Chelsea FC Training Session And Press Conference - UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Round of 16 Second Leg
It is the second team news ‘leak in a week (Picture: Getty)
Chelsea’s attempts to stop a leak in the dressing room appear to have failed with a French newspaper publishing top secret team information ahead of their Champions League showdown with Paris Saint-Germain.
The Blues trail 5-2 from the first leg in the French capital last week where PSG scored three times in the final 15 minutes to take control of the last 16 tie.
Chelsea have the chance to turn things around at Stamford Bridge tonight but are expected to be without one of their regular starters.
Onze Mondial report Fofana is a major doubt having suffered with some muscular discomfort this week. He is expected to be named among the substitutes.
Liam Rosenior was planning to stick with his preferred centre-half partnership of Trevoh Chalobah and Fofana but is likely to be forced to abandon those plans.
The report from France suggests Jorell Hato could start alongside Chaobah in Fofana’s absence. The summer signing from Ajax has most recently been deployed at left-back in the absence of Marc Cucurella but could be shifted inside tonight.
In an added headache, Malo Gusto is also a minor doubt. The France international, who scored his side’s opening goal in the first leg missed training due to illness with a late decision to be made today.
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Chelsea v Newcastle United - Premier League
Fofana expected to miss out tonight (Picture: Getty)
Hours before last week’s first leg clash, Chelsea’s starting XI appeared in the French media. Speaking after the game, Rosenior vowed to ‘get to the bottom ‘ of the matter.
‘No, I wasn’t aware,’ Rosenior said when asked in his post-match press conference if he knew about the alleged team news leak.
‘I’m sure we’ll get to the bottom of that, if that’s the case. These things now, they happen quite a lot.
Chelsea v Newcastle United - Premier League
Gusto another who could miss out (Picture: Getty)
‘We get information about our opposition. I’m more worried about the end result than the beginning of the game.’
Chelsea are already reeling from news that Reece James is facing another spell on the sidelines.
The Blues captain, who signed a new contract in west London just last week, has picked up a hamstring injury that will sideline him for a number of weeks. It is his 10th hamstring injury since December 2020.
The skipper has enjoyed a relatively injury free campaign with Chelsea carefully managing his game time, missing just five games.
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