Mauricio Pochettino expressed concern for Christopher Nkunku’s knee injury sustained during Chelsea’s match against Borussia Dortmund. The forward was forced off in the first half, putting his availability for the Premier League season opener against Liverpool in doubt. Pochettino, hoping for a positive outcome, emphasized the need for further assessment and hoped it was not a serious issue.
Nkunku has been impressive in pre-season, and Chelsea felt the impact of his absence when he left the field. There were speculations that the injury could be attributed to the poor condition of the pitch, but Pochettino dismissed it as mere bad luck, acknowledging that the facilities were primarily used for a different sport.
Despite the injury setback, Chelsea managed to maintain their unbeaten pre-season record with Mason Burstow’s equalizing goal. Levi Colwill, who recently signed a new long-term contract, stood out alongside Thiago Silva in central defense and could potentially start against Liverpool.
Pochettino acknowledged the need for reinforcements in midfield and confirmed ongoing negotiations with Brighton & Hove Albion for Moisés Caicedo. Furthermore, Nkunku’s injury might expedite Chelsea’s pursuit of a striker, potentially involving a swap deal with Juventus that would send Romelu Lukaku to the Italian club in exchange for Dusan Vlahovic. Pochettino is yet to decide on pursuing Vlahovic.
In other news, Chelsea’s interest in Brighton goalkeeper Robert Sánchez and their desire for additional attacking midfield options were mentioned. However, Pochettino emphasized the importance of not making too many additions to the team. Regarding the captaincy, Pochettino did not confirm whether Reece James would take over as Chelsea’s new captain but acknowledged the possibility.
Overall, Pochettino remains hopeful for Nkunku’s recovery and is focused on preparing his team for the upcoming challenges of the Premier League season.
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