Chelsea striker Alvaro Morata has been ruled out of the Huddersfield clash today due to fatigue.
Head coach Antonio Conte has revealed that the star striker is tired and has a slight back problem in the recent press conference today.
The Blues boss said: “Morata is out, because he’s a bit tired and there is a problem in his back. He is out.”
Meanwhile, midfielder Danny Drinkwater is still ill but Conte is monitoring his situation while David Luiz is still out with the knee problem.
But it’s Morata’s absence that will be a big blow for Conte and Chelsea as they don’t have much backup in that position apart from Belgian Michy Batshuayi, although Conte doesn’t seem to fancy him. This will mean Eden Hazard will likely play as a false nine with Pedro and Willian up front.
Antonio Conte has been angered by Chelsea’s ‘impossible ‘ fixture list in recent weeks. The Blues have played seven times since November 18 and Conte believes his players are starting to suffer injuries and fitness problems because of the hectic period of games.
“I think when you play every three days, it is impossible to have a training session and to work on the physical aspects. It’s impossible. It’s impossible because you have to prepare with the players for a game every three days…
“For sure it is difficult because to face a game every three days is not simple, especially if your squad is not big, but at the same time we have to face this situation.”
Provisional squad: Courtois, Caballero, Rudiger, Alonso, Fabregas, Drinkwater, Kante, Hazard, Pedro, Bakayoko, Moses, Kenedy, Zappacosta, Willian, Batshuayi, Cahill, Christensen, Azpilicueta, Luiz, Clarke-Salter, Sterling, Eduardo, Ampadu.
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