Chelsea have been handed a major injury blow ahead of their final games in the Premier League and the Europa League following the news that key defender Antonio Rudiger will miss the rest of the season.
German international centre back Rudiger suffered a knee injury during the Premier League away clash at Manchester United on Sunday.
He suffered a meniscus tear in his left knee and the former AS Roma player is being operated in the Italian capital of Rome.
Antonio Rudiger will miss the final two games of the season in the Premier League as well as the Blues’ Europa League semifinal tie with German Bundesliga club Eintracht Frankfurt.
Chelsea will travel to Germany to take on Frankfurt in the first leg of their last four clash in the Europa League on Thursday night before the second leg meeting next week Thursday.
Antonio Rudiger will also miss the Europa League final in Baku, Azerbaijan if Chelsea manage to scale through their semifinal tie with Eintracht Frankfurt.
Chelsea could face London rivals Arsenal in the Europa League final if the Gunners also see off Spanish opposition.
The Gunners will face Spanish La Liga giants Valencia in a two-legged last four tie to determine who will earn a spot in the Europa League final.
