Villas-Boas has midfield worries

13 August 2011 13:25
Andre Villas-Boas has admitted Chelsea could be left short of cover in midfield if injury strikes Frank Lampard again this season.[LNB] Lampard was sidelined for three-and-a-half months last term, his absence coinciding with the Blues' worst run in the Premier League for almost 15 years.[LNB]The England star returned to help them go close to completing the greatest comeback in Premier League history, but they ultimately came up short and finished the campaign empty-handed.[LNB]Chelsea have already lost two midfielders before the start of this season, with Yury Zhirkov returning to Russia and Michael Essien ruled out for six months with a serious knee problem.[LNB]The man signed to fill the void, Oriol Romeu, is still on international duty with Spain at the Under-20 World Cup and may not be available for selection until next month.[LNB]Chelsea have also made two attempts to prise Luka Modric from Tottenham but so far without success.[LNB]And although Villas-Boas is happy with his squad going into his first competitive game in charge against Stoke tomorrow, he acknowledged resources could easily become stretched.[LNB]"We are struggling with numbers in midfield," he said.[LNB]"We have Oriol still away at the under-20s World Cup. He'll return late in August, so numbers are short."[LNB]Sunday's game is likely to see Chelsea line up with a three-man midfield of Lampard, Ramires and John Obi Mikel, with Josh McEachran as back-up.[LNB]Villas-Boas revealed he would also consider asking Yossi Benayoun or Florent Malouda to play more centrally if necessary.[LNB]"It's good enough for us that the people we have can play in those positions - we have a lot of versatility in midfield," he said.[LNB]"Florent Malouda and Yossi can play number eight or number 10, and that gives us flexibility.[LNB]"That's why we're happy with the squad running into the Stoke game.[LNB]"All have been playing at a high level. In midfield, everyone has been performing well."[LNB]While Chelsea may have a shortage of midfielders, the impending arrival of 18-year-old Romelu Lukaku from Anderlecht would give them a surplus of strikers.[LNB]That is where Villas-Boas' first big selection dilemma lies, with one of Didier Drogba and Fernando Torres likely to be left on the bench tomorrow.[LNB]Drogba is favourite to start, having impressed in pre-season, with the Ivorian also seeming better suited to Stoke's physical game.[LNB]Daniel Sturridge would almost certainly have lined up on the right side of attack in a 4-3-3 but for a three-match ban picked up in his final game on loan at Bolton last season.[LNB]Chelsea were unable to challenge the suspension because the right of appeal belongs to the club a player was performing for at the time.[LNB]Villas-Boas questioned that, saying: "It could be in the interest of that club not to appeal because they know that player is going to return to his mother club.[LNB]"It was a nasty incident so we respect the three-match ban being applied, and we can't do anything about it.[LNB]"But Daniel has been showing good levels in pre-season.[LNB]"He won't be there for the next three games, and we have to accept that."[LNB]Lukaku, meanwhile, has still not been officially confirmed as a Chelsea player.[LNB]"We're outlining details," said Villas-Boas before explaining why the Blues had finally pounced for a player with whom they have long been linked.[LNB]"Lukaku is one of those players we couldn't afford to lose because of his potential.[LNB]"That's why we made a move in the market, although our team is competitive and competent enough in that sector.[LNB]"Bearing in mind what he's been doing for the last couple of years at Anderlecht, we couldn't let this boy escape."[LNB]Captain John Terry said of his fellow Chelsea fanatic: "I looked him up on YouTube the other week.[LNB]"I heard the guys say that he sleeps in his Chelsea shirt.[LNB]"For me, someone coming in like that and caring about the club from day one is the ideal situation.[LNB]"We want players coming for the love of the club."

Source: Team_Talk