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Thiago Silva Injury Update
Chelsea will monitor Thiago Silva before of their weekend match against Manchester City, but there is positive news about Malo Gusto’s status.
Silva, who had been demoted to the bench for last week’s FA Cup fourth-round replay triumph at Aston Villa, was reinstated to the Blues’ defence for Monday night’s dramatic late Premier League victory over Crystal Palace.
Thiago Silva to miss the Battle at Eithad
The 39-year-old appeared to injure his groin while stretching to block a Jean-Philippe Mateta shot on the hour mark at Selhurst Park, as Chelsea rallied from Jefferson Lerma’s first-half wonder strike to make it back-to-back away victories, relieving pressure on Mauricio Pochettino with a dramatic Conor Gallagher brace and a last-gasp effort from Enzo Fernandez.
Silva quickly walked off and was replaced by Levi Colwill, who had only returned to the matchday squad for Monday’s London derby after missing Chelsea’s previous four games due to hamstring injuries.
That was not the only injury concern for Chelsea versus Palace, as Malo Gusto appeared to request a substitution after sustaining a late knock, and he was replaced by 20-year-old academy graduate defender Alfie Gilchrist with only six minutes remaining.
While Silva will need to be evaluated ahead of Saturday’s challenging trip to face in-form champions Manchester City, Pochettino dismissed any concerns about Gusto following the comeback victory over Palace.
“We need to assess Thiago Silva tomorrow because he felt something in his groin,” stated the Uruguayan.
“Malo, I think, was tired, but it’s not going to be a big problem to be ready at the weekend.”
Chelsea cannot afford any further injury setbacks, particularly in defense, when they travel to the Etihad Stadium this weekend, followed by a Carabao Cup final against Liverpool at Wembley on February 25.
They also have an FA Cup last-16 showdown with Leeds, as well as vital league games against Brentford, Newcastle, and Arsenal.
Chelsea have already lost Benoit Badiashile to a groin injury suffered late in the game against Villa, which is anticipated to sideline him for approximately a month and rule him out of the Carabao Cup final.
Pochettino is also without captain Reece James, as well as summer signings Romeo Lavia, Marc Cucurella, Robert Sanchez, Lesley Ugochukwu, and Wesley Fofana.
