Christensen Contract, Lukaku Injury – Issues Facing Chelsea Ahead of the Clash with Newcastle
If there’s one thing Tomas Tuchel can be sure about being asked in his next press conference is Chelsea’s latest injury news. Due to injuries, big names like Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Cesar Azpilicueta, Andreas Christensen, Timo Werner, and Romelu Lukaku are out.
This weekend, Chelsea face Newcastle United at St. James’ Park off their last four consecutive wins following the international break. It’s not like trying the top crypto casinos and hoping everything works out in your favor. More planning is required to run a team.
Recording comprehensive victories over Malmo and Norwich before taking out Southampton in penalties may be enough to reassure Thomas Tuchel and co. that the team is still intact. Nevertheless, Chelsea will be heading into the clash with Newcastle as the firm favorites.
We take a look at some of Chelsea’s most pressing concerns and how the management can approach them:
Injury News
Tuchel should definitely expect a lot of questions surrounding his side’s injury woes in his next press conference. But the more important question is what magic he and his team will provide on the pitch. Will it be a spectacle as The Blues dominate yet again and expand their streak, or will Newcastle United humble them?
There is certainly plenty to chat about regarding Chelsea’s injury woes. Christian Pulisic, Andreas Christensen, Cesar Azpilicueta, and N’Golo Kante have all been pictured on Chelsea’s training grounds. But how many of them will be fit for match day?
It seems the knocks on Christensen and Azpilicueta that kept them out last week were pretty minor. The same can also be said for Kante’s injury during the clash with Norwich.
And while it might seem like Chelsea are a team running on half juice at the moment, fortune may just be on their side again as they face another one of the league’s strugglers. Perhaps Tuchel might not rush to bring the recovering players back. But even his current squad is one to contend with.
Timo Werner and Romelu Lukaku both seem to be out of action, though. And Tuchel is a very cautious man, especially when making predictions or providing timescales on hamstring and ankle injuries the pair suffered, respectively. However, following a week of treatment, the management should have more accurate data and prognosis on their situation.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek is another big name that didn’t feature against Southampton because of a hip complaint. He also missed the training session. So, we’re also yet to understand his prognosis from Tuchel’s press conference.
Christensen’s Contract
A lot has happened since Tuchel joined The Blues’ camp. And the current news hitting the airways is Christensen’s looming contract and future in general at the club. Last weekend, Tuchel reaffirmed his trust in the player and interest to make him a Chelsea legend.
The latest reports state that it’s been over two months since the player and the club communicated over a new deal, with the offer currently on the table being an increase in Christensen’s current deal. However, it would keep him among the club’s lower earners.
It’s much like Antonio Rüdiger’s contract. There’s speculation that both parties would like to see the deal go through and extend Christensen’s contract before the season pushes closer to January. If nothing conclusive comes to fruition by then, Christensen will be free to negotiate with other clubs.
The scary part is just how much uncertainty is prevailing over one of the club’s greats. Tuchel has always distanced himself from negotiations between players and his club. However, the outcome of such talks may just be key to finding out just how prevalent his voice can be.
The futures of Christensen and Rüdiger are in the air, and it seems the club might not be handling them too well.
Hudson-Odoi’s Role
The 20-year-old’s form has been remarkable in recent weeks. It would be fascinating to see if Tuchel can afford him more playtime and an opportunity to shine on the left wing again. Even Tuchel has admitted to not having used the youngster to his fullest potential during his tenure at the club.
And when he put on, Tuchel often plays him as a right-wing-back. Hudson-Odoi can’t just show his full potential as a wing-back.
However, with both Werner and Lukaku injured, we’re coming to see Hudson-Odoi show some end product for the team, recording a goal and assists against Malmo and Norwich. Tuchel even adjusted Hudson-Odoi’s position when The Blues needed a goal against Southampton.
His start against Newcastle United could also go a long way both for the player and the club. It will show just how much trust the academy star has earned in the past few weeks. We also expect to see Mason Mount to the team’s line-up and hope to see some magic from him as well.
Summing Up
Overall, while The Blues might seem like a struggling side, especially with the injury woes of its top players, it seems Tuchel is handling it pretty well, and the team is stronger than ever. But we wait to see if Newcastle United might have some tricks up its sleeves and surprise us yet.
