Graham Potter has claimed in his post-match interview with the club that both Mason Mount and Ruben Loftus-Cheek were not fully fit going into last night’s game.
The pair both started on the bench despite being extremely important players to the new manager so far.
This did not have too much of an effect on proceedings however. Chelsea battled hard and played some really good football on their way to a 2-1 win against RB Salzburg.
It was the English pair’s potential replacements who ended up finding the net last night. Mateo Kovacic opened the scoring before a Kai Havertz stunner in the second half helped the Blues to all three points.
Potter has explained that neither midfielder started the game due to them both experiencing tightness in muscles due to the many appearances in just a few days.
Mount and Loftus-Cheek not fit
He said: “Mateo felt his calf a little bit. It was a heavy pitch and we didn’t want to risk anything. He has a bit of tightness and hopefully it is not too bad.
”It is the same for Mason [Mount] and Ruben [Loftus-Cheek] who both started on the bench, that’s just how it is at this point of the season.
”Blues fans will be hopeful that these little niggles don’t continue to crop up, as the fixtures don’t slow down in the lead up to this winter’s World Cup.
Potter will be thankful that he should be able to give his important players a full week’s recovery soon. The final Champions League fixture will allow for massive rotation for the Blues, with their status in the competition already sorted.
The midfield will potentially allow the likes of Carney Chukwuemeka and Denis Zakaria to start the game, seeing the likes of Mount and Loftus-Cheek handed well-earned rests.