The 28-year-old, who joined Chelsea in a £33 million deal from Ajax last year, has started just one game in the Premier League this season.
The Morocco international’s start to the new campaign was disrupted after he injured his shoulder in Chelsea’s victory over Villarreal over two months ago.
And Tuchel claims the midfielder is still ‘limited’ in his movement due to his shoulder problem.
‘First of all, it’s maybe the same line again, he fought his way into the team, he was in the team at the beginning of the season because of performance,’ said Tuchel.
To start from there he was on the pitch, then he scored and had the injury in the Super Cup game.
‘From there I felt it cost him a lot because even until today I don’t feel he’s 100 per cent free in his shoulder.
‘When we played him over 90 minutes, we started him several times after that, we started him in the Champions League, I felt that even if there’s no pain, even it’s it’s maybe [his] subconscious, there is something which limits him in his movements and his freedom to turn, accelerate and decelerate.
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