The reasons why Chelsea pair Levi Colwill and Timo Werner haven’t travelled to face Udinese have been revealed.
Chelsea named their 28-man squad to travel to Italy for the final pre-season match before they face Everton at the start of the Premier League season next month.
The Blues have already faced off against Club America, Charlotte FC and Arsenal during a pre-season tour of the United States earlier this summer.
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Thomas Tuchel will be hoping for an improvement on their last performance, a 4-0 loss to Arsenal.
When asked if he believes his side will be ready to face Frank Lampard’s Toffees at the start of the season, he admitted: “I can not guarantee. I saw a team (against) Arsenal who are mentally committed to an idea of playing, a level of exhaustion, a level of physical commitment that we could not match.
“Also, a level of mental commitment that we lacked because we have a lot of players who are thinking about leaving and looking at their options. We have players that have left and I think at the moment that’s obvious.”
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There were some notable absentees as the Blues travelled to Italy for their final match of pre-season.
N’Golo Kante and Ruben Loftus-Cheek return to the squad after missing the pre-season tour due to their Covid vaccination status.
The likes of Billy Gilmour, Harvey Vale and Armando Broja have returned to the team, previously leaving Tuchel’s squad during the American tour.
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However, Werner and Colwill were notable absentees.
As reported by Chelsea’s official website, the German Werner will remain at Cobham with the medical department, suggesting that he has sustained an injury.
This comes after his future at Stamford Bridge has been thrown into doubt, with rumours linking him with a move away.
There was no mention of Colwill on Chelsea’s website, with Twitter account Chelsea Loan Army providing the latest update on the 19-year-old.
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They wrote: “Levi Colwill is still struggling with his injury, which is why he isn't in the Chelsea squad flying to Udinese. Was told at the beginning of the week that the hope was he’d be back training by the end of the week.”
It remains to be seen as to what the future holds for Chelsea’s Cobham graduate after spending an impressive season on loan at Huddersfield Town in the Championship.
There is Premier League interest in the defender, but it is unclear as to whether he will remain at Stamford Bridge, leave on loan, or seek a permanent transfer before the end of the transfer window.
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Chelsea face Udinese on Friday at 8pm (UK) in their final match of pre-season.
Topics: Chelsea, Timo Werner, Levi Colwill, Football, Thomas Tuchel
Nick Emms