Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has been stung by a double injury blow around 24 hours before the first leg of the Conference League semi-final against Djurgarden in Stockholm
Robert Sanchez and Christopher Nkunku have not travelled with the rest of the Chelsea squad for the Conference League semi-final first leg against Djurgarden on Thursday.
football.london understands Sanchez got a kick to the leg during Saturday afternoon’s 1-0 win against Everton and has been left at home in precaution. Likewise, Nkunku suffered a small knock in training this week and has also been left back in England.
While Sanchez would have likely started on the bench anyway with Filip Jorgensen being the Conference League goalkeeper, it comes as a particular blow for Nkunku. The Frenchman has featured in nine of the Blues’ European matches this season, scoring five goals and assisting three times in the process.
Chelsea are looking to reach the final of the Conference League for the first time in the club’s history. The Blues have already won the Champions League and Europa League, so adding this competition to their trophy cabinet would make them the first club in history to have been successful in all three.
However, with a crucial Premier League match against Liverpool on Sunday afternoon, the west Londoners have less than 72 hours between the end of their match in Stockholm and kick-off at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea are locked in an intense battle for a top-five spot with just four matches of the season remaining in the top-flight.
So far in the Conference League, head coach Enzo Maresca has managed his squad well; allowing the fringe players minutes in Europe while using his high profile stars in the league. With the competition at this late stage, though, and a potential bit of silverware for the Italian coach in his debut season with the club, it will be extremely interesting to see how he approaches Thursday evening’s first leg at the 3 Arena in Sweden.
