Chelsea: Mateo Kovacic to miss FA Cup semi-final due to hamstring injury
Thomas Tuchel dedicates Champions League semi-final qualification to injured Mateo Kovacic
Chelsea midfielder Mateo Kovacic is set to miss the Blues’ FA Cup semi-final clash with Manchester City on Saturday, having endured hamstring damage earlier to Tuesday’s UCL clash with Porto.
The Croatian star did not include within the 1-0 vanquish to Porto, but Thomas Tuchel’s men still overseen to advance to the semi-finals much appreciated to their 2-0 triumph within the to begin with the leg.
Chelsea continuously had the upper hand in Tuesday’s second leg, after final week’s 2-0 triumph much appreciated to goals from Bricklayer Mount and Ben Chilwell. Porto grabbed a goal in the second-half included time but never really threatened to turn the tie on its head.
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Tuchel said: ‘It was a muscle injury, out of nothing, [for Kovacic] it was just a little exercise to get a sweat on and he felt his hamstring.
I was sad for him because we don’t have many experienced players who have played so many Champions League games.
‘I felt sad for Mateo and we did it for him but N’Golo is an incredible player, he is like one and a half or two players. Everyone who sees him for the first time loves him and now my family loves him when they watch our games now.
‘It is so nice to have him. He wins so many balls, gives everybody confidence and I’m the same.’
Chelsea completed a 2-1 total triumph over Porto within the Champions League on Tuesday night. The Blues will presently confront either Real Madrid or Liverpool in their first Champions League semi-final since 2014.