“Tough choices”: Tuchel explains why this Chelsea star was left out of the squad against West Bromwich Albion

Why Tammy Abraham was not in the Chelsea squad for the West Bromwich Albion game

Speaking to TalkSPORT (h/t football.london), Thomas Tuchel revealed if injury had a part to play in Tammy Abraham sitting out for Chelsea against West Bromwich Albion.

The Englishman recently returned from an injury that saw him miss out on an England call-up. And after being passed fit for the game, he was a surprise exclusion from the squad against West Brom.

Chelsea were beaten 5-2 by the Baggies in what was Tuchel’s first defeat as Blues manager. Despite taking the lead, the club capitulated after Thiago Silva was sent off in the 29th minute.

Callum Hudson-Odoi and Tammy Abraham in action for Chelsea against Luton Town. (imago Images)
Callum Hudson-Odoi and Tammy Abraham in action for Chelsea against Luton Town. (imago Images)

Timo Werner did assist Chelsea’s consolation goal in the second half as Olivier Giroud remained the only striker Tuchel had on the bench. The Frenchman remain unused as the Blues suffered a hammer blow in the race for top 4.

No need to worry

And the former PSG boss explained that injury had nothing to do with Abraham missing out from the matchday squad. He said that Chelsea have a lot of good players which means some players will miss out from time to time.

“There are tough choices to make. We take the choices of what the game demands, of what we predict, of the substitutions that we have. In the end, we have to select 18 players for more or less 20 positions. So we have to leave three players out and Tammy was one of the three players.”

Tammy Abraham recently recovered from an injury but was not in the Chelsea squad to face West Bromwich Albion.
Tammy Abraham recently recovered from an injury but was not in the Chelsea squad to face West Bromwich Albion. (imago Images)

Tuchel added that there was nothing personal behind Abraham’s exclusion and that he will get a fair chance to play like everyone else.

“It’s nothing personal or nothing big. He has the same chance to play every three days like everybody else.”

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So, there is at least some positive news from Saturday as Chelsea fans know that Abraham is not again sidelined due to an injury. The Blues now take on FC Porto in the UEFA Champions League quarter-final on Wednesday.