Jose given a Messy task
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JOSE BOSINGWA has been handed the thankless task of marking Lionel Messi in the Champions League semi-final.
Chelsea boss Guus Hiddink has confirmed Bosingwa will deputise for the banned Ashley Cole in the Nou Camp on Tuesday.
And that means right-back Bosingwa playing out of position against the Barcelona forward, rated the best player in the world.
Ahead of today’s trip to West Ham, Hiddink said: “Everyone knows we don’t have a natural replacement for the left-back position so we have to improvise.
“So Bosingwa will start there, although he doesn’t know that yet.
“I decided Bosingwa would play the moment Ashley was booked in the quarter-final against Liverpool.
“You have to deliver an option.
“Whoever plays against Messi has a tremendously difficult job to do. Messi is one of the most productive players in the world when he’s performing.
“But we’ve practised a few days with Bosingwa in the left-back spot.”
Bosingwa, a £16million signing from Porto last year, has missed the Blues’ last six games with a hamstring injury.
But Hiddink insists the Portugul star is now fully fit and said: “The injury has gone. He has practised hard this week and there has been no reaction.”
Bosingwa will be one of a number of changes today as Hiddink rests some of his stars ahead of Monday’s flight to Barcelona.
But he will not dare leave out Frank Lampard against his former club.
Lampard was so incensed at being criticised on a radio show yesterday that he phoned the presenter — LBC’s James O’Brien — and offered him out live on air.
Hiddink added: “Frank would be very angry if I suggested he should rest.”