https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/2021/10/22/
thomas-tuchel-norwich-press-conference-injury-update
Tuchel issues Lukaku and Werner injury update as he prepares to find solutions
22 Oct 2021
Thomas Tuchel reported the latest news regarding the injuries Romelu
Lukaku and Timo Werner picked up against Malmo, confirming in his
pre-Norwich press conference they will miss tomorrow's game.
https://i.imgur.com/QbD93NY.jpg
Christian Pulisic remains out for the visit of the Canaries, with Lukaku
and Werner joining him on the sidelines with ankle and hamstring issues
respectively.
Tuchel was keen not to dwell too much on the striking duo's absence as he
considered the impact their unavailability will have on his selection for
the Norwich game and beyond.
'There is no big news for Romelu and Timo,' said Tuchel from the Cobham
media room. 'They are out for tomorrow and they are out for the
Southampton game, and from there we see what's next.
'I don't think it makes sense to go into speculation about how long this
is going to be. If we had done this with Christian Pulisic, maybe you
would think I'm a liar and I'm hiding something. You never know. Things
can be shorter or longer than expected.
'The one thing I can tell you for sure is they are both in treatment. Both
are feeling positive, not too worried, and are out for the next two games
for sure.'
It was put to Tuchel the break might do Lukaku, who he had said was
feeling mentally fatigued, some good, as is the fact it comes before a run
of games against sides lower down the table.
'No, it's never a good thing to be injured,' he responded emphatically.
'The role as favourites we have had for some matches and have for some
matches was a perfect role for Romelu to take pressure off others'
shoulders.
https://i.imgur.com/wyFYJBr.jpg
'He was mentally a bit overplayed, but like others in our squad that
doesn't mean we have to constantly rest them. Jorginho and Mason Mount are
in the same spot, and they played and played a fantastic match. They
played a lot of competitions with enthusiasm and personal targets.
'We encouraged Romelu to trust his instincts and let us do the organising
of the structure where he could have the last contact,' added Tuchel.
'This is what we did for the Malmo game. In a role as a favourite he would
be crucial for us.
'But we can't constantly talk about who is injured. We have to find
solutions, and we will find solutions because we trust our squad. The guys
who stepped in did a good match, and it's on them to keep on going
tomorrow.'
Tuchel said he had no regrets about letting a trio of strikers - Tammy
Abraham, Olivier Giroud and Michy Batshuayi - leave in the summer as their
presence would have made his squad too bulky. Sometimes, he stressed, bad
luck happens. Regarding his options when it comes to filling the gap left
by Lukaku and Werner, Tuchel indicated Kai Havertz would lead our attack.
https://i.imgur.com/3I0EUK4.jpg
Havertz and Hudson-Odoi will be hoping to start against Norwich
Tuchel was also asked about the availability of Hakim Ziyech, who has not
featured since the defeat at Juventus. The boss believes he is still
suffering the effects of the shoulder injury he sustained shortly after
giving us the lead in the Super Cup.
'He was in the team at the beginning of the season because of performance,
and then he scored and had the injury in the Super Cup game. I felt it
cost him a lot. I don't feel him 100 per cent free with his shoulders.
'When we started him after that, several times, I felt even if there was
no pain, maybe it's subconscious, there is something that limits him in
his movements and his freedom to turn and accelerate and decelerate.
'He needs time and patience to fight his way back into the team. Some
other guys have performed. But we will never lose trust or patience with
him. He will stay an important player I'm sure.'