Chelsea midfielder Mateo Kovacic, scorer of a stunning goal versus RB Salzburg, has a new injury. Meanwhile, The Pride of London explain why Mason Mount and Ruben Loftus-Cheek were substitutes versus the Austrians.
Kai Havertz bagged the other exceptionally majestic goal on the evening as the Blues made it out of Champions League Group E in generally impressive fashion, following a poor start to the tournament. Hopefully we are past multiple false starts to Havertz’s rejuvenation at Chelsea, if he ever really got going towards expectation.
The UCL Final clincher somewhat gave the Germany international breathing space, whereas his true status should’ve been less embellished. Another player who is more consistently showing the best of himself is Jorginho. Italy’s man appears to potentially be Graham Potter’s linchpin in N’Golo Kante’s absence.
In addition, the always rated but not always seen Kovacic is definitely doing the business for CFC, so to speak. I am a fan of the Austrian-born Croatia National Team representative; there is a navigational quality, I’ll call it, which only he brings to the side.
If you didn’t know, the west London club have been nursing a knee injury that ‘Kova’ is suffering with, which led to less minutes under Potter. Now the midfielder has a calf issue; the Blues head coach says the tightness felt by the athlete may not be too bad, with hope. Furthermore, the boss confirmed that Mount and Loftus-Cheek did not start against RBS due to fatigue, respectively.
A look ahead to Brighton & Hove Albion vs Chelsea
Potter will definitely be under the media and punditry spotlight this coming weekend because he faces his former club. A very recent former club. However, this won’t be an intimidating and emotionally charged return to an ex-team with animosity abundant. The fixture will begin as a type of respectful reunion at Brighton’s Amex Stadium between friends, colleague or even alumni.
Nevertheless, the business of the Premier League will ultimately take precedence over everything, and that includes entertainment. Three points are vital for the Blues’ charge at the top four and UCL qualification ready for next year. Already attaining progression to the knockout round of this campaign’s competition is a good sign there.
Even whilst transitioning, Chels’ have a superior overall squad in comparison to the Seagulls. Yet the core sides are closer to one another than we’ve possibly ever seen in modern times in respect to quality. BHAFC are no pushovers anymore, if they ever were, so PoL predict only a slight margin of victory for CFC.