CHELSEA is sweating Reece James’ scan results.
The England star, 22, had to help Brighton to a 1-1 draw after damaging a hamstring in the first half of Wednesday night.
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It looked like a potentially serious injury as he descended too slowly down the tunnel on crutches with the help of two blues physios.
Thomas Tuchel may be praying it’s not as bad as previously feared, especially in the week when it was confirmed that fellow flying wing-back Ben Chilwell needed surgery on a knee problem and was in the lurch for the rest of the season. Will be outside
Speaking on James’ injury after the game, Tuchel mourned, as reported by the Daily Mail: “It’s a hamstring injury. We won’t look forward to Liverpool anymore. We can’t. We have to let the players play.” We have to try. We don’t have any other wingbacks. Everyone is injured.”
Chelsea’s problems were further compounded by the arrival of Andreas Christensen with a back issue at half-time.
On top of that, Tuchel said the club had seven Covid cases and several other long-term injuries.
As a result, the German claimed after the draw with Albion that it would be “stupid” to think the Blues could maintain a title charge with all their selection problems.
He was furious: “How are we supposed to be in this? We have seven Covid cases. We have five or six players for six or more weeks. How should we compete in a title race?
“Everyone else who has a full team, everyone in training has all the power to come through this league.
“It would be foolish to think that we can make it out of covid and injuries and just play, and it would be foolish to do that without everyone being 23 fit players.”
European champions Chelsea are now eight points behind leaders Manchester City as a result of stuttering to four draws in their last five home league matches.
They have advanced in three of them – against Burnley, Everton and Brighton – only to go backwards.
Their chances of losing to Liverpool at home on Sunday and City’s chase look slim.
Captain Cesar Azpilicueta, who made his 450th appearance for the club against the Seagulls, said: “The Premier League is the toughest league in the world, and every opponent is very difficult. But when you don’t get three points, it’s very frustrating. .
“We want to win the game and hope we can give our fans a good start to the new year in front of the fans against Liverpool.
“It’s a tough moment, but we need to stick together and dig in.
“It is not an easy situation but this is how we have to overcome these difficult moments.”
