Kante on course for final but Mendy is a doubt

N’Golo Kante is expected to be fit for the Champions League final but Edouard Mendy is a doubt after suffering an injury in Chelsea’s defeat at Aston Villa.

Kante, who has been nursing a hamstring issue, missed the game at Villa Park, where keeper Mendy was hurt while trying in vain to prevent the opening goal.

Mendy was replaced at half-time by Kepa Arrizabalaga and is set to undergo an X-ray to establish whether he is likely to be fit for next week’s clash with Manchester City in Porto.

Chelsea’s losing their final domestic match of the season meant they only secured a top-four finish because rivals Tottenham came from behind to win at Leicester, who missed out on a Champions League place.

Blues boss Tuchel said after the game that Kante was on course to play in the final but that Mendy will need to be assessed.

The German explained: “He fell on the frame of the net. He has big pain in his ribs. We need to wait until we get home and we will do some images.

“Tomorrow we will have an update on what’s going on. We have a week to prepare and we will see if it’s possible (for Mendy to play).

“If it’s possible then we need to push and do everything so he is in goal for Saturday.”

Tuchel admitted Chelsea were “lucky” Spurs did them a favour. But he insisted the fourth-placed finish was ultimately achieved on merit.

“We were in the position that it was possible to end in the top four with a defeat,” he said.

“That was possible because of the team’s hard work and good results.”