Anelka adds to Scolari's worries

cchl8

Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka has emerged as the club's latest injury concern ahead of Sunday's Premier League clash at home to Aston Villa.Didier Drogba is out with knee damage and Scolari was banking on Anelka to lead the attack against Martin O'Neill's high-flyers - and he is still hopeful of the France international featuring at Stamford Bridge. "He has a little problem with muscle spasms," said manager Luiz Felipe Scolari. "He did not train on Friday but I think he will train the day before the match. He has 10 assists this season, and we need him to make it 12." Elsewhere in Scolari's squad, Deco, Ricardo Carvalho and Michael Essien are also out and four other first-team players are carrying knocks. Scolari is hopeful of those four - Ashley Cole, Joe Cole, John Terry and Alex - facing Villa but it meant only 15 players trained on Friday. That group included Miroslav Stoch, Michael Mancienne, Scott Sinclair and Franco Di Santo, with those youngsters now competing for places on the bench. A lack of numbers, particularly in attack, has highlighted the importance of landing Robinho before they were pipped by Manchester City on deadline day. "At the time I spoke about Robinho, that he is a fantastic player and is something different to the players I have here," Scolari said. "But he is at Manchester City. Now, he needs to play there." Scolari still believes he has the squad to sustain a title challenge but admits it is out of his hands if players get sold. He insists he has no problem with concentrating on coaching and leaving transfer matters to chief executive Peter Kenyon. The former Brazil coach will recommend players for Kenyon to target and which players he wants to remain at Stamford Bridge - but the club have the ultimate say. "The club says stay or don't stay, because they hold the contract," said Scolari. "I am not the boss. I am not the man that pays the player. I am an employee. "If they want to sell A, B or C, they are the boss, not me. My job is the technical situations. All the people understand this. "I give my opinion - it's better not to sell this player, or it is better to do this." Scolari also revealed how his prayers were answered when fears were eased over Drogba's injury this week. He added: "I prayed because Didier is part of my family. All of the players at my club are part of my family. "When I saw it, I asked my God to look for this player because he worked hard for three months to play. He started once. I think he listened and gave Didier a chance to play next month."

[ 本帖最後由 cchl8 於 2008-10-4 06:05 PM 編輯 ]