Eleven players will miss the Chelsea vs Tottenham Premier League clash this weekend, with almost all of them sidelined by injuries.
Each side arrives on the back of a good result. Chelsea beat Everton 2-0, and Spurs claimed their first league victory of the campaign by beating Coventry City 3-1.
Both Alonso and Roberto De Zerbi have spoken publicly about the fitness of their squads since then. Their earlier fixtures left each club with a mixture of positive and negative news on injuries.
Football London reports that Emiliano Martinez is the latest name on the injury list. The goalkeeper had an operation on a broken jaw after clashing heads with Jarred Branthwaite in the Everton match.
In a message he posted from hospital earlier this week, the Argentine said he expects to return 'in a few weeks'.
Ahead of the match, Alonso gave reporters an update on the player's recovery after his operation. “He's doing better. He had the surgery. Day by day, he's feeling better, but we still need to wait. A few weeks, a few weeks. Hopefully less than more, but we need to wait.”
He went on to say, “The good thing is that he’s feeling better. He wants to listen to his feelings, the opinion of the doctors, the specialists, the surgeons. Considering it was a bad one, he’s been good.”
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Chelsea have confirmed that Martinez has undergone knee surgery and is expected to be sidelined for roughly three months. This puts him alongside Reece James, the team's skipper, among those unavailable.
Jamie Gittens, a wide forward, is also likely to miss the Spurs game. He is still recovering from an ankle problem he picked up while playing for England Under-21s during the recent hiatus for national teams.
The full list of the players who will miss out on the game:
Chelsea
- Emiliano Martínez – Out (fractured jaw from the Everton match)
- Reece James – Unavailable; he has had surgery on his knee and is likely to be sidelined for roughly three months
- Jamie Gittens – Unavailable; he is still getting over an injury to his ankle
- Pep Chavarría – Out (training injury)
- Emmanuel Emegha – Doubtful / Minor setback in training
- Mykhailo Mudryk – Out (illness)
Tottenham Hotspur
- Rodrigo Bentancur – Out (serving a red-card suspension)
- Destiny Udogie – Out (ruled out as a precaution)
- Xavi Simons – Out (anterior crusade ligament injury)
- Wilson Odobert – Out (anterior crusade ligament injury)
- Savio – Out (muscle/knock)
- Lucas Bergvall – Out (knock)
Pedro Porro returns to the squad after recovering from a hamstring issue.
James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski are back from their respective long-term/complex knee injuries. Although, manager Roberto De Zerbi noted their starting status may be managed with caution.
What These Injuries could mean in the Chelsea Vs Tottenham Match
Chelsea (Xabi Alonso)
- Pressure at the back and in goal: With captain Reece James (knee) and goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez (broken jaw) both missing, the team will also be without other first-choice players and important squad options. As a result, they must continue relying on improvised defensive arrangements and younger players.
- Settled where it counts: Despite those absences, Chelsea have recently found some stability in defence. They have achieved this by fielding a back line comprising Levi Colwill, Maxence Lacroix and Josh Acheampong.
- Dependence on the attack: Newly signed Emmanuel Emegha is yet to make his full debut and Jamie Gittens is injured. As a result, Chelsea will lean heavily on their established front three of Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers and Joao Pedro to probe a vulnerable Tottenham defence.
Tottenham Hotspur (Roberto De Zerbi)
- Thin and short of creativity in midfield: Spurs have taken a heavy blow in the centre of the pitch. Rodrigo Bentancur is serving a suspension, and injuries to Xavi Simons, Savio and Lucas Bergvall, some long-term and some short-term. This leave fewer options for rotation.
- Worries at the back and on the wings: With Destiny Udogie (knee) out and Tosin Adarabioyo in doubt, Tottenham's ability to hold firm at the back is stretched. However, Pedro Porro's return is a big lift on the flank.
- A compromise in approach: De Zerbi must manage a weakened midfield when moving the ball forward against Chelsea's high-intensity press. Added responsibility is placed on the centres and forwards he does have, such as Dominic Solanke and James Maddison, to make the most of counter-attacks.
Final Thoughts
The absence of key players could influence both teams' performances, making squad depth and tactical decisions even more important. Fans will be eager to see how Chelsea and Tottenham cope with these setbacks when Chelsea vs Tottenham gets underway.
Also Read: Chelsea vs Tottenham: 5 Battles That Could Decide the Derby
