Tuchel admits senior Chelsea stars could feature in U23 relegation decider

Thomas Tuchel admits senior Chelsea stars could feature in U23 relegation decider

Updated: July 22, 2022 at 12:11 am GMT+1

Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel has refused to rule out the possibility of members of his first-team squad featuring in a crucial outing for the club's U23 outfit this weekend.

For those not aware, the Blues' up-and-coming crop of academy talent are currently in the midst of a battle against the drop.

Just a year on from finishing as runners-up to Manchester City in the Premier League 2 table, Andy Myers' troops have seen their form fall off a cliff, now sitting two points from safety with a solitary game to play.

With Leeds United above them having already seen out their 26th and final outing of the season, though, Chelsea are aware that a victory over capital rivals Tottenham on Sunday would see them stave off relegation by a solitary point.

And, as alluded to above, if the latest comments on the part of Thomas Tuchel are anything to go by, then the survival hopes of the club's U23s could yet be afforded a major boost, by none other than the Pensioners' senior stars.

When drawn on the precarious situation facing Myers' side on Friday, Chelsea's boss confirmed that he is ready to consider allowing 'some players' from his squad to feature at Cobham in 48 hours' time:

“Of course, we hope for the very best and at the same time we play here with the under-23s, a crucial match to avoid relegation and it will maybe involve some players for us we will see what is on Saturday.”

Tuchel has suggested some senior squad players could play for #CFC’s Under-23s on Sunday. They need to beat #THFC to avoid relegation. More here: https://t.co/vfc8FvwDUQ
— Simon Johnson (@SJohnsonSport) May 6, 2022

Wolves test

Tuchel's comments of course come ahead of the German guiding his own troops back into action tomorrow afternoon.

Fresh off an alarming defeat at the hands of relegation-battling Everton last time out, Chelsea are set to welcome Wolves to Stamford Bridge on Saturday, eyeing a swift return to winning ways.

Such efforts, though, will come sans the services of a number of key performers, with the Blues' boss having confirmed earlier today that all of N'Golo Kante, Jorginho, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Ben Chilwell have been ruled out through injury.

Tuchel says Kante, Jorginho, Hudson-Odoi and Chilwell are out vs Wolves. #CFC
— Nizaar Kinsella (@NizaarKinsella) May 6, 2022

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Conor Laird

Die-hard Juventus fan with a love for all things Italian, and a real soft spot for Arsenal cult heroes. Emmanuel Eboue, Nicklas Bendtner, Philippe Senderos... Give them all statues outside the Emirates.