Yesterday, Chelsea played a closed-doors friendly against a Queen's Park Rangers youth side, winning 8-0 but more importantly, featuring Eden Hazard and Tiemoué Bakayoko. Both players had been out of contention since preseason due to injury, and this was their first match action of any sort this summer.
With rumors making the rounds that one or both them could be available against Spurs, Conte was asked about their status in his pre-match press conference on Friday. He neither confirmed or denied anything, as expected, but certainly left open the possibility of Bakayoko starting.
“Hazard is improving but to be fully fit he needs time. We must have patience with him and try to do the best for him.”
“Bakayoko is improving very well. He is not at the top physical condition but I think he could be in contention for the game. The situation is not easy in this moment. At this moment I don’t have other midfielders available. I have to make a difficult decision, but Bakayoko could be in contention for the game against Tottenham, why not.”
Another important player who has been off the pitch due to injury issues is Pedro, who continues to nurse an ankle injury and thus remains a doubt.
“About Pedro, today he trained with us and he felt pain in his ankle. I don’t know about Pedro. His situation is very difficult. I don’t know if he is available for the bench on Sunday.”
Conte added that Alvaro Morata is still not quite 100 per cent match fit either, which makes his position yet another one where big decisions will have to be made ... all the while recognizing that rushing players back from injury and pushing them into match action too soon could be just as detrimental as another loss on the scoreboard.
“At the moment some players are not 100 per cent fit. Morata also is another player who needs to continue to work and improve and find the right physical condition. My only worry is when you try to put the players back very early, the risk of getting an injury is high. This is my worry. The physical condition could not be 100 per cent but we have to face this situation.”
-Antonio Conte; source: Chelsea FC
Facing the prospect of Spurs away (even if it will be at Wembley) with a depleted, threadbare squad is nobody's idea of a fun time, but it's exactly what we'll have to do. Any of these three players making even just the bench would be a welcome boost, though hopefully Bakayoko can start and solve our midfield issues in one fell swoop.