Chelsea face a potential defensive crisis this week with no first-team left back available after Ryan Bertrand has been struck down with a virus. Ashley Cole is still injured, so it may mean that Chelsea manager Rafa Benitez will give 18-year-old Nathan Ake a start against Rubin Kazan on Thursday in the Europa League quarter-final.
Another option for Benitez is to play Paulo Ferreira instead of Ake. Or Benitez may wait and hope that Bertrand recovers in time to play for Chelsea’s match on Thursday.
Meanwhile, Benitez revealed that defender Gary Cahill underwent knee surgery last week, and that both Cole and Cahill are close to recovering from their respective injuries.
Last but not least, striker Demba Ba won’t be taking the trip to Moscow for two reasons. He’s cup-tied, but the footballer is also recovering from an injury he picked up against Sunderland.
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