Chelsea Team News: Conte Confirms Injury Blow, 4 Players To Miss Burnley Game

Chelsea will kick off the defence of their Premier League title when they entertain Burnley at Stamford Bridge on Saturday afternoon.

Ahead of the game, Antonio Conte has been speaking to the media at his pre-match press conference this afternoon and he’s given reporters a team news and injury update.

The Blues boss revealed a fresh injury blow with the news that Pedro has been ruled out of the Burnley clash after suffering an ankle injury during the Community Shield defeat to Arsenal last weekend.

The Spanish international was sent off during the game at Wembley but Conte has confirmed the attacker picked up a knock to his ankle before the incident and won’t be involved tomorrow afternoon.

Victor Moses is also unavailable as he’ll serve a one-match ban following his sending off against the Gunners in last season’s FA Cup final so Conte has a void to fill at right wing-back.

The Italian coach has confirmed that Antonio Rudiger could make his debut in defence which would allow Cesar Azpilicueta to move out to the wing.

Conte is quoted as saying by Football London:

“Pedro is not available tomorrow because he is suffering from an injury during the Arsenal game. He wasn’t able to recover. A knock in his ankle.

“Could be [that Rudiger starts], also because there isn’t Moses tomorrow as he will miss for one game. It could be a chance for him to start. I have been impressed because he is a good player, strong physically and technically.”

Michy Batshuayi started up front in the Community Shield against Arsenal but Chelsea fans will be hoping to see record summer signing Alvaro Morata start this weekend.

The Spaniard’s chances are heightened after Pedro was ruled out of contention, however, Conte has reiterated that the striker needs to be given time to adapt to life in England.

He continued to Football London:

“It is normal for me and for the players that start to work with me that they need time to adapt to our style of football. It is normal this,”

“Alvaro is working well, improving a lot his physical condition and starting to understand what I want about him. For sure he needs time to understand to adapt to our style of football.

“For me the striker is a really important role and it is very important to understand the position I want in the game and it is more difficult to adapt than other roles.”

Eden Hazard will certainly miss the match as he continues to recover from an ankle injury suffered during the summer while new signing Tiemoue Bakayoko is working his way back to full fitness following a knee injury.

It all means Conte will be without four first team squad players for their opener against Burnley so the boss may have to call upon some of his youth players to make up the number on the bench.