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Tuchel gives Rudiger and Kovacic injury update as Chelsea look ahead to Champions League semi-final second leg

Antonio Rudiger and Mateo Kovacic are both doubtful for the Champions League semi-final second-leg clash with Real Madrid on Wednesday, admits Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel.

Kovacic has been absent with injury for the last five Blues fixtures and will miss the Premier League game against Fulham on Saturday, and the Croatian midfielder faces a race against time to be available for the European tie.

Rudiger, meanwhile, picked up a knock during the closing stages of the 1-1 first-leg draw in Madrid on Tuesday, and will certainly not face Fulham; however, Tuchel is hopeful the German central defender will be able to face Real next week.

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What did Tuchel say?

Speaking at his Premier League pre-match press conference on Friday, Tuchel said when asked if Kovacic will return: "No, unfortunately not, he is still injured. He trained with us, but he's still not fully confident, he felt something at the end of training. So he's not available unfortunately.

"All the others are available except for Toni Rudiger, who got injured in the last minute of the Madrid game. Everybody else is available."

Asked if the players are doubts for the Madrid match, Tuchel said: "Yeah, for sure. Before training today we thought that Kova had a big chance to join us latest for Madrid, maybe even for today. So now we have a little setback, not a big one, with him.

"I don't want to be too negative, let's see how he is tomorrow. For Toni, I'm quite positive for Wednesday."

Could Gilmour step up?

With Kovacic absent, Tuchel was asked whether Billy Gilmour would get a chance in the centre of midfield. The promising Scotsman has only played sporadically under Tuchel with N'Golo Kante and Jorginho as competition.

Tuchel said he is pleased with Gilmour's displays in training, and he may feature against Fulham.

Billy Gilmour Chelsea 2020-21Getty Images

He said: "N’Golo feels very good, Jorgi looked very good and in training again today the guys are super professional, they know that we miss Kova a lot so I have the feeling Jorgi and N’Golo step up.

"[Gilmour] looked very good today in training so I was quite impressed. The last decision is made today so in the evening, the afternoon or maybe tomorrow morning, but Billy is in the squad, he was very close to playing the last games some minutes so he is in good shape."

With a Champions League semi-final, FA Cup final and the Premier League run-in up ahead, Chelsea face a hectic end to the 2020-21 campaign.

Tuchel said of the schedule: "It's brutal, honestly. It is brutal. We played in France, the same amount of games, two cups but also 20 games in the league, but of course, the intensity and challenge of the league is very, very different now here.

"It is again another level, it is quite relentless but it keeps you on your front foot and gets you out of bed early. There is simply no time to breathe. No time to sit back and get too relaxed or comfortable. This is a good thing. It sharpens your mind and mentality.

"It is what I find impressive in this club. Everybody is on the front foot. The dressing room and players are aware of these challenges, demands and they live up to it in their recovery and the way they approach their job in the time they spend here at the club.

"Everyone here at the club is aware of what it takes to be in shape, this is why it is impressive. We arrive into every game with the knowledge and deep conviction that we are prepared for this and we can perform on this level and adapt."

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