In the lead-up to the highly anticipated London derby, which Pochettino has experienced from both sides, the Chelsea manager shared some unfortunate news about the Blues’ injury situation.
Despite the squad already dealing with significant injuries this season, Pochettino confirmed that Chelsea will be without two central defenders when they face Spurs in the Premier League at Stamford Bridge. Both Thiago Silva and Axel Disasi will be unavailable for the game.
Pochettino stated, “It’s not good news because we haven’t recovered any players in the last week. We have to add two more players, Thiago and Disasi. They won’t be available for tomorrow.”
However, one player who will be fit to play against Tottenham is Noni Madueke, who started his career at Tottenham’s youth system. Pochettino praised Madueke’s recent performances, highlighting his contributions in the last four league games, with two goals and an assist.
Pochettino remarked, “He’s doing well. He scored against Aston Villa and is improving a lot without the ball. The challenge for him is to continue improving his defensive game, being more connected.”
Given Chelsea’s current injury issues, younger players from the Academy are likely to see more opportunities, with Pochettino indicating that this could continue against Spurs.
“The game against Tottenham is a big challenge, and it’s an excellent opportunity for some kids to be on the bench and maybe play. It’s about them seizing the opportunity and showing they want to be in the first team,” Pochettino said.
