Mateo Kovacic needs a "miracle" to be fit for the FA Cup final, admits Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel.
Mateo Kovacic will need a'miracle' to be fit for Saturday's FA Cup final, according to Thomas Tuchel, after hobbling off with an ankle injury after Dan James' horror tackle.
Leeds winger James was sent off in the 24th minute for a studs-up lunge on Chelsea midfielder Pedro, who was replaced by Ruben Loftus-Cheek.
When asked if Kovacic would be available for the Wembley final against Liverpool this weekend, Blues manager Tuchel said, 'It is very unlikely.'
'Mateo went off, which he never does. He is in a lot of pain because his ankle is swollen.
'I am not a doctor, and we need to wait for the tests, but he is very unlikely to play.' It is devastating news for us.
'If he doesn't make it, I'll be very disappointed because he was a clear starter.' He is an important player for us in midfield.
'He is super, super hungry, determined, and excited to play these matches, and he is terrified of missing out.'
'We'll see.' We must wait. Maybe we'll have a miracle and make it happen.'
Tuchel commented on James' tackle, saying, 'I'm not good at looking at these situations because it hurts me physically to watch it, but everyone tells me it's a clear red card.'
Chelsea, who had drawn two and lost one of their previous three Premier League games, had an otherwise perfect preparation for the final until Kovacic's injury.
'We needed that performance, that's the best message,' Tuchel added. 'Because we did what we needed to do, we arrive at the final with a clear mindset.'
It was more misery for Leeds and manager Jesse Marsch, who remain in the relegation zone heading into their final two games of the season against Brighton and Brentford.
James' dismissal comes on the heels of Luke Ayling's red card in the 27th minute against Arsenal last Sunday, with both players now suspended until the end of the season.
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