Chelsea sweating on the fitness of Thiago Silva and Kurt Zouma
According to the Express, Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel will hope that Thiago Silva and Kurt Zouma will return to full fitness soon.
The duo formed the Blues’ first choice center-back pairing under Frank Lampard and were the club’s best two defenders this season. The same cannot be said of their life under Tuchel.
The German has made use of Silva when possible but Zouma is yet to feature, even as a substitute. Antonio Rudiger appears to have returned to contention while Andreas Christensen too impressed in a cameo against Tottenham Hotspur.
While Christensen and Rudiger do provide options, the Blues do not have a fifth choice defender to step in if needed. As Liverpool have experienced this season, one can not have enough dependable centre-backs to call upon.
The Blues started off with five senior players in the position but decided to loan out Fikayo Tomori in January. Tuchel has so far looked to deploy three at the back and it has thus far shown promise.
Cesar Azpilicueta has returned to the starting XI and can deputize in the rearguard if needed. Any complication could force Tuchel to further tinker with his formation.
A summer decision made easy?
Keeping Tomori would certainly have made the German’s life easier. The young defender has so far impressed at AC Milan and it remains to be seen if he has played his last game for the Blues.
Chelsea do have another young defender, Marc Guehi, who has gone from strength to strength on loan at Swansea City. The Blues are keen to overhaul their defence and come this summer, Tuchel might very well discover he has what he needs already at the club.
Both Silva and Zouma are a doubt to face off against Sheffield United. The former especially has been a definitive presence in the Blues defence and will be missed.
The veteran has since vowed to come back stronger as the Blues look to end the season on a high.