Blow For Chelsea As Christopher Nkunku Could Miss Premier League Opener Against Liverpool Due To Injury

Chelsea’s new signing Christopher Nkunku could potentially miss the Premier League opener against Liverpool due to a knee injury sustained during the Blues’ final pre-season friendly match.

Nkunku, who recently completed a £52m move from RB Leipzig, was forced to leave the pitch in the 22nd minute of Chelsea’s 1-1 draw with Borussia Dortmund in Chicago.

With Chelsea gearing up to kick-start their Premier League campaign against Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool in the coming weekend, there are concerns that Nkunku might not be available for the crucial Stamford Bridge clash.

However, Chelsea’s manager, Pochettino, remains hopeful that it is not a serious setback.

“The doctors are checking him, hopefully it is not a big issue,” Pochettino stated.

“He felt something in his knee… hopefully it is not a big issue, and he can rejoin the team quickly. Now we need a few days to assess him, and until we get back to London, it is difficult to know.”

The Soldier Field pitch, where Chelsea played their friendly against Dortmund, was in poor condition after hosting a concert by Ed Sheeran last weekend.

Acknowledging the risk of playing on the imperfect pitch, Pochettino refrained from extensive criticism and attributed the injury to bad luck.

“I didn’t see the action, but I’m not about to complain,” the former Paris Saint-Germain, Tottenham, and Southampton manager asserted.

“Always we take some risks because the pitch is not perfect, as they are using it for different sports, and that is sometimes the risk of the tour, yes. But I think it was a bit unlucky in the situation, and we cannot complain about the pitch and blame it for the injury. For me, it was bad luck.”

Despite the unfortunate injury, Mason Burstow salvaged a late equalizer, securing a 1-1 draw for Chelsea against Borussia Dortmund and ensuring an unbeaten pre-season for Pochettino’s side.

As Chelsea looks ahead to the new Premier League season, they face a formidable challenge in the opening fixture against Liverpool. Pochettino emphasizes that the team must be prepared for the demanding task.

“We should be ready. It is not an option. There is only one option, to be ready, and we are going to be ready,” Pochettino asserted confidently.

Reflecting on their performance in the pre-season, Pochettino expressed satisfaction with the team’s efforts. Despite the draw, he believes Chelsea played brilliantly against a tough opponent like Dortmund.

“I think we deserved to win, but it’s not about the result; it’s about the feelings and performance,” Pochettino shared. “The goal by Mason at the end was a relief, and going back to the feeling, to lose the game was unfair.”

Pochettino is focused on building and evolving the team’s playing style as they approach the competition.

“Now we need to keep working and evolving our way to play and, yes, be ready to start the competition,” Pochettino concluded with determination.