Chelsea Hit by Injuries Ahead of Crucial Arsenal Clash as Rosenior Confirms Three Absentees
Chelsea Hit by Injuries Ahead of Crucial Arsenal Clash as Rosenior Confirms Three Absentees
Chelsea Hit by Injuries Ahead of Crucial Arsenal Clash as Rosenior Confirms Three Absentees
Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior has confirmed that three players will miss Sunday’s Premier League showdown against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium, adding to the Blues’ challenges ahead of a vital fixture.
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Speaking at Cobham on February 27, Rosenior provided squad updates, revealing that Reece James is fit and available, while Romeo Lavia and Dario Essugo are making encouraging progress in their recoveries. However, Estevao Willian, Jamie Gittens, and Marc Cucurella will all sit out the game.
“Reece is absolutely fine,” Rosenior said. “Romeo is getting stronger and stronger. We had a practice match in the week where he looked really good. Estevao will be out for a little bit longer and Jamie is progressing in his rehab. Cucu is not available on Sunday. Dario Essugo is back on the training pitch, too.”
Chelsea will also be keen to respond after disappointment in the second leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final, which left fans frustrated. Reflecting on that defeat, Rosenior acknowledged the challenges his squad faced: “You’re always disappointed to lose in the semi-final, but there were availability issues. With the ball, maybe we could have been more front-footed to try and get the result.”
Meanwhile, in European competition, Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique has downplayed notions of revenge after being paired with Chelsea in the UEFA Champions League last 16, a repeat of the Club World Cup final. The first leg is scheduled for Paris on March 11, marking the clubs’ first Champions League meeting since the 2015–16 season.
Enrique said: “Nobody thought we could win the Champions League last season. This scenario is different. We are pleased. It will be interesting to play against one of the best English teams. There is no feeling of revenge. We are the champions at the moment in this competition, so the problem is for all the other teams—they have to play against us.”
Chelsea will hope Rosenior’s experience against PSG, gained during his time at RC Strasbourg Alsace, proves valuable as they prepare for what promises to be a tightly contested European clash.
Chelsea Hit by Injuries Ahead of Crucial Arsenal Clash as Rosenior Confirms Three Absentees
