Champions League - Team news: Blues depleted

Eurosport - Tue, 15 Sep 19:16:00 2009

Chelsea will be without banned duo Didier Drogba and Jose Bosingwa and a host of injured stars as they host Porto in their Champions League Group D opener.

FOOTBALL Chelsea's Jose Boswinga (L), Didier Drogba (C) and Ashley Cole arrive for a team training session at their training ground in Cobham, south of London - 0

Ivory Coast striker Drogba and Portugal right-back Bosingwa were suspended for their misconduct after the semi-final defeat to Barcelona last season and will miss the first three and two games of this term's competition respectively.

They will also have to make do without injured midfielders Joe Cole, Yuri Zhirkov (both knee) and Deco (calf), while defenders Paulo Ferreira (knee) and Alex (groin) are also absent.

Striker Nicolas Anelka will probably be partnered by Salomon Kalou after the latter started in the 2-1 win at Stoke, while Branislav Ivanovic is set to play right-back.

Their injury and suspension problems mean defenders Sam Hutchinson and Jeffrey Bruma have been called into Carlo Ancelotti's squad along with Italian U19 international striker Fabio Borini.

"We know Porto well; they have good quality, their forwards are very quick and we must pay attention," Ancelotti (pictured) told UEFA.

"There's a real possibility we can do very well this season. The first objective should be to reach the final, not to win. We want to get there, it's not easy, but I think we have a possibility to do this."

Porto have no injuries or suspensions.

New striker Radmael Falcao has scored four goals in four league games this season after being drafted in to replace Lucho Gonzalez and will partner Hulk.

"I don't know why we can't beat English teams (having failed to win in 12 attempts in England)," Porto coach Jesualdo Ferreira said.

"I hope this will change under my management, but I don't have an explanation. I can't say why and hopefully the situation will change soon."

Eurosport

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  1. Blues depleted? Absolute rubbish. Big squad of­ internationals to choose from, so this is total­ TWADDLE!!

    From Invicta, on Tue 15 Sep 10:25PM

  2. chelsea pls, pls,pls the weather is bad ,slepry so­ always try to kick for the goal .play long ball today­ its our march.trust me.for sure.

    From Alusine, on Tue 15 Sep 7:42PM

  3. hope u get stuffed today u chelski w a n k e r s

    From douglas, on Tue 15 Sep 7:25PM

  4. chelsea pls, pls,pls the weather is bad ,slepry so­ always try to kick for the goal .play long ball today­ its our march.trust me.for sure.

    From Alusine, on Tue 15 Sep 7:10PM

  5. personally i would hang yip by his neck. then kill his­ family for creating such a pointless human being.

    From Jon T, on Tue 15 Sep 7:04PM

  6. God give us this day.CHELSEA 4 LIFE

    From iyke_macdonald, on Tue 15 Sep 7:02PM

  7. chelsea are @#$% and every one knows it.

    From Abbas, on Tue 15 Sep 6:19PM

  8. chelsea gay 4 life

    From Abbas, on Tue 15 Sep 6:16PM

  9. Tom: Not as terrible as man united (real madrid's­ feeder club).

    From peri, on Tue 15 Sep 5:49PM

  10. Di blues will never fail 2 nite we are a good team and­ will withstand any team,with or without any suspension­ or injury.

    From wilsonchuks, on Tue 15 Sep 5:25PM

  11. As per Usual all we get is hating...when chelsea is­ mentioned......its funny all the muppets on­ here......come on here to predict a lose.

    I guess when­ u r up there people hate to see u going places.

    All­ this advesity will only bring the players togeather and­ shock the world.
    they can suspend us for 3 transfer­ windows...the depth of our squad , our hearts and the­ fans will see us through.....
    as for all the haters­ blue is the colour.

    ( bet you all that negative stuff­ comes for ARSEMEL fans lol) - i cant believe u guys are­ stilll talking...have u not taken enough of an azz­ whopping....or do we have to open a can of whoop azz on­ you as well.

    lol

    From Bobby, on Tue 15 Sep 4:51PM

  12. Fabulous Norks Angeldaisy! Give us a squeeze baby...

    From Nick B, on Tue 15 Sep 4:50PM

  13. Chelsea is a big team Chelsea 3-0 Porto.
    The Blues are­ Big

    From shepherdlamula, on Tue 15 Sep 4:42PM

  14. chelsea r terrible with their all their players, so­ just how bad will the b tonite?

    From tombarker33, on Tue 15 Sep 4:39PM

  15. tantantala Drogba, Essien, Kalou leaving for Africa­ Cup. No new buys no loan recalls then we shall see

    From Andrew, on Tue 15 Sep 3:58PM
  16. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    chelsea will loose tonite

    From jiggaman, on Tue 15 Sep 3:51PM

  17. AngelDaisy574
    Would u like to come round mine and watch­ the game?

    From Jamie, on Tue 15 Sep 3:42PM

  18. Ivanovic, kalou, Anelka
    Lampard
    will light up the­ fire
    and move up to 13th straight wins

    From Jesus 4 Life, on Tue 15 Sep 2:35PM

  19. Pre-seminal fluid.

    From lee.cooper21, on Tue 15 Sep 2:27PM

  20. The strength is our squad this season gives us the­ competitive advantage ovedr some of the top euro teams.­ My only fear so far among the top euro clubs is Inter­ millan. but tehir match tomorrow against Barca will­ prove a real taste though too early to call..­ OchiTen-Lagos

    From AngelDaisy574, on Tue 15 Sep 2:26PM
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