SOCCER:CARLO ANCELOTTI will consider dropping Michael Essien and Didier Drogba for this afternoon's visit of Blackburn Rovers, with the champions' most experienced players no longer guaranteed a place in his first-choice team.
The Chelsea manager was sleeping on his line-up last night for a game which must be won convincingly to inject momentum into their title defence but he is giving serious consideration to retaining Josh McEachran, 17, and Daniel Sturridge, 21, in the side following their impressive FA Cup displays against Ipswich Town last Sunday.
McEachran has yet to start a league game and Sturridge has scored only one league goal for his current club but their displays last weekend contrasted markedly with the sluggish form shown by Essien and Drogba in recent weeks as the team laboured through the club’s worst run in 15 years.
While both experienced players, as well as an off-colour Florent Malouda, could point to injuries or illness contributing to the dip in their performance levels, the emergence of Chelsea’s younger talent now ensures they are no longer certain of a place in the first team.
“I have doubts about the selection, up front and also in midfield,” Ancelotti said. “The performances of Sturridge and McEachran are the reason I have doubts.
“I want to take the right decision. There were very important performances against Ipswich, so I have to take them into consideration.”
Essien has struggled at times to reproduce the irrepressible form he enjoyed before suffering cartilage and meniscus damage in his left knee a year ago – he suffered a cruciate ligament injury in the same joint two seasons ago – and has recently been affected by a toe injury. Drogba, such an influential figure in the dressingroom and unimpressed at being on the bench for last month’s visit to Tottenham Hotspur, has understandably seen his impact this term reduced by a bout of malaria.
Steven Pienaar’s €3.6 million transfer to Chelsea has broken down over personal terms, leaving Tottenham Hotspur as the favourites for his signature. The Everton midfielder said goodbye to team-mates after training yesterday and he looks to have played his last game for the club.
Tottenham had agreed a deal in principle – a four-year contract worth €83,000 a week – and appeared content for it to be concluded in the summer, when the player will becomes a Bosman free agent.
But Chelsea raised the tempo on Thursday by making a €.3.6 million bid which was accepted by Everton. Spurs contacted Everton and indicated they were also willing to bid. Their first offer was below Chelsea’s €3.6 million but the signs last night were that the player was close to agreeing a move to north London.
“Pienaar is a good player,” Harry Redknapp, the Tottenham manager, said. “He can play left or right or down the middle. I like him.'
