Chelsea boss Antonio Conte admits Cesc Fabregas may be his only fit midfielder for weekend clash with Watford: 'We have many doubts'

Antonio Conte fears Cesc Fabregas will be his only fit senior midfielder to face Watford and says he knows ‘nothing’ of his players’ fitness in Chelsea’s overwhelming injury crisis.

Conte is struggling to put together his starting XI less than 24 hours until kick-off with N’Golo Kante, Tiemoue Bakayoko, Danny Drinkwater and David Luiz all injured.

Drinkwater and Luiz trained on the eve of the Watford game on Friday but the former is still on his way back from a long injury lay-off and the latter is a significant doubt having limped out of Wednesday’s draw with Roma. 


Antonio Conte has selection issues ahead of Chelsea's Premier League clash with Watford

Antonio Conte has selection issues ahead of Chelsea's Premier League clash with Watford

Cesc Fabregas could end up being the only senior midfielder fit and available to Conte

Cesc Fabregas could end up being the only senior midfielder fit and available to Conte

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Conte, who says he has had to compromise the work he has put into his team by ’70 per cent’ under an increased workload this season, could be left with only Fabregas to pick from at Stamford Bridge.

‘Honestly, at the moment I can tell nothing about the starting XI for tomorrow,’ Conte said. ‘[We have] many doubts. I hope in these 24 hours to try to recover some players.’

Chelsea may have to field more players players out of their regular positions or promote untested youth products to adapt on Saturday.

'It could be [that Fabregas is the only fit midfielder],’ he added. ‘For sure, tomorrow the game will be very tough because Watford is a good team and a good position in the table.

‘We play at home and after two defeats in the league we want to come back and win.’ 

Some of the Premier League champions' players are not happy as Chelsea stutter in their title defence and continue to be struck by injuries.

Conte’s methods have been called into question with his tough, intense training sessions taking their toll on a depleted squad.

Asked whether there were dissenting voices in the camp over his ruthless schedule, Conte said: ‘I have my methods. They're the same as last season when we won the league.

‘Honestly, I think we are working maybe 70 per cent less this season. Maybe for this reason we are having trouble.

‘On tactical and physical aspects, [we work] less. We are playing every three days. When you play every three days it's impossible to work above all on the physical aspects. On the tactical aspects you have to work less and pay less attention on every detail. We are doing this.’

The Chelsea boss fired back at Jose Mourinho in midweek over the Manchester United manager’s comments on his rivals ‘crying’ over injuries.

Tiemoue Bakayoko is among the players currently struggling with injuries at Chelsea

Tiemoue Bakayoko is among the players currently struggling with injuries at Chelsea

Conte clearly took that as a jibe directed towards his own words — but dismissed his feud with his predecessor as ‘stupid’ on this occasion.

‘I think these are stupid things,’ he said. For me, this is a stupid subject. A stupid issue.

‘I think every coach, every manager has to talk about his job, about himself, about his team, about his players. Not the others.

‘My answer is always the same. Every coach must be focused on his own work. That's the best way.’ 

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