Maurizio Sarri has conceded that Gonzalo Higuain is ‘not in good shape’ after his Chelsea side suffered a humbling 4-0 defeat to Bournemouth.
As quoted by Metro, the manager revealed that the striker is suffering from a minor back injury and is not yet fully fit, which is the reason behind his underwhelming Premier League debut for the club. Sarri said:
At this moment, he is not in good shape, probably because he has played very little recently between transfer market distractions and back pain. He can grow a great deal over the next few weeks.
The 30-year-old joined the Blues on loan from Juventus, replacing Alvaro Morata who arrived at Atletico Madrid on a temporary basis.
Higuain made his first start in Chelsea colours against Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium, where he produced a subdued performance before being replaced in the four-goal drubbing.
His 65-minute cameo left much to be desired, with fitness said to be a current issue for the frontman.
The loss leaves Chelsea winless in their last two top-flight outings, with pressure mounting on Sarri as his side look to secure a top-four spot at the end of the season.
