Drogba doubtful for Barca clash

Chelsea manager Roberto Di Matteo does not know whether Didier Drogba will be fit for next week's Champions League semifinal against Barcelona.

Chelsea manager Roberto Di Matteo does not know whether Didier Drogba will be fit for next week's Champions League semifinal against Barcelona.

Published Apr 20, 2012

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London – Chelsea manager Roberto Di Matteo does not know whether Didier Drogba will be fit for next week's Champions League semifinal against Barcelona.

The Ivory Coast striker scored in this week's 1-0 first-leg win over the defending European champions but has been ruled out of Saturday's Premier League match against Arsenal because of a knee injury sustained in that match.

“We have to assess him tomorrow and Sunday and how he recovers,” Di Matteo said Friday. “He got pushed and kicked around quite a lot in the game on Wednesday.”

Drogba's absence is likely to give Fernando Torres or Daniel Sturridge the opportunity to start on Saturday. The pair have been on the bench for Chelsea's last two matches.

The 34-year-old Drogba is out of contract at the end of the season and may not get another chance to win the Champions League.

He helped Chelsea reach the 2008 final but was sent off for slapping Manchester United's Nemanja Vidic and United won a shootout following a 1-1 draw. – Sapa-AP

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