Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante looks set to miss Wednesday’s 9pm Europa League final against Arsenal in Baku due to a knee injury.
Reports claim the France midfield dynamo injured himself in training over the weekend.
It would be a massive blow for coach Maurizio Sarri who was confident Kante would be ready for the showdown after missing Chelsea’s final two Premier League matches with a hamstring injury.
Sarri is already without the services of defender Antonio Rudiger, midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek and winger Callum Hudson-Odoi due to injuries.
Meanwhile, Blues defender David Luiz looks a shoo-in to start the final and is expecting a derby atmosphere against London rivals the Gunners.
WARY: Defender David Luiz. Photo: Hannah McKay/Reuters.
The Brazilian says: “This is a totally different occasion. It’s a big derby, a big London derby, big opponents, a high-level rivalry.”
Having played under Arsenal boss Unai Emery at Paris St Germain for two years, Luiz is wary of the Spanish tactician who has won record three Europa League titles.
He says of Emery: “I had the opportunity to work with Unai for a few months. He’s a great guy, a great coach, a great person. He’s passionate.
“In this competition especially he knows how to win. That’s why Arsenal are there, that’s why Unai is there. Again! That’s another thing we have to understand: We have to beat Unai as well as Arsenal in the final.”