The manager of Chelsea football club, Thomas Tuchel could be left with no choice but to turn his attention to the club’s under-23 team especially against Brentford later tonight, December 22, 2021.
The coach has said he would prioritize the health of his players above winning games, hence, the need to bring in some players from the club’s academy to the club’s senior team.
Chelsea are traveling to Brentford Community Stadium with most of the club’s first-team players out with different degrees of injuries and coronavirus infection. The EFL Cup quarter-final game is scheduled to kick off at 20:45.
Recall that ahead of Chelsea’s Premier League game against Wolves, on December 19, 2021, Chelsea had to write to the Premier League board to postpone the game.
Unfortunately for Thomas Tuchel and his boys, the Premier League rejected the club’s application and the game went on as planned.
Chelsea played the 0-0 draw without at least 8 of the club’s first-team players including Romelu Lukaku, Timo Werner, Callum Hudson-Odoi, and Ben Chilwell. They all tested positive for coronavirus.
Other players who were absent ahead of the game due to the virus were Jorginho, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Kai Havertz. While Andreas Christensen was out with an injury.
All the players except Jorginho are not also available for the EFL Cup quarter-final match against Brentford later tonight. Unfortunately for coach Thomas Tuchel, N’Golo Kante who had to play against Wolves even though he was not 100 percent fit would not be fit enough to play against Brentford. Also, Trevoh Chalobah will not be available for the EPL Cup game.
Though Jorginho has tested negative for coronavirus, he is still battling a waist problem but that would not stop him from playing against Brentford tonight.
Even as that, Chelsea would not have enough hands for the busy holiday schedule. Hence, coach Tuchel might have to select players from the club’s under-23 team for some games starting tonight.
Recall that ahead of the 2019-2020 season, Chelsea were banned from signing players and it was the same period the club sold their best player Eden Hazard to Real Madrid. Hence, the then coach of the club, Frank Lampard, had to depend on some players from the club’s academy to execute the season.
This situation produced the likes of Mason Mount, Tammy Abraham, Callum Hudson-Odoi, and a couple of other football stars.
From all indications, Chelsea would need fresh hands from the club’s academy to execute the four games they have to play in the next 12 days.
“They trained with us yesterday and today,” coach Thomas Tuchel said. “We made them come for two training sessions because it’s necessary.
“We have to protect our players and that’s why we brought in the academy and we think about playing with them.
“It can happen tomorrow that we prioritize the health – not the game against Aston Villa – and do not take any risks with some of our players.
“This is totally against our nature but maybe we are forced to do it. It makes me sad because this is not what sport is about and this is not what we are about.
“We are so competitive – that’s why we work here and that’s why the players signed for Chelsea. We are fighting for every competition.
“I absolutely don’t like judging the importance of games because you can never tell. There is nothing more important than winning, performing together, and fighting together.”
On the busy holiday schedule in the Premier League, Thomas Tuchel who has coached Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint Germain before he joined Chelsea in January 2021, said: “I watched it when I was not involved and now I am in the middle of it. I like it and it is nothing new to play three matches in a week – to play three matches in a week without nine or 10 players, that is challenging.
“We love to be involved in all these competitions. We struggle a little bit but we find solutions – that’s why we’re here. This will maybe be the situation for many weeks because it will not stop.”
"We're forced to do it, it makes me sad"
— The Sun Football ⚽ (@TheSunFootball) December 22, 2021
Thomas Tuchel is disappointed that he may need to field a weakened side in the #CarabaoCup tie with Brentford pic.twitter.com/8SLNb5N2RM
