https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/2021/12/26/
tuchel-updates-on-ziyech-and-christensen-and-outlines-concerns-a
Tuchel updates on Ziyech and Christensen and outlines concerns at busy period
26 Dec 2021
Thomas Tuchel is hoping to be able to call upon Hakim Ziyech and Andreas
Christensen for today's Premier League clash at Aston Villa.
https://i.imgur.com/F6jZkbx.jpg
The duo are injury doubts for the festive Boxing Day fixture which comes in
the middle of a relentless run of games and, given the uncertainty around
games being played due to rising cases of Covid-19 in the UK, Tuchel has
admitted he is concerned for player welfare at this stage.
First though, the boss gave an update on Ziyech and Christensen ahead of
the clash against Steven Gerrard's Villa.
'With Hakim, I'm not sure right now about his status,' said our German
head coach. 'He got a kick that was very painful and I don't know whether
he will be fit for Aston Villa yet. We will need to see because there has
not been a lot of time between games.
https://i.imgur.com/HljEpp9.jpg
Tuchel will hope to be able to call upon Ziyech today
'Andreas had an injection in the lower back area recently and is also in a
lot of pain. It's not good when we have issues like this over the past few
days all at the same time when we want to be competitive but we will try
and stay positive and look to arrive at Aston Villa with a full respect
for the competition.'
https://i.imgur.com/vZG6BoE.jpg
Christensen could return to action tonight
Tuchel admitted he does have concerns – like so many other Premier League
managers – at how depleted squads will cope with the relentless fixture
list and the boss admits there is a bigger picture to consider in the
current climate.
Being able to use more substitutes, for example, would help manage the
load according to Tuchel and the German says he has pushed for the
five-sub rule to be reintroduced.
'Of course we are concerned because we are not only footballer players and
coaches but we are also fathers and family members,' explained Thomas. 'So
there are some doubts, fears and concerns at such an uncertain situation.
'Still we know we are so privileged to be able to do our job and do what
we love so much and I have been so impressed by the way the squad have
taken things on.
'The situation and my feelings were a bit different when we arrived in
Wolverhampton with seven positive tests in three days and I feared we were
close to an outbreak and we would need some time to deal with this.
https://i.imgur.com/vDUCrh8.jpg
'We live with it and we will try to be as supportive as possible. At this
moment I would love for us to be able to make five substitutions and this
is something we are pushing. We were able to do five substitutions during
the first lockdown and without this in the current situation, it makes
life very difficult for the players.
'This period is very demanding and very challenging so I think for the
health of the players, we should be allowed five changes to help control
the load.'