CHELSEA SWEAT ON INJURED STRIKERS AFTER ROUT
THE clouds burst and it rained goals for Chelsea, but injuries to Romelu Lukaku and Timo Werner marred an otherwise perfect night for boss Thomas Tuchel. Malmo were outclassed as the Blues steadied their Champions League campaign following the 1-0 defeat at Juventus. Two goals in each half, including two penalties for Jorginho, delivered their second win in Group H but the lasting implications will only be clear when the injuries to their strikers are properly assessed. Lukaku appeared to twist an ankle in a bad tackle midway through the first half and Werner tweaked a hamstring moments before the interval.
Tuchel, who earlier in a German interview confirmed interest in signing Erling Haaland next summer, could do with him now after playing Kai Havertz as a false nine in the second half. ‘We played with huge intensity and played an excellent game until it was 4-0,’ stated Tuchel. ‘We have a twist of the ankle for Romelu and muscle injury and hamstring for Timo, so they will be some days out, I guess. We have to find solutions. No excuses.’ Andreas Christensen opened the scoring, sweeping in a volley from a cross from fellow centre-half Thiago Silva. Lukaku then forced a save from Johan Dahlin with a powerful effort before Chelsea’s second came from the penalty spot. The Belgian was chopped down by Lasse Nielsen and, as they fell, Lukaku’s right ankle caught under the body weight of the Malmo centre-half. He tried to continue but, as soon as Jorginho smashed home the penalty, he signalled to come off.
Tuchel replaced him with Havertz and Chelsea remained firmly in control. They were going in search of the third when Werner was struck down, accelerating towards goal in the hope of picking up a rebound when he pulled up and clutched the back of his left leg. Even so, Chelsea went on to complete a hugely comfortable victory. Callum Hudson-Odoi carried the ball deep into Malmo territory before releasing Havertz, who clipped a neat finish over the diving Ismael Diawara, the substitute goalkeeper, on at the interval. Jorginho added the fourth, another penalty after another foul by Nielsen, this time on Antonio Rudiger.