Champions League: Chelsea’s N’Golo Kante tests positive for Covid-19, to miss Juventus clash

N’Golo Kante is out of Chelsea’s Champions League match against Juventus on Wednesday after testing positive for coronavirus, manager Thomas Tuchel has confirmed.

Tuchel said the French World Cup winner, 30, was not in training on Tuesday ahead of the Group H match in Italy.

He said Christian Pulisic and Mason Mount would also be absent along with Reece James, who was injured against Manchester City at the weekend.

“Christian, Mason and Reece are out due to injury and N’Golo unfortunately tested positive and needs to quarantine and follow the government protocols,” he told reporters.

“He was not in training today and is of course not with the group.”

Tuchel admitted he does not know how many of his squad have been vaccinated but revealed he has received the jab himself.

The German said players must retain personal choice over Covid-19 vaccines, at the same time as hoping for a quick recovery for Kante.

“I don’t know the percentage of players vaccinated actually,” he said. “It’s not even that I don’t want to tell you but I simply don’t know it.

“And we are also only a reflection of society, the players are adults and it’s free choice if they want to get vaccinated or not. And I think we should accept it.

“Every time someone gets it…

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