Chelsea sweating on Thiago Silva’s fitness ahead of Carabao Cup final after 39-year-old Brazilian defender injured his groin in Crystal Palace win

Chelsea are sweating on Thiago Silva’s fitness ahead of the Carabao Cup final after the Brazilian defender limped out of Monday night’s 3-1 win at Crystal Palace.

The 39-year-old injured his groin sliding in to block a shot by Palace’s Jean-Philippe Mateta around the hour mark and could be seen shaking his head when going off.

Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino later confirmed Silva felt something in his groin and would be assessed on Tuesday.

Any potential problem would add to a growing injury list for the Blues ahead of their trip to Manchester City in the Premier League on Saturday and the Carabao final with Liverpool at Wembley on February 25.

They are already without defensive options as Benoit Badiashile faces a spell on the sidelines after suffering a groin injury of his own in the 3-1 FA Cup win at Aston Villa.

The Brazilian defender, 39, limped off around the hour mark with a groin problem

Mauricio Pochettino said afterwards Silva had suffered a groin problem and would be assessed

Wesley Fofana hasn’t featured at all this season after injuring his anterior cruciate ligament in his knee during pre-season.

Reece James and Marc Cucurella are also out at the moment but should return at some point next month.

Chelsea came from a goal down to win at Selhurst Park thanks to a double from Conor Gallagher and another from Enzo Fernandez.

The result left them 10th in the table but a little closer to the European places.

Veteran defender Silva has started all but two of Chelsea’s 24 Premier League matches this season and has also featured in six cup games, a sign of his continued importance to Pochettino. Silva has netted three times.

Chelsea did consider selling Gallagher in January but much to his manager’s relief, he stayed. 

‘Always he decided, what he told me, was to stay at Chelsea,’ Pochettino said, before being asked if he should be tied down to a new deal. 

It happened when Silva slid in to block an effort by Palace forward Jean-Philippe Mateta

‘It is about him and the club,’ the Blues boss added. ‘I am not suffering from this type of thing. He still has one year more on his contract (expires June 2025). That is a matter for him and the club.’

Chelsea have bounced back since being hammered at home by Wolves – a defeat which put Pochettino under pressure. 

Since then, they have beaten Aston Villa in the FA Cup and Palace here. 

‘I don’t care about the rumours, the tension, the pressure or the stresses,’ Pochettino said. ‘We know really well what is our reality and we are going to keep working.’