Romelu Lukaku is OUT of Chelsea’s trip to Southampton through injury while Cesar Azpilicueta tests positive for Covid… leaving both at risk of missing the Champions League quarter-final second leg with Real Madrid
- Chelsea’s Romelu Lukaku is out of the squad to face Southampton through injury
- Thomas Tuchel is expecting a positive reaction having lost his last two matches
- Cesar Azpilicueta is also absent from the team after testing positive for Covid-19
- Both could miss the second leg against Real Madrid in the Champions League
Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku has been ruled out of his side’s clash with Southampton through injury, as captain Cesar Azpilicueta is also absent having tested positive for Covid-19.
The Blues take on Southampton at St Mary’s on Saturday afternoon, with Tuchel looking to bounce back from back-to-back defeats against Brentford and Real Madrid, respectively.
Lukaku, 28, has picked up a suspected Achilles injury and is now expected to miss the return leg of Chelsea’s Champions League quarter-final second leg in the Spanish capital against Los Blancos.
Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel says Romelu Lukaku is absent with a suspected achilles injury
Lukaku has endured a difficult time since his return to Chelsea from Inter Milan last summer
The Belgium international has endured a difficult time at Stamford Bridge since returning to the club from Inter Milan last summer for a club record £97.5million.
Following his infamous and controversial Sky Italia interview at the end of 2021, he was axed from the squad for their next fixture against Liverpool and fined by the club before subsequently returning. Ever since that infamous interview, his struggles have been evident.
The striker has netted just 12 goals in 36 appearances in all competitions so far this campaign.
Meanwhile, captain and full-back Azpilicueta is also absent having tested positive for Covid-19.
Meanwhile, captain and full-back Azpilicueta is also absent having tested positive for Covid-19
The 32-year-old defender is another who is likely to miss the trip to the Spanish capital for the Champions League second leg against Real Madrid.
Azpilicueta’s Chelsea contract ‘was unilaterally extended by another year’ prior to sanctions being imposed on the club due to Roman Abramovich’s ties with Vladimir Putin – but the captain may not stay beyond the summer.
Heavily linked with a summer move to Barcelona, he was out of contract at Stamford Bridge at the end of the season. But a one-year extension to the deal automatically kicked in after Azpilicueta made a certain number of appearances.
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