EPL: Conte rules Lenglet out of Tottenham’s trip to Chelsea due to ‘fatigue’

By Our reporter On Aug 12, 2022 0

Antonio Conte has ruled new signing Clement Lenglet out of Tottenham’s trip to Chelsea on Sunday, saying the on-loan Barcelona defender is struggling with fatigue.

The 27-year-old made his Spurs debut on the opening weekend of the season, but only played for four minutes as he came off the bench in the 4-1 win over Southampton.

The France international would have been hoping to make his full debut for his new side at Stamford Bridge but he will have to wait due to an unexpected problem.

The Tottenham manager says Lenglet has a problem of fatigue in his abductor, which is certain to keep him out of the trip from north to west London.

Speaking in a press conference on Friday, Conte said: ‘A little problem with Clement Lenglet. I don’t think he is available for the game against Chelsea or for sure the next game against Wolverhampton [Wanderers]. All the other players are good.

‘It’s a little problem of fatigue [with Lenglet] and he’s a bit tired in his adductor. Nothing serious, only a precaution but it’s not good to take a stupid risk for one game.

‘He’s having training sessions apart but I think it’s good for him to recover well and to have a good training session before he comes back with us.’

Fellow summer signings Yves Bissouma and Ivan Perisic also came off the bench against the Saints, while Spurs fans will likely see their first glimpse of Richarlison on Sunday.

The former Everton man was suspended on the opening weekend, but will hope to get a run out against Chelsea, although it is unlikely to be from the start after a fine start to the campaign with Harry Kane, Heung-min Son and Dejan Kulusevski up front.

It is an example of the excellent options Conte now has at his disposal and the Italian is far happier now than he was last season with his squad.

‘In our squad, I am very happy because I repeat compared to last season we improve our squad with Richi up front, but don’t forget we lost [Steven] Bergwijn,’ said Conte.

‘Then [Bryan] Gil last season went on loan and now he is in the squad in this 20 players. I think as a midfield, we improved with Bissouma and with Winks also and then with Lenglet behind.

‘I think we sign players with common sense to find players with the right characteristics to help us to improve the quality and to have players reliable and ready to have a good impact, not an impact so and so if I have to call them to play.’

‘I was so in love and it felt so special’: Radio presenter Gemma Cairney on her new-found love of wild swimming, why it boosts your mental health and her tips on how to get started

Raheem Sterling sends message to Thomas Tuchel over his best position for Chelsea
The summer signing was used as a false nine against Everton.

latest football news