Injury Setback For Chelsea Before Leeds United FA Cup Match

Christopher Nkunku is “undergoing medical assessment” in advance of Chelsea's FA Cup match against Leeds United on Wednesday. Since joining the Blues during the summer transfer window of 2023, the Frenchman has battled injury issues.

Nkunku suffered a knock during Chelsea's Carabao Cup final loss to Liverpool on Sunday, despite playing for just over an hour overall. After joining Chelsea from RB Leipzig, the forward has only appeared in ten games across all competitions, scoring twice during that time.

“We heard yesterday that Nkunku was injured. We don't know when he got injured,” Pochettino said in his pre- match press conference on Tuesday.

He added: “We need to see. At the moment, it's three or four weeks maybe out. We hope no more.”

Pochettino disclosed that Nkunku's numerous injuries have made it “difficult” for him to catch up with the Premier League. “He finds it challenging, yes.” Pochettino stated, “We watched and he was flying in preseason until he sustained the knee injury. It's been almost eight months, and even when he was ready to play again, he was never the same player as before.”

“We have in our head, the best Nkunku that everyone knows from Germany, but that isn't the same player. Then sometimes that is why it is unfair to judge. The situation is always completely different. In that case, for the team, yes it is not a good thing for us. We cannot provide the team a player that can perform and score goals.”

Nine players are on the list as of Tuesday afternoon, when the club released its most recent injury report. “In partial team training for reconditioning phase” refers to Marc Cucurella and Thiago Silva's current state.

Following his team's loss to Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday, Pochettino was questioned regarding the health of his players. “They are all exhausted,” he remarked. It's never simple to bounce back after losing a final.”

“But I am so happy because they are really focused, they move forward. If you ask the players today if they want to be involved tomorrow in the game. Disappointed because we cannot win the Carabao Cup but we need to move on and compete tomorrow. I'm happy because they react well and they are in a very positive moment.”

Pochettino was also questioned about whether he thought he would have enough time to make a change. He said, “It's not in my hands.”

“Our rapport with the owners and sporting directors is excellent. It all comes down to trust. The coach has no say in the matter,” he said.

Following the game, there was a lot of discussion regarding the two players' relationship, especially after a video appeared on social media showing Pochettino ostensibly declining to shake hands with Boehly after the latter went up to claim his runners-up medal. However, that has been minimized.