Thomas Tuchel is desperate for N’Golo Kante to be fit for the Champions League final - and wants to shut out any doubts on him making it.
Chelsea midfielder Kante has been struggling with a hamstring injury and missed their last game of the season at Aston Villa as he battles to be ready to face Manchester City on Saturday.
But Tuchel insists he is hopeful that his midfield kingpin will be fit to train this week while there was also positive news on keeper Edouard Mendy who hurt his ribs at Villa.
Blues boss Tuchel said: “With N’Golo nothing has changed. I think about changing my tactics now and stop asking about N’Golo and just put him on the pitch in Wednesday’s training. And don’t ask any more if there’s any problems.
“We will just put him in training and put him on the pitch when the game starts on Saturday. Maybe I will not speak to the doctors and physios any more so I hear no more doubts and no more complaints.
“Maybe I have to think about changing the tactics. But it looks good and I hope it stays like that.”
Kante is absolutely key to Chelsea’s hopes of beating City for a third time this season and the France midfielder’s presence was vital when hey rushed him back to face Arsenal in the 2019 Europa League final.
It was Kante who played a key role, he is ready to push himself again and it will also be the same with Mendy who also looks set to be given the green light to start despite being substituted at half time at Villa and was replaced by Kepa Arrizabalaga.
Tuchel added: “Edou will play if he is fit and if he is not fit on Wednesday we will try on Thursday. And we will try on Friday and be always reasonable and take the responsibility for this decision.
“At the same time, we have trust if he cannot make it we have a strong guy on the bench with Kepa, who will take his place. So now the race is on. We are very happy first of all that the images don’t show that the injury is too serious.
“At the moment we are positive but every hour counts and hopefully the team around Edou and he himself can do enough and can help him enough to be on the pitch. It will be a good boost for us.”
