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Chelsea in double injury blow with Kovacic and Ziyech huge doubts for Carabao Cup final after hobbling off against Lille

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CHELSEA have been hit with a double injury blow ahead of their Carabao Cup final against Liverpool.

Midfielder Mateo Kovacic hobbled off after 50 minutes of the Blues’ 2-0 Champions League Last-16 first-leg win over Lille.

Mateo Kovacic replaced by Ruben Loftus-CheekCredit: Reuters
Hakim Ziyech goes down injuredCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun

Ruben Loftus-Cheek replaced the Croatian, with Chelsea leading through Kai Havertz’s first-half opener.

Only ten minutes later, in-form winger Hakim Ziyech was then forced off after going down off the ball.

Ziyech, who scored three consecutive Premier League goals heading into the European clash, appeared to be holding his ankle.

The Moroccan playmaker was then substituted for Saul Niguez, who fitted into a three-man midfield.

Speaking after the game, boss Thomas Tuchel said he was hoping for the best.

Asked about the injuries, he said: “I don’t know. I should have subbed Mateo Kovacic at half-time so could have had one more change.

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“I have not spoken to the doctor about Hakim and hope it is not serious.

“Today is Tuesday, there are a lot of days to recover until Sunday. We don’t like to have that many injuries and more impact from the bench on a tactical matter.

“I hope they will be ready for Sunday.”

Despite the potential injury woes, Chelsea fans were soon celebrating after Christian Pulisic doubled their lead on 63 minutes.

N’Golo Kante broke free with the ball and after a driving run through the heart of Lille’s backline, he laid it off perfectly to Pulisic.

The American skipper then cut in from the left and quickly slotted home.

It was Pulisic’s first goal since scoring in Chelsea’s 5-1 FA Cup hammering against Chesterfield in January.

Havertz, who replaced out-of-sorts Romelu Lukaku up front, had opened the lead on eight minutes.

He nodded home from a Ziyech corner on eight minutes, his seventh of the season.

The 2-0 victory puts them well in control of the tie – however the injury blows threaten their hopes of lifting the League Cup trophy this weekend.

Kai Havertz opened the scoring for ChelseaCredit: Getty

Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk

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