Chelsea will be without the imposing presence of defender Thiago Silva when they welcome Manchester United on Sunday for their English Premier League fixture, according to the Blues boss Thomas Tuchel.
Silva limped off the pitch with an apparent leg injury in the first half of Chelsea’s 1 – 0 victory over Tottenham in a Premier League clash.
However, it appears the Blues are fairing well without their influential defender at the rear, as Andrea Christensen and Antonio Rudiger form a formidable partnership; having conceded only twice – one of which was an own goal against Sheffield United and in their 1 – 1 draw with Southampton.
Tuchel, who believes Sunday’s clash against United will be a big challenge, disclosed there are no fresh injury concerns following the mid-week win against Atletico Madrid, but confirmed Silva will return to the squad next week.
Chelsea will go into Sunday’s clash on the back of their 1-0 win over Diego Simeone’s men, who have witnessed a downward progression in recent weeks despite staying top of the La Liga table with three points.
Tuchel is not unfamiliar with the current Manchester United squad having faced Ole Gunnar’s men in the Champions League two terms. But the German tactician has revealed that previous defeats against the club (while he was at PSG) has taught him a lot.
The 47-year-old gaffer will also relish a reunion with his former front-man Edinson Cavani, who moved to Old Trafford this summer from PSG.
On Cavani, Tuchel said the former PSG striker is very similar to his Champions League hero on Tuesday, Oliver Giroud: “They don’t get nervous. They have composure. Both are top quality strikers and top quality number nines.”
It was Giroud’s 71st minute overhead kick that broke the deadlock in a keenly contested Champions League round of 16 tie against Atlectico Madrid.
