Chelsea cannot risk premature return for Tiemoue Bakayoko, Eden Hazard

Tiemoue Bakayoko and Eden Hazard played in a closed-door friendly against Queens Park Rangers on Wednesday. As important as the match against Tottenham is, Chelsea should not risk losing more games by rushing these two back to the squad.

Tiemoue Bakayoko played his first scrimmage as a Chelsea player, testing the knee injury that kept him out of pre-season training. Eden Hazard played, as well, his first quasi-competitive action for the Blues since the FA Cup final.

Premier Injuries lists Bakayoko’s potential return date as this Sunday, and the Telegraph reports that he may be ready to bolster the match-day squad. They also say that Hazard could be on the bench against Tottenham, particularly if Pedro is still unavailable.

The most either of these players should be offering Chelsea is moral support, not a late-game substitution and definitely not a start. Chelsea have 36 Premier League games after Sunday’s London derby, in addition to the Champions League and two domestic cups. Even if Antonio Conte thinks Bakayoko or Hazard could make the difference against Spurs, it would be dangerously short-sighted to introduce them in such a key game so early.

Chelsea surely do not want to start the season with two losses, especially a “six point game” against a title and London rival. But if either were to re-injure himself at Wembley at Sunday, Chelsea would lose many more points due to their prolonged absence.

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That Chelsea are playing Tottenham bolsters the case to keep these two out of the lineup. Tottenham’s primary strategy against Chelsea last season was to hack Hazard as viciously as possible, kicking, cutting and chopping at his legs whenever he was near the ball. Hazard survived those encounters, but he entered those games healthy and intact. He is and will remain vulnerable for his first few games upon return.

Tottenham will have no qualms about targeting his ankle, and will rack up 10 yellow cards to do so. They would surely welcome Tiemoue Bakayoko to the Premier League in the same fashion.

Even if Tottenham behave themselves the quality of their game demands Chelsea’s most fit and capable players. Spurs will move the ball through midfield and into the attack directly, rapidly and with purpose. Tiemoue Bakayoko is used to this playing style, since he was part of it at AS Monaco and faced similar challenges in the Champions League. He knows the demands and wants to show what he can do. But as good as he will be, 90% of Bakayoko will not help Chelsea against Tottenham’s on-rush.

Anyone associated with the club is heartened to hear Tiemoue Bakayoko and Eden Hazard are back to playing. But they are not yet in Premier League condition. As much as the thought of Hazard coming on to a tie game against Tottenham in the 75′ gets the blood flowing, the thought of losing him for a single additional game (or more) should temper those passions.

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Let Leicester, Everton and Arsenal worry about facing a rejuvenated Bakayoko and Hazard. That way, we can be sure Tottenham will worry about facing them in the return fixture when the stakes are much higher.