Chelsea

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte: 'Pedro has no luck'

By Daniel Lewis, Senior Reporter | 19 September 2017

Antonio Conte bemoans Pedro's unlucky nature after the forward picked up a third injury in the same number of games against Arsenal.

Chelsea boss Antonio Conte has joked that he hopes Pedro "is luckier in the future" after the Spanish forward picked up another injury in the goalless draw with Arsenal.

Pedro was taken off at half time on Sunday afternoon due to a problem with his ankle, perhaps explaining his below-par performance at Stamford Bridge.

The 30-year-old has now been hurt three times in as many games against the Gunners, having suffered a facial injury in a pre-season friendly and damaging his ankle in the Community Shield.

Speaking to reporters, Conte said: "This season he's not lucky, Pedro. He started with a bad injury in the Arsenal friendly game, where he broke a bone in his face. Then he received a knock on his ankle. Now on his leg... I hope for him, but above all for our team, that he's luckier in the future.

"For sure now, Pedro is trying to recover from the last injury. It's important for him also to work. Don't forget, when you're injured you can't work. Sometimes you can lose your best physical condition and you need more time for this. It's not a serious injury, but he needs time to recover."

Conte has already confirmed that Eden Hazard will come into the starting lineup for the first time this season when Chelsea host Nottingham Forest in the EFL Cup on Wednesday night.