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José Mourinho signalled an end to Chelsea’s “Untouchables” era yesterday, but it seemed an odd time to announce that no one is guaranteed a place in the side. Chelsea’s injury crisis is so severe that anyone not on the treatment table is virtually sure of a place in the team for the Barclays Premier League opener against Birmingham City.
Chelsea’s problems worsened yesterday when only 11 outfield players were deemed fit enough for training. In an open session at Stamford Bridge, there were more players left in the dressing-room than on the pitch, with Ashley Cole and Petr Cech the latest additions to a 13-strong injury list that leaves Mourinho struggling to raise a side for Sunday. Frank Lampard, Michael Essien, Joe Cole, John Obi Mikel and Ricardo Carvalho were the only first-team regulars to train.
Mourinho’s mood was so bleak that the manager refused to take questions on the club’s injury problems after the defeat by Manchester United in the Community Shield last weekend and it will not have improved in the past few days. Glen Johnson (calf) and Florent Malouda (dead leg) received knocks against United, with Cole (thigh) and Cech (hand) suffering injuries in training on Monday.
Cech’s problem is the most serious because his absence with a fractured skull for four months last season was arguably the most crucial factor in Chelsea’s failure to retain the league title. The Czech Republic international initially injured a wrist on Chelsea’s preseason tour to the United States and, after aggravating it, is a serious doubt for Sunday.
Carlo Cudicini and Hilário were found wanting when called on to fill in last season for Cech, whose absence could also leave Mourinho struggling to fill the bench. Hilário was named as an outfield substitute for the Community Shield.
Mourinho is hopeful that Cole, Malouda and Johnson will recover in time for the weekend, although John Terry, Michael Ballack, Wayne Bridge, Arjen Robben, Andriy Shevchenko and Didier Drogba are definitely out, with Claude Makelele, Salomon Kalou and Paulo Ferreira doubtful. Given such problems, it came as little surprise to hear Mourinho tell his fringe players that they can expect more matches as he rotates the side with greater frequency this season, with his notion of having so-called “Untouchables” being consigned to the past.
“I think nobody is silly,” he told Chelsea TV. “Everybody is intelligent to understand that we play around 60 matches a season and no one plays 60 matches and even if you are not first-choice at the beginning of the season, you know that, step by step, you will get matches.
“I think last season, every player played more than 20 matches. They know at Chelsea it is not easy to play, but at the same time they know Chelsea normally progresses in every competition. They reach finals or semis.
“It means we are playing for lots of things, a lot of matches, we need rotation, the players know it’s difficult, but at the same time they know that the chances will be here.”
Steve Sidwell is one individual hoping to take advantage of others’ misfortune after impressing during preseason. “You get bad luck like injuries, but we haven’t got time to dwell on it,” the former Reading midfield player said. “The season is coming so people who are injured will have to take their time coming back. We have a big enough squad with players who can come in.
“It’s a chance for some of the new faces. It’s not nice to see injuries, but it opens up doors and opportunities for other players. If they do well, it will give the gaffer more confidence that he can throw them in at the deep end again. Other clubs might think it’s a good time to play Chelsea, but we have plenty of players wanting to make their mark.”
I can't remember many worse, if any, but that's up there.
