Following the stretcher exit of captain Cesar Azpilicueta during Saturday's Premier League match against Southampton, Chelsea manager Graham Potter has yet another defensive issue.
While players like Wesley Fofana, Reece James, and Ben Chilwell have missed significant amounts of the season due to injury, it now appears that Azpilicueta will also be absent for some time.
The Spaniard got a powerful blow to the face within his own penalty area while attempting to block Sekou Mara's overhead kick, and promptly fell to the ground. Players gathered closely as club physicians and medical professionals were summoned right away onto the field.
Paul Merson, a former Arsenal and England player, described the incident on Sky Sports' Soccer Saturday as follows: "He [Azpilicueta]...took it right in the face and everyone straight away has come over. This doesn't look great. This is a worry. It was an overhead kick and he [Mara] did it accidentally."
Azpilicueta's name then rung around Stamford Bridge before fans sang 'he has won it all' following initial applause. He was carried off on a stretcher and replaced by Trevoh Chalobah in the 84th minute.
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