There were a few positive injury updates for Chelsea but two were still missing from the last training session ahead of Wednesday’s clash with Real Madrid.
The Blues are expected to travel to Madrid for the quarter-final first-leg match against Real Madrid on Tuesday afternoon.
Caretaker manager Frank Lampard, however, still led the team’s final preparation at the Cobham training ground in the morning.
Chelsea confirmed on their official website that Cesar Azpilicueta, Mason Mount, N’Golo Kante, and Thiago Silva, who missed Saturday’s defeat to Wolves, all took part in Monday and Tuesday’s training.
It remains unclear whether Mount and Silva, who nursed a pelvic and knee injury, would be fit enough to start at Santiago Bernabeu, but having these two as options on the bench would already be positive news.
The Blues also confirmed that third-choice goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli, who is dealing with a small injury, and long-term absentee Armando Broja are the only two not taking part in the group training.
This does not mean Chelsea would be close to full strength for the trip, however.
Bear in mind that the likes of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Benoit Badiashile, David Datro Fofana, and Noni Madueke are all not registered in Chelsea’s Champions League squad.
Therefore, particularly in the centre-forward position, Lampard will have very limited options.
Kai Havertz is, obviously, the most likely to lead the line for Chelsea, but Raheem Sterling and Mykhailo Mudryk have played a false-nine role recently under the previous manager, Graham Potter, too.
In more positive news, N’Golo Kante who was rested last weekend should be ready to start and hopefully play 90 minutes.
The France international was arguably Chelsea’s best player in the goalless draw with Liverpool, and his energy could prove crucial against Real Madrid, as he proved in their last encounters in the last three years.
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