Blow for Chelsea as Gallas looks doubtful

13 April 2012

Chelsea could be without defender William Gallas for the first leg of their vital Champions League qualifier next week.

Gallas has been struggling with a slight groin strain and failed to make the squad for the friendly at Crystal Palace on Saturday.

The French international has still to play for Chelsea in pre-season, having been given extra time off to recover from his involvement in the Confederations Cup.

Gallas was left out of the club's tour to Malaysia - along with Marcel Desailly, Geremi and Emmanuel Petit - so they could begin training f at the club's training ground in Harlington.

Chelsea will play away in the Champions League opener to Maccabi Tel-Aviv or ZK Zilina, who lead 1-0 after the first leg, on August 13.

Gallas has been responding well to treatment but boss Claudio Ranieri admits he will have to leave Gallas out if he fails to start their last friendly against Watford tomorrow night.

He said: "If William is not ready to play against Watford then I won't risk him in our Champions League qualifier.

"He has a slight injury. It's not serious but we are being cautious. It is important for him to get games. I'm not worried about his overall fitness as he only stopped playing a month ago."

Ranieri also confirmed that he will be starting with Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink and Carlton Cole up front at Vicarage Road after leaving them on the bench against Palace.

Ranieri, who continues to be linked with moves for Inter Milan's Christian Vieri and Real Mallorca's Samuel Eto'o, admits he has yet to decide his first choice front pairing for the forthcoming season.

Mikael Forssell impressed on his return to Selhurst Park, having had two loan spells at Crystal Palace earlier in his career.

He made the most of starting alongside Eidur Gudjohnsen.

The Finland international, who was loaned out to Borussia Monchengladbach last season after recovering from a serious knee injury, scored a fine goal to put Chelsea ahead after five minutes.

Forssell has started only six Premiership games in five years at the club but Ranieri insists he will get more opportunities this season.

The Chelsea boss said: "Mikael scored a fantasic goal and he will definitely get his chance to play for Chelsea this year. I knew Borussia wanted to sign Mikael, but I wanted him here. I wanted him to stay because I need a couple of players for every position.

"In front I have good players with Jimmy, Eidur, Carlton as well as Mikael and I am happy with them. But I have mixed my strikers during the pre-season and I will do so again for the next match. Jimmy and Carlton will start against Watford."

Forssell insists he is not concerned at the prospect of Vieri joining the club, even if he agrees to a £ 25million move.

He said: "I have seen the reports over Vieri, but I am not worried about Chelsea bringing in another striker.

"Ranieri wanted me back here so that is a sign I have a future at Chelsea. I want to prove myself to Chelsea and show what I can do.

"If I'm getting games I don't want to play for anyone else. I have two years left on my contract, but I hope to stay longer."

Forssell's strike was cancelled out by a superb lob by Dougie Freedman on 39 minutes after he was found by Michael Hughes.

But Chelsea wrapped up the win when Geremi, who was making his first start since joining from Real Madrid for £7m, scored with a 25-yard free-kick.

Palace could be without defender Tony Popovic for their first game of the season at Burnley on Saturday.

The defender has a groin injury, while captain Hayden Mullins will defintely miss the trip after a hernia operation.

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