Chelsea suffer Sterling setback ahead of Dortmund clash against ‘next Sancho’

15 February 2023 , 03:00

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Raheem Sterling is an injury doubt for Chelsea (Image: Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)

Chelsea are turning their attention to the Champions League ahead of a tricky last-16 tie against Borussia Dortmund.

The Blues are struggling for form at the moment, with manager Graham Potter trying to work out how best to integrate the influx of new players after an extremely busy January transfer window. Chelsea have drawn their last three games and have just two wins from nine matches in all competitions since the season resumed after the World Cup.

There were some promising signs on the weekend, with Premier League record signing Enzo Fernandez assisting Joao Felix for the opening goal in a 1-1 draw against West Ham, but the lack of bite up front remains a problem.

Chelsea are 10th in the Premier League, 10 points adrift of the top four, making Wednesday’s clash with Dortmund all the more important. The first leg takes place in Germany before the return tie on March 7. Here is the latest Chelsea news.

Sterling injury

Raheem Sterling was missing from Chelsea’s squad for the West Ham clash – and he is a doubt for the Dortmund game too.

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Sterling was absent from the Hammers game after picking up a knock in training last week and he did not train with the group on Tuesday morning.

The 28-year-old, who suffered a hamstring problem in January too, has not made the impact expected of him since his £47.5million move from Manchester City in the summer. He has six goals and three assists in 23 games across all competitions so far, which still makes him joint top-scorer alongside Kai Havertz in a misfiring side.

Kalidou Koulibaly could be involved against Dortmund after recovering from the illness which saw him sit out of the West Ham game.

HAVE YOUR SAY! Will Chelsea beat Borussia Dortmund over two legs? Comment below.

‘Next Sancho’ contest

Jamie Bynoe-Gittens is a dangerman for Borussia Dortmund

Chelsea will come up against an exciting young English talent who is making waves at Borussia Dortmund.

Jamie Bynoe-Gittens missed the entire group stages of the Champions League through injury but is now due to make his debut in the competition against Chelsea.

The 18-year-old winger actually played in the Blues’ academy when he was younger before moving to Dortmund via Reading and Manchester City.

He moved to Germany in September 2020 and has already been compared with Jadon Sancho, who followed a similar career trajectory.

Read the full story here.

Champions League chances rated

Graham Potter has a difficult task on his hands at Borussia Dortmund (Elli Birch/IPS/REX/Shutterstock)

The Blues have been massively inconsistent in the Premier League in 2023 and Potter is still trying to decide upon the make-up of his team from week to week.

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Judging their chances of making it past Dortmund and into the quarter-finals of the Champions League is a tricky task, but we have had a go.

Despite their dreadful form, Chelsea have one of the best squads in the competition, with Fernandez, Felix and Mykhaylo Mudryk three of the stand-out young players in Europe.

Can they go all the way and distract from their league position?

Read the full article here.

Felix Keith