Bruised Blues bidding to vent frustrations on Zilina

CHELSEA will attempt to end their miserable run of form when they take on MSK Zilina in the Champions League tonight but they will have to do with it with little more than a reserve side.

As if manager Carlo Ancelotti does not have enough problems dealing with rumours about his future, he is beset by injuries ahead of the match at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea had always planned to field a young side having already qualified for the last 16; but going into the game on the back of three defeats in four Premier League matches, it is hardly ideal that so many senior players are unavailable.

John Terry, Frank Lampard and Yossi Benayoun are all long-term absentees but defender Alex, who has delayed a knee operation to help his team through a difficult period, will also not be risked.

Michael Essien, suspended for three matches in the Premier League, has picked up a toe injury and cannot play while Yuri Zhirkov and Mikel have also been ruled out.

Ancelotti will hand teenage midfielder Josh McEachran his first full start, while Jeffrey Bruma partners Branislav Ivanovic at centre-half and Patrick van Aaonholt is set to play at left-back.

Add in the fact that Lee Turnbull will begin in goal and that Nicolas Anelka will be rested and you can see why it could be a difficult evening for Chelsea, even if their opponents have endured a miserable campaign in Group F, losing all four games so far.

Even so, winger Salomon Kalou, expected to start up front alongside captain Didier Drogba and youngster Gael Kakuta, sees an opportunity to put bad times behind him. “We’ve had a few bad results but that’s football,” said the Ivory Coast international. “There are moments in football when you have injured players, poor form and bad results, but we have to work on that and come back stronger.

“We have to win games. Right now we are having a difficult period, but we were playing well at the beginning of the season, winning every match by three or four. I think we have to come back to that level and enjoy every game.

“We are a little bit down but we have to keep confidence. We are the same players we were at the beginning of the season. We will keep our composure and not lose our focus. I think this game against Zilina is an important game for us as we look to get back to form.”