What’s the worst way to prepare for a game against the Premier League title holders and current table toppers ahead of visit to their ground?
How’s about your misfiring £50 million striker labelling his team mates ‘slow’? Or the news your other striker who has a great record against United, won’t be playing?
Didier Drogba has been ruled out of Sunday’s game following a concussion he picked up against Norwich last week. The Guardian reports:
Chelsea are resigned to being without Didier Drogba for Sunday’s daunting trip to the champions, Manchester United, as the Ivory Coast forward continues his recovery after suffering concussion during his team’s victory over Norwich City last month.
The 33-year-old was ruled out of international duty during the recent break and has since resumed only light training. Indeed, the club’s approach to his recovery continues to be cautious given the severity of the clash. Drogba missed his team-mates’ public training session yesterday ahead of the Champions League tie against Bayer Leverkusen, with André Villas-Boas suggesting he had been given a few days off to address dental issues caused when he fell to the turf in the original incident.
Meanwhile Fernando Torres has been doing his best to placate fans and team mates, following his disastrous spell at Stamford Bridge, with some well timed comments.
The Guardian notes:
It is understood that, privately, the Londoners are unwilling to risk the forward [Drogba] in Sunday’s trip to Old Trafford and would prefer to see evidence that he is completely over the after-effects of his fall before they thrust him back into first-team contention.
That is likely to see Fernando Torres, dropped to the bench for Saturday’s win at Sunderland, restored to the starting lineup against United despite Chelsea seeking an explanation from their £50m forward for comments, published on his official website last week, in which he appeared to criticise his “older” club-mates as “very slow”.
Torres has since told Villas-Boas and Chelsea’s staff that the remarks were inaccurately translated, with the club now seeking a copy of the original interview to make their own judgment. In the interview, which has since been removed from www.fernando9torres.com, the player suggested the kind of player Chelsea currently boast is: “an older player, who plays very slow, who has a lot of possession… and that’s what the club is trying to change now … When the team will start to get the ideas of the new coach, about paced and vertical football, it’s going to be very good. [Juan] Mata is the kind of player who gives another pace to the game, another way of slipping his markers … that’s something Chelsea lacks nowadays.”
Drogba’s absence and Torres’s petulance don’t mean United have already won the game by any stretch, but considering the start the Reds have had and the problems Chelsea face, it’s difficult not to feel confident going into Sunday’s match.
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Let’s c what happens when u play a team that can take you on. Maybe Salfords Utd might not get it all there own way. If u leave gaps it will b exploited. Can’t wait.
That should give manchester united the advantage, but as said it doesn’t mean it’s won already. From a chelsea fan.
Utd should just get on with it. do the business as usual.
Chavski are too slow, boring and predictable.
Despite spending fortunes they are still nowhere near us as a club and aren’t even our rivals for the title this year.
Too much sentiment at Chavski with old and slow players like terry and fat lampard given a starting place no matter what. They wouldn’t under fergie, he would make them earn it.
Also they have relied on drogba for too long now. Defenders use to fear him. Not anymore, too predictable and not focused enough. Same with torres.
As for their fans, well, what isnt their to be said about that classless bunch of racicst chav scumbags. What’s the favorite song? Boooooing their own players I think.
United to win 3-0 and leave the chavski in crisis and probably wanting another managers the spoilt classless cunts.
Hey chelsea fan having doubts like ur 50 million dollar man, anyways the game should still be interesting want to c what effect Mata has United should win, Nani is burning to get a goal so it might be a good or bad thing if he starts playing mean but lets what till the fat lady blows the final whistle UNITED even in the After Life.
As much heat as Torres took for his comment, he’s just being honest and accurate. I still favour United; but a midfieled of Meireles, Ramires and Mata is bound to improve the team.