Scolari's Reluctance to Rotate May Cost Chelsea Victories This Season

Luiz Felipe Scolari is beginning to contemplate playing Aston Villa at the weekend with a depleted squad after Didier Drogba was stretched off during Chelsea's disappointing 0-0 draw with Transylvanian minnows CFR Cluj. It leaves the blues with one of it's regular striking options available for selection on Saturday afternoon at Stamford Bridge.

Drogba joins Michael Essien, Joe Cole, Ricardo Cahvalho and Ashley Cole who are all currently unfit although Ashley Cole may be available for Villa's visit this weekend. John Terry and Alex also came out with knocks which leaves a worst case scenario squad for Scolari looking very vulnerable for their next game. 

The situation immediately begs the question that despite Chelsea's extensive squad, Scolari's lack of rotation may be causing fatigue among the players who are currently fit. All of Chelsea's nearest rivals have so far shown that they can easily chop and change the line up including Liverpool, Arsenal and Man United. But Scolari has so far only made changes when his hand has been forced and whilst this demonstrates his desire to keep continuity, if last night is anything to go by it's having a negative effect on the squad.

Chelsea where lackluster, didn't play well and found it difficult to break down Cluj who to their credit played with discipline and stuck to their tactics against a side that where very capable of taking the lead given the chance. Chelsea's lack of firepower was self evident through the available options on the bench and the Londoners quickly run out of ideas as the game drew to an end.

During the opening quarter of an hour Chelsea found themselves on the back foot and struggled supplying Drogba with the necessary ammunition before he jarred his knee and suffered what is believed to be knee ligament damage. Should Scolari learn anything from last night, it's that when he has a full squad available again he'll have to use it more wisely than he has done so far.

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