Chelsea v Valencia

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Tuesday, 6 December 2011

Champions League

Villas-Boas denies ‘freezing out’ players

Chelsea may be without Jose Bosingwa for the make-or-break Champions League Group E fixture against Valencia at Stamford Bridge.

The London club are second in their group, level on points with third-placed Valencia.

The right-back missed training on Monday with an adductor strain, although Branislav Ivanovic is likely to start ahead of him.

Midfielder Josh McEachran is still out with an ankle injury.

Meanwhile Ghana midfielder Michael Essien is expected to return from knee surgery early next year.

Blues forward Daniel Sturridge expects manager Andre Villas-Boas to be in charge for the next three years, even though the Portuguese is under pressure ahead of Tuesday’s clash.

Sturridge said: “I am behind the manager and everyone else is because we know he’s here for three years.

“The attacking style does work and you’ll see in the future it works.”

Provisional squad: Cech, Bosingwa, Ivanovic, Terry, Alex, Cole, Luiz, Mikel, Romeu, Ramires, Lampard, Mata, Malouda, Meireles, Torres, Drogba, Kalou, Sturridge, Lukaku, Turnbull.

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/sport1/hi/football/15933202.stm