Chelsea have imposed extra-stringent Covid restrictions on their squad in Abu Dhabi in a bid to avoid further disrupting their trophy hunt.
Thomas Tuchel was left behind when the European champions flew out for the Club World Cup on Saturday night after testing positive ahead of their FA Cup fourth-round tie with Plymouth.
It means the German faces a race to join up with his players in time for Saturday’s final – should they overcome Al Hilal on Wednesday.
But the club had already put in place plans to limit the chances of more Covid outbreaks by imposing strict rules at their Ritz Carlton base in the Emirates.
Players and staff will observe the ‘bubble’ protocols put in place by the Premier League, despite rules being more relaxed at the Club World Cup.
That is expected to see them largely remain within the compounds of their base other than for training or matches.
Tuchel has already seen his hopes of challenging for the league title severely disrupted by a surge in Covid cases over Christmas and New Year. Along with injuries it contributed to the alarming run of just three wins in 11 league games between November and January.
With their injury list clearing up, Tuchel is hoping to reignite their campaign in the second half of the season, with his side still in contention in every cup competition.
Chelsea face Lille in the Champions League when they return from Abu Dhabi – and then take on Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final on February 27.
Tuchel and his staff are taking all precautions to avoid their campaign being further hindered by absences.
On Friday he spoke of his hope that his team were over the worst of Covid cases – only to test positive the next day, leaving assistant Arno Michels to take charge of the 2-1 extra-time win against Plymouth. Chelsea have now been drawn against Luton in the fifth-round.
Winger Callum Hudson-Odoi has outlined the team’s aim to complete a clean sweep in the cups – starting in Abu Dhabi.
“We know we set our minds to winning as many trophies as possible and when we have the opportunity to play cup competitions we always try to get as far as possible,” he said.
“We’re in the finals of the Club World Cup and we want to carry on winning trophies.
“We know how difficult the competition will be. For us, it’s major because we’ve won the Champions League, we won the Super Cup and it’s a huge thing.
We all know how big it is and it’s a difficult competition to win.
“We want to make it three, make it really special for this team and to do it in the middle of the season is great because it’s good for our confidence as well and for what we can do in the rest of the season.
“We know it will be difficult, it will be different out there, a different climate and set up but, hopefully we can get the result and lift the trophy. It’s a great opportunity.
“It’s big for all of us, we all know how big it is and it’s a difficult competition to win so we’ll go out there determined to make some history.
“It’s so enjoyable to play cup competitions and win trophies while it’s a thrill to play in these matches.
“Hopefully we can go as far as possible in every competition, win as much as we can.”
