Chelsea suffer goalkeeper crisis with Ross Turnbull set to play against West Ham

12 March 2010 16:34
Chelsea lost first-choice goalkeeper Petr Cech with a calf strain in the 2-1 opening leg defeat at the San Siro and deputy Hilario collected an abductor injury during last Sunday's 2-0 FA Cup quarter-final victory over Stoke. [LNB]The injuries have left the Blues with just Ross Turnbull and Rhys Taylor available for Saturdays Barclays Premier League clash with West Ham. [LNB] Related ArticlesChelsea v West Ham: previewCarlo Ancelotti keeps Joe Cole guessingLampard praises 'positive' TerryWilkins urges fans to stop booing TerryChelsea 2 Stoke City 0Terry: my form has stood upThe pair are likely to be on duty against Milan in their return last-16 tie as coach Carlo Ancelotti admits it is unlikely Hilario or Cech will have recovered in time to play. [LNB]The loss of Hilario is a real blow for Ancelotti as Turnbull has made just two appearances for the club this season. [LNB]Turnbull, who joined on a free transfer from Middlesbrough last summer, played in the 4-0 Carling Cup win over Bolton and Chelsea's 2-2 draw with APOEL in this season's Champions League group stage. [LNB]"We have a problem with the goalkeepers," admitted Ancelotti. "We don't know if Hilario or Petr are able to play on Tuesday. [LNB]"Tomorrow I want to put the best line-up out because it's an important game. We don't have to think about the Inter game. [LNB]"We need to win and go back to the top of the table, so I want to put the best players out. But we have problems. Michael Essien, Ashley Cole, and Jose Bosingwa are out. Also Ricardo Carvalho and Hilario is not able to play. So, in goal, Turnbull will play. [LNB]"Cech is doing physiotherapy. He did not train on the pitch, so it's very difficult for him to recover for Tuesday. [LNB]"Hilario had a problem against Stoke and has not been able to train this week. An Adductor muscle in his groin is the problem. On the bench will go Rhys Taylor, our young goalkeeper from the reserve team. [LNB]"I'm not worried. The performance of the team does not rely upon the goalkeeper. I don't want to say we can play without a goalkeeper, because that's an important player for the team, but I have confidence in Turnbull. [LNB]"He has not played a lot of games this season but, with the work with our goalkeeping coach, he has improved very well. [LNB]"I have no problem about playing Turnbull against Inter Milan." [LNB]Chelsea return to Barclays Premier League action against London rivals West Ham tomorrow and that means a re-union with Gianfranco Zola. [LNB]Zola may never have arrived in the English top flight as a player with Chelsea if Ancelotti had found a way to accommodate the Italian in his Parma side back in 1996. [LNB]But Zola found himself played out of position and left for Stamford Bridge where he became a legend. [LNB]The Italian has struggled to guide West Ham out of danger at the wrong end of the Barclays Premier but following their recent takeover by David Gold and David Sullivan, things are improving. [LNB]West Ham's recent home form had been impressive but their defeat to Bolton last weekend could not have come at a worse time for the Hammers with visits to Chelsea and Arsenal next in line. [LNB]"It was not an easy season for Gianfranco because he's had a lot of injuries, but now, after the recovery of Carlton Cole, they have more possibility to finish the season well," said Ancelotti. [LNB]"I hope that West Ham stay in the Premier League because I think Zola did a good job this season. A very difficult job, but he didn't lose his confidence or his focus." [LNB]But Ancelotti would not be drawn on whether former West Ham midfielder Joe Cole would play against his old club. [LNB]Cole's current contract expires in the summer and the England international has yet to agree an extension. [LNB]The player's chances of grabbing a place in Fabio Capello's World Cup squad for the finals in South Africa this summer will not be helped by a lack of first team football. [LNB]Cole spent the entire game on the bench as Chelsea defeated Stoke in the FA Cup quarter-finals last Sunday and Ancelotti added: "I think that he's keeping a very good mental attitude. [LNB]"Also when he's a substitute he doesn't lose his confidence, he doesn't lose his mental attitude to work very hard. [LNB]"He's a very important player for us. When he's involved in the squad he has his team-mates to stay focused. I hope he will improve and he can play other important games." [LNB]

Source: Telegraph