Chelsea and Premier League fans have been looking forward with curiosity and excitement to the debuts of Christopher Nkunku and Romeo Lavia for Chelsea and the Blues’ boss Mauricio Pochettino has provided an update on their debuts.
Both players were barely introduced to the club’s fans when they picked up long term injuries in pre-season.
Nkunku, who joined from German Bundesliga side Red Bull Leipzig after a fine season that saw him earn the biggest individual awards, went down after picking up a knee injury during a pre-season game. Lavia, on the other hand, picked up an ankle injury in pre-season training.
The Belgian would recover only to relapse before making his official debut. The Frenchman, meanwhile, had no official return date up until he was earmarked for a December return to the training pitch in September.
Both players were captured in training with their teammates sometime last week, giving Chelsea fans hope. However, they will have to wait a little longer for their debuts to the disappointment of the fans.
Chelsea face Manchester United on Wednesday in the Premier League and Pochettino has ruled both players out of contention for the match. He is uncertain about their return at the weekend for their Everton fixture as well. However, he insinuated that they will both make their official Chelsea debuts in December.
Pochettino said: “Hope soon. He [Nkunku] is not involved tomorrow [against Man United]… I think it is like we always tell you, it’s about assessing day by day. Sometimes we become excited when we see on the pitch and we want to have the player as soon as possible but I think we need to be careful and of course when he is ready he is going to be really strong.”
“Romeo is doing well also but like Christopher is not going to be involved.”
Meanwhile, Pochettino was asked about his thoughts on the struggles at Manchester United.
The Argentine tactician was in the running to be appointed as the Red Devils manager. Many tabloids even claimed that he was the preferred choice of Sir Alex Ferguson, the legendary United manager who brought them their most successful eras.
He is now going to face them for the first time since being rejected in favour of Erik ten Hag and was asked about his thoughts on their struggles. He was also asked if he had any advice for his colleague.
“No. I am only a coach that tries to do my best with my coaching staff,” he said at the pre-match press conference after the Nkunku and Lavia injury update. “We are not capable of giving advice to my colleagues.”
“I think they have experience. I don’t want to talk about what is going on there or another place because it is not my duty. I need to be focused because we have many things to deal with and I am very respectful.”
