by Chelsea will be looking to take advantage of an extra 48 hours of rest over Manchester City when the two sides meet at Wembley on Saturday evening. The Blues are looking to reach the FA Cup quarter-finals in five years and their opponents are aiming to be winners for the second season in a row.
Mauricio Pochettino’s side are coming into the game in better form, however, having upset Everton on Monday night. Pep Guardiola’s side will have to respond to their treble hopes on Wednesday night with a penalty shootout win over Real Madrid in the Champions League.
Carlo Ancelotti took the cup holders to 120 minutes and beyond and they have a big task to recover physically and mentally. Chelsea have more tangible problems themselves after more fitness issues became apparent against Everton.
Here, football.london he has the latest from the Blues treatment room.
Heaven Madueke
Noni Madueke was withdrawn in the 72nd minute against Everton after being on the receiving end of a number of strong challenges which required him to be seen by the club’s physio. Despite showing his numbers, Madueke appeared to be trying to convey to the tribunal that it was okay to continue despite being aggravated by one of those challenges.
When he was replaced by Carney Chukwuemeka, Madueke went straight down the tunnel, but later came back to watch the final minutes from the bench.
Possible return date: Manchester City (N) – FA Cup semi-final – Saturday, April 20.
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Enzo Fernandez
Enzo Fernandez is currently ‘under medical assessment’, according to the club’s official website. He suffered inflammation of his adductor, according to reports in Argentina. Fernandez was not included in Chelsea’s squad to face Everton.
Injury: Unknown.
What Pochettino said: “Yes, we’ll see. They’re under assessment. They’ve got different kinds of issues. We don’t think they’re major issues but we’ll see if they can be available. At the moment, they haven’t trained after Sheffield. We don’t know if they can to join or not for Monday.”
Possible return date: Manchester City (N) – FA Cup semi-final – Saturday, April 20.
Axel Disasi
Axel Disasi is currently ‘under medical assessment’. The 26-year-old defender has an impressive injury record during his career so far. The France international was absent from the team that beat Everton on Monday.
Injury: Unknown.
What Pochettino said: “Yes, we’ll see. They’re under assessment. They’ve got different kinds of issues. We don’t think they’re major issues but we’ll see if they can be available. At the moment, they haven’t trained after Sheffield. We don’t know if they can to join or not for Monday.”
Possible return date: Manchester City (N) – FA Cup semi-final – Saturday, April 20.
Robert Sanchez
Robert Sanchez is ‘absent due to illness’. He struggled with fitness earlier this season.
Injury: Illness.
Possible return date: Manchester City (N) – FA Cup semi-final – Saturday, April 20.
Raheem Sterling
Raheem Sterling is also ‘absent due to illness’. He has remained fully fit for the most part this season.
Injury: Illness.
Possible return date: Manchester City (N) – FA Cup semi-final – Saturday, April 20.
Levi Colwill
Levi Colwill is ‘continuing his rehabilitation programme’. The 21-year-old defender has sustained a toe injury which has seen him miss a number of big games for Chelsea and has been sidelined for over four weeks.
Injury: toe
What Pochettino said: “We only found out after the [Brentford] game. We ended up with two players who couldn’t train there. Levi’s problem is his toe.”
Possible return date: Unknown.
Reece James
Reece James is ‘continuing his rehabilitation programme’. The 24-year-old defender recently began rehabilitation after undergoing hamstring surgery at the end of last year.
Injury: Hamstring.
What Pochettino said: “We were talking and he has started to recover, one day closer to being with the group. This is very positive and we are all positive around him, we are going to help. It is tough for a player who has a very complicated and difficult season for him.
Possible return date: Unknown.
Christopher Nkunku
Christopher Nkunku is “continuing his rehabilitation programme”, according to the club’s official website. The 26-year-old forward has been out for most of the season, and is currently out with a hamstring issue.
Injury: Hamstring.
What Pochettino said: “I do not know [how far away he is]. Still we don’t know [if he will play again this season]. To return to training? I don’t know what I said. At the moment we do not know when it is possible to start training with the team. At the moment he is not training with us.
“That return didn’t happen. I don’t have any information about that. He’s recovering and it’s been longer than expected. That was after the final, he played 30 or 40 minutes. The problem we did not know and we found out after the game.
“This type of circumstance, it affects a lot of things, too many players have suffered this season. I hope that he can rejoin as soon as possible with the dynamics of the team and of course, if he should be really good before the end of the season, hopefully he can be part of the team.”
Possible return date: Next season.
Romeo Lavia
Romeo Lavia is ‘continuing his rehabilitation programme’. The 20-year-old midfielder has featured just once for Chelsea this season after struggling to stay fit and escape injury.
Injury: House.
Possible return date: Next season.
Leslie Ugochukwu
Lesley Ugochukwu is ‘continuing his rehabilitation programme’. The 20-year-old midfielder’s last outing was back in December and he hasn’t been seen since without further updates.
Injury: Unknown.
Possible return date: Next season.
Wesley Fofana
Wesley Fofana is ‘continuing his rehabilitation programme’. The 23-year-old defender is back training on the pitches at Cobham, but is thought to be a long way from returning to action.
Injury: ruptured anterior cruciate ligament.
What Pochettino said: “Unfortunately, I think it’s difficult to see Wes play this season, but you never know.”
Possible return date: Next season.
