Chelsea are facing a striker shortage for the crucial Christmas programme after Carlo Ancelotti confirmed yesterday that he has given permission for Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou to attend Ivory Coast’s African Cup of Nations training camp on Sunday.
In addition, Nicolas Anelka’s hamstring injury is worse than suspected and a scan yesterday revealed a slight tear that will keep him out for several weeks, leaving Ancelotti with Daniel Sturridge and Fabio Borini as his only available strikers for the West London derby with Fulham on Monday.
Chelsea’s festive fixture list, beginning with Saturday’s visit to Birmingham City, does not inspire trepidation but their squad is stretched to breaking point. Anelka and Michael Essien are injured, while Drogba, Kalou and John Obi Mikel will leave for the African Cup of Nations this weekend and may not return until the start of February.
Ancelotti had been hoping to keep Drogba and Kalou until after Chelsea’s FA Cup third-round tie against Watford at Stamford Bridge on January 3, but a recent conversation with Vahid Halilhodzic, the Ivory Coast coach, has disabused him of that notion. Under Fifa rules, national associations have the right to call up their players 14 days before a tournament and Halilhodzic is sticking to his guns despite a plea from Ancelotti, the Chelsea manager.
“Officially the players have to go 14 days before the start of the African Cup of Nations,” Ancelotti said. “That starts on January 11. I spoke with the manager two weeks ago. He would like to have the players, all of them who are involved in the Premiership, on December 27. We cannot go against Fifa rules.”
Drogba’s early departure has been compounded by the injury to Anelka, whom Ancelotti had been relying on to steer him through a difficult period. Only yesterday Ancelotti revealed his intention to deploy the Frenchman as a lone striker next month, but must instead turn to Sturridge and Borini, because Anelka is unlikely to be fully fit before the Barclays Premier League match against Hull City on January 9.
Ancelotti is adamant that both youngsters have his confidence despite never having scored for the club,and claims that the lack of bodies will not force him to seek reinforcements in the transfer market next month.
Sturridge has been limited by injury to five appearances since signing from Manchester City last summer, but did play a vital role in winning the controversial penalty converted by Frank Lampard against West Ham United on Sunday. Borini has played six matches this season as a substitute.
Sturridge will make his first Premier League start for the club alongside Drogba on Boxing Day and is likely to be partnered by Borini when Fulham visit Stamford Bridge.
“It’s not a good moment for his injury, but I think that Anelka will be back quickly,” Ancelotti said. “Sturridge has an opportunity to show his qualities. He played against West Ham very well in that second half and maybe against Birmingham he can play from the beginning.
“We have a lot of confidence in all my strikers. I didn’t ask for new players, we have good solutions internally, even if we lose the African players. ”
Chelsea’s Christmas results in recent years have been mediocre, but Ancelotti is confident his side can maintain their four-point lead in the Premier League.
“These are important games, but we are in a good position at the top,” he said. “We’re not in our best moment because we didn’t play well in the last few games, but because of this we have to stay concentrated to try and win our next matches.
“We play strong teams having very good results. The players are focused. They know it’s a very important moment in our season. Also, because we have some injuries, maybe it’s necessary to give something more.”
Source:The times
Thursday, December 24, 2009
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