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Chelsea boss Graham Potter gives his comment on Ben Chilwell’s injury and Denis Zakaria’s debut in Dinamo Zagreb’s victory.
Chelsea Head coach Graham Potter has admitted that he is worried about how badly Ben Chilwell’s hamstring was hurt during Wednesday’s 2-1 victory over Dinamo Zagreb.
The Blues overcame an early deficit to secure their 100th Champions League victory with goals from Raheem Sterling and debutant Denis Zakaria.
While Chelsea had already secured the top spot in Group E, their success in West London ensured that they finished three points clear of AC Milan.
However, a successful night ended on a low note as Chilwell pulled up sharply with a hamstring injury in the third minute of added-on time.
The left-back is now a serious doubt for the World Cup, which starts later this month, even though he will virtually likely miss the forthcoming tripleheader with Arsenal, Manchester City, and Newcastle United.
Although Potter wants to wait until Chilwell has undergone a scan, the Chelsea boss admitted that it was “not looking positive”.
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Speaking to reporters at a press conference, Potter said: “Not great. When he pulls up like that it’s a concern. We need to scan but it’s not positive at the moment.”
Later in the media briefing, Potter added: “He didn’t play at the weekend so there was a thought he could play tonight and have enough time to recover. We’ve tried to manage him. He’s not played three games in a week and has had the build up that he needs. It’s frustrating and it’s a blow for him.”
Before that setback for the club, player and the Three Lions, Zakaria enjoyed a strong 70 minutes on his first appearance since joining on loan from Juventus in September.
Before being substituted with what Potter claimed to be a minor “contact” injury, the Switzerland international frequently combined nicely with Jorginho in addition to scoring a goal with a cool finish.
The Englishman said the following about Zakaria: “He’s handled himself really well. Supported his team and teammates in a good way. Credit to him, everyone was so happy for him. It’s a great story for a whole group I think.”
Chelsea will now begin preparing for the upcoming Sunday London derby with Arsenal before difficult trips to play Manchester City in the EFL Cup and in-form Newcastle United in the top flight.