Carlo Ancelotti insists he will allow Didier Drogba to make the decision on whether he is fit enough to play in Chelsea’s remaining games this season.
The talismanic striker tweaked his groin at the start of the second-half of Saturday’s defeat at Tottenham and wanted to come off, but Ancelotti had already made three changes – two of them at the interval.
Drogba had to play on through the pain barrier for the remainder of the game and was clearly struggling as Harry Redknapp’s side powered to a 2-1 win at White Hart Lane.
The defeat left the Blues just one point clear of rivals Manchester United at the top of the Premier League.
But if they win their remaining three games, two at home to Stoke and Wigan with a trip to Liverpool sandwiched in between, the Stamford Bridge club will still be champions for the first time since 2006.
However, the 32-year-old Ivory Coast star is unlikely to want to carry the injury into the World Cup finals in South Africa this summer and is almost certain to undergo surgery.
But the big dilemma facing the club and Drogba, who has scored 32 goals this season, is when that operation will be carried out.
‘It’s his decision,’ said Ancelotti. ‘He doesn’t have a big problem. It’s more about controlling the situation.
‘He’ll take a decision at the end of the season, whether he has surgery or not. It’s not sure he’ll have surgery.’
One player who could be drafted in if is out for the last three games of Chelsea’s run-in is his Ivorian team-mate Salomon Kalou, who admits he is in awe of his countryman.
‘He has an amazing scoring record for Chelsea and as a player it is a level I want to reach but I am trying to get in the team regularly,’ Kalou said.
‘Every time I have the chance to work with him I listen to what he has to say he is like a big brother – he is very important to me.
‘When you talk about strikers, Didier is one of the best and I want to take advantage of this opportunity to learn from him.’
The talismanic striker tweaked his groin at the start of the second-half of Saturday’s defeat at Tottenham and wanted to come off, but Ancelotti had already made three changes – two of them at the interval.
Drogba had to play on through the pain barrier for the remainder of the game and was clearly struggling as Harry Redknapp’s side powered to a 2-1 win at White Hart Lane.
The defeat left the Blues just one point clear of rivals Manchester United at the top of the Premier League.
But if they win their remaining three games, two at home to Stoke and Wigan with a trip to Liverpool sandwiched in between, the Stamford Bridge club will still be champions for the first time since 2006.
However, the 32-year-old Ivory Coast star is unlikely to want to carry the injury into the World Cup finals in South Africa this summer and is almost certain to undergo surgery.
But the big dilemma facing the club and Drogba, who has scored 32 goals this season, is when that operation will be carried out.
‘It’s his decision,’ said Ancelotti. ‘He doesn’t have a big problem. It’s more about controlling the situation.
‘He’ll take a decision at the end of the season, whether he has surgery or not. It’s not sure he’ll have surgery.’
One player who could be drafted in if is out for the last three games of Chelsea’s run-in is his Ivorian team-mate Salomon Kalou, who admits he is in awe of his countryman.
‘He has an amazing scoring record for Chelsea and as a player it is a level I want to reach but I am trying to get in the team regularly,’ Kalou said.
‘Every time I have the chance to work with him I listen to what he has to say he is like a big brother – he is very important to me.
‘When you talk about strikers, Didier is one of the best and I want to take advantage of this opportunity to learn from him.’
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