MAURICIO POCHETTINO hopes Christopher Nkunku’s injury in the 1-1 draw with Broussia Dortmund is “not a big issue”.
Chelsea have been hit with an injury scare just ten days before the start of their Premier League campaign when they face Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on August 13.
Nkunku – a £52m summer arrival from RB Leipzig – was forced off after just 20 minutes with a knee injury during the Blues’ final game of their pre-season tour of the United States.
In the draw at the Soldier Field stadium, Nkunku appeared to get his left knee stuck in the turf in a tangle with Mats Hummels.
The pitch was in dreadful condition following several concerts – including Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran – over the past month, but boss Poch refused to blame it for Nkunku’s issue.
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Chelsea flew back to London in the early hours of Thursday morning, and Nkunku left the stadium with an ice pack on his knee.
Asked about Nkunku, Poch explained: “The doctors are checking him. Hopefully it is not a big issue. He feels something in his knee.
"Hopefully he can be quick with the team. Now we need a few days to assess him and until we get back to London it is difficult to know."
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On the state of the pitch, Poch added: “Always we take some risks because the pitch is not perfect. That is sometimes the risk of the tour, yes.
“But, we cannot blame the pitch for why he suffered the injury. For me it was bad luck.”
Poch returns to the capital unbeaten in five games during a gruelling trip of the States, but remains frustrated at the balance of his squad, as well as a lack of depth in several positions.
Against Dortmund, the Argentine coach played what he has admitted could be the starting XI against Jurgen Klopp’s Reds.
The team included Nkunku, Levi Colwill, Ben Chilwell, Reece James, Thiago Silva, Enzo Fernandez, Conor Gallagher, Raheem Sterling and Nicolas Jackson.
Asked if Chelsea are ready for the new season with the squad as it is, Poch said: “It is not an option. There is only one option, to be ready and we are going to be ready.
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“Now we need to keep working and evolving our way to play and yes, be ready to start the competition.
“We are going to try to win [the title], that is true. Chelsea’s history is to win. If it's possible not to, I will tell you at the end of the season.
“But we start in the same place and with the same possibility. The most important thing is to believe in football and we need to really believe. I will believe.”
Full-back James captained the side against Dortmund, despite Brazilian veteran Silva also starting the match.
A club captain is yet to be chosen for the new campaign following Cesar Azpilicueta’s departure this summer.
Poch said: “There’s still ten days [to decide] before the first game. I don’t know if we will change too much but it is one possibility for Reece to be the captain of the team.”
