Chelsea plan to rest Didier Drogba until critical Liverpool test
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Didier Drogba is facing a spell on the sidelines regardless of the results of a scan on the Chelsea striker’s right calf last night.
Carlo Ancelotti hopes that Drogba is merely suffering from severe cramp after being carried off on a stretcher during the second half of Sunday’s 3-0 win at home to Tottenham Hotspur, but the manager was planning on resting him for the next three matches in any case.
The Ivory Coast forward will take no part in tomorrow’s Carling Cup tie against Queens Park Rangers, is unlikely to be involved in Saturday’s Barclays Premier League match away to Wigan Athletic and is suspended from next week’s Champions League game against Apoel Nicosia. Ancelotti is focusing on getting him fit for Liverpool’s visit to Stamford Bridge in a fortnight instead, although Chelsea insist the scan was precautionary.
Drogba’s absence against Liverpool, in what promises to be Chelsea’s biggest test of the season to date, would be a huge blow to Ancelotti, but the Italian has a more than capable striker in Nicolas Anelka. The France player acknowledged yesterday that Chelsea are a better side when Drogba is involved, but expressed his confidence that they can continue to win matches without him.
Chelsea are the only remaining team in the Premier League with a 100 per cent record and Michael Ballack believes that the title will be a straight fight between themselves and Manchester United. “It looks a little bit like a two-horse race, but we don’t underestimate anybody,” Ballack said. “Manchester City did well until now [and] Tottenham, Arsenal and Liverpool are all teams that can have a run in every time of the season. One of these teams will be champions.
“United have a lot of good years behind them with the Champions League win and three title wins in the Premier League, which will give them a lot of confidence. That helps them in the tight games and they always come back. They always believe they can score in the last minute, but we also have that.”
