Maurizio Sarri believes Chelsea are “in trouble” for their Europa League semi-final due to a centre back injury crisis.
Gary Cahill will miss Thursday’s semi-final first leg with an Achilles injury, leaving David Luiz and Andreas Christensen as Chelsea’s only fit senior centre backs.
Cesar Azpilicueta will cover centre back at the Commerzbank Arena, with Antonio Rudiger also sidelined for three months after knee surgery.
Gary Cahill is one of several Chelsea defenders who are out injured (Ian Walton/PA)
“Gary Cahill has an Achilles tendon injury,” said Sarri.
“We hope to recover him in one week. So we are in trouble with the centre backs. For the last two trainings we played with Azpilicueta at centre back. So we are in trouble.
“We’ve played 58 matches so injuries are typical. We were lucky previously but not in the last 10 days.”
Chelsea skipper Azpilicueta insisted he is ready to step in at centre back if required.
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Cesar Azpilicueta is ready to play at centre back for Chelsea (Ian Walton/PA)
“I’m ready to play wherever the manager needs me to play,” said Azpilicueta.
“But I can adapt to different positions. So I’m ready for it.”
Sarri explained that Germany defender Rudiger will be sidelined for three months after surgery to repair the meniscus in his knee.
Chelsea’s Italian boss revealed Rudiger actually tore his meniscus in the Blues’ 2-0 Premier League loss at Liverpool on April 14.
Antonio Rudiger has been sidelined following knee surgery (Steven Paston/PA)
Rudiger had battled to play through the problem until the end of the season, with the club aware he would need surgery but also knowing he could not exacerbate the injury.
The 26-year-old returned to action for Sunday’s Manchester United trip then, only to pull up again, unable to push through to the campaign’s conclusion.
“Rudiger is out for at least three months I think,” said Sarri.
“He’s upset of course but is very strong and I’m sure he will come back stronger. We tried to arrive at the end of the season, but the injury was there. He had a problem with his meniscus, it was broken.
“We tried to arrive to the end of the season because sometimes you are able to play for one month (with the injury). But the situation was the same.”
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