Chelsea's Tuchel on Mendy's injury: It's a race against pain and time

Chelsea are concerned about

Edouard Mendy

's availability ahead of Saturday's crucial

match against Manchester City, with Thomas Tuchel revealing that his first-choice goalie is in a "race against pain and time." 

The Senegal international was incapable of playing in the Blues' most recent match, a 3-0 derby triumph over Tottenham Hotspur, due to a knock sustained in a

match against Zenit.

Mendy has been pulled out of Wednesday's Carabao Cup third-round encounter against

Aston Villa

, with

Kepa Arrizabalaga

likely to take his place in goal. 

When asked for an update on Mendy's condition, Tuchel told in a press conference:

"Mendy cannot play, he was not in training so far. 

"We'll try to do everything for Saturday, and to reintegrate him tomorrow to individual training and then hopefully Thursday into team training. But not yet. 

"But it's a matter of the amount of games, the load that we've had for the players. Yes we will have some changes, because we take the opportunity to give important minutes in important competitions to guys who are missing minutes at the moment."

When asked if Mendy, who has been a consistent choice for Chelsea since arriving from Rennes in 2020, will be competent to confront the reigning champions at Stamford Bridge, he said:

"Actually, I think it is possible but it is a bit of a race against pain and time.

"I hope he will be back in team training on Thursday. If it goes well, I hope he can be ready for Saturday but I don't know right now."

Tuchel had explained why Mendy was absent for the important win against Spurs:

"We tried throughout the week and on Saturday in training it was so-so.

"It comes from the last-minute kick against Zenit in the Champions League. 

"It is very painful and he did not feel 100 per cent comfortable going for a full stretch or to land on it. He didn't feel comfortable to fight at set-pieces or corners.

"So we decided to go with 100 per cent and that was Kepa and have Edou with us to be supportive and have good energy.

"I'm happy Kepa played a crucial role and kept a clean sheet. This is what he deserves and I am happy that he could."

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