Chelsea have confirmed N'Golo Kante and Ruben Loftus-Cheek will miss their pre-season tour to the US due to their "Covid vaccination status".
A 29-man squad will jet off to the States on Saturday ahead of a summer training camp and three friendlies against Club America, Charlotte and Arsenal. The Blues will then finish their pre-season campaign with a friendly against Udinese in Italy on July 29.
Chelsea's touring party includes USA international Christian Pulisic, as well as Ben Chilwell after the defender's recovery from a serious knee injury. Kante and Loftus-Cheek are the only major absentees, while Armando Broja will join up with the squad next week.
Broja spent last season on loan at Premier League rivals Southampton. The likes of Ethan Ampadu, Emerson Palmieri, Conor Gallagher, Michy Batshuayi and Billy Gilmour - who also spent time out on loan last term - are also part of the squad.
And the Blues have included a number of youngsters in their touring party. Teddy Sharman-Lowe, who's previously spent time on loan at Burton Albion, is one of four goalkeepers in Tuchel's squad. Teenage midfielder Harry Vale is also part of the group after captaining England to victory at the U19 Euros earlier this month, beating Israel 3-1 in the final.
Chelsea fans will be looking forward to seeing Levi Colwill in action after his impressive loan spell at Huddersfield last season, helping the West Yorkshire side reach the play-off final. The centre-back is likely to play after Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen left the club last month. The touring party was confirmed on Saturday.
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According to the UK government's official website, most fully vaccinated foreign citizens can enter the US. Authorities will accept any Covid vaccine approved for emergency use by the World Health Organisation or the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Visitors are also required to provide contact information to their airlines before boarding. Fully vaccinated visitors do not have to quarantine but are recommended to take a viral test within three to five days of their arrival. Visitors do not have to take the test if they have recovered from a documented Covid infection within the past 90 days.
US authorities will accept the UK's proof of Covid vaccination and the individual's final dose must have been administered 14 days prior to travel. Those who aren't fully vaccinated will not be able to enter unless they are a US citizen, national or permanent resident.
Kante tested positive for Covid shortly before Chelsea's Champions League clash against Juventus in Turin last September, forcing him to miss the trip. England international Loftus-Cheek was ruled out for three games last Christmas after contracting the virus.
Tuchel was asked whether footballers should do more to convince the public to have the job last September. "It would be easy to say yes now and get maybe applause from a lot of people," came the answer. "But at the same time do I have the right to say it?
"I’m not so sure. I can make the decision for myself, and everybody else needs to reflect about it and take a risk or not. I think it’s a serious question and vaccination seems to be a proper protection.
"I am vaccinated. But I don’t really see myself in a position to speak out proper recommendations. I think that would go too far. I’m a football coach, I’m not a 100 per cent expert in this and I would leave it up to them. Everybody is adult enough and everybody lives in a free country, which is a good thing."
Chelsea pre-season tour squad : Kepa Arrizabalaga, Marcus Bettinelli, Edouard Mendy, Teddy Sharman-Lowe, Marcos Alonso, Ethan Ampadu, Cesar Azpilicueta, Trevoh Chalobah, Ben Chilwell, Levi Colwill, Reece James, Kenedy, Emerson Palmieri, Malang Sarr, Thiago Silva, Ross Barkley, Conor Gallagher, Billy Gilmour, Jorginho, Mateo Kovacic, Mason Mount, Harvey Vale, Tino Anjorin, Michy Batshuayi, Kai Havertz, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Christian Pulisic, Timo Werner, Hakim Ziyech.
