic.twitter.com/e5ObM5SEsO
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) February 22, 2021
