Alex and Benayoun add to Chelsea’s injury woes
CHELSEA boss Carlo Ancelotti has now been handed a triple injury blow ahead of his side’s defence of the Premier League crown.
Just 24 hours after goalkeeper Petr Cech was ruled out for the start of the new season with a calf strain, the Italian has now lost defender Alex and new signing Yossi Benayoun for the rest of the pre-season campaign – and maybe even the season opener against West Brom on 14 August.
Centre back Alex, 28, sits out tonight’s pre-season friendly with Ajax with a thigh injury picked up in training, while Benayoun, a £5m summer capture from Liverpool, has already suffered a groin injury.
Indeed, Ancelotti admits he doesn’t know whether Hilario or Ross Turnbull will replace the injured Cech for the start of the season, insisting both will get their chance to impress during pre-season.
“I think that against Ajax we will play 45 minutes each for Turnbull and Hilario, and I think Turnbull will start the game,” he said.