Chelsea are likely to be without Petr Cech as they try to
overturn a narrow Champions League defeat to Inter Milan.
The Czech goalkeeper was carried off with a torn calf muscle in
the San Siro last night as Carlo Ancelotti's team were knocked out
of their stride by Jose Mourinho's Inter Milan in the first leg of
their last-16 Champions League tie.
Losing streak: Things get worse for a flagging
Chelsea side against Inter as goalkeeper Petr Cech is carried off
midway through the second half
On a night when Mourinho outwitted Ancelotti by nullifying the
threat of Didier Drogba through sheer force, Inter took the
initiative with goals from Diego Milito and Esteban Cambiasso.
Salomon Kalou gave Chelsea hope of turning the tie round at
Stamford Bridge with a second half goal and he was unlucky not to
be given a penalty in the first half when he was bundled over by
Walter Samuel.
Cech was injured landing heavily after collecting a cross and
fell in a crumpled heap. Chelsea's medical staff immediately called
for a stretcher and substitute keeper Hilario replaced him on the
hour.
Early strike: Inter took the lead through Diego
Milito inside three minutes
Cech must be doubtful for the return leg in three weeks after
leaving the field in obvious pain.
Ancelotti said: 'Cech had an injury on his calf, we have to
control his condition over the next few days.'
Inter took the lead through Milito inside three minutes before
Kalou's side-foot strike got Chelsea back on terms soon after the
break. But the visitors were behind again less than five minutes
later when Cambiasso's drive from the edge of the box flew into the
bottom corner.
Out of luck: Chelsea should have been awarded a
penalty when Salomon Kalou was bundled over by Walter
Samuel
Ancelotti said of Kalou's penalty claim: 'I think it was a
penalty but a penalty is when the referee blows the whistle. We can
say that we were unlucky this evening and we hope it will be better
in the future. Manuel Mejuto Gonzalez is a very good referee with a
lot of experience.'
Inter manager Jose Mourinho admitted the tie remains very in the
balance ahead of his return to Stamford Bridge in three weeks
time.
'Of course I'm happy inside,' said Mourinho. 'I don't think the
game was a question of tactics. It was a high level game, no
surprise for me, with the quality they have.
Conducting his troops: Jose Mourinho gets his
message across to the Inter players
'It's the kind of result that keeps it in the balance. I told
the players they are not better than us. Chelsea can play better -
Inter can play better. Now it will be down to the team with the
greatest ambition.'
Frank Lampard felt Chelsea had done enough to at least come away
from the San Siro with a draw. He said: 'Maybe we deserved better.
On the balance of play we felt we were the stronger team.'