Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel has conducted his pre-match press conference ahead of Sunday’s clash against Manchester United at Stamford Bridge.
The trip to the Champions League holders will be Michael Carrick’s first as caretaker manager of the club.
The Blues head into Sunday’s clash three points clear at the top of the Premier League and off the back of a 4-0 Champions League win against Juventus.
At his press conference, Tuchel was asked for a fitness update ahead of the game.
He said that Mateo Kovacic and Ben Chilwell are both ruled out of the clash and that would it take a “miracle” for N’Golo Kante to be passed fit.
Tuchel said: “Kova is still out for the game on Sunday. N’Golo twisted his knee a little bit against Juventus and feels better but it seems he will be out for some days.
“We still have a little hope but it’s almost a miracle if he makes it.
“Ben is out, he has a partial tear of his ACL [anterior cruciate ligament], and the decision is to treat it conservatively. The next six weeks will tell the story if he makes it and be available or if he will need surgery.”
Sunday’s clash will present the first opportunity for Romelu Lukaku to face his former club, after leaving Old Trafford for Inter Milan in August 2019.
But Tuchel declared that the chances of the Belgian starting against his former side were “not very high”.
Speaking on Lukaku, Tuchel added: “The possibility he starts is not very high because we can’t be sure what happens in the match and we have to find the balance to giving minutes and being absolutely competitive for 90 minutes.”
When asked about Manchester United’s slump in form and chances of winning at the bridge, Tuchel felt Carrick’s side possess talented players, who are of the “highest level”.
Tuchel concluded: “I would never write anybody off in this game. They are a big club and have experienced players. We must not let them perform because if we do, we will see the talent of these players because they are at the highest level.”
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