Drogba apologises for missed chances
Striker Didier Drogba has apologised for missing the chances that cost Chelsea two valuable Barclays Premier League points against Everton.
Drogba missed a number of chances to put Chelsea in total command yesterday - including one from six yards – before putting the Blues in front with a 71st-minute header.
But the Ivorian’s failure to kill off Everton at Stamford Bridge came back to haunt Avram Grant’s side two minutes from time when Tim Cahill levelled with an overhead kick.
He said: “It was nice for me to score but not nice for me to miss the chances I had.
“The first one in the first half was difficult because of the bounce but I had a big chance to score.
“I was so sorry for my team. We can’t be happy with the point – but we didn’t lose. We still have a chance to win the next game, so it’s okay. A point is a point.’
“I am very disappointed and I think we created a lot of chances, I think enough to win the game.”
Drogba was philosophical about the ultimate outcome – a 1-1 draw.
“Sometimes it happens,” he shrugged.
“They had one clear chance and scored. I think they deserved a draw, because they defended very well.
“We created enough chances to win the game – sometimes you need only one chance to win, and every chance you create you score. This was the opposite, and that’s football.”
Grant, meanwhile, is waiting to discover the extent of Ricardo Carvalho’s back injury – after the Portuguese defender was forced out of the action in the opening half.
Carvalho was due to have a scan on his injured back today, and there are fears he could be missing for some time.
Grant is already concerned by a growing injury list which includes goalkeeper Petr Cech, defender Paulo Ferreira and captain John Terry.
He also admits the forthcoming African Nations Cup will provide him with yet more selection problems in January.
Grant is set to lose Michael Essien, Mikel John Obi, Salomon Kalou and Drogba - but has hinted there may be moves to counter the losses in the transfer window.
“It’s a big problem,” he said.
“I don’t know why the Euros are played in the summer yet the African Cup is played during the season – when they know most top African players play in the European leagues.
“They are four good players, so this is one of the reasons we have a big squad. Maybe if we find someone good for Chelsea, we will take him in January.”
In the meantime, the club’s chief executive Peter Kenyon has praised Grant for surprising many since he was installed as manager following the shock exit of Jose Mourinho in September.
Grant has steered Chelsea back into the title race and has lost just once since he took charge.
Kenyon said: “Avram has exceeded people’s expectations. Five or six weeks ago, people were writing us off.
“You have got to give credit where credit is due, and it is certainly due to the Chelsea team and Avram Grant.”
