Tuchel offers an update on the injury status of key Chelsea star after Liverpool clash

Chelsea suffer blow as Thomas Tuchel provides an update on the injury of N’Golo Kante

Speaking in his post-match press conference (h/t football.london), Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel has issued an update on the injury status of N’Golo Kante.

The 30-year old started his first Premier League game of the season in a hotly contested tie against Liverpool on Saturday and the Frenchman was back to his best as he was making most of the interceptions on the pitch and also created a couple of chances. 

However, at one point in the first period Kante intercepted a ball and then had a tangle of legs with Sadio Mane, who ended up falling on the Frenchman’s leg, causing discomfort to the 30-year-old. Although Chelsea’s medics cleared Kante for playing the rest of the half, he was taken off after half-time. 

Thomas Tuchel later provided an update on the player in his post-match press conference (h/t football.london):

“He is injured. He missed the Arsenal game because of pain in his ankle and inflammation. The opponent fell in his ankle, twisted it again, and he had the same pain as before the Arsenal game. He was lacking force to accelerate, and we had to take him off.”

The Frenchman was one of the two substitutions the German boss made at half-time, courtesy of a controversial red card Reece James received on the brink of half-time as the ball hit his hand on the goal-line. 

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Chelsea had picked up the lead after just 22 minutes, thanks to an astute header by Kai Havertz. However, the Reds levelled things at half-time as the referee awarded a penalty before handing James the red card. 

However, the Blues held on for a draw till the end in a superb defensive performance as they retained their 2nd place on the Premier League table.