Tuchel hopes to return to Pulisic, Kante without prejudice to international duty

Chelsea coach Thomas Tuchel expects Christian Pulisic and N’Golo Kante to return unscathed from the international break, despite the fact that the pair are not 100 per cent ready to be called up by France and the United States.

Kante has just returned from injury, played 85 minutes with the league leader who drew 1-1 with Burnley at the weekend, and Pulisic has only played four times this season in all competitions due to an ankle injury.

“We have prepared for them in the last two weeks, but we are also free to go to their national teams and get the minutes they get to a higher level when they return, if they are not injured, we hope,” Tuchel told reporters.

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“This is a constant balance and we have no control over it. So I’m always a little scared.”

Tuchel said he hoped the U.S. team leadership would be “responsible” and that he did not use the 23-year-old Pulisic too much against Mexico and Jamaica in the World Cup qualifiers.

“He wants to come back completely, but it’s a matter of managing the pain, not injuring him again or still injuring him,” Tuchel added.

“It’s just that it’s still painful. But he tried very hard and he desperately wanted to come back and we needed to come back. But yeah, we’re a little worried.

“Hopefully … he’s not going to be thrilled to help his country win a super important game. Hopefully, everything will go well and lift the minutes and come back stronger.”