Chelsea's Reece James tackles Real Madrid's Eduardo Camavinga in the Champions League quarter-final second-leg at Stamford Bridge on April 18, 2023. AFP
Chelsea's Reece James tackles Real Madrid's Eduardo Camavinga in the Champions League quarter-final second-leg at Stamford Bridge on April 18, 2023. AFP
Chelsea's Reece James tackles Real Madrid's Eduardo Camavinga in the Champions League quarter-final second-leg at Stamford Bridge on April 18, 2023. AFP
Chelsea's Reece James tackles Real Madrid's Eduardo Camavinga in the Champions League quarter-final second-leg at Stamford Bridge on April 18, 2023. AFP

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Football

Chelsea defender Reece James ruled out for rest of season with hamstring injury

England right-back hit by another fitness blow as Blues take on Brentford in Premier League

The National

April 25, 2023

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Chelsea caretaker manager Frank Lampard has confirmed that right-back Reece James will miss the rest of the season with a hamstring injury.

The Blues, who face Brentford at home in the Premier League on Wednesday, could also be without Mason Mount for the rest of the campaign. The midfielder will be sidelined after undergoing surgery for a pelvic issue.

James picked up the injury during last week’s Champions League quarter-final defeat by Real Madrid. He managed to finish the match against the European champions at Stamford Bridge but later underwent a scan that showed the extent of the problem.

The defender has been one of Chelsea’s best performers this season, but his fitness woes have limited him to 16 Premier League starts and he has been unable to string together a run of games since missing the World Cup with England last year.

Lampard, who has lost all four of his matches since taking temporary charge, said: “Reece James is unavailable. Probably for the season. Mason Mount probably the same. Potential for the last game of the season but probably not. Kai [Havertz] won't be available tomorrow.

“It’s a blow for all of us because they’re big players. Reece has a hamstring injury he picked up in the Madrid game, he got through the game but we scanned it in the following days.

“Mason has been carrying this pelvic injury for quite a while, it definitely predates myself. Medical staff have been trying, but we’ve got to a stage where he will have minor surgery.

“It’ll probably be a four-week recovery and we all know where that gets us to.”

Lampard refused to comment on stories that former Tottenham Hotspur and Paris Saint-Germain boss Mauricio Pochettino is in advanced talks to take over as Chelsea manager.

Chelsea 0 Real Madrid 2: Player ratings

CHELSEA RATINGS: Kepa Arrizabalaga – 6. The Spaniard probably predicted a much busier night, and though he conceded twice, he could do little about either goal. EPA
CHELSEA RATINGS: Kepa Arrizabalaga – 6. The Spaniard probably predicted a much busier night, and though he conceded twice, he could do little about either goal. EPA
Wesley Fofana – 6. Had the undesirable task of monitoring Vinicius Jr, which he did well for most of the game and, at times, got forward to provide the overlap on the wing for Chelsea’s attacks. Getty
Wesley Fofana – 6. Had the undesirable task of monitoring Vinicius Jr, which he did well for most of the game and, at times, got forward to provide the overlap on the wing for Chelsea’s attacks. Getty
Thiago Silva – 6. Composed in defence, and his experience was needed to give Chelsea a chance. Handled his duties well. AP
Thiago Silva – 6. Composed in defence, and his experience was needed to give Chelsea a chance. Handled his duties well. AP
Trevoh Chalobah – 5. Came into the starting line-up for Koulibaly, who was injured in the first leg, and headed away a dangerous free-kick from the Chelsea box. Was beaten down the left wing by Rodrygo for the goal that killed the tie. AP
Trevoh Chalobah – 5. Came into the starting line-up for Koulibaly, who was injured in the first leg, and headed away a dangerous free-kick from the Chelsea box. Was beaten down the left wing by Rodrygo for the goal that killed the tie. AP
Reece James – 7. Chelsea’s most promising player, who waved off a hamstring concern midway through. Looked up for the task of closing down players and getting forward on the wing early on, and swung in a promising cross into the box inside 10 minutes that Kante hit wide. Denied an effort from distance by Militao. Booked. AFP
Reece James – 7. Chelsea’s most promising player, who waved off a hamstring concern midway through. Looked up for the task of closing down players and getting forward on the wing early on, and swung in a promising cross into the box inside 10 minutes that Kante hit wide. Denied an effort from distance by Militao. Booked. AFP
Enzo Fernandez – 6. Needed to do better with a free-kick into the box in the first half from a promising position. Later, he hit a low strike from distance wide of Courtois’s goal before he fired a powerful shot that the Real Madrid goalkeeper was equal to. AP
Enzo Fernandez – 6. Needed to do better with a free-kick into the box in the first half from a promising position. Later, he hit a low strike from distance wide of Courtois’s goal before he fired a powerful shot that the Real Madrid goalkeeper was equal to. AP
N’Golo Kante – 7. Should have scored the opening goal for the Blues to kickstart the comeback but was unable to find the target when his shot went wide. Seemed to take up the task of causing problems on the right wing when James was in trouble. Getty
N’Golo Kante – 7. Should have scored the opening goal for the Blues to kickstart the comeback but was unable to find the target when his shot went wide. Seemed to take up the task of causing problems on the right wing when James was in trouble. Getty
Mateo Kovacic – 6. The Croatian battled it out in midfield with Kroos but ultimately didn’t have an impact on the game. AP
Mateo Kovacic – 6. The Croatian battled it out in midfield with Kroos but ultimately didn’t have an impact on the game. AP
Marc Cucurella – 5. Replaced the suspended Ben Chilwell. Booked for a foul on Rodrygo. Denied on the stroke of half-time after he hesitated when James’s cross fell to him, giving Courtois time to deny the shot. Reuters
Marc Cucurella – 5. Replaced the suspended Ben Chilwell. Booked for a foul on Rodrygo. Denied on the stroke of half-time after he hesitated when James’s cross fell to him, giving Courtois time to deny the shot. Reuters
Conor Gallagher – 6. Handed a surprise start in a packed midfield, sitting behind Havertz. He found himself in all the right places but was unable to get the vital touch to trouble Real Madrid. AFP
Conor Gallagher – 6. Handed a surprise start in a packed midfield, sitting behind Havertz. He found himself in all the right places but was unable to get the vital touch to trouble Real Madrid. AFP
Kai Havertz – 5. Finally had an effort in the second half when he was put through on goal, but Courtois was able to save comfortably. Getty
Kai Havertz – 5. Finally had an effort in the second half when he was put through on goal, but Courtois was able to save comfortably. Getty
SUBS: Raheem Sterling (Fernandez 67’) – 6. Dropped to the bench and made an immediate impact on his return but was often loose in possession. EPA
SUBS: Raheem Sterling (Fernandez 67’) – 6. Dropped to the bench and made an immediate impact on his return but was often loose in possession. EPA
Joao Felix (Gallagher 67’) – 6. Nutmegged Militao with a storming run into the final third but the Atletico Madrid loanee could only find the feet of Camavinga. AFP
Joao Felix (Gallagher 67’) – 6. Nutmegged Militao with a storming run into the final third but the Atletico Madrid loanee could only find the feet of Camavinga. AFP
Mykhailo Mudryk (Cucurella 68’) – 6. Superb defensively to support Chalobah and diminish Vinicius Jr’s threat, but struggled to find the target at the other end of the pitch. Booked. Reuters
Mykhailo Mudryk (Cucurella 68’) – 6. Superb defensively to support Chalobah and diminish Vinicius Jr’s threat, but struggled to find the target at the other end of the pitch. Booked. Reuters
Mason Mount (Havertz 77’) – N/R. Unable to make enough of an impact as his side were on the back foot. Getty
Mason Mount (Havertz 77’) – N/R. Unable to make enough of an impact as his side were on the back foot. Getty
REAL MADRID RATINGS: Thibaut Courtois – 7. Received a hostile reception on his return to Stamford Bridge but had little to worry about before he stood big to deny Cucurella on the stroke of half-time. Superb when needed. Getty
REAL MADRID RATINGS: Thibaut Courtois – 7. Received a hostile reception on his return to Stamford Bridge but had little to worry about before he stood big to deny Cucurella on the stroke of half-time. Superb when needed. Getty
Dani Carvajal – 6. Ventured forward on the wing on several occasions and linked up well with Rodrygo in the first half. EPA
Dani Carvajal – 6. Ventured forward on the wing on several occasions and linked up well with Rodrygo in the first half. EPA
Eder Militao – 8. Booted away a poor corner from James inside 20 minutes before he denied Kante a tap-in just after half-time. Picked out Rodrygo who had already started his run on the wing for the opening goal. Booked for a challenge on Havertz and will miss the semi-final first leg. Reuters
Eder Militao – 8. Booted away a poor corner from James inside 20 minutes before he denied Kante a tap-in just after half-time. Picked out Rodrygo who had already started his run on the wing for the opening goal. Booked for a challenge on Havertz and will miss the semi-final first leg. Reuters
David Alaba – 7. Cleared a dangerous cross by James before half-time with Gallagher lurking in the box. Taken off at the break and replaced by Rudiger. Getty
David Alaba – 7. Cleared a dangerous cross by James before half-time with Gallagher lurking in the box. Taken off at the break and replaced by Rudiger. Getty
Eduardo Camavinga – 7. Continued his run at left-back but seemingly struggled with the danger James posed with crosses. The Frenchman looked lively after the break with a darting run before he was brought down by James. AFP
Eduardo Camavinga – 7. Continued his run at left-back but seemingly struggled with the danger James posed with crosses. The Frenchman looked lively after the break with a darting run before he was brought down by James. AFP
Federico Valverde – 7. The Uruguayan hinted at the threat he can pose on the ball with a darting run into the box before taking a touch too many. Provided Rodrygo with the tap-in for Real’s second. Reuters
Federico Valverde – 7. The Uruguayan hinted at the threat he can pose on the ball with a darting run into the box before taking a touch too many. Provided Rodrygo with the tap-in for Real’s second. Reuters
Toni Kroos – 6. Rested at the weekend, the German was confident and calm in the midfield. AFP
Toni Kroos – 6. Rested at the weekend, the German was confident and calm in the midfield. AFP
Luka Modric – 6. Made two uncharacteristic errors early on that Chelsea were unable to capitalise on, but forced Kepa into a decent block in the first half. Getty
Luka Modric – 6. Made two uncharacteristic errors early on that Chelsea were unable to capitalise on, but forced Kepa into a decent block in the first half. Getty
Rodrygo – 9. Dealt Chelsea the sucker punch with a goal he made virtually by himself with a darting run down the wing. Tapped home Valverde’s pass to double Real’s lead. Getty
Rodrygo – 9. Dealt Chelsea the sucker punch with a goal he made virtually by himself with a darting run down the wing. Tapped home Valverde’s pass to double Real’s lead. Getty
Karim Benzema – 5. The in-form Frenchman had a difficult start with Chelsea’s attacking attitude and was unable to trouble Kepa with his solitary low effort. Getty
Karim Benzema – 5. The in-form Frenchman had a difficult start with Chelsea’s attacking attitude and was unable to trouble Kepa with his solitary low effort. Getty
Vinicius Junior – 7. Patient, and contributed defensively early on. The Brazilian was readily available for long balls, and he tested Kepa with a shot on the half-hour mark. Couldn’t connect with a Modric cross before half-time. AP
Vinicius Junior – 7. Patient, and contributed defensively early on. The Brazilian was readily available for long balls, and he tested Kepa with a shot on the half-hour mark. Couldn’t connect with a Modric cross before half-time. AP
SUBS: Antonio Rudiger (Alba 46’) – 6. A half-time change as he made a return to Stamford Bridge following his move last summer. Reuters
SUBS: Antonio Rudiger (Alba 46’) – 6. A half-time change as he made a return to Stamford Bridge following his move last summer. Reuters
Aurelien Tchouameni (Benzema 71’) – N/R. Got stuck in, and managed the game well as Madrid closed out the tie. Reuters
Aurelien Tchouameni (Benzema 71’) – N/R. Got stuck in, and managed the game well as Madrid closed out the tie. Reuters
Dani Ceballos (Kroos 77’) – N/R. Fired straight at Kepa in the last kick of the game. AP
Dani Ceballos (Kroos 77’) – N/R. Fired straight at Kepa in the last kick of the game. AP
Marco Asensio (Rodrygo 82’) N/R. Part of a double substitution as Real Madrid made it 2-0. Nacho Fernandez (Carvajal 82’) N/R. Helped Madrid see out the game. Getty
Marco Asensio (Rodrygo 82’) N/R. Part of a double substitution as Real Madrid made it 2-0. Nacho Fernandez (Carvajal 82’) N/R. Helped Madrid see out the game. Getty

“I’m not going to get involved in any future manager talk, because it’s all speculation. Simple as that,” Lampard said.

Other candidates for the role should a deal with Pochettino, the club's preferred candidate, fall through include Burnley's Vincent Kompany.

Lampard, came in as interim coach after Graham Potter was sacked on April 2. He is under contract for the remainder of the season, and despite there being little left to play for after they were knocked out of the Champions League, he insists the campaign is not over.

Chelsea are currently 11th in the Premier League but Lampard said: “For me it doesn’t [feel like the season is over]. I’m manager of Chelsea, I have a big link to this club and pride and so should the players. It’s absolutely not over.

“I don’t have a mentality that there’s nothing to play for. I was fortunate enough to be part of teams that were challenging for stuff towards the end of the season, but it’s not a given. We’ve been fortunate at Chelsea to have had it for 15 to 20 years. A lot of clubs with big status in the Premier league don’t do that.

“It’s important that when you have a long career you won’t compete every season, it’s not a given. It comes down to your personal pride and responsibility, wearing the shirt.

“We’ve got seven games, four against the top four [three] away from home. The run-in is really tough, there’s no doubt about that.

“My interest is in how the players react to that because they’re tough games. There’s always something on those games. I understand that and the players have to understand that.”

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