Chelsea head coach Mauricio Pochettino has joked that he called Christopher Nkunku a “liar” after a recent conversation with him about his fitness.
There’s a lot of excitement about what Christopher Nkunku, 25, can bring to this Chelsea side.
Unfortunately, the £52million attacker’s (Sky Sports) still waiting to make his competitive debut for the club and has missed the opening months of the season through injury.
There’s a lot of talk that the Frenchman’s return may be imminent, though.
Mauricio Pochettino update
Mauricio Pochettino says that Nkunku told him he could be back in time for Newcastle United on 25 November, which is the first game back after the international break. It doesn’t sound like Chelsea’s boss agrees with him when it comes to the return date, though.
Speaking about Nkunku in Friday’s press conference, Pochettino said via Chelsea’s X account: “We had some conversations. He said to me: ‘Coach, I want to be ready after international break against Newcastle’. I asked him yesterday and he said ‘Hmm’, and I said ‘You are liar.’
“It’s close. He’s doing really, really well. We are so happy with him in the way he’s doing his recovery, very professional.”
Christopher Nkunku introduction is huge
Nkunku may need a bit of patience from the fanbase while he adjusts to a new club and new country, but there’s a lot of expectation on his shoulders already.
The quick forward was a massive hit in Germany at RB Leipzig, so hopefully he can replicate that at Stamford Bridge when he’s available. He scored 70 goals and made 56 assists in 172 games for the Bundesliga club.
90min claimed this week that Chelsea hope Nkunku can be ready to finally start a game by the time the Carabao Cup quarter-final against Newcastle comes around on 19 December. They have six Premier League games to play before then, starting with Manchester City this Sunday.
Chelsea’s forward line is actually starting to contribute more in front of goal, but many suspect Nkunku will be an upgrade that can solve the struggles. Hopefully, he can be that player the club desperately seeks to hit 20 goals per season.
