1 point for his first two games, Mauricio Pochettino was no doubt hoping for a better debut at Chelsea. The draw obtained against Liverpool (1-1) while running after the score and the content could bode well but the defeat at West Ham (3-1) came as a reminder of the club’s precarious state of health. The horrible past season, between chronic instability on the sidelines but also the permanent and in-depth renewal of the workforce, is still in everyone’s mind.
To make matters worse in this situation, and while there was yet another recruitment as a result this summer (€370 million for 7 recruits, not counting Angelo Gabriel on loan to Strasbourg), a heavy series of major injuries overwhelms the Blues. The latest? Carney Chukwuemeka, starter in the first two Premier League games. Author of the nice goal of the equalizer, the young 19-year-old midfielder then injured his left knee, forcing him to have surgery. Six weeks off for him.
Already 4 long-term injuries this season…
Before him, the curse claimed other victims, often important elements of the workforce. There is of course Reece James, severely affected last week in training. We fear an absence of several months. The new club captain has again been hit in the hamstrings, a problem that lasts for him since his end of last season had already been weighed down by the same problem, a few weeks already after having to forfeit the World Cup.
Christopher Nkunku is experiencing exactly the same situation. Injured with the France group a few days before the start of the competition in Qatar, the former Parisian must wait before showing what Chelsea have invested 60 M€ in him for. He injured his knee in a friendly against Borussia Dortmund and went through surgery, forcing him to recover for more than 12 weeks. He was called to start in Mauricio Pochettino’s eleven after a convincing start to the pre-season.
… that affect cardholders
The French are particularly affected by this physical epidemic. Wesley Fofana ruptured the cruciate ligament in his knee on July 17. We won’t see him again until 2024. Already last year, two knee problems had ruled him out for 28 games in all. He hopes to bring some blue skies to London. Benoît Badiashile is slowly recovering from his hamstring injury and should return soon after 90 days on the flank, as Armando Broja on the return after his anterior cruciate ligament rupture in mid-December.
This at least allowed the first Premier League appearance of young Mason Burstow (20) against the Hammers. There is no trace either of Trevoh Chalobah, injured, and still not appeared on a match sheet since the resumption. Alongside all this, the prolonged absence of Marcus Bettinelli (since April) is almost forgotten. Finally not for Pochettino forced to do with Lucas Bergström, 20 years old and 21 League One games in the gloves, as Robert Sanchez’s only understudy.
