Thomas Tuchel has confirmed Mateo Kovacic will miss the Champions League semi-final first-leg tie with his old club Real Madrid.
Kovacic has been unavailable for the Blues’ last three matches after injuring his hamstring in the lead-up to the Champions League quarter-final with Porto.
The 26-year-old has been a regular for Chelsea for much of this season, starting 27 of their 37 Premier League and Champions League matches this season, so would almost certainly have been at least in the squad for Tuesday’s trip to Madrid.
But on Friday Tuchel confirmed Kovacic will miss Saturday’s crucial match with West Ham and the midweek clash against his former club.
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