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.”
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