Chelsea joined Liverpool in the first knockout round of the Champions League last night, but a distinctly uncomfortable passage could have come at a heavy price.
A 1-0 defeat by Werder Bremen guaranteed them qualification by virtue of their superior head-to-head record against the Germans, but José Mourinho’s biggest concern is injuries to Didier Drogba and Michael Ballack, which could rule them out of Sunday’s Barclays Premiership match against Manchester United.
The Ivory Coast striker hobbled off in the 59th minute with an ankle injury after a clash with Torsten Frings and Ballack was removed 14 minutes from time after suffering a ten-inch gash to his right leg in a collision with Pierre Womé.
“Ballack’s injury is nothing special,” Mourinho said. “It is only painful. Drogba’s injury is to his ankle, but again it is nothing serious. You’re never happy with a defeat, but in this very difficult group, to be safe going into the last game is an achievement.” Drogba was hobbling heavily as he boarded the team bus, but a smiling Ballack was more positive. “I hope to be fit for Sunday,” he said.
Per Mertesacker’s first-half header settled last night’s issue but Mourinho was not happy with the award of a free kick to Bremen in the build-up to Frings’s corner, accusing the Germany player of diving.
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“Frings went down like somebody pushed him, but nobody did it,” Mourinho said. “Every year in this competition since I won it [with FC Porto in 2004] I haven’t had a lot of luck.”
Bremen’s victory heaps the pressure on Barcelona despite the Spanish club’s 2-0 win against Levski Sofia and the holders must beat Werder at the Nou Camp next month to avoid a humiliating early exit. Chelsea need a win against Sofia at Stamford Bridge to guarantee their progress as group leaders and must do so without John Terry, who collected a late booking for throwing the ball away.
Liverpool’s qualification as winners of group C also came at a cost as their 2-0 victory over PSV Eindhoven, achieved with goals from Steven Gerrard and Peter Crouch, was marred by injuries to three midfield players.
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