AVRAM GRANT endured the demands of television schedulers over the rearrangement of Chelsea's Premier League fixture at Everton only through gritted teeth but, privately at least, the Stamford Bridge manager may now appreciate previously unforeseen benefits in the fixture switch. Injuries threaten to decimate his options ahead of next week's Champions League semi-final first-leg tie against Liverpool so, in the circumstances, any extra days to recuperate are gratefully received.
Grant returned to London following the slender success on Merseyside with his players allowed yesterday off, though concerns persist over the participation of Didier Drogba and Michael Ballack in Tuesday's game at Anfield. The Ivorian continues to labour with the knee injury which has ruled him out of the last two games, while the German midfielder strained his hamstring in training on Tuesday ahead of the match at Goodison Park.
Ballack is the likelier to feature at Liverpool, with his fitness to be assessed at Cobham over the weekend before the squad's return to Merseyside on Monday, though Grant appeared somewhat pessimistic about both players' prospects. "I am not sure they will play because they did not train," admitted the Israeli.
"Drogba is doing his best to be well and I hope it will be okay, if not for the first game against Liverpool, then for the second. Ballack is the same, so we will have to wait and see."
Their involvement is made all the more critical given that Frank Lampard is effectively still on compassionate leave - he has been granted permission to miss training because his mother is seriously ill - while Michael Essien is suspended for the first leg next week. The Ghanaian's goal against Everton hauled Chelsea to within two points of Manchester United at the top of the Premier League.
"He is very important for us," admitted Ricardo Carvalho. "He's strong, he likes to go forward and never gives up but someone is going to have to come in and do their best. Hopefully Ballack can be fit."
Grant's bizarre post-match demeanour at Goodison Park suggested he was a man starting to crack under intense scrutiny, though, while the manager remains publicly bullish over his side's prospects of regaining the title at Manchester United's expense, there is an acceptance within the club that the Champions League provides the most plausible route to silverware this term. The Israeli's prospects of retaining his position are effectively dependent upon winning a trophy in the next month.
"For us, the only way that this can be described as a successful season will be for us to win a trophy - we want the Champions League and we still want the title," added Carvalho.
"Everyone knows how important the Champions League is for us. We haven't won the trophy since I arrived so we're desperate to get to the final and try to win it, but we know we've got two very tough games against Liverpool coming up. The game at Stamford Bridge will be crucial for us. In both the previous semi-finals against them, the second leg has been at Anfield so hopefully it will make a difference that the games are this way around this time."
