Your Chelsea morning digest on Wednesday, February 23.
Chelsea suffer double injury blow
Chelsea have suffered a double injury scare ahead of the Carabao Cup final this weekend after Mateo Kovacic and Hakim Ziyech both limped off in the first leg of the Lille Champions League knockout tie.
Both players limped off after the interval in what could have handed Liverpool a massive advantage ahead of the cup final on Sunday.
First off, a dazzling Kovacic style run didn't pay any dividends goal wise and unfortunately the after effects meant that the Croatian couldn't continue.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who himself has just returned from an injury, was his replacement on this occasion as Tuchel opted to avoid throwing Jorginho into the fold in case he was to pick up a knock too.
"Must of got a whack first-half and might’ve said, ‘I’ll go out there and see how it is,’ but to make that substitution so quickly after half-time. In a bit of pain isn’t he," commentator Glenn Hoddle said when seeing footage of the midfielder limping down the tunnel in the aftermath of the incident.
These two fresh concerns now mean both could join Callum Hudson-Odoi, Ben Chilwell and Reece James on the injury table whilst the rest of the team travel across the capital to Wembley this weekend.
Read the full story here.
Frank Lampard claim
Former Chelsea winger Florent Malouda has said he found Frank Lampard being in the dugout strange after the midfielder moved into management.
"Sometimes we see each other at club events, but the guys that are based in England, obviously they see each other a little bit more often," Malouda said in an interview with Genting Casino when asked about the squad that won the 2012 Champions League.
"We all went our separate ways. It is really nice to see Frank Lampard in management and Ashley Cole with him. It is great to see Petr Cech, Claude Makélélé and John Terry at the club.
"It is good that these guys are in the game because football provided all us with a lot of emotions. When I saw Frank Lampard in the dugout for the first time, it was kind of strange, but he is a great inspiration for us."
Thomas Tuchel handed Raphinha boost
Chelsea have been handed a boost in the race to sign Leeds winger Raphinha.
The Brazilian has been a stand out performer over the past two seasons and is set to be hot property at the end of the season and according to Transfer News, Chelsea are leading the way for his signature.
The club could be handed a big helping hand in their pursuit as well, with the 25-year-old's release clause set to fall from €75 million (£63m) to €25 million (£21m) if they are relegated.
