http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/newsarticle.aspx?type=worldFootballNews&storyid=URI:urn:newsml:reuters.com:20051014:MTFH37625_2005-10-14_14-50-57_L14043350:1係對保頓賽前既news
Duff out, Robben doubtful for Chelsea
Fri Oct 14, 2005 3:52 PM BST
By Clare Lovell
COBHAM, England, Oct 14 (Reuters) - Chelsea are likely to be minus their first-choice wingers when they resume their Premier League assault against Bolton on Saturday, after World Cup injuries sidelined Damien Duff and put Arjen Robben in doubt.
Most of the runaway leaders's multi-national squad have been away for two weeks and coach Jose Mourinho said he needed to wait until Saturday to see how their international exertions had affected their form.
Ireland's Duff, one of only a handful who returned disappointed from a World Cup campaign that ensured more than a dozen Chelsea players would feature in next year's finals, will be out for four weeks after knee surgery, Mourinho said on Friday.
Robben, who picked up a knock playing for Netherlands, is likely to be rested on Saturday.
Chelsea face five games over the next two weeks, including a Champions League fixture against Real Betis on Wednesday and the start of the defence of their League Cup title against Charlton a week later.
Mourinho has the luxury of multi-million pound interntional stand-ins, however, with Shaun Wright-Phillips and Joe Cole, who started on the wings for England in Wednesday's 2-1 victory over Poland, ready to slot in.
"Last season was much worse. Every time we had an international week we lost some points," Mourinho told reporters after training.
"I think this season we have a squad who can fight a little bit against that. We have more solutions, I can rotate a little bit, I can use players who have not been involved in international week to try to give some fresh blood to the team."
SOLE DEFEAT
It was after October internationals last year that Chelsea suffered their only defeat of the season, at Manchester City.
With Hernan Crespo returning late on Friday after playing for Argentina, Mourinho may give a rare chance to Eidur Gudjohnsen up front.
The Portuguese coach also promised that England under-21 striker Carlton Cole, yet to play under Mourinho, would be on the bench.
Last season Bolton shocked Chelsea by coming back from two goals down to grab a draw at Stamford Bridge.
The London side have happy memories of the return fixture on April 30, however, when they secured their first championship for 50 years with a win at the Reebok stadium.
In buoyant mood following several weeks of self-imposed exile from the media, complaining he was widely misquoted, Mourinho scoffed at stories that France defender William Gallas wanted to leave Chelsea.
Gallas, he said, had given no interviews or comments, the quotes had no substance and he would be at Chelsea next year.
"Someone want to bet with me about William Gallas's future?" Mourinho asked. "My salary against your salary?"
Mourinho might not miss a month's pay cheque from his five million pounds ($8.75 million) annual salary but few reporters were prepared to call his bluff on Friday.
