Thrilling Showdown: Injury Strikes Nkunku as Burstow Salvages Late Draw for Chelsea against Borussia Dortmund
Chelsea 1-1 Borussia Dortmund: Nkunku injured as Burstow's late header salvages draw for Blues Unbeaten in pre-season, Chelsea showcased their strength Watch Chelsea vs Liverpool live on Sky Sports, Sunday August 13, 430pm Don't miss the action!
Mauricio Pochettino has confirmed that striker Christopher Nkunku sustained a knee injury during Chelsea's last pre-season friendly against Borussia Dortmund, which ended in a 1-1 draw. Nkunku, who was signed for £52m from RB Leipzig this summer, had showcased his talent with three goals during the club's tour of the USA. Unfortunately, he had to be substituted after only 20 minutes at Soldier Field.
The Chelsea medical staff will need to assess the 25-year-old further. Pochettino refused to blame the playing surface, typically utilized for NFL matches, for the setback.
"Our doctors are examining him, and I'm optimistic that it's not a significant problem. He fell during the play, which could have been a penalty, and he's experiencing something in his knee, but we're hopeful that it's nothing major," Pochettino expressed.
"We are hopeful for his swift return to the team. We require a few days to evaluate his condition.
"We assumed some risks due to the imperfect pitch, as it is primarily utilized for a different sport. However, we do not attribute the injury to the state of the pitch. In my opinion, it was simply a stroke of unfortunate luck."
How Chelsea ended pre-season unbeaten
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Mason Burstow (left) celebrates scoring for Chelsea with Conor Gallagher
Reece James led the Chelsea team as captain, playing alongside Thiago Silva, Ben Chilwell, and newly signed Levi Colwill in the defensive line. In the first half, the team dominated the game, creating opportunities for Nicolas Jackson, who was thwarted by goalkeeper Alexander Meyer. Additionally, Colwill missed a chance from a corner, unable to score from close range.
Nkunku left the pitch clutching his knee and was replaced by Mykhailo Mudryk as Meyer saved from Chilwell and Raheem Sterling sent an effort wide.
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Marius Wolf wheels away after scoring for Borussia Dortmund against Chelsea
Pochettino opted not to make any substitutions during half-time, despite Dortmund unexpectedly taking the lead with their first shot on target. Wolf managed to convert the chance from close range, leading to claims for an offside. Kepa Arrizabalaga was forced to push away a shot from the goal scorer before Chelsea's 19-year-old Mason Burstow secured their unbeaten pre-season record by skillfully heading in a goal.
Chelsea's pre-season results
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