MADRID: Chelsea captain John Terry and goalkeeper Petr Cech will miss the rest of the Premier League season with injuries suffered in the Champions League semi-final first leg in Madrid.
Terry went off with a foot problem and Cech injured his shoulder in the 0-0 draw with Atletico Madrid.
Manager Jose Mourinho said: “Petr Cech’s season is over. Don’t ask me technically, but season over. As for John – we have to play the final for him to play with us.”
The Premier League season concludes on Sunday May 11, with the Champions League final in Lisbon on May 24. Cech, 31, came off after 18 minutes after colliding with Raul Garcia at a corner, with 41-year-old Mark Schwarzer making his Champions League debut. Terry was replaced with 18 minutes left.
Chelsea go to Premier League leaders Liverpool on Sunday before hosting Atletico in the second leg of the semi-final next Wednesday.
Mourinho was without injured duo Samuel Eto’o (knee) and Eden Hazard (calf), while Branislav Ivanovic was suspended. Frank Lampard and John Mikel Obi were booked during Tuesday’s match and will miss the second leg.
Injuries
He added: “We had problems before the game, we had problems during the game, we lost four players during the game, two with injuries, two with yellow cards, but we will fight. Ivanovic is back, Schwarzer showed clearly that we can trust him. People that are not playing a lot, like for example Ashley Cole, put in an amazing performance.”
The Blues boss said he was satisfied with a first-leg result that leaves everything to play for.
“We didn’t start the game thinking of a 0-0,” Mourinho said. “But the game goes in a certain direction where you feel you have to be safe, don’t concede and try to score in one of the few chances you create. We go with a result that decides everything at Stamford Bridge.”
Atletico boss Diego Simeone admitted his team struggled to break down their opponents but remained confident ahead of next Wednesday’s match.
‘Comfortable’
“It was impossible, they did their job really well and this leaves the qualification open,” said the Argentine.
“It is true that they play at home where they feel comfortable, but we are going to go out to play. Next Wednesday we’ll be there to start playing.
“They will be playing at home, they will be feeling better and we will have to wait till next week to see what happens.”
#########