Here is your Chelsea morning digest on Saturday, March 18.
Joao Felix claim
Atletico Madrid midfielder Rodrigo de Paul has denied claims that Joao Felix's absence has helped the squad pick up form after a difficult first half of the season. Felix left Atleti in January to join Chelsea on-loan, having fallen out of favour under manager Diego Simeone.
Speaking to Cadena SER, he said: "Has Joao’s departure has improved the environment? I totally disagree with that. A bit of common sense, Atletico Madrid with Joao Felix was league champion. He did very well here and I think if he was here, the team would also have reacted.”
READ MORE: Joe Cole and Paul Merson disagree with Rio Ferdinand on Chelsea Champions League draw fate
Everton injury boost
Graham Potter has confirmed midfield star N'Golo Kante has a "chance" of being named in the Chelsea squad to face Everton on Saturday evening. Kante has been sidelined for over seven months with a hamstring injury he suffered against Tottenham on August 14.
"[He has a] chance of being in the squad," Potter told reporters on Friday afternoon. "It's the first time [since he's took over] so it's fantastic.
"Managers before me have spoken very highly of N'Golo because he's a top, top player. He's been a huge miss for us. Great for us for him to be back. We have to be mindful. We have to take the steps to get him back up to speed."
Courtois nightmare situation
Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois is set to return to his former side Chelsea in the Champions League after the two sides were drawn against each other in the quarter-finals of the competition. For the Belgian shot-stopper, it comes after a claim that he hoped to avoid the Blues.
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