Antonio Conte has ruled David Luiz out of contention to replace Andreas Christensen in Chelseas backline against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, and suggested that either the Dane would recover in time to play or Gary Cahill will step in.
The Denmark centre-back was sent back from international duty with muscle fatigue and now faces a race against time to be fit for the crunch Premier League fixture.
However, Conte suggested that Christensen could make a late play to join Cesar Azpilicueta and Antonio Rudiger at the heart of the Chelsea defence or Cahill, who did not join the England squad, would be ready to fill in.
David Luiz is out, Conte said. I think at least for three weeks.
More: Football
Hes recovering from a problem in his knee and the other solution is Cahill.
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Hell play in the middle but were talking about great player and I trust him.
We will try to recover Christensen but otherwise there is this possibility. Its not the first time Gary has played in this role. We have a solution.
Ross Barkley, meanwhile, is yet to return to first-team training and is currently with the Under-23 squad.
For Barkley, hes started the training session, we preferred to have training sessions with the U23s and then play on Saturday before he comes back with us.
We are talking about a player who is coming off a bad injury, seven months without playing and we want to have matches with him and be sure before he comes back with the first team.
More: Chelsea FC
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Antonio Conte has ruled David Luiz out of contention to replace Andreas Christensen in Chelseas backline against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, and suggested that either the Dane would recover in time to play or Gary Cahill will step in.
The Denmark centre-back was sent back from international duty with muscle fatigue and now faces a race against time to be fit for the crunch Premier League fixture.
However, Conte suggested that Christensen could make a late play to join Cesar Azpilicueta and Antonio Rudiger at the heart of the Chelsea defence or Cahill, who did not join the England squad, would be ready to fill in.
David Luiz is out, Conte said. I think at least for three weeks.
More: Football
Hes recovering from a problem in his knee and the other solution is Cahill.
AdvertisementAdvertisement
Hell play in the middle but were talking about great player and I trust him.
We will try to recover Christensen but otherwise there is this possibility. Its not the first time Gary has played in this role. We have a solution.
Ross Barkley, meanwhile, is yet to return to first-team training and is currently with the Under-23 squad.
For Barkley, hes started the training session, we preferred to have training sessions with the U23s and then play on Saturday before he comes back with us.
We are talking about a player who is coming off a bad injury, seven months without playing and we want to have matches with him and be sure before he comes back with the first team.
More: Chelsea FC
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