Chelsea has had their fitness issues compounded with Brazilian defender Thiago Silva ruled out of action after the club confirmed that he sustained a knee injury in Sunday’s 2-0 loss to Tottenham in the London derby at White Hart Lane.

Silva only lasted nineteen minutes in the game before he was replaced by Wesley Fofana, and after having a scan on Monday, Chelsea confirmed that he sustained a knee injury and will start a rehabilitation process.

“Having sustained a knee injury during the first half of Sunday’s match against Tottenham Hotspur, Thiago underwent further assessment and a scan on his return to the training center on Monday. Scan results from those assessments have confirmed damage to Thiago’s knee ligaments, and he will now work closely with the club’s medical department during his rehabilitation to return to action as soon as possible.” the statement read.

Thiago Silva, who joined Chelsea in 2020 from French side PSG, has made 109 appearances for the Blues, but now he will miss Borrusia Dortmund’s visit to Stamford Bridge for the second leg of their UEFA Champions League round of sixteen clashes.

Chelsea trail the tie with a 1-0 deficit from the first leg. Their Premier League form has not been the best either as Graham Potter continues under intense pressure to change the trajectory of Chelsea’s form, having not won in the last seven games.

Thiago Silva signed a year contract extension with the club that will keep him at the club till the summer of next year.

Chelsea has only won twice in their last 15 games in all competitions and are fourteen points from the top four. The blues will face Leeds United in the next Premier League game at Stamford Bridge at the weekend as Chelsea continues to search for a victory.

Their UEFA Champions League return leg fixture will happen next week on March 7.

Daniel Ademiju Idowu