Both Edouard Mendy and N’Golo Kante have been included in Chelsea’s travelling squad for Saturday’s UEFA Champions League final against Manchester City in Porto, the Blues have announced.
The Blues, who finished their Premier League campaign with a defeat on Sunday afternoon, losing 2-1 to Aston Villa at Villa Park, have flown out to Portugal this afternoon ahead of putting the finishing touches to their preparations.
In the build-up to the final, which will see two English sides go head-to-head for the biggest prize in European club football for the second time in three seasons, Chelsea head coach Thomas Tuchel has been sweating over the availability of both goalkeeper Mendy and midfield enforcer Kante.
Mendy was forced off at half-time against Villa on Sunday afternoon, whilst Kante missed the clash with Dean Smith’s side altogether because of an ongoing hamstring complaint. However, the pair trained at Cobham, the Blues’ training base, yesterday afternoon and have boarded the flight to Portugal, with Chelsea this afternoon confirming the full 25-man squad.
No major surprises have been sprung by Tuchel, with no senior figures missing out through injury or suspension. Tammy Abraham, whose future at Stamford Bridge is currently up in the air, has been included.
Full Chelsea squad confirmed to face Manchester City:
Goalkeepers: Kepa Arrizabalaga, Edouard Mendy & Willy Caballero.
Defenders: Reece James, Cesar Azpilicueta, Antonio Rudiger, Andreas Christensen, Thiago Silva, Kurt Zouma, Ben Chilwell, Marcos Alonso & Emerson.
Midfielders: Callum Hudson-Odoi, Hakim Ziyech, Christian Pulisic, N’Golo Kante, Mateo Kovacic, Billy Gilmour, Mason Mount, Kai Havertz, Faustino Anjorin & Jorginho.
Strikers: Tammy Abraham, Timo Werner & Olivier Giroud.