Ballack Boost

[WV2 Blue]

Luiz Felipe Scolari hopes Michael Ballack will be fit to replace the suspended Deco for Chelsea's next UEFA Champions League game against Bordeaux.

Deco will miss the trip to France on 26th November after being sent off in Tuesday's 3-1 defeat at Roma for picking up two yellow cards.

German international Ballack is the obvious replacement to come in for Deco, but has missed Chelsea's last six games after undergoing foot surgery.

However, Blues boss Scolari is keeping his fingers crossed that Ballack will be ready to return to the team in three weeks' time.

"Maybe I will have players back like Ballack for that game," said Scolari. "So I will still have quality in my midfield."

Reflecting on Chelsea's loss at the Stadio Olimpico, Scolari is keen for his players to learn from the mistakes which contributed to Roma's goals.

He added: "When you concede three goals like we did, you need to think about the next game. We need to work more and train more and maybe in the next game we will not make these mistakes.

"We had a few shots on goal in the first 30 minutes, but their goalkeeper made some good saves.

"We tried to come back in the second half with Didier Drogba, Nicolas Anelka and Salomon Kalou, but they closed us down very well.

"We cannot give clubs the space we did or make such mistakes. But I am not going to change my thinking just because of one game."

source:here

[Mr Chelsea]

good news if he's fit

we need to get everyone back fit not just ballack

the more fit players the more options the boss has

[ChrisC]

I'd like to see Ballack back, I still rate him very highly

[PloKoon13]

I hope Bordeaux are as bad as they were last time out...

Maybe Big Phil could take the time to experiment with a new formation? ;)

Cech

Bosingwa - (Two of JT, Carvalho and Alex) - Cole

Belletti - Lampard - Ballack - Joe Cole

Anelka

Drogba

[icecoolguy22]

Ballack is a big game player, he only brings out his A game for big occasions. We really missed his authority in the midfield for the game against Liverpool and Roma.

[loz]

If the Bordeaux game is his first game back then he should only start on the bench as he will be far from properly match fit. No reason whatsoever why Belletti can't play in midfield instead of Deco.

[clubhappy]

Prefer to see Ballack play, Deco has ability , but he also has ability to lose us games with stupid yellow cards and rash tackles.

[Tim W]

Move up Obi next to FFFL and play Ivanovic/Maka-in-disguise as the holding midfielder

[dkw]

Move up Obi next to FFFL and play Ivanovic/Maka-in-disguise as the holding midfielder

FFFL? who the hell is that?

[bonetti]

FFFL? who the hell is that?

Mineirio

[Gem]

FFFL? who the hell is that?

F*cking Fabulous Frankie Lampard.

[ethicalstrategy]

Just Frank Lampard. Tim's got a bit of a stutter.

[Gem]

Why rush him? Lets have him 100% later on rather than 70% now.

[4EVERCHELSEA]

Good job we have super frank playing his ass off or we would be in trouble. never have i seen us so depleted in the midfield area. at full strength there is no better midfiled in the world for me.. would be nice to have the chance to play them all... DAMN INJURIES!!!!!!!!!

O how we love our frank!!!!!!!!

[The Moos]

One player in and one player out. Feels like it's been like that the entire season so far. As soon as one player gets back from injury or suspention another one gets injured or suspended.

Now Drogba is back I'm just waiting for Anelka to get an injury.

Imagine if we could have all the players (or atleast the important ones) fit for fight. We'll be unstoppable, sort of