Chelsea trying to get to bottom of injury crisis causes - Mauricio Pochettino

Mauricio Pochettino said Chelsea's medical and coaching staff are working to try and understand why the club have suffered so many injuries this season, with as many as 14 players likely to be missing for Thursday's visit of Tottenham to Stamford Bridge.

Defenders Thiago Silva and Axel Disasi are the latest additions to the list since Saturday's 2-2 draw with Aston Villa, in which Pochettino was forced to name five academy graduates aged 20 and under on the bench.

The Blues' campaign has been badly disrupted by the unavailability of players, including several acquired at huge expense as part of a £1 billion (€1.17bn) transfer spree over the last two years.

Notable absentees have included £70m (€81.8m) defender Wesley Fofana, who has not played all season after undergoing surgery on an ACL injury, and forward Christopher Nkunku, a £52m (€60.8m) summer signing who has been limited to seven Premier League appearances and who, despite returning to full training, will not be fit to face Spurs.

Romeo Lavia, bought for £58m (€67.8m) from Southampton, has played only once for the club while Reece James and Ben Chilwell have also had lengthy spells out of the side.

Last week it was confirmed that Enzo Fernandez, signed for a then-British record £105m (€122.7m) in January 2023, will not play again this season following a hernia operation.

"I need to be honest," said Pochettino. "What I can say is that always in a new process and new structure, (there are) things we can do better, of course. We all feel the responsibility. We can do better.

"Too many circumstances have happened. It's difficult to explain with one word or in one sentence. Of course we are working on trying to improve. We have an amazing staff - medical staff, coaching