Kante & Mendy give Chelsea double injury boost ahead of CL final
N’Golo Kante is ‘looking good’ and Edouard Mendy has made a ‘huge improvement’, reveals Thomas Tuchel in a massive double injury Chelsea boost for Champions League final against Manchester City as the squad fly to Porto for Saturday’s showpiece
- Chelsea flew to Porto on Thursday ahead of Saturday’s Champions League final
- Midfielder N’Golo Kante suffered a hamstring injury against Leicester on May 18
- Goalkeeper Edouard Mendy injured his ribs during Sunday’s defeat at Aston Villa
- However, the pair are nearing a return to fitness for the Manchester City clash
Chelsea’s Champions League final preparations have taken a positive turn with news that N’Golo Kante and Edouard Mendy were part of the travelling 25-man party that flew to Porto on Thursday.
Kante and Mendy – with the latter pictured boarding the plane – have both been fitness concerns for Saturday’s showpiece in Portugal against Premier League rivals Manchester City.
Kante suffered a hamstring injury during Chelsea’ 2-1 win over Leicester on May 18, while Mendy hurt his ribs during Sunday’s 2-1 defeat at Aston Villa.
Edouard Mendy has travelled with the Chelsea squad for Saturday’s Champions League final
As did N’Golo Kante (right, pictured on Wednesday) ahead of the Manchester City encounter
Mendy hurt his ribs while making a save in Chelsea’s fixture against Aston Villa on Sunday
Kante had picked up a hamstring problem in the league fixture with Leicester on May 18
However, the pair returned to training on Wednesday and subsequently flew with the Blues squad from Gatwick Airport.
‘N’Golo is looking good and I hope he stays like that for Saturday,’ Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel told the club’s official website on Thursday.
‘Edou made a huge improvement with the management of pain from when the injury happened, which is good. We hope to have him back. If he is fit, then Edou will play.’
Chelsea are looking to win their second Champions League, and first in nine years, when they take on favourites City at the weekend.
Hakim Ziyech (left) and Callum Hudson-Odoi pose for the cameras as they sat on the plane
Emerson Palmieri was one of the players photographed at Gatwick Airport on Thursday
Timo Werner will be hoping to fire the Blues to victory against City come Saturday night
Several of the west London outfit’s squad were in relaxed spirits ahead of boarding the flight.
Antonio Rudiger took to Twitter to share a picture of himself giving a thumbs up as he was about to step on the plane.
‘Next destination Porto #Hustle #AlwaysBelieve #UCLfinal,’ he wrote alongside the picture.
Wide men Hakim Ziyech and Callum Hudson-Odoi were photographed sitting next to each other on the plane, while striker Timo Werner and deputy left-back Emerson Palmieri were also snapped.
The upbeat news about Kante and Mendy will be welcomed by Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel
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