4 key players out! as Chelsea confirmed full squad available for Atletico Madrid clash
Chelsea will be looking to progress to the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League for the first time since 2014 when they face Spanish giants Atletico Madrid in the second-leg of their last-16 tussle at Stamford Bridge this evening, kick-off 8:00pm.
The Blues, who extended their unbeaten start to life under head coach Thomas Tuchel to 12 matches on Saturday, playing out a goalless stalemate with Leeds United at Elland Road, hold a one-goal advantage from the first-leg in Bucharest last month.
Frenchman Olivier Giroud’s second-half overhead-kick was enough to seal the win for the Blues, meaning they have an away goal to take into tonight’s showdown under the lights in west London.
However, Chelsea will head into this evening’s contest without four, key first-team players, including Mason Mount.
The attacking-midfielder picked up his third yellow card of the Champions League campaign against Atletico in the first-leg and must serve a one-match ban. The same, too, can be said for Jorginho, as he will also miss out through suspension.
However, centre-back Thiago Silva and striker Tammy Abraham, who have been forced to spend time on the sidelines in recent weeks, remain out through injury problems.
Issuing updates on the pair, Tuchel said: “They are not quite right yet but with an international break now coming, I don’t think there is too much risk in me saying that we expect them to join us again after the international break.”
Meanwhile, Mateo Kovacic is poised to return in Jorginho’s absence and Hakim Ziyech could start in a central role in place of Mount.
Meanwhile, the likes of Marcos Alonso, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Timo Werner will be pushing for recalls.
Full Chelsea squad available to face Atletico Madrid:
Goalkeepers: Edouard Mendy, Kepa Arrizabalaga & Willy Caballero
Defenders: Reece James, Cesar Azpilicueta, Antonio Rudiger, Kurt Zouma, Andreas Christensen, Ben Chilwell, Marcos Alonso & Emerson Palmieri
Midfielders: Hakim Ziyech, Callum Hudson-Odoi, N’Golo Kante, Mateo Kovacic, Billy Gilmour, Kai Havertz & Faustino Anjorin
Strikers: Timo Werner & Olivier Giroud