Loading ...Aug 04 2008
Drogba Ruled Out of Opener
Luiz Felipe Scolari has ruled star striker Didier Drogba out of Chelsea’s season opener against Portsmouth at Stamford Bridge on August 17.
Drogba has been sidelined all preseason with a knee injury that has been slow to recover. The current prognosis has the Ivorian returning for Chelsea’s third Premiership match, their derby against Tottenham on August 31. This would mean he would also miss the Blues’ trip to Wigan on the 24th.
Scolari said that he will be cautious with Drogba’s health, a position enabled by the resurgent former of Niclas Anelka, about to start his first full season with the club. With Chelsea’s other Ivorian star Salomon Kalou in Beijing representing the Ivory Coast the the Olympics, Scolari stands to start Florent Malouda and Joe Cole in the wings of Anelka.
Drogba missed half of Chelsea’s Premiership fixtures last season with an array of knocks. The Blues’ lineup with noticeably dependent on him, relying on their target man as their main means of transitioning out of their own end. This season, with the acquisition of Deco, Scolari opening up Chelsea’s style, and Michael Essien no longer splitting his time between midfield and right back, Chelsea should be better equipped to handle Drogba’s absence. If Anelka can carry over his preseason form into August 17th’s match with Portsmouth, Drogba’s absence could be completely mitigated.
Drogba’s injury further complicates his unsettled status at the Bridge. Throughout the summer, Drogba had been linked with a move away from London, though no firm offers materialized from the likes of Inter Milan, AC Milan and Barcelona. Chelsea has since offered their best scoring threat a contract extension which Drogba is yet to sign (though there are reports will will sign the deal this week).
Another injury-laden season for the 30-year-old, who has a particularly physical style of play, would only complicate Drogba’s already tenuous situation with the club.
Quotes
“Didier will not play in our first game against Portsmouth and will probably miss the second against Wigan. If there are no more problems he should be ready for the game after that.” - Scolari
“But when you have a knee injury, you just never know.” - Scolari
“He’s getting better and is working with a fitness coach back at the training ground. I hope he will be ready to start training next week. But he will not play until he is in good condition.” - Scolari
“If there are no more problems he should be ready for the game after that, Tottenham on 31 August.” - Scolari
Links
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