Chelsea 1-1 Borussia Dortmund: Mauricio Pochettino left sweating after £52m new-boy Christopher Nkunku limps off in USA
CHELSEA have suffered an injury scare just TEN days before the start of their Premier League campaign after Christopher Nkunku hobbled off in Chicago.
In the Blues’ final match of their pre-season tour of the United States against Borussia Dortmund, £52m summer addition Nkunku was subbed after 20 minutes with a knee injury.
The pitch at the Soldier Field Stadium was in a ropey condition, having held concerts for the likes of Ed Sheeran, Beyonce and Taylor Swift in the month leading up to this clash.
Latching onto a ball in Dortmund’s box, Nkunku appeared to get his left knee caught in the turf before a clash of legs with Mats Hummels.
He went down minutes later and received lengthy treatment, eventually being replaced by Mykhailo Mudryk.
Boss Mauricio Pochettino will be left seething should he lose the French international - who scored three goals in the States - for their Prem opener against Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on August 13.
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Poch's mood was worsened when his side conceded a scrappy goal in the 80th minute - Wolf Marius tapping in from close range - but Chelsea salvaged a late draw thanks to Mason Burstow's header.
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Poch had decided to play what could be his starting line-up to take on Jurgen Klopp’s Reds, pitting arguably his strongest XI against the German side.
Levi Colwill – who has just signed a six-year contract extension – started alongside Thiago Silva in the heart of defence with Reece James and Ben Chilwell at full-back.
James was given the captain’s armband, a sign that the Three Lions international could be made Poch’s captain for the start of the season, the other candidate being veteran Silva.
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Both James and Silva lifted the Premier League Summer Series trophy in Washington, and Poch has remained tight-lipped regarding his decision so far.
Enzo Fernandez and Conor Gallagher made up the midfield with Nkunku and Raheem Sterling as wingers and Carney Chukwuemeka behind Nicolas Jackson.
Chelsea owner Todd Boehly was watching on from the stands, still working hard to bolster Poch’s squad further in the transfer window before the season kicks off.
The American businessman would not have been entertained by the first half action, as both sides struggled to find any rhythm on the dry and bumpy surface.
Nicolas Jackson had two good chances to open the scoring, the latter seeing him round Dortmund keeper Alexander Mayer only to clear the bar after Silva’s impressive pass.
Sterling struggled to make an impact, and dragged his only effort wide.
James was then lucky not to be sent off for a reckless lunge on Mats Hummels that saw his studs connect with the German defender’s right ankle.
Poch did not make any changes at the break, hoping to get minutes in the legs of players that could play a vital role in the early stages of the season.
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Chelsea improved, with Mudryk’s pace terrifying the Dortmund defence. Chukwuemeka should have scored after a fine counter only to see his shot blocked on the line by Hummels.
With 20 minutes left, Marc Cucurella, Ian Maatsen, Bashir Humphreys and Malo Gusto, as well as Lewis Hall and Burstow late in the dying stages, were all brought on – perhaps in an attempt to avoid any more untimely injuries.
