Cesare Casadei finds himself in the unusual territory of being Chelsea’s oldest outfield player for Thursday’s Premier League derby clash against Tottenham despite being just 21-years-old.
Blues boss Mauricio Pochettino is dealing with his biggest injury crisis of the season as 14 first-team players were unable to play a part in the Stamford Bridge hosting of Chelsea’s London rivals.
Veteran defender Thiago Silva – who announced he will leave the club at the end of the season – is joined by fellow defensive absentee Axel Disasi who is also nursing an injury.
Other sidelined players include Raheem Sterling, Enzo Fernandez, Ben Chilwell, Malo Gusto, Reece James, Robert Sanchez, Lesley Ugochukwu, Carney Chukwuemeka, Wesley Fofana and Romeo Lavia.
The Blues have named a bench that features 31-year-old goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli as the most senior player, but the majority of the outfield contingent are still in their teens, with only two stars over the age of 20.
Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino has named a severely inexperienced bench against Tottenham
Chelsea’s outfield substitutes for the derby clash have an average age of just 18-years-old
Chelsea’s youngsters look delighted as they take their place on the bench prior to kick-off
21-year-old Italian forward Cesare Casadei is the oldest outfield player on Chelsea’s bench
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Italian forward Casadei is the oldest at the age of 21, with Jimi Tauriainen the second most senior at just 20.
Deivid Washington (18), Zak Sturge (19), Leo Castledine (19), Joshua Kofi Acheampong (17), Tyrique George (18), and Kiano Dyer (17) take up the rest of the spots in the dugout.
That results in Chelsea’s outfield substitutes having an average age of just 18-years-old.
Meanwhile, Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou can call on more experienced replacements as the visitor’s bench boasts an average age of 24years and 252days.
Tottenham’s substitutes also have 664 Premier League appearances between them, while Chelsea’s have just 16.
Deivid Washington is one of the youngest Chelsea substitutes aged just 18-years-old
17-year-old Kiano Dyer (left) is the joint-youngest player to make the bench for Chelsea
Blues boss Pochettino was unable to pinpoint a reason as to why his squad had been hit with so many injuries at such a crucial time during the season, but vowed everything possible is being done.
‘Always things we can do better, of course. We all feel the responsibility. Then it is too many circumstances to explain why. It is difficult to explain with one word or sentence.
‘Of course, we are working to try and improve. We have amazing medical staff, performance area, coaching staff – we all have experience managing clubs and being in this business.
‘When some circumstances arrive, sometimes it can happen, of course we need to put all of the information on the table and to be better next season,’ he added.
