Chelsea defender and former PSG captain Thiago Silva is set to miss the important clash against Atletico Madrid. The Brazilian is back in the training but going to miss the fixture due to lack of match fitness. Last week, Thiago Silva returned to training, but he will not play against Atletico Madrid.
After a thigh injury, the Chelsea defender is fighting back to full fitness. Kai Havertz and Christian Pulisic will get Thomas Tuchel back on Tuesday. In Bucharest, Romania, the blues face Atletico in the first leg of their last-16 tie. For the first leg of their Champions League clash with Atletico Madrid on Tuesday night. Chelsea will be without Thiago Silva.
There was hope that after he was pictured back in training last week following a thigh injury. The experienced Brazilian will be back for the crucial game in Bucharest.
But manager Thomas Tuchel, speaking at his pre-match press conference on Monday, announced that Silva will be absent from his squad again.
Thomas Tuchel:
said he is not available, ‘He is training right now. We are leaving and he is not available.’
Silva, 36, has not played since suffering a thigh problem during a 1-0 win over rivals Tottenham in February. The former PSG star has missed four games with the injury, including Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Southampton at St Mary’s. In better news for Tuchel, Kai Kavertz and Christian Pulisic are both fit to travel to Romania for Tuesday night’s first leg.
Havertz has not played since the win over Burnley on January 31 after suffering a knock in training, but he returned to training with Silva last week. The German was not deemed fit enough to be involved against Southampton but he is now in contention along with Pulisic, who has recovered from a minor calf issue.
The American, who played under Tuchel at Borussia Dortmund, has made just one start under his new manager, having been hampered by fitness problems. Tuchel added: ‘Very happy that both of them are in the group. They trained with us, no complaints, and they traveled with us.’
