Desailly: Boo boys should lay off Slavisa

Marcel Desailly has asked Chelsea supporters to stop barracking midfielder Slavisa Jokanovic.

The Yugoslavia international was booed when he came on as a substitute during Chelsea's FA Cup semi-final victory against Fulham at Villa Park earlier this month.

Desailly has come out in defence of the 33-year-old midfielder, who was Claudio Ranieri's first signing in October 2000 for £1.7million from Deportivo La Coruna, where he won the Spanish title.

The France international said: "It is disappointing to hear people booing Slavisa Jokanovic. I would like these people to understand that he's a player who is really useful for the team and he has also played his part in the success of Chelsea.

"They should understand that he's doing his best and is a good player. It's not easy to come in when you are not playing from the start most of the time. But he is coming on to help the others and is part of the team.

"I hope in the FA Cup Final in Cardiff that you will come together behind all of the team, like the final we played against Aston Villa two years ago." Tomorrow's game at Middlesbrough is likely to be a tame affair, given that Chelsea cannot qualify for the Champions League and have already secured their UEFA Cup spot.

Graeme Le Saux and Celestine Babayaro missed the 3-0 home defeat by Manchester United due to calf and thigh injuries respectively. Right-back Albert Ferrer was also absent after twisting his ankle, while Boudewijn Zenden was only fit enough to make the bench after treatment all week on a hamstring injury.

Le Saux is said to be responding well to treatment and has travelled abroad for some specialist advice, while Babayaro and Ferrer are back in training.

The two other main doubts are Mikael Forssell, who has had a knee injury, and Mario Stanic, who has been suffering from a groin problem.

Middlesbrough v Chelsea
3pm, tomorrow, Riverside Stadium

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