Mourinho defends summer signings

Jose Mourinho has defended the contributions of his summer signings after watching Chelsea equal Liverpool’s 63-match home unbeaten run against Everton.

A share of the record, set by Liverpool at Anfield between 1978 and 1981, was small consolation for Mourinho after Chelsea surrendered the Barclays Premiership title to Manchester United and lost out in the semi-final of the Champions League to Rafael Benitez’s side.

But the Portuguese coach has steered them to a second Carling Cup triumph since his arrival in 2004 and they could yet walk away with the FA Cup when they meet Manchester United at the new Wembley next Saturday.

However, Mourinho is facing a mounting injury crisis ahead of that game with two of his high profile summer additions set to miss out and another one facing a late fitness test.

Club record £30m (€43.9m) buy Andriy Shevchenko and £130,000 (€190,400) -a-week Michael Ballack are almost certain to be sidelined with doubts over the fitness of former Arsenal left-back Ashley Cole.

Ukrainian striker Shevchenko, who underwent a hernia operation last week, has been heavily criticised for failing to settle into English football while midfielder Ballack, recovering from ankle surgery, and Cole have also had their critics.

But Mourinho defended all three along with young striker Salomon Kalou as he prepared for a cup final with just 15 fit first-team players.

Mourinho declared: “Young Salomon has done fantastically for a boy coming from a different culture.

“He is still very naïve but his contribution has been very, very good. For Ashley Cole it was not easy to change. Willie’s (Gallas) season at Arsenal was also not superb.

“I think it is easier to go from Chelsea to Real Madrid or from Arsenal to Real Madrid. But Ashley has played well. He is one of the heroes who has played injured the whole season and his integration has been smooth.

“Ballack, even against some opinion, has contributed to the team very positively. In big moments, he scored the goal to put Chelsea into the FA Cup final and scored the goal that put us in the Champions League semi-final.

“Sheva’s season was not what everyone was thinking, including myself. In his defence he has a history of many years in a completely different culture. That can be on his side.”

Chelsea were stunned when James Vaughan gave Everton a 49th minute lead and if Petr Cech had not saved his volley moments later, Chelsea would have lost out on the chance to equal Liverpool’s record.

However, Drogba equalised in the 57th minute in controversial circumstances that led to Everton manager David Moyes being sent to the stands by referee Mark Halsey.

Moyes was unhappy that Halsey did not award a free-kick for Paulo Ferreira’s challenge on Mikel Arteta in the build-up to Chelsea’s leveller and went on to the pitch to complain.

Moyes declared: “I thought the decision was wrong and the players deserved my support.

“I was sent off because I went onto the pitch. I went on and should not have done. But where I come from you stand up for what it is right. Me going onto the pitch was right because the decision was wrong.”

Meanwhile Mourinho was left to ponder on what his cup final line-up might be after Nigerian youngster Mikel John Obi joined the walking wounded.

Mourinho added: “We have lost Mikel and the reality is that for a final like we have on Saturday I don’t think we have 16 players.

“Mikel has a muscle injury so I don’t believe he can play the game, and in such a game where everybody wants to play we want to present the best possible team.”