Chelsea's Kovacic to Miss FA Cup Semi-Final Due to Hamstring Injury

Mateo Kovacic. (Getty Images)
Mateo Kovacic. (Getty Images)
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Chelsea's Kovacic to Miss FA Cup Semi-Final Due to Hamstring Injury

Mateo Kovacic. (Getty Images)
Mateo Kovacic. (Getty Images)

Chelsea midfielder Mateo Kovacic will miss Saturday's FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City at Wembley due to a hamstring injury, manager Thomas Tuchel said.

Kovacic missed Tuesday's 1-0 Champions League quarter-final second leg defeat by Porto, though Chelsea still reached the last four 2-1 on aggregate and will face either Real Madrid or Liverpool.

"(On Monday) in training he got a muscle injury in his hamstring after 20 minutes, more or less out of nothing," Tuchel said after Tuesday's game.

"He is for sure out for the game against City as well, which is a big loss."

Tuchel started N'Golo Kante in Kovacic's absence, with the France international playing the full game after returning from a hamstring problem.

"N'Golo is incredible," Tuchel said. "We took a little risk with N'Golo but this was the moment to put him on the field and hope he had the energy for 90 minutes.

"He wins so many balls and gives everybody confidence. He did perfect and now it's time to recover good."



F1 Driver Esteban Ocon Released by Alpine, Doohan to Drive at Final GP of the Season

Alpine driver Esteban Ocon of France walks away from his car after crashing during the Formula 1 Qatar Grand Prix at the Lusail International Circuit racetrack in Lusail, Qatar, 01 December 2024. (EPA)
Alpine driver Esteban Ocon of France walks away from his car after crashing during the Formula 1 Qatar Grand Prix at the Lusail International Circuit racetrack in Lusail, Qatar, 01 December 2024. (EPA)
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F1 Driver Esteban Ocon Released by Alpine, Doohan to Drive at Final GP of the Season

Alpine driver Esteban Ocon of France walks away from his car after crashing during the Formula 1 Qatar Grand Prix at the Lusail International Circuit racetrack in Lusail, Qatar, 01 December 2024. (EPA)
Alpine driver Esteban Ocon of France walks away from his car after crashing during the Formula 1 Qatar Grand Prix at the Lusail International Circuit racetrack in Lusail, Qatar, 01 December 2024. (EPA)

F1 team Alpine confirmed Monday that Esteban Ocon has been released ahead of the final Grand Prix of the season and that Jack Doohan will make his debut in Abu Dhabi.

The team said in a statement that the lineup change will allow Ocon to take part in post-season tests with his new team Haas.

Alpine had announced in June that Ocon would leave at the end of the season after a troubled start to the year in Formula 1 for him and the French-owned team.

Doohan was promoted from the reserve driver role to become Pierre Gasly’s teammate.

Ocon was in 14th place in the driver's standings. He crashed out of the Qatar Grand Prix on Sunday.

Ocon made his F1 debut in 2016 with Manor and joined the then-Renault team for 2020. His sole career win came at the Hungarian Grand Prix in 2021 for Alpine after a crash in wet conditions took out much of the field.

Ocon will partner Ollie Bearman at Haas next season.

The 21-year-old Doohan, son of former motorcycle world champion Mick Doohan, was third in Formula 2 last year and has been a full-time reserve for Alpine in 2024.