Chelsea have been hit by another injury blow after winger Pedro Neto was forced to sit out training ahead of their Champions League meeting with Qarabag. The Blues held a session on Tuesday morning before flying to Azerbaijan for their fourth league phase match. That Neto has now joined the growing list of Enzo Maresca concerns only makes things worse.
Neto doubtful for Qarabag clash
Neto was substituted by Estevao in the 85th minute Chelsea’s 1-0 win over Tottenham on Saturday. The Portugal forward is now a big doubt for Wednesday’s visit to Azerbaijan. His absence might also lead Maresca to tweak his forward line, especially after rotating heavily in the last few matches.
The Chelsea manager played 10 different players in each match against Wolves and Tottenham with a view to the fitness of his squad during an arduous schedule. The injury to Neto compounds the stress, with key stars such as Enzo Fernandez, Moises Caicedo and Joao Pedro all currently nursing minor injuries. The trio all trained on Tuesday and are likely to play despite having knocks.
Ongoing fitness issues pile up
Chelsea are still missing long-term absentees Cole Palmer, Benoit Badiashile and Dario Essugo. Palmer and Badiashile will not be fit until December, with Essugo still working his way back from a thigh operation and hopes of being in contention early next year. Defender Levi Colwill represents another long term knee-injury victim and remains in the early stages of his rehabilitation.
Injuries notwithstanding, Chelsea are back on track after the shock defeat at the hands of Sunderland. Consecutive victories over Wolves and Tottenham have hoisted them to seventh in the Premier League and into the Carabao Cup quarterfinals.
Author’s opinion
Neto’s absence may disturb Chelsea’s rhythm, but it is Maresca’s rotation strategy that has kept performances at their optimum. The team has been strong in recent times despite injury setbacks, and depth in the wide areas softens the blow. Still, though, the intense Champions League points will test Chelsea again without their important players on the pitch.
