Mason Mount and Conor Gallagher are at risk of being unavailable for Chelsea in the Champions League round of 16 due to UEFA suspension rules. The Blues duo are both one booking away from picking up three yellow cards in the group stage which accumulates to a one-match suspension.
Though it's not just Mount and Gallagher that Graham Potter must consider ahead of the Blues' clash with Dinamo Zagbreb. Kepa Arrizabalaga, Thiago Silva, Raheem Sterling and Kalidou Koulibaly have all been shown one yellow card throughout the group stage so, unless they're handed their marching orders this evening, they will be available for selection in the of the round of 16 first-leg.
Reece James has also received one booking, but the defender is out injured. According to UEFA regulations, all yellow cards expire after the completion of the quarter-finals and do not carry forward to the semi-finals.
READ MORE: Chelsea provides injury update for long-term absentees Wesley Fofana and Reece James
Therefore, there is a chance that Mount and Gallagher do not feature for Chelsea against the Croatian side. But, should they both appear and receive yellow cards vs Zagreb then they would serve a one-match ban - missing the round of 16 first-leg - but their booking tally would be cleared until the wipe post-quarter-finals.
Jose Mourinho infamously played a similar trick a few years ago during his stint at Real Madrid. Sergio Ramos and Xabi Alonso were both one booking away from a one-match suspension with a game still to play in the Champions League group stage.
And, it's said that the former Chelsea boss told the duo to each pick up said yellow cards so that they'd be available for the knockout stages with a wiped booking tally to their name. Alonso and Ramos time-wasted, in separate incidences, and they both picked up suspensions.
Unsurprisingly, Real Madrid was punished for the stunt. A UEFA statement said: "Players Xabi Alonso and Sergio Ramos were fined €20,000, Iker Casillas was fined €10,000 and Jerzy Dudek was fined €5,000.
"The red cards given to Alonso and Ramos stand, and they have therefore been suspended for one Uefa club competition match. The control and disciplinary body has decided to fine Real Madrid CF €120,000. An appeal may be lodged against the ruling within three days of the dispatch of the reasoning for the decision."
With Chelsea guaranteed a place in the Champions League knockout stages, they could the likes of Borussia Dortmund, Inter Milan, Eintracht Frankfurt and Benfica, subject to tonight's results.
READ NEXT:
Chelsea told staggering Jude Bellingham transfer price amid Liverpool 'agreement'
Chelsea set for £160m January transfer windfall as Graham Potter forms 2022 World Cup plan
Every word Graham Potter said on Chelsea vs Dinamo Zagreb, Zakaria, Kovacic, Koulibaly and Kepa
Chelsea's next four fixtures compared to Man City, Arsenal, Tottenham with two top four deciders
Chelsea news and transfers LIVE: All the latest news, rumours and gossip from Stamford Bridge
