CHELSEA HAVE received a considerable boost before the Champions League final after both Gary Cahill and David Luiz emerged unscathed from their first full training session since sustaining hamstring injuries to declare their fitness to feature against Bayern Munich on Saturday.
The interim first-team coach, Roberto Di Matteo, had conceded the fitness concerns over the centre backs, combined with the suspensions to John Terry and Branislav Ivanovic for the match at the Allianz Arena, had left him with a “headache”.
Yet both Cahill and David Luiz were able to complete all their drills at a rain-swept Cobham yesterday, with both now expected to start against Bayern. Jose Bosingwa retired early from the session as a precaution and should still start the final at right back.
Cahill, who had damaged his hamstring in the second leg of the semi-final against Barcelona last month, had been expected to be absent for at least three weeks, so was heartened by his ability to take part.
“It’s not too bad,” he said of his leg. “This was my first session with the boys and it was good to get out here: moving around, kicking the ball, doing everything and, touch wood, [having] no reaction. I’ve been working on a bit of fitness and sharp stuff over the weekend without the lads. Now I’ve got three more sessions so I can kick on from here. I’ve always had the goal to be fit for this game and, thankfully, it’s healed quickly. We’ve spent every day and every afternoon working on it and treating it to get it right and the work’s paid off. Hopefully I can get the training under my belt this week and be ready to go.”
Luiz has not featured since pulling up in the FA Cup semi-final victory against Tottenham Hotspur last month but was able to twist and turn in the slippery conditions as the players underwent a full training session.
However, Florent Malouda, who sustained his own hamstring injury against Blackburn Rovers on Sunday, was absent and Di Matteo conceded he is now “touch and go” for the final.
“But it’s been good timing to have the others back,” said the assistant, Eddie Newton. “They have come back just in time. It was a sharp session, the boys were moving the ball really well. It was a test of their injuries but they have all come through nice and strong.
“They are on course to be ready. The test will be in the morning to see if they wake up with any aches and pains. But so far so good. It’s a fantastic boost and something that we desperately needed. We are pretty clear on the team now. With four boys out [suspended] and the two boys coming through, it has made it a little bit easier. The light at the end of the tunnel is a little bit brighter for us. We are putting everyone in cotton wool now, making sure everyone gets through, because we can ill afford to lose another body.”
Four days ahead of a match when Di Matteo hopes Chelsea can achieve “something extraordinary” the interim first-team coach was in full dead-batting mode.
Those who questioned whether the outcome of the Champions League final would determine his future at Stamford Bridge were deflected with selfless talk of responsibility and making “history”.
Self-promotion was not on the agenda, even as reports emerged back in Italy that his former club Lazio might seek to tempt him into a return to Serie A.
Then there are his most recent employers, West Brom, who are in the market for a manager. “In my life I’ve gone back to an ex-girlfriend and it didn’t work out,” came the reply. “I’m not sure it’d be the right move.”
Instead the Italian’s mantra was of being relaxed about the long-term future and concentrating solely on the immediate. Bayern await in what could be his last game in charge, Jupp Heynckes’s team standing between Chelsea and a first European Cup.
“To reach a Champions League final is very, very difficult,” said Di Matteo. “People talk about the older players in our side and, for some of our older players, it might be more difficult to be in another final or win it. But even the younger players do not know when or if they’ll have the chance again. Sometimes you think: ‘Ah yes, it’ll happen again.’ But it’s not that easy.
“I’m not thinking about myself. I’m very relaxed about my own future. I have a big drive and a big motivation to do something extraordinary for this club. That’s all I want to do. Whatever comes afterwards . . . well, there’s always a reason why things happen.”
Guardian Service
