PEDRO SUFFERED MULTIPLE facial fractures in a collision with David Ospina but could return to training within 10 days, according to Chelsea manager Antonio Conte.
Spain forward Pedro had to be substituted in the first half of Chelsea’s 3-0 friendly win over Arsenal in Beijing over the weekend and has returned to London to undergo treatment on the injury he suffered when Colombia goalkeeper Ospina committed a reckless, high challenge.
Speaking ahead of Tuesday’s International Champions Cup match against Bayern Munich in Singapore, Conte offered an update on the wellbeing of the 29-year-old former Barcelona man.
“The situation was more serious [than we thought],” he said.
“I hoped it was only a concussion. Instead he had multiple fractures but I think with a mask and about 10 days’ work, he could come back to work with us.”
Asked if it was a fair challenge by Ospina, Conte said: “Nope, absolutely not. I was a player and I know the difference. He didn’t go to win the ball.”
Conte would not discuss the situation of Diego Costa, who is widely expected to leave Chelsea in the off-season.
But the manager is enthusiastic about the arrival of striker Alvaro Morata, an expensive acquisition from Real Madrid.
“He is a young player but [has] a lot of experience in his career,” he said.
“He played with two big teams, Juventus and Real Madrid, played difficult games and won the Champions League last year.
“I think he can have a good impact. For sure, the Premier League is a different league when you compare with other leagues… [but] Morata is ready to have a good impact in the Premier League.”
And Conte indicated the 24-year-old is likely to make his first appearance in a Chelsea shirt as a substitute against Bayern.
“I will give him the possibility [of playing] a part of the game,” he said. Not from the start. He [just] stepped into [working with the team].”
Conte, who refused to discuss rumours of a move for Inter and Italy player Antonio Candreva, knows the forthcoming campaign is likely to prove tougher than his debut in 2016/17, when Chelsea were not involved in the Champions League.
“I think the only way is to work very hard with my players,” he said of balancing the demands of domestic and European commitments.
“We can do this by playing the right way next season. To play [in the] Champions League is great and right for the club, the players are enthusiastic.
“[The] players are playing one competition more and we are working very well to prepare in the right way.”
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Ospina got the ball, ospina wanted it more. The same way as Chelsea fans said alonso ‘wanted it more’ than bellerin a few months ago
@Jordo Callaghan: Oh yeah if Ospina wanted it he would have caught it with both hands….you must be an arsenal fan to be stupid enough to say that Ospina wasnt to blame….going back to that Alonso Bellerin clash…Alonso is a foot taller than Bellerin and got up much higher than bellerin who bearly even got the ball.
@Jordo Callaghan: That said Ospina had done it before to Oscar so he has previous too.
@Brian Shaw: Alonso was running at full speed you clown, bellerin wasn’t looking at him, bellerin had his eyes on the ball
@Brian Shaw: how could he catch the ball if he was struggling to make it hence why he dived to punch it
@Jordo Callaghan: Pedro was running back with his back to ospina , can’t see how you can argue he wanted it more
@Shane Murphy: no he wasn’t
@Frodo: Lads ya must be new on here. This Jordan fella is a deluded clown who talks shyte non stop he is like a 12 year old kid who has just discovered the internet and believes Arsenal are the best team in the world, you can’t argue with him your wasting your time he is too thick.
@Drogspur: shut the fuc* up you scruffy 6 fingered cun*, get a life, my 12 year old cousin knows more about football than you
At the time of writing the headline states ‘Chelsea’s Pedro suffers multiple facial fractures after wreckless collision”
Quite ironic misspelling considering Pedro is a wreck.
Also – reckless journalism
Jordo you’re a muppet ospina took him out end of story, anyway it could be a bleessing in disguise of sorts the young lad boga who came on for pedro was brilliant he made fools out of some of the goonetts lads with his ball control and trickery although thats not to difficult i suppose.
@Philip Mc dermott: cosmetic handbags
@Philip Mc dermott: wonder why no Chelsea player could do it in the fa cup final when it matters
@Philip Mc dermott: alonso took bellerin out of it as well you fool
Lads ya must be new on here. This Jordan fella is a deluded clown who talks shyte non stop he is like a 12 year old kid who has just discovered the internet and believes Arsenal are the best team in the world, you can’t argue with him your wasting your time he is too thick.