Chelsea boss Graham Potter provides latest update on injured midfielder N’Golo Kante
The midfielder does not want to be present when the Blues take on Borussia Dortmund in Tuesday’s Champions League round of 16 second leg, despite the manager confirming he has attended two full training sessions with the first-team.
Kante has been unavailable to Potter since his appointment in September and underwent surgery in October on the injury sustained in the 2-2 draw between Chelsea and Tottenham seven months ago.
The team’s form has suffered badly in the absence of their most influential midfielder, with Saturday’s 1-0 win over Leeds just their third in the last 15.
Ahead of the Dortmund visit, which could yet play a role in defining a difficult season for Chelsea, Potter detailed how Kante’s progress and impending return have strengthened the rest of the squad.
“N’Golo is complex,” he said. “He’s been out for a long time. He’s back in full training but then it’s ‘how do you get him back up to play Champions League or Premier League football?’.
“He needs time with the group, a bit of time in full practice, then we need time to build up his minutes.
“He won’t be able to play 90 minutes any time soon, but the fact that he’s training, getting together with us and getting closer is exciting for everyone.”
Chelsea are 1-0 down since the first leg in Dortmund three weeks ago and need a win and a place in the quarter-finals to remain open in what is probably the only viable way back into next season’s competition.
Eleven points adrift in the race for the Premier League top four, they impressed in the defeat at the Signal Iduna Stadium and created numerous chances as they largely dominated the Bundesliga runners-up.
Edin Terzic’s team has won 10 straight victories in all competitions, winning defending champions and league leaders Bayern Munich since 2012 for their first league title only on goal difference.
“In terms of what we learned from the previous game, we’re up against a top opponent,” Potter said. “You can see their results in the Bundesliga. They’re in fantastic form. They’re constantly winning games, 10 in a row.
“They are doing a very good job. Attack, defence, good individuals, well trained. It’s a good challenge for us but we’re looking forward to it and looking forward to it.”
“The position we’re in, we should always welcome the pressure. Because it means you’re in a fantastic situation to be fighting for the last eight of the Champions League. It’s going to be a special night. It was a special one event in Dortmund and I’m sure it will be the same at Stamford Bridge.”
January loanee Joao Felix, who came the closest to scoring for the Blues at Dortmund with his crossbar, said qualifying for next season’s competition will not affect whether or not he stays at Stamford Bridge beyond the summer . He is set to return to Atlético Madrid at the end of the season.
“Whether I want to stay or not, I don’t think anyone knows the future,” said Felix. “I’m just concentrating on the (Dortmund) game. After that we don’t know what will happen. The club is so big, it’s incredible, everyone behind the club is so good. I’m happy to be here.
“Playing in the Champions League is a competition that everyone wants to play. Now I’m concentrating on tomorrow’s game, we still have a lot of games to try to reach the Champions League via the league. It’s still not over.”
“I think I needed (the loan). When I left Atletico I said it was good for me and for them. I think it was the perfect deal to try something different. I always try to do my best, sometimes it does.” it does not work. I had to switch to see if things could go differently. It’s important to me, this credit.”