Rosenior was without some key playersplaceholder image
Rosenior was without some key players | AFP via Getty Images
Chelsea were without some key players for their Carabao Cup defeat to Arsenal.
Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior has provided an injury update after his side missed out on the Carabao Cup final. The Blues needed a one-goal win to overturn the tie in the second leg but they were not able to find a goal, ultimately conceding the only goal deep into stoppage time.
Arsenal instead progressed to the final, where they will face the winner of Manchester City vs Newcastle United, which takes place on Wednesday night.
Chelsea were not helped in their bid to beat Arsenal by the fact Estevao Willian and Cole Palmer could only make the bench, while Pedro Neto and Reece James were absent altogether. Speaking after the game, Rosenior explained: “Estevao, I have to say, for him at 18 years old to go through something very personal for him, to fly to Brazil and to fly back in two days, to make sure he could play in this game, that says everything about the character and spirit I want for this team.”
He added: “And Cole. Cole gave us an incredible 90-minute performance at the weekend when we fought back against West Ham. He’s a gem, we have to take care of him and make sure he’s ready for the whole of the season. But when he came on, his moments were top. So all in all we're disappointed not to go through, albeit against a very good team, but we can’t let this set-back affect our future.”
On Pedro Neto and James, Rosenior continued: “Pedro and Reece have small knocks. They were just in too much pain for tonight. They are giving everything, they would always put their hand up to play. Reece is an incredible captain and leader, Pedro’s an outstanding professional and player.
“The availability of your players always affects your system. The opposition’s system, where you are in terms of your fitness levels, in terms of the intensity levels we’ve put into games. Against West Ham we battled until the 97th minute trying to get ourselves back from 2-0 down. The emotions of Napoli. You take all of these things into account to give yourselves the best chance to try to win a game of football.”
Chelsea will be hoping those players will be back for this weekend’s clash with Wolves and the mid-week Leeds United fixture that is just days later.
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