Tuchel hopes Chelsea's Kovacic can play through pain in FA Cup final
Thomas Tuchel hopes Mateo Kovacic can play through the pain
barrier as the Chelsea midfielder battles to recover from an ankle injury in
time for Saturday's FA Cup final against Liverpool.
Kovacic limped out of Wednesday's 3-0 win at Leeds after
being caught by Daniel James in a tackle that led to the winger's dismissal.
The Croatian is suffering a recurrence of a previous ankle
problem and Chelsea boss Tuchel said after the Leeds game that it would be a
"miracle" if he could feature at Wembley.
Despite having a heavily swollen ankle, Kovacic planned to
train on Friday in an effort to show he is ready to face quadruple-chasing
Liverpool this weekend.
"We will try it today actually, which is pretty
surprising news where we are in the situation where we can try it," said
Chelsea boss Tuchel.
"Mateo wants to try it and the medical department gave
the green light to try it.
"The ligament is anyway stretched from the last
incident, so there's no new injury but heavy pain, and it's heavily swollen.
"We're hoping that maybe time is enough that he makes
it."
Tuchel believes Kovacic's presence would be a huge boost to
Chelsea's bid to win the FA Cup for the first time since 2018.
The Blues have lost the past two FA Cup finals against
Arsenal and Leicester, while also suffering a penalty shoot-out defeat to Liverpool
in the League Cup final in February.
"In the game (at Leeds) he was very good and in general
he has stepped up again," Tuchel said of Kovacic.
"The quality and personality, his dribbling, carrying
the ball, driving with the ball is excellent, a top team player."
Tuchel must decide whether to recall Kai Havertz at Wembley
in place of Romelu Lukaku, who has struck three times in the last two games.
Lukaku has endured a difficult season following his £97
million ($118 million) move from Inter Milan.
The Belgian angered Tuchel in December when he hinted he
wanted to rejoin Inter and said he was unhappy with the way he was used at
Chelsea.
According to reports in Italy, the striker's agent Federico
Pastorello wants to speak to Chelsea's new owner Todd Boehly about a potential
move back to Serie A.
However, Lukaku responded by claiming he was not involved in
pushing for talks over his future.
"Never ever will I let someone speak for me,"
Lukaku posted on his Instagram story.
"I kept my mouth shut and focused on helping the team
to end the season in the best way possible.
"So if someone out there trying to say something about
me and the club, not in my name."
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