Chelsea sweats Kante, Kovacic’s fitness as he expects small margins to determine the FA Cup final

The next game is always the most important one, as Thomas Tuchel likes to say, and that is certainly the case now as we head into the FA Cup final tomorrow against Liverpool at Wembley.

Unfortunately we have two major injury cases to sweat in, with N’Golo Kanté trying to come back after missing the last few matches and Mateo Kovacic trying to pin his ankle together simply through sheer force of will.

Risking either or both could be a big call, but if there’s a game left this season to risk such things, this is the game. Thomas Tuchel did not shy away from this suggestion in his pre-match press conference today, reflecting on the fitness of our most important midfielders.

“It’s a good time to take a risk, yes.”

“It’s very surprising to be in a situation where we can try, and Matteo wants to try it – and the medical department has given the go-ahead to try it. The ‘feature’ is that the ligament has already ruptured from the last accident, so there is no new injury, just severe pain. His ankle was swollen. Really.Hopefully there will be enough time for him to make it happen.We will try in two and a half hours in training and we will know more about it. [We] He will try everything and see tomorrow.”

“[Kanté] Also tries. Yesterday he tried to coach the team and he did everything more or less. I hope there is no reaction. It was a discounted training session due to the very long travel [after Leeds] and tired from travelling. It wasn’t a high intensity training session. We will try today with him. He is keen to do so. I hope he trains 100% so we can plan with him tomorrow, that will be good for us.”

It all sounds really risky, but David Luiz once played and won the Champions League final on one leg, so you never know I suppose. Once the adrenaline (not to mention the sedative) kicks in…

Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images

And certainly we will need every advantage possible in what is likely to be another game against Liverpool determined by smaller margins, whether it is luck, rebounds, penalty kicks, moon phases or butterfly wings.

“In these finals there is a special energy, a special atmosphere. There is a special momentum to catch up with, and for sure you need a piece of luck to go away with a cup. And we realize that. We again feel well prepared. The atmosphere is just right. The act is in Leeds.

“Everyone knows what we’re going to do. We want to get to fight Liverpool really hard. [We] We always need our highest level to compete, but we found that in [previous] matches [against them]. I don’t expect crazy new things from them and also from us. The game is tomorrow. Big final, big competition. We want to be on the spot.

“[You] It should be in place in these types of matches. They’ve been pretty close lately. Decisions, sometimes red cards, fouls here, we’re back at Stamford Bridge, they come back to Anfield with a penalty, and we had to beat ten men. Lots of stories.

“[It] It will go down to the margins. Details will be referenced within the match. We are now facing one of the best coaches and teams in the world. It is clear and consistent over the past years and recent weeks. We are ready to fight.”

Thomas Tuchel. Source: Football London

Clear eyes, full hearts.