Chelsea head coach Thomas Tuchel has confirmed that Mateo Kovacic could make a ‘surprise’ appearance in Saturday’s FA Cup final against Liverpool.
After the Croatia international sustained an ankle injury against Leeds United on Wednesday, Tuchel suggested that one of his key players would require “a miracle” to feature at Wembley Stadium.
However, a report emerged on Thursday that the injury was not as bad as first feared, and Tuchel has now revealed that Kovacic will take part in training later on Friday to try to prove his fitness.
Speaking to reporters at a press conference, Tuchel said: “We will try it today. Pretty surprising news that we are even in this situation, but Mateo wants to try it and medical department gave green light to try it.
“The “advantage” was that the ligament was torn from the last incident, so there is no new injury but heavy pain and it was heavily swollen, so we are hoping that maybe time is enough that he makes it, but we will try it in training and then we will know more about it.”
Kovacic missed a number of games in April due to an issue with the same ankle, which was initially sustained in the semi-final victory over Crystal Palace.
