Chelsea’s match against Manchester City at Wembley on Saturday evening will see them try to capitalize on Chelsea’s extra 48 hours of rest. While their rivals hope to win the FA Cup for a second consecutive year, the Blues are looking to make it to their fourth FA Cup final in five years.
However, after crushing Everton on Monday night, Mauricio Pochettino’s team is entering the match in better form. After losing to Real Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday night on penalties shootout, Pep Guardiola’s team will need to bounce back.
Carlo Ancelotti took the reigning cup winners to 120 minutes and beyond, and they have a significant physical and mental recovery task ahead of them. Following yet more fitness issues that surfaced against Everton, Chelsea has more pressing issues of their own.
The most recent news from the Blues treatment room can be found here on football.london.
According to the official club website, Christopher Nkungu has resumed participating in team training to some extent. Due to a hamstring problem, the 26-yeald forward has missed the majority of the season.
“They assess him day by day, and in the last few days, he has the potential to be involved in some parts of the training session,” stated Pochettino. We now need to watch his body’s response and his evolution. We’re hoping he can get started soon.”
May is a potential return date.
In the 72nd minute of the match against Everton, Noni Madueke was substituted out due to several forceful challenges that necessitated his examination by club physiotherapists. Madueke looked worse for wear from one of those challenges, but his number was visible, and he seemed to be trying to tell the bench that he was still good to go.
Madueke went straight down the tunnel when Carney Chukwuemeka took his place, but he later came back to watch the last few minutes from the bench. Since Pochettino left the player off of his pregame press conference, it is anticipated that he will be OK to play on Saturday.
