Chelsea FC have suffered a significant blow to their season with the news of a long-term lay-off for Belgian shot-stopper Thibaut Courtois being confirmed by manager Jos Mourinho
The last thing Chelsea FC needed at this moment in time was a serious injury to one of their key players. Unfortunately for the Blues, that is what has happened. Thibaut Courtois has suffered from an injury to his right knee which was serious enough to require surgery.
Brazil international Oscar has been struggling with a knee injury picked up in training ever since the opening day draw against Swansea, and Chelsea FC manager Jos Mourinho confirmed that the 24-year-old would also miss the trip to Goodison Park.
Mourinho confirms Courtois blow
The Chelsea FC coach confirmed in his pre-match press conference on Friday that the injury to his No 1 keeper would require surgery and consequently a long spell on the sidelines. The news was later confirmed by the club in an official statement released on the website.
“I cannot tell you much but I can tell you he needs surgery in his right knee and as a consequence he will be out for quite a long time,” Mourinho is quoted as saying by the Chelsea FC official website. “I cannot be more specific about the time he will be out, but I know he will be out for some time.
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Thibaut Courtois injury update… http://t.co/0fqqLiwW0l
a Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) September 11, 2015
Thank you everyone for the support and the good wishes! I will work hard to recover as soon as I can! ?Y Y?? #cfc pic.twitter.com/ED8ubSezQx a Thibaut Courtois (@thibautcourtois) September 11, 2015
“Ita s a big blow but you will not see me speaking next week about Thibaut because I never do about an injured player.”
The Blues’ boss also reaffirmed his faith in Bosnia & Herzegovina international Asmir Begovi , who will now fill in for the injured Belgian. Mourinho said, “Ita s not easy to have the best goalkeeper in the world injured but ita s easy to have one of the best goalkeepers in the world to play, and we have Begovi to play and hea s very, very good.
“Ia m very sad for Thibaut and for the team but we have a top goalkeeper and Begovi will be in goal.”
Oscar remains sidelined but is close to a return
The Brazilian international made a promising start to the season with a fine display against Swansea City, before being sacrificed when Thibaut Courtois received a second-half red card. However, a knee injury picked up in training has kept the Chelsea FC attacker on the sidelines ever since, and Mourinho confirmed that he will also miss Saturday’s clash against Everton.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Mourinho indicated that Oscar was close to a return, but was not passed fit for the weekend’s game. However, the Portuguese revealed that the 24-year-old was ‘almost there’, and could be in contention for next week’s Champions League opener against Maccabi Tel-Aviv.
Fortunately for Chelsea FC, the rest of squad was given a clean bill of health, and this weekend’s game could see two new signings make their d but — left-back Abdul Baba Rahman and centre-back Papy Djilobodji.
