BREAKING: Chelsea fans favorite player set to miss Liverpool clash
According to Evening Standard, Chelsea star Christopher Nkunku will miss Chelsea’s opening game of the new Premier League season against Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on August 13th.
The France international limped off in the 22nd minute of Chelsea’s final pre-season match against Borussia Dortmund in Chicago after falling under a challenge from Mats Hummels.
It was previously feared Nkunku will be out for months after suffering the knee injury against Borussia Dortmund. However, early medical assessments are positive that Nkunku will only be out for weeks rather than months.
The surface at Soldier Field, the venue of the pre-season clash against Borussia Dortmund, was already a concern to players and staff before kick-off as it was uneven, sandy and dry.
An Ed Sheeran concert on the Saturday before the match meant a large crowd had recently used the surface, allowing the NFL’s smallest stadium to expand to a capacity of 73,000.
Pochettino refused to blame the pitch for the injury after the 1-1 draw with Dortmund. He said: “I didn’t see the action but it not about complaining.
“Always we take some risks because the pitch is not perfect, because they are using it for different sports and those are sometimes the risk of the tour.
“I think it was a bit unlucky in the situation but we cannot complain about the pitch nor blame the pitch for why he suffered the injury. For me, it was bad luck.”