Chelsea

Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel, speaking to Sky Sports about goalkeeper Kepa: "It is not even a chance, it is just what he deserves.

"He is here to play, here to be a good team-mate - he is an outstanding character and fantastic goalkeeper. I have no doubt he will prove it. I feel him very calm and that is why we are calm."

Clinton Morrison
Former Crystal Palace striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

You can only play Romelu Lukaku one way, through the middle as number nine. He thrives on crosses into the box.

It'll be interesting to see how he plays. It was obvious to put him straight back into the team because they have injuries. He's the main man.

I don't think Ziyech at right wing-back will be good at tracking back and Spurs could exploit that.

Image source, Getty Images

Lots of talk around one team's star striker, but in the other dressing room Tottenham manager Antonio Conte says Harry Kane is "totally involved" in his project at the club.

Premier League winners Manchester City were keen to sign Kane, 28, last year, with the England captain believing he had a gentleman's agreement with Spurs chairman Daniel Levy to move on.

"He wants to give 100% in every game and I am totally satisfied with his commitment and the relationship we have created within the team," said Conte.

The Spurs boss added: "I knew the situation in the summer and, when Harry decided to stay in Tottenham, I found a player totally involved in this project.

"I am happy to have him in my team because we are talking about the top player, a top striker in the world, and if we want to win or if we want to think to build something to win, Harry must be a point of start."

George Cummins
BBC Radio 5 live

Antonio Conte returns to Chelsea for the first time since he was sacked as manager in 2018.

The Italian, who won the league and FA Cup at Chelsea, is looking forward to seeing old friends at Stamford Bridge.

He said: “I must not prove anything to anyone. It will be a pleasure for me to come back to Stamford Bridge. I spent two important seasons with Chelsea and left a lot of good relationships that are continuing to play in Chelsea. It will be good for me to see them.”

As manager of Chelsea’s arch rivals you imagine there will be several boos from the home fans tonight.

On the pitch Tottenham made the final of the Carabao Cup last season but just can’t capture that elusive trophy. So what does Conte need to change that?

“We are starting again to build something important," he said.

"To get the right mentality you must be focused every day. You want to improve yourself every day. You have to start to think football, not 24 hours but more than two to three hours in a day.

"I think this is the right mentality to you make sure yourself to be a winner. To do this you need time and people that transfer you the right sensation and tools every day.”

Chelsea

Thomas Tuchel on Romelu Lukaku returning, speaking to Sky Sports: "Against his old coach... he is our player, this was the plan (to play) but it was also the plan last match and didn't work out!

"We can watch this interview 100 times, it will not get better and that will not make it better. We can shift our focus, we accept it happened and we have enough reasons to stay positive and protect him now because he is a key player and we want him to be a key player."

Six changes for Chelsea, including the end of Romelu Lukaku's one-game exile.

Lukaku, Kepa, Malang Sarr, Jorginho, Saul and Hakim Ziyech are in.

Afcon-bound Edouard Mendy, the injured Trevoh Chalobah, wondergoal scorer Mateo Kovacic, Thiago Silva, Ngolo Kante and Christian Pulisic drop out.

Timo Werner is on the bench after recovering from injury.

Chelsea: Kepa, Azpilicueta, Sarr, Rudiger, Alonso, Jorginho, Mount, Saul, Havertz, Ziyech, Lukaku.

Subs: Bettinelli, Kovacic, Loftus-Cheek, Barkley, Pulisic, Werner, Hudson-Odoi, Vale, Hall.

Tottenham make two changes from their 1-0 win at Watford.

Japhet Tanganga and Matt Doherty replace Sergio Reguilon and Eric Dier, who is not in the squad at all.

Spurs: Lloris, Emerson, Tanganga, Sanchez, Davies, Doherty, Hojbjerg, Skipp, Moura, Son, Kane.

Subs: Gollini, Austin, Rodon, Reguilon, Winks, Alli, Lo Celso, Ndombele, Gil.

As well as Romelu Lukaku, there's also a start for Kepa Arrizabalaga - Chelsea will be hoping he can hit form with Edouard Mendy at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Full team news in a moment.

Chelsea

Chelsea midfielder Jorginho, speaking to Sky Sports: "It is always hard to play against his (Conte's) team, they run a lot and have good organisation. It will be a tough game but we have prepared well and will do our best."

Carrying his shooting boots?

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel, speaking about Romelu Lukaku said: "He apologised and is back in the squad for today's (Tuesday's) training.

"We have given it time to look back on. For me, the most important thing was to understand - and clearly understand - it was not intentional. He did not do this intentionally to create this kind of noise in front of a big game."

Before Sunday's 2-2 draw with Liverpool, Tuchel said he had left the 28-year-old out of the squad to "protect the preparation".

Tuchel added: "Even before, when he seemed to be, in his opinion, ready to play after his injury from the start and we thought he needed to readapt to the intensity a little bit more, there was never the slightest behaviour against the team.

"So, it was the very first time that he felt in this way. It's very important to stay calm and understand it's not as big as maybe people want it to be."

The word is that Romelu Lukaku starts tonight...

Image source, Getty Images

We've seen Romelu Lukaku stepping off the Chelsea bus and Thomas Tuchel has said he will be in the squad tonight.

Lukaku was dropped for Sunday's Premier League draw with Liverpool after comments he made in an interview recorded three weeks ago.

The pair had a "calm" meeting on Monday about the striker returning and Lukaku has since said he is "sorry for the upset caused".

"I should have been much clearer in my message," Lukaku told the Chelsea website.

"The interview was about saying goodbye to the Inter [Milan] fans, and it wasn't about trying to disrespect the [Chelsea] fans, my team-mates, the club and the manager.

"They made a lot of effort to bring me here and I wanted to come back. I have been on a mission since I left so I totally understand the frustration of the fans, but now it is on me to make sure I show my commitment 100%."

In the interview, recorded in December, Chelsea's club record £97.5m signing said he was "not happy" with his bit-part role under Tuchel and would like to return to Inter Milan in the near future.

But Lukaku, in his direct message to the club's fans, added: "I am sorry for the upset I have caused. You guys know the connection I have to the club and I totally understand you guys being upset.

"It was not the right moment and I want to move forward and make sure we start winning football matches."

Yes, Antonio Conte won a Premier League title and lifted the FA Cup in his two years at Chelsea but returns to Stamford Bridge for the first time tonight since an acrimonious departure and a series of legal disputes over his sacking...

Any lingering good will between the Italian and the hosts' board might just have evaporated after he pitched up across London with rivals Tottenham Hotspur earlier this season.

Conte's former and current sides go head to head tonight in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg, though there is one person in blue by whom he will be warmly greeted, perhaps more than the striker's own boss at the moment, and that is Romelu Lukaku.

So many storylines...