Kovacic needs a ‘miracle’ to be ready for Chelsea’s FA Cup final against Liverpool

BY PAUL LAGAN
paul@slpmedia.co.uk

Chelsea men and women are playing FA Cup finals at Wembley this weekend and, for the men, Thomas Tuchel will be sweating on the fitness of Croatia midfielder Mateo Kovacic as they take on Liverpool tomorrow.

Emma Hayes, however, has an almost clean bill of health as her league champions take on in-form Manchester City on Sunday. Only Fran Kirby is missing through illness.

Tuchel will almost certainly try to play the league side that drew 1-1 at Anfield in August, with the exception of Thiago Silva, in for Andreas Christensen.

It was arguably one of Chelsea’s most impressive away displays of the season. They could, and should, have beaten the home side.

They had to contend with the loss of Reece James just before half-time when he was red-carded for a handball in his penalty area, which led to Liverpool’s spot-kick equaliser after Kai Havertz’s mid-half opener.

Tuchel expects to be without Kovacic as he limped off the Elland Road pitch on Wednesday night in Chelsea’s 3-0 win against Leeds United.

The challenge by Dan James – red-carded by referee Anthony Taylor – was reckless and battered Kovacic’s left leg.

The German head coach is hoping for a miracle. He said: “He has a swollen ankle and he is in a lot of pain.

“I am not a doctor and we need to wait for the examinations. It is very unlikely he can play. It is absolutely bad news for us on a perfect evening.

“If he misses [the final] I’m very disappointed because he was a clear starter.

“He played against Liverpool – I think both [league] matches from the beginning – and was very strong.

“We will see. We need to wait. Maybe we have a miracle and we make it possible.”

The other major doubt is whether N’Golo Kante can be fit to make an appearance on the Wembley turf.

The French midfielder has missed the last three matches and is crucial to Tuchel’s midfield.

Mendy, Toni Rudiger, Cesar Azpilicueta, Marcos Alonso, James, Romelu Lukaku, Mason Mount, and Havertz could well start.

Hayes will hope Football Writers’ Player of the Year Sam Kerr can reproduce her sublime form to retain the FA Cup.

Australian Kerr almost single-handedly turned disaster into triumph with two incredible ‘worldie’ goals in Sunday’s 4-2 must-win Women’s Super League match against Manchester United.

That victory secured the Blues’ third title in a row.

Kerr’s first was the second equaliser as the Blues went 2-1 down. It was a stunning left-footed strike from the edge of the United penalty area.

But the second, which capped off the win, was in a different class. Facing away from goal, and 30 yards out, she chested the ball before swivelling and unleashing an immaculate dipping volley that stunned United goalkeeper Mary Earps, both sets of players and the near 4,000 crowd at Kingsmeadow.

Kerr said afterwards, she knew she was going to score a spectacular goal.

She said: “On my second goal, it sounds crazy but I try that type of stuff at training all the time.

“One of my strengths as a player is I try things that maybe other players wouldn’t try.

“When Guro [Reiten] headed it to me I thought this is going to pop up perfectly for a volley and I just thought I’m going to hit it.

“I do visualise a lot.

“Everyone thinks I was surprised I scored that goal but I told Erin Cuthbert I’m going to score a worldie. I’m going to chest it down and volley the ball.”

PICTURE: KEITH GILLARD