Tuchel concerned about virus 'lottery'

LONDON • It is not a coincidence Chelsea's form has tailed off in recent weeks, with fixture congestion taking a toll on the team.

The Blues were top of the Premier League at the start of December but have since slipped to third, four points behind leaders Manchester City (41).

They have dropped seven points in the past six games and their previously solid backline, which had let in only three goals in their opening 10 league games, has been breached nine times in the last six.

Having already played five of their nine scheduled games across three competitions this month, injuries are piling up, while Covid-19 has also been an unwelcome distraction.

Chelsea revealed before their midweek 1-1 draw with Everton that Romelu Lukaku, Timo Werner and Callum Hudson-Odoi had tested positive for the virus, making them a doubt for today's trip to eighth-placed Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Ben Chilwell has also been infected but the defender is already out for the long term after his anterior cruciate ligament injury last month. Along with the quartet, Kai Havertz was missing for the Everton game due to illness unrelated to Covid-19.

The midfielder has returned to the fold after recovering but Thomas Tuchel is concerned about his growing absentee list, which is hampering his efforts to address Chelsea's blip.

"No more positive tests but the lottery starts again tomorrow morning or tomorrow afternoon," the Blues manager said ahead of their visit to Molineux.

"We are happy at the moment that Kai has more than only one negative result, so he was back in training... We left Kai out because he felt unwell and we thought there was a possibility he might be positive.

"Mateo Kovacic is back in his first training session today. Jorginho is a doubt as he is in pain, Ruben Loftus-Cheek is a doubt because he is in pain. I don't know if they can play on Sunday."

Playing more games over the Christmas period is a first for Tuchel, who was used to a winter break during his time in the Bundesliga and Ligue 1.

The 48-year-old joined in January, replacing the sacked Frank Lampard, so he did not get to experience the hectic nature of the Christmas period - traditionally the busiest time for English football - last season.

On the non-stop sequence of games, Tuchel said: "Normally, I had a short break and holiday but then I switched on the TV and was happy to see football. It is very unique.

"It is very tiring, it makes you fatigued and it's not always the most pleasant thing but at the same time, it is."

REUTERS

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CHELSEA V WOLVES