Blues wait for Carvalho news
Ricardo Carvalho is set to undergo a scan today as Chelsea’s injury problems continue.
Coach Avram Grant lost the Portuguese defender with a back injury in the first half of their 1-1 draw with Everton yesterday and will learn today the extent of the damage.
Carvalho has already joined captain John Terry, goalkeeper Petr Cech and full-back Paulo Ferreira in the Chelsea treatment room.
However, Grant confirmed that left-back Ashley Cole – not even on the bench against Everton – will be fit for England’s forthcoming internationals.
Grant confessed: “We have too many injuries. It is not easy to play without all the back four and goalkeeper from the last few months. But this is the reason we have a big squad, but it is unusual.
“Chelsea have the best two left-backs in England, and Ashley Cole is fit for England.”
Didier Drogba’s seventh goal of the season was celebrated in style by the Ivorian – a stark contrast to his mood a month ago when he claimed he wanted to quit the club.
Drogba’s comments in a France football magazine sparked controversy, but Grant revealed that the forward has yet to say anything to him about leaving the club.
Grant added: “I see Drogba play with a lot of passion, and he scored a good goal. It is important what he says to me. He didn’t say anything to me about leaving.
“The only way to deal with this is to say it to me. This is the right way to do things.”
Grant admitted his side had thrown away two valuable Barclays Premier League points after they allowed Tim Cahill to cancel out Drogba’s opener in the last minute.
Drogba put Chelsea ahead in the 71st minute with a header from a corner by Salomon Kalou, but Cahill earned Everton a point when he struck with an overhead kick late on.
Chelsea had wasted a host of chances before Drogba struck – and Grant accepted their defensive lapse had cost them dear.
Grant said: “We played well and created a lot of chances – the other team didn’t create chances. They had one chance and scored – we scored one goal from many chances.
“I am happy with the football, but not with the result. The most important thing is that we continued to play good football.
“One month ago, the goalkeeper and the back four were different players. We showed we have a good squad and good players. I am happy, apart from the result.”
Everton boss David Moyes was delighted with his side’s hard-earned point, even though Cahill’s leveller was their only shot on target throughout the entire game.
Moyes said: “I thought we were always in it, never out of it. We were gritty.
“I felt that in the first half we didn’t get after them as much as we’d like. I thought the tiredness showed in one or two players after the midweek game in Europe.
“I think it was a deserved point. We had to come to Chelsea after the UEFA Cup - and we’ve got a point.
“We showed an awful lot of determination and were never out of the game. Tim can get you goals, and it was a fantastic finish.”
