Tuchel explains Silva & Pulisic's absence in Chelsea win

The pair were both absent on Sunday as Chelsea grabbed a third consecutive league victory under their new manager.

Christian Pulisic had ‘family issues to resolve’, says Thomas Tuchel, with the Chelsea manager also confirming the injured Thiago Silva remains unavailable.

Pulisic, who is yet to start in any of his former Borussia Dortmund boss’ first four games at Stamford Bridge, was a notable absentee in Sunday’s 2-1 victory at Sheffield United. However, in light of personal issues, Tuchel chose to rest the winger.

“Christian has some family issues to resolve and family is always first so we decided to give him a rest for this game,” said the Blues manager in his post-match conference on Sunday evening.

Silva, meanwhile, sustained a thigh injury during last week’s 1-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur. A scan confirmed the extent of the problem, with the center-back doubtful for Thursday’s fifth-round FA Cup tie with Barnsley.

Tuchel has said that #CFC have set the ‘ambitious’ target of Thiago Silva returning from a thigh injury against Southampton on February 20. Says club are fighting for every day.
If any doubt, surely he will be saved for Atletico on Feb 23rd? Even that might come too early.

— Simon Johnson (@SJohnsonSport) February 8, 2021

“With Thiago, we are fighting for him every day,” Tuchel said on his former Paris Saint-Germain skipper. “But he will be for sure out for the FA Cup so it will take time.

“It will be several days but we have set the goal, I would like him back for maybe Southampton, that’s realistic but also ambitious. I know Thiago, he will do everything to be ready as soon as possible, but it is a muscle injury so you cannot take any risk.”

Timo Werner assisted Mason Mount’s opener and later won the penalty that led to Jorginho’s match-winner as Chelsea overcame Sheffield United 2-1 at Bramall Lane.