Chelsea boss confirms injury blow for Real Madrid

Chelsea boss, Thomas Tuchel, has confirmed Mateo Kovacic will miss the Champions League semi-final first-leg tie with his old club Real Madrid.

Kovacic has been unavailable for the Blues’ last three matches after injuring his hamstring in the lead-up to the Champions League quarter-final with Porto.

The 26-year-old has been a regular for Chelsea for much of this season, starting 27 of their 37 Premier League and Champions League matches this season, so would almost certainly have been at least in the squad for Tuesday’s trip to Madrid.

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But on Friday Tuchel confirmed Kovacic will miss Saturday’s crucial match with West Ham and the midweek clash against his former club.

Tuchel is hopeful Kovacic, who signed for the Blues permanently in the summer of 2019 after a season on loan, should be ready for the May 1 clash with another London rival, Fulham, though.

“Me personally, I hope (he will be ready) for Fulham,” Tuchel said during his pre-match press conference. “Don’t take it for granted or that it is medical advice, this is just my personal opinion.

“I think it’s maybe possible to be back against Fulham, in-between the Madrid games.

“I think Madrid could be close as he’s not trained with the team. To be realistic, tomorrow is a game, then two days to prepare for Madrid, without training, it will not happen. Hopefully Fulham is a realistic target.”