'We’d planned for him to have less time': Potter explains why Kovacic did not start vs United

"He’s been nursing a knee for all of the season, pretty much," Graham Potter told a press conference when asked why Mateo Kovacic was not in the starting line-up for the Man United game.

"And then you look at the schedule and it’s suddenly games Wednesday and Saturday, it’s impossible for him to start all the games.

"We’d planned for him to have less time than he has, but things have conspired so he’s been on the pitch. We know his quality, but at the same time you also need to understand the player’s situation as well."

Kovacic started the game on the bench but had to come on in the first half as Potter felt the need for a tactical switch.

The midfielder replaced Marc Cucurella and helped Chelsea wrestle back some control of the game before half-time.

Source: Chelsea FC