Why is Joao Pedro Not Playing Tonight for Chelsea vs Tottenham Hotspur?

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Why is Joao Pedro Not Playing Tonight for Chelsea vs Tottenham Hotspur?

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Emmanuel Mendez | Last updated May 19, 2026 2:56 PM ET

Chelsea will be hosting Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League tonight at Stamford Bridge. This match is crucial for Chelsea's chances of getting European football next season.

Chelsea will look to bounce back following a 1-0 loss to Manchester City in the FA Cup final over the weekend.

Despite not winning the FA Cup Final, the Chelsea team is almost similar to the one over the weekend, but a key player who is not in the squad is Joao Pedro. The Brazilian striker played against Manchester City and started the match.

Joao Pedro of Chelsea runs under pressure from Marc Guehi of Manchester City during the Emirates FA Cup Final match between Chelsea and Manchester City on May 16, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey - Danehouse/Getty Images)Photo by Alex Livesey - Danehouse/Getty Images

Joao Pedro is not on the bench, and many expect that he suffered an injury, despite playing until the 86th minute in the FA Cup Final over the weekend.

Reason Joao Pedro Won't Play in Chelsea vs Spurs

According to Kieran Gill from the Daily Mail Sport, Joao Pero has a 'knock' after the match against Manchester City.

Pedro was seen limping during the match against Manchester City over the weekend and was taken off the pitch.

Pedro did not finish the match and couldn't continue the game; he was replaced by Alejandro Garnacho in the last game.

Interim head coach Calum McFarlane did not give a specific update on Joao Pedro's fitness ahead of the Tottenham game tonight, but mentioned the knocks of certain players.

McFarlane said, "We had a big game on Saturday, and there are a few lads who are carrying some knocks. There are some lads that we need to manage in terms of their previous injuries. I’m eager to freshen up the squad from the game on Saturday."

Liam Delap will start as the sole striker for Chelsea against Tottenham tonight.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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