Mauricio Pochettino has hinted that the team which faced Borussia Dortmund in Chelsea’s final pre-season friendly will be similar to the one which takes on Liverpool on the opening day of the Premier League season.
The Blues drew 1-1 with the Bundesliga side in Chicago and will now head home as they prepare to take on Jurgen Klopp’s side next Sunday.
And when asked why goalkeeper Gabriel Slonina did not get any game time in his home state of Illinois, Pochettino says his team selection against Dortmund was based on the players he plans to use against Liverpool.
“The fifth game for me was more about testing the team that I want, maybe that I plan in my head to play, to give 90 minutes to some players,” he explained.
“It’s only ten days (until the season starts), it’s our last game, so I wanted to test Kepa with 90 minutes, not for anything different, but I understand your question.”
Youngster Mason Burstow scored an 89th minute equaliser after Marius Wolf had put Dortmund ahead with ten minutes remaining of the friendly.
But the Blues were dealt a blow after 20 minutes when new signing Christopher Nkunku, who has impressed in pre-season, was forced off with a knee injury.
“The doctors are checking him. He feels something in his knee but hopefully it is not a big issue and he can be quick with the team,” Pochettino said.
“Now we need a few days to assess him and until we get back to London it is difficult to know.
“It is not about complaining. Always we take some risks because the pitch is not perfect and that is sometimes the risk of the tour, yes.
“I think it was a bit unlucky in the situation but we cannot complain about the pitch and blame the pitch for why he suffered the injury. For me it was bad luck.”
