Prior to Wednesday night’s Champions League match at Stamford Bridge against AC Milan, Chelsea FC has received a major fitness boost.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and former Palace midfielder Conor Gallagher scored goals for the Blues in a late comeback victory over Crystal Palace for their team.
Late in the weekend, Milan triumphed as well, defeating Empoli away from home with goals from Ante Rebic, Fode Ballo-Toure, and Rafael Leao, who is reportedly a target for Chelsea.
Chelsea, which is currently last in Group E and needs a win to advance further in the Champions League, lost unexpectedly at Dinamo Zagreb and drew their most recent match against Red Bull Salzburg
Graham Potter ahead of Milan: "We're playing a top opponent so we have to play well and create a good atmosphere to get our supporters behind us." • On squad available: "Mendy is fit, Kante is training 'more and more but not fully', Jorginho felt his abdominal vs Palace and is a doubt, as is Havertz. Everyone else is fit including Cucurella. • On the Chelsea owners: "The guys are ambitious, that's for sure. They want to develop the team as we all do. My job as head coach is to develop the team and then help make good decisions when the transfer window is open." • On Nkunku and Cristiano Ronaldo: "I don't speak about players that aren't Chelsea players." • On Kante: "My focus is to help him rehabilitate in a good way so he can be back on the pitch. He is a great asset for us. The other stuff, his contract, is between the club and him." • On Mendy vs Kepa for the No. 1 spot: "In an ideal world, you want football to decide. We've got two ones we trust and that's a good situation for us." • On Rafael Leão: "I've been really impressed with him whenever I've watched the games. He makes the difference for AC Milan with how they score."
N’Golo Kante, Edouard Mendy, and Marc Cucurella joined Potter’s team for practice this week after missing the weekend trip to Selhurst Park.
Due to a knee injury, Mendy has missed the last three games. Kepa Arrizabalaga, the backup goalie, has filled in for Mendy.
Cucurella appears to be healthy again after recovering from the sickness that prevented him from playing last weekend.
ℹ️ Marc Cucurella missed the weekend game against Crystal Palace through illness (throat problem). He was currently in hospital but was said to be fine and expected to return this week. (Nathan Gissing)
Kante, a French international who plays for Tottenham Hotspur, has been sidelined since the tense Tottenham Hotspur derby in mid-August and he has reached full health after suffering a hamstring injury.
It is unclear whether any of the returning trio will go straight into the starting lineup, but Chelsea can now boast an injury-free squad for the visit of the reigning Serie A champions.
Chelsea can now boast an injury-free team for the arrival of the defending Serie A winners, though it is uncertain which of the returning trio will start right away.
