What is it with Chelsea’s Champions League games against Serie A opponents? The wins are so impressive, the performances ones of quality and composure. And yet injuries to key players taint results – and that was the case against AC Milan at San Siro this evening.
Chelsea were in full control of the group-stage clash; two goals ahead and with a man advantage after Fikayo Tomori had been dismissed in the opening period. All that was required was to see the match out and travel back to west London with their European destiny very much in their own hands.
But one innocuous Reece James challenge on Theo Hernandez altered the post-match feeling. It was the England international who came off worse in the duel, he crumpled to the floor and needed treatment. To James' credit, he tried to continue only to be thwarted by the pain.
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Chelsea have been here before. It’s a frustratingly familiar tale. Twelve months ago, the Blues deconstructed Juventus at Stamford Bridge. It was one of the most thrilling performances of the 2021/22 campaign yet one remembered as much for the injury suffered by Ben Chilwell as the 4-0 scoreline.
A simple attempt to win the ball in midfield from the wing-back resulted in him sustaining a knee ligament injury that would keep him out for more than six months. The reality is that only now, long after his recovery, is Chilwell getting back to his best level. The comeback process has been long.
And then there was last week at Stamford Bridge for Milan’s visit. Chelsea came away with a comprehensive 3-0 victory and a statement result had been achieved under Graham Potter. Still, there was collateral damage as Wesley Fofana departed the pitch with a knee injury of his own and left the stadium on crutches later in the evening.
Given that, the French centre-back has been fortunate. A knee strain was the diagnosis and Fofana is only likely to miss a few weeks rather than several months.
Chelsea supporters will hope that James has escaped any serious damage, that another triumph over Italian opposition will not be associated with the loss of a key starter. The academy graduate has been in outstanding form this term and was pencilled in to start for England at the World Cup. A spell on the sidelines would be cruel, an undeserved twist of fate. Only time will tell.
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