Chelsea Injury News & Return Dates

Chelsea’s injury concerns mount ahead of FA Cup final

Chelsea go into the FA Cup final against Manchester City on 18 May with a massive injury list, and the Blues are sweating over the fitness of several key players. Robert Sanchez, who suffered a head clash with Morgan Gibbs-White, missed the Liverpool trip but has cleared the FA’s return-to-play protocol and is now waiting for the green light for Wembley.

Pedro Neto and Alejandro Garnacho both picked up knocks in training; nothing was deemed serious, but both sat out games against Nottingham Forest and Liverpool. Interim head coach Calum McFarlane told reporters he is “very hopeful” the two wingers make the final, though he warned the situation is still day-to-day.

In more concerning news, Jesse Derry, the teenager who suffered a sickening head collision with Zach Abbott on his Premier League debut against Forest, needed nine minutes of on-pitch treatment before being stretchered off. McFarlane confirmed early signs of Derry’s recovery are “really positive,” though there is no set return date yet.

Estevao, who had only just returned from a previous spell out, pulled his hamstring against Manchester United just 15 minutes in and is done for the season, sparking fears for the Brazilian ahead of the World Cup. Jamie Gittens, sidelined since January with a hamstring injury, suffered a setback that pushed his return beyond the end of the season, according to reports.

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Can Chelsea actually win the FA Cup with half their attack missing?

In all honesty, they can, but it will take a level of tactical discipline from McFarlane that we haven’t always seen. Chelsea still have the quality in Cole Palmer and Joao Pedro to cause City problems, but losing Neto and Garnacho strips away the width that would have given advantage to the Blues.

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Sanchez being available is a massive deal because Filip Jørgensen, while capable, hasn’t been tested on a stage like this. Chelsea’s biggest strength is Palmer’s knack for making something out of nothing; the worry is the brittleness that comes with so many players missing. If Neto and Garnacho do make it back, Chelsea are real contenders. If not, they’ll have to rely on a bit of individual magic to pull it off.