Cluj No Walkover as Drogba Carried Off

I couldn’t really understand why so many people predicted this game would be a formality for Chelsea, I can only assume a few decent performances lately had them believing we really were the new Brazil, but for me, a walkover was never on the cards.

 

The Romanian champions might well have been languishing in the lower divisions a few years back, but their opening day win against Roma should’ve been worthy of a little more credit than they appeared to be given going into our game.

 

And so it proved as Chelsea escaped with a pretty uncomfortable draw on the night.

 

Scolari’s options were already limited through injury, with Essien, Carvalho, Joe Cole, and Deco all unavailable. Ashley Cole was added to our absentee list with lower back pain, giving Wayne Bridge the opportunity to deputise.

 

The Chelsea bench reflected the extent of our mounting injuries, with Franco Di Santo and Miraslav Stoch both named for the Champions League fixture.

 

A subdued Chelsea put in an uninspiring performance against the organised CFR Cluj and with few chances for either side, it was Chelsea’s misfortune that the easiest of theirs fell to Nicolas Anelka.

 

Even more unfortunate was that in a game which saw a distinct lack of cutting edge and Anelka yet again unable to buy a goal, we were to see Didier Drogba stretchered off early in the second half after an awkward collision with a Cluj defender.

 

Typically, Drogba was still trying to get back to fitness having missed the first six weeks of the season with a knee injury, and it was the Ivorian’s first Champions League game back from suspension.

 

Needless to say, Scolari could only sit with his hands over his face as the striker was carried off the field. Terry and Alex were later reported by Scolari as also having taken knocks although that came as no real surprise considering the Cluj method of defence appeared to involve kicking lumps out of us.

 

Anyway, with way too many people expecting an easy win, what we actually got was a point and a less than memorable 0-0. But all things considered I’m sure Scolari will accept the point which leaves us unbeaten in Group A.

 

 

Chelsea - Cech, Bosingwa, Terry, Alex, Bridge, Mikel, Lampard, Ballack, Kalou (Anelka—46), Drogba (Belletti—58), Malouda (Di Santo—74)

Unused Subs - Hilario, Ivanovic, Ferreira, Stoch.