Graham Potter's injury issues at Chelsea have taken another massive hit ahead of their FA Cup third-round tie away against Manchester City. The Blues fell to a 1-0 defeat against the same opposition just three days ago in the league and are running out of options.
Having lost Mason Mount to a knock picked up in training the day before the fixture Potter saw the worst possible start happen in front of him as Christian Pulisic and Raheem Sterling were both replaced before the 20-minute mark. With that trio added onto what was already a long injury list it is now 10 players unavailable.
Out of those 10, six of them started the 2021 Champions League final, such is the calibre of player missing for Chelsea right now. They are only a centreback away from having a full-injury XI that may well rival their current options.
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It isn't the best preparation for a cup tie against a team that has already beaten them twice this season and Potter has a serious conundrum on his hands. Edouard Mendy has had an operation on his broken finger which will keep him out of the game whilst Kepa Arrizabalaga comes into the game off the back of a moment to forget at Stamford Bridge earlier this week.
The Spanish keeper was caught in two minds about stopping Jack Grealish's cross and ended up backing out, leaving Riyad Mahrez to tap in. He has been Potter's No 1 since coming in but the standard cup procedure would be to give the backup a game, something not possible with Mendy out.
Former Fulham keeper Marcus Bettinelli has been the man on the bench in recent weeks but he has only played one match across 18 months for the Blues. Potter is, it seems, left in a state between picking his first choice and risking injury with only Bettinelli as backup, or starting with his third choice and taking a risk.
That is unless Chelsea spring a surprise. In the summer they signed 18-year-old keeper Gabriel Slonina from Chicago Fire, beating Real Madrid to his signature. The youngster signed but was loaned back to the MLS to complete the season. He has since returned to Chelsea where he has started to train with his new teammates.
Slonina could in theory be chucked in at the deep end at the Etihad for his debut. It would be a brave call but one that may well protect Potter.
Elsewhere, new signings David Datro Fofana and Benoit Badiashile have also been seen in training ahead of the game and could also be given a chance to impress immediately. Given the pressure on first-team players to stay fit becomes an option more attractive to Potter than it would have been otherwise.
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