Continue reading the main story
Chelsea could have Didier Drogba, David Luiz and Raul Meireles available for the second leg of the Champions League quarter-final against Benfica after the trio trained ahead of the game.
Centre-back David Luiz picked up an ankle injury in Saturday’s league win over Aston Villa.
Continue reading the main story
““This tie is far from over. They have scored in every away game of their Champions League season, so it’s a difficult task”
Roberto Di Matteo
Chelsea manager
Striker Drogba and midfielder Meireles both missed that game with respective foot and knee injuries.
Chelsea hold a 1-0 lead over Benfica as they try to secure a semi-final spot.
The Stamford Bridge side hold the advantage but Blues caretaker manager Roberto di Matteo has warned his side they cannot be complacent as they aim for their sixth semi-final in nine years.
“It is a danger. This is half-time and we’re leading 1-0. But a 1-0 lead is basically nothing,” said the Italian, whose side overturned a first leg 3-1 deficit against Napoli in the last round.
“Our players are aware of this, and we’ll have to go into this game with the right attitude, the same attitude as against Napoli.”
Di Matteo added: “Benfica have scored in every away game of their Champions League season, so it’s a difficult task.”
Chelsea have six wins and a draw from eight games since Di Matteo took temporary charge following
the departure of Andre Villas-Boas.
The former Chelsea midfielder would not discuss whether he would seek a longer-term appointment but said: “I need to win games, it’s as simple as that. It’s a results business and that’s all that matters.”
He also remained guarded on Chelsea’s chances of winning the Champions League for the first time.
“I don’t think about that,” he insisted. “I have no time to think about that anyway.
“I’m full on in my work all day to prepare the team tactically and physically for the next game.
“There’s so little time between games as well, so I haven’t really sat down and thought about that.”
Chelsea (from):
Cech, Bosingwa, Ivanovic, Terry, Luiz, Cahill, Cole, Bertrand, Mikel, Romeu, Essien, Meireles, Ramires, Lampard, Mata, Malouda, Drogba, Torres, Sturridge, Kalou, Turnbull.
