Team News: Tuchel rules out Chelsea quartet for crucial UCL clash vs Juventus

Thomas Tuchel has ruled out four Chelsea stars including Reece James and N’Golo Kante for Juventus clash

Speaking in the pre-match press conference on Tuesday (h/t football.london), Thomas Tuchel revealed that four Chelsea stars- Reece James, Mason Mount, Christian Pulisic, and N’Golo Kante will miss the clash against Juventus.

The Blues take on the Old Lady on Wednesday in an important UEFA Champions League group stage match. Chelsea and Juventus both have three points after matchday 1 in Group H as they beat Zenit and Malmo respectively.

The two teams would want to qualify as group winners and would know that matches against each other would determine that to a large extent. But for Chelsea, they would have to play without four influential stars.

Chelsea have a bright talent in English midfielder, Mason Mount.
Chelsea have a bright talent in English midfielder, Mason Mount. (imago Images)

Tuchel revealed that Mount, James, and Pulisic will not take part in the match tomorrow, while N’Golo Kante will also be sidelined after testing positive for Covid-19.

“Christian, Reece and Mason are out through injury. N’Golo has tested poisitive for Covid-19.”

Covid-19 has taken the world by a storm since early 2020 and the debate around vaccinations to help prevent the spread and symptoms of the virus has surprisingly divided opinions all over the world.

N'Golo Kante has tested positive for Covid.-19.
N’Golo Kante has tested positive for Covid.-19.

According to Tuchel, he isn’t particularly aware of who is or isn’t vaccinated at Chelsea, and believes that footballers, like all other individuals, have the right of choice and privacy in that regard.

“I don’t know, I simply don’t know [on which Chelsea players aren’t vaccinated]. We are a reflection of society, the players are adults and they have a free choice. We should accept it. This is more or less all I can say. I know the situation is far from over. It makes you very aware it is not over.”

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It would be interesting to see how Chelsea line up against a Juventus side that have failed to make a mark in the Serie A this season. A repeat of the 3-5-2 that we saw against Manchester City last weekend may not be a bad option in that regard.