Chelsea players were taken aback after being left out of the squad for their Premier League loss to Tottenham on Sunday.
Manager Graham Potter had some tough decisions to make due to Chelsea’s now-bloated squad and was forced to leave several senior players out, including Trevoh Chalobah, Marc Cucurella, Carney Chukwuemeka and David Datro Fofana – who said they felt “shocked” about missing out.
Multiple new signings in January have led to a selection dilemma for Potter, with Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang amongst those previously snubbed from the matchday squad.
Meanwhile, Potter may be faced with an even bigger decision when the unavailable crew returns to action – citing Mateo Kovacic (illness), Cesar Azpilicueta (concussion), Armando Broja, Christian Pulisic and Eduoard Mendy (long-term absentees) as notable names.
The increased pressure from fans has meant the Chelsea board and directors want to provide support and backing; however, the next two matches are essential in establishing positive momentum.
Leeds at home is described as a ‘must-win’, followed by the second-leg of their last-16 Champions League tie against Borussia Dortmund.
Despite the 1-0 deficit suffered at Signal Iduna Park on February 15th’s first leg, a favourable result could restore hope of making it into the top four of the league table this season.
Article updated 2 months ago. Content is written and modified by multiple authors.
