• Ivory Coast forward still recovering from concussion
• Fernando Torres told to explain criticism of ’slow’ team-mates
Chelsea are resigned to being without Didier Drogba for Sunday’s daunting trip to the champions, Manchester United, as the Ivory Coast forward continues his recovery after suffering concussion during his team’s victory over Norwich City last month. Drogba was knocked unconscious after he was accidentally punched by the visiting goalkeeper, John Ruddy, as the pair contested a looping ball on the edge of the box during the Londoners’ 3-1 success at Stamford Bridge a little over two weeks ago. The striker was taken to St Mary’s hospital in Paddington that night and underwent a brain scan and, although he was discharged on the same evening having apparently suffered only “mild concussion”, the player is still apparently feeling the effects of the blow to his head.
The 33-year-old was ruled out of international duty during the recent break and has since resumed only light training. Indeed, the club’s approach to his recovery continues to be cautious given the severity of the clash. Drogba missed his team-mates’ public training session yesterday ahead of the Champions League tie against Bayer Leverkusen, with André Villas-Boas suggesting he had been given a few days off to address dental issues caused when he fell to the turf in the original incident.
“Everything was OK with the scan,” said Villas-Boas. “He did some damage to his teeth when he fell to the ground, so we have given him two days off. He will be [fit again] around the United, Fulham, Swansea games … hopefully United.” Yet it is understood that, privately, the Londoners are unwilling to risk the forward in Sunday’s trip to Old Trafford and would prefer to see evidence that he is completely over the after-effects of his fall before they thrust him back into first-team contention.
That is likely to see Fernando Torres, dropped to the bench for Saturday’s win at Sunderland, restored to the starting lineup against United despite Chelsea seeking an explanation from their £50m forward for comments, published on his official website last week, in which he appeared to criticise his “older” club-mates as “very slow”. Torres has since told Villas-Boas and Chelsea’s staff that the remarks were inaccurately translated, with the club now seeking a copy of the original interview to make their own judgment. In the interview, which has since been removed from www.fernando9torres.com, the player suggested the kind of player Chelsea currently boast is: “an older player, who plays very slow, who has a lot of possession… and that’s what the club is trying to change now … When the team will start to get the ideas of the new coach, about paced and vertical football, it’s going to be very good. [Juan] Mata is the kind of player who gives another pace to the game, another way of slipping his markers … that’s something Chelsea lacks nowadays.”
The interview was authorised by the club, thereby ensuring the player will not be fined for conducting it, though the manager will speak with the striker if he deems it necessary. “It’s one player’s perspective,” said Villas-Boas. “I don’t think it’s a perspective that the manager shares, but I don’t have to share my players’ ideas sometimes. He says he didn’t say that. Maybe we just have to speak about that situation and he has to see our view as well. We’d just talk, share opinions.”
Didier DrogbaChelseaFernando TorresDominic Fifieldguardian.co.uk
