Tuchel updates on Thiago Silva injury, Pulisic absence, Werner ‘dead leg’

After a few weeks of nearly spotless health, injuries have crept back into Chelsea’s game, with the likes of N’Golo Kanté, Kurt Zouma, and Kai Havertz all dealing with recent knocks. Joining them is Thiago Silva this week, who limped out in the first-half against Spurs on Thursday with a suspected thigh injury.

That injury kept the veteran defender out of Sunday’s win against Sheffield United, and is likely to keep him out for at least another week, missing games against Barsnley (FA Cup, Thursday) and Newcastle (Sunday). Tuchel hopes to have him back for the match against Southampton in 13 days.

“With Thiago, we are fighting for him every day but he will be for sure out for the FA Cup so it will take time.

“It will be several days but we set the goal, I would like him back for maybe Southampton, that’s realistic but also ambitious. I know Thiago, he will do everything to be ready as soon as possible but it is a muscle injury so you cannot take any risk.”

While Silva’s absence was expected, a surprise omission from the matchday squad was young Christian Pulisic, who had been used as a game-changing sub by Tuchel in the previous three games.

As the head coach revealed after the game, Pulisic was excused from the squad to attend to a family matter. (And don’t worry, Twitter made all the obvious Super Bowl jokes already, so you don’t have to lower yourself to that level.)

“Christian has some family issues to resolve and family is always first so we decided to give him a rest for this game.”

It’s unclear how long Pulisic may be absent.

Photo by OLI SCARFF/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

Fortunately, fellow forward Timo Werner is not expected to miss any time after being forced off with a “dead leg” (i.e. contusion) in last night’s win. Timo got injured in the collision with the goalkeeper that won Chelsea what proved to be the winning penalty, and he asked to be substituted so that Chelsea would finish game with 11 rather than just “10.5” players.

Tuchel doesn’t think the injury is anything to worry about however, and such things do tend to clear up in the matter of days normally.

“I’m not sure how you say it in English, you call it a “dead leg” or something? That describes it good. It’s not serious, It is very painful for him in this moment but now, I think he’ll be fine.”

-Thomas Tuchel; source: Football.London

Since our next game is against Barnsley in the FA Cup, we certainly don’t need to rush anyone back at the moment. There are plenty of options for rotation, and several players who could use a bit of a runout.