Thomas Tuchel will be without four key Chelsea players for tomorrow’s Champions League clash against Juventus and confirmed N’Golo Kante has contracted coronavirus.

The 30-year-old will now miss tomorrow’s heavyweight clash against the Italian giants, as well as Saturday’s Premier League match against Southampton.

Tuchel will also be without Christian Pulisic and Mason Mount, as well as Reece James, who also looks set to miss the trip to St Mary’s with an ankle injury.

Tuchel said: “Christian, Reece, Mason are out due to injury, Reece’s injury is still very painful.

“It will come down to pain management in the end. It comes down to how much we can expect. We are looking at a minimum of one more week.”

In light of Kante’s situation, meanwhile, Tuchel insisted he did not know what proportion of his squad is currently fully vaccinated, but distanced himself from the suggestion that footballers should be setting an example and encouraging to the general population to follow suit.

He said: “I don’t know, I simply don’t know (how many are vaccinated). We are a reflection of society, the players are adults and they have a free choice.

‘We should accept it. This is more or less all I can say. I know the situation is far from over. It makes you very aware it is not over.

“Do I have the right to say it? I’m not so sure. It is a serious question, vaccinations seems to be a proper protection, I am vaccinated but I don’t see myself in the position to speak out on recommendations.”

Bayern Munich sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic has responded to speculation that the Bundesliga giants could make a move for Antonio Rudiger.

The Chelsea centre-back is in the final year of his contract at Stamford Bridge and can leave the club on a free next summer.

Rudiger is said to be of interest to several top teams across Europe, including Bayern Munich after manager Julian Nagelsmann praised the defender during a press conference.

When quizzed on the matter, Salihamidzic insisted Bayern have enough options at centre-back.

He told DAZN as per Goal, via Daily Mail: “It’s not okay when we talk about players who are with other clubs.

“Julian said that about him in the press conference, but he’s a coach who sees a lot of players – so why shouldn’t he rate an international and speak about his strengths?

“We are really well filled in the center-back position. We have strengthened ourselves very well and brought in a top player in Dayot Upamecano, Lucas Hernandez is here, Tanguy Nianzou is there, Benjamin Pavard can also play inside – we really are very, very well staffed.”

Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann sparked further speculation this week when he praised the centre-back at a press conference for his ‘aggressiveness’ and labelled him a ‘decisive’ player.

It was previously reported that Rudiger could command a staggering pay packet of £400,000 a week if he leaves Stamford Bridge when his deal expires at the end of the season.

Chelsea will be without N’Golo Kante for their crunch Champions League clash against Juventus on Wednesday and the influential midfielder is also likely to miss this weekend’s game against Southampton.

The France international has endured a stop-start beginning to the new season having been hampered by a groin injury, and the 30-year-old is now set for a further spell on the sidelines due to illness, according to Goal.

Kante had been hoping to rediscover his best form for Chelsea after shaking off a groin injury, but he is now back on the sidelines through illness and is set to sit out key Champions League and Premier League fixtures.

The World Cup-winning midfielder is only three outings into a return to action after sitting out three games with a muscular complaint.

He had been catching the eye again, with a starting spot recovered in Thomas Tuchel’s plans, but another enforced spell out of contention is to be taken in as the Blues are forced into more tactical tinkering.

Ian Holloway has expressed his joy at seeing Chelsea midfielder Danny Drinkwater performing to his best again with Reading following a torrid time with the Blues.

The Chelsea loanee made his first start for Reading over the weekend and played a starring role in the 1-0 victory over Middlesbrough at the Select Car Leasing Stadium

“He was absolutely brilliant,” Holloway said on Quest’s EFL highlights show, via Berkshire Live.

“I’m glad he’s got himself going again because life can be very difficult, particularly when you’re as good as Danny is.

“It’s great to see him out on a football pitch passing the ball.”

A referee in Prima Categoria in Italy was punched in the face by the coach of Carpignano, who apologised and resigned from the position.

According to Football Italia, coach Giovanni Alosi attacked the match official Andrea Felis during the match against Oleggio Castello in Prima Categoria.

The game was then suspended, as the coach jabbed the referee when his team was 2-0 down in the second half.

The referee from Turin sent off the coach for protests, but the coach didn’t go to the dressing room but approached the match official, addressing him with a few words and then punched him in the face.

The attack of considerable violence made the referee blow his whistle three times to end the match and Oleggio Castello will most likely win 3-0 by default.

The coach will face sanctions and a long disqualification. Shortly after the incident, the coach apologised for his actions and resigned from the post.

“I’m not looking for justifications,” he told I am Calcio, according to Corriere di Torino. “My gesture has nothing to do with the values and with my way of understanding football, which is first of all fun that cannot and must not allow tensions such as those that led me to make this very ugly gesture and of which I’m personally ashamed.

“I have seen the images too, but I don’t recognise myself. I can only apologise to the referee, with whom I had the opportunity to speak at the end of the match to tell him in person, to our opponents for having ruined a football match in which violent gestures such as mine should never find place and finally to my teammates who I feel responsible for, not just for the role I hold but also because we have a youth sector with many young players who should never be presented with examples like mine.”

Chelsea striker Timo Werner reportedly wanted to join Manchester United and held a “secret meeting” with Liverpool before he signed for the Blues.

The German striker signed for the reigning Champions League holders from RB Leipzig last summer for £48m.

However, Werner could have been donning the red of United or Liverpool, according to evidence emitting from a court case in Germany.

Werner’s current agent Karl-Heinz Forster and his former associate Murat Lokurlu are currently at loggerheads in a ‘million-dollar-dispute’ according to Bild, via Daily Star.

The information regarding Werner’s options last summer were displayed during the volatile case between his former and current associate.

Information from the volatile case said WhatsApp messages involving Werner and Lorkulu suggested United ‘were his favourites’ while Chelsea was in amongst a list of ‘great alternatives’.

It is also understood Lorkulu responded to a proposal believed to be from the Red Devils saying ‘We’ll see’ suggesting a move to Old Trafford was at one point on the cards.

Soon after, it is believed Lorkulu then held a ‘secret meeting’ with Jurgen Klopp’s side who were also extremely interested in the 25-year-old.

Representatives from Anfield reportedly tabled an offer of around £200,000 per week as well as approximately £20million in bonuses, before the Reds pulled back their interest and signed Diogo Jota from Wolves instead.

Soon after, Chelsea signed him in the summer of 2020 where he was part of the lavish £222m spend.

Massimiliano Allegri doesn’t seem to be too worried about Paulo Dybala and Alvaro Morata’s injuries as he says the upcoming match against Chelsea is ‘not decisive.’

The Bianconeri won their first home game of the season against Sampdoria but lost Paulo Dybala and Alvaro Morata to injuries.

The Argentinean had scored the opener with a shot from the edge of the box in the first half before leaving the pitch due to a muscular injury.

Allegri confirmed that both he and the Spaniard won’t be available for the next two games against Chelsea and Torino and hopes they will return to action after the break.

Speaking at a post-match press conference, Allegri failed to release further updates about their injuries but suggested he is not too worried ahead of the game against Chelsea.

“We’ll see how to play against Chelsea without Dybala and Morata,” he said via Football Italia.

“It’s not a decisive game anyway. The key games for the qualification are those against Zenit.”

Both the Serie A giants and Chelsea won their opening game in the Champions League two weeks ago.

Juventus beat Malmo 3-0 in Sweden, while the Blues snatched a 1-0 win against Zenit at Stamford Bridge.

Paulo Dybala reveals he will undergo medical examinations tomorrow and hopes to return to action as soon as possible.

The Argentinean scored one goal in Juventus‘ 3-2 win over Sampdoria before leaving the pitch in tears due to a muscle injury.

Massimiliano Allegri confirmed that both he and Alvaro Morata will sit out the upcoming Champions League clash against Chelsea on Wednesday.

They have also been ruled out of Juventus’ next Serie A game against Torino, meaning they will return to action after the break.

Dybala took to his official Twitter account to deliver an update about his fitness.

“Sorry for leaving the pitch, but happy for the victory,” he wrote.

“Tomorrow I will undergo medical exams, but I’m already thinking of returning as soon as possible.”

Photo Credit: PauDybala_JR/Twitter

Paulo Dybala was left in tears after trudging off the pitch through injury days before Juventus’ massive Champions League clash with Chelsea.

The Argentine forward, 27, scored a stunner from long range to give the crisis club the lead after just ten minutes.

But another ten minutes later, Dybala was left crying into his shirt after picking up a knock.

The news will be a cruel blow to the forward and boss Massimiliano Allegri with their huge game against Chelsea on Wednesday night.

Despite their domestic struggles, Juventus won their Champions League opener 3-0 away to Malmo.

But they know Chelsea will prove a much sterner test, with a double-header against Zenit St Petersburg to follow in the competition.

Manuel Locatelli appeared to kill the game off shortly before the hour-mark, before Antonio Candreva set up a nervy final ten minutes with his late strike.

Juve endured a torrid start to their Serie A campaign, losing early on to Empoli and Napoli as they struggled after Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure.

The prolific goalscorer left Turin to return to Manchester United after 12 years away.

Dybala was one of those left behind who were tipped to emerge from the Portuguese’s shadow at Allianz Stadium.

Skipper Giorgio Chiellini even suggested Ronaldo’s presence may have been holding his team-mates back in their hunt for goals.

Lionel Messi was able to train normally today with his Paris Saint-Germain teammates according to Diario AS.

Messi suffered a knock on his left knee during PSG’s 2-1 victory over Lyon on September 19th, meaning he missed their 2-1 win away at Metz as well as their 2-0 defeat of Montpellier at Parc des Princes last night.

An MRI scan earlier this week confirmed signs of a bone contusion.

His return is, however, good news for the French club, who had been sweating on the Argentine’s fitness after he missed their last two games through a knee complaint.

PSG play Manchester City in the Champions League on Tuesday.

It’s still not guaranteed that Messi will be ready for the big game, and a final decision won’t be made until the last minute given the former Barcelona man still needs to undergo several tests.

Marco Verratti is in a similar boat; the Italian trained with the group at Camp des Loges this morning for the first time since he was injured representing his country during the international break.

Kylian Mbappe was filmed complaining about Neymar in last night’s contest, claiming he didn’t pass him the ball enough.

Photo Credit: PSG_English/Twitter