When the Chelsea team was introduced as kick-off approached earlier than Tuesday’s recreation at Brighton, the news could not have been a shock to some.
Screenshots of a submit on social media platform X had been doing the rounds for hours, stating midfielder Cole Palmer and striker Joao Pedro would each be lacking from the line-up. They have been certainly absent.
It was claimed the submit got here from Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella’s barber.
“[Cole] Palmer and Joao Pedro both injured tonight,” it learn. “There’s your exclusive.” There was additionally a picture of the again of Cucurella’s distinctive curly hair.
In Palmer’s case, there was no public information of his hamstring harm, whereas Joao Pedro had undergone a health check on the morning of the match.
Rosenior is understood to maintain his playing cards near his chest relating to team choice and is claimed by those that know him to intentionally maintain pre-match news conferences two days prematurely with a view to maintain opposing managers guessing.
The submit, which appeared to tag a number of accounts recognized for offering Fantasy Premier League recommendation, has been deleted, together with the complete account on which it appeared.
Having been deleted, it can’t be independently verified however the membership has not denied its authenticity when requested about the submit.
BBC Sport has additionally contacted the barber and Cucurella’s representatives for remark.
It could be the third occasion during which team news has reportedly been leaked from Chelsea since Liam Rosenior’s appointment in early January.
Team news acquired out round each legs of Chelsea‘s Champions League tie with Paris St‑Germain. Rosenior mentioned that they had been “dealt with” and that that they had “not come from any place of malicious intent towards me or the team”.
Chelsea are at the moment seventh in the Premier League desk with 4 league matches left to play. They subsequent play in Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final in opposition to Leeds at Wembley Stadium.
