Chilwell left Stamford Bridge on crutches
Graham Potter has been criticised by fans for playing Ben Chilwell in Chelsea’s win against Dinamo Zagreb on Wednesday night.
Chilwell started the 2-1 win against the Croatian side in what was described as a dead rubber fixture with the Blues already assured of their place in the last 16.
However the left-back was on the pitch for pretty much the whole game but hobbled off in the final minute of stoppage time as he pulled up clutching his hamstring before going to the ground.
The 25-year-old received treatment on the pitch after the full-time whistle with his arms placed behind his back and was spotted leaving Stamford Bridge on crutches.
After the game, Chelsea boss Potter admitted that his injury didn’t look good. He said: “When a player pulls up like he did, it’s never positive.”
🗣️ “You’d have to say so, yeah. When a player pulls up like he did, it’s never positive.”
Graham Potter admits that Ben Chilwell’s FIFA World Cup is in doubt after suffering a hamstring injury. 🤕 pic.twitter.com/5qmvfYokCQ
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) November 2, 2022
His injury comes at a costly time with the World Cup around the corner and as Gareth Southgate prepares to name his squad next week, Chilwell is now at risk of missing out entirely.
Potter’s decision to play the full-back has been met with widespread backlash, with many questioning why he included Chilwell in a relatively meaningless fixture.
One fan tweeted: “Thanks to Potter, Chilwell isn’t even going to be in the 55 man squad very brilliant confidence management that.”
https://twitter.com/ZG1999_/status/1587926722288275456
Another fan tweeted: “People tryna blame potter for chilwell’s injury sjdksjdk what is he supposed to do, just not pick a team incase they get injured?”
people tryna blame potter for chilwell’s injury sjdksjdk what is he supposed to do, just not pick a team incase they get injured?
— L (@Iewdawg) November 2, 2022
A third person said: “Graham Potter sabotaging the England team by playing Chilwell in a dead rubber & injuring him.”
Graham Potter sabotaging the England team by playing Chilwell in a dead rubber & injuring him.
— Rebekka (@rebekkarnold) November 2, 2022
England’s first group game is against Iran on Monday November 21.
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- Why Denmark are wearing plain kits at 2022 Qatar World Cup
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- Jamie Carragher hits out at ‘corrupt’ Qatar World Cup
