Brendan Rodgers has hit out at FIFA for the timing of the World Cup following Ben Chilwell's injury. The 25-year-old defender limped off the pitch in the final stages of Chelsea's win over Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League.
Chilwell pulled up clutching his hamstring in the fourth minute of added time before being helped off the field by the Blues medical staff. Graham Potter admitted that the injury 'doesn't look positive' and the left-back is now a doubt ahead of the World Cup.
Qatar will be hosting the tournament which is set to commence on November 20 and conclude on December 18. The World Cup has already caused quite the stir, with high-profile pundits Rio Ferdinand and Jamie Carragher publicly expressing discontent with FIFA.
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And, Rodgers has chipped in now too. As quoted by LeicestershireLive, the Leicester City boss said: "When you go back to when it was announced a number of months ago, we all sensed that it wasn’t an ideal time, firstly for players and for supporters.
"The cost of what it would be to travel just highlights even more that the timing is not ideal. For players, this might be their only chance of playing in a World Cup.
"They will give their best for their clubs but there can be no doubt it will be in the back of their mind that one injury could keep them out. I look at Ben last night playing in the game and hopefully it’s not too bad but players should not be in that position.
"You could argue and say it would be the same at the end of the season but you get that buffer, and that’s why all of us thought the timing of this one wasn’t ideal. Now, being so close to it, we can see the issues that it has.
"For supporters at this time of year to travel away and the expense to go, it hasn’t been ideal at all. But, it’s here and we hope the players can get through the games safely and be available."
Chilwell isn't the only Chelsea star to potentially miss the World Cup later this month. N'Golo Kante is set to be out until the New Year following surgery to his hamstring and Reece James is a doubt after picking up a knock against AC Milan.
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