Andrei Shevchenko has been ruled out of the second leg of Chelsea's UEFA Champions League semi-final with Liverpool due to injury.The Ukrainian has not travelled to Anfield with his rest of the squad and joins Ricardo Carvalho and Michael Ballack on the sidelines.
Arjen Robben is in contention to play and Michael Essien also returns from suspension, but Jose Mourinho has admitted it is frustrating for the club's injury problems to be continuing.
"Our problem this season is when you have somebody back you have somebody out, we never have the team together," he told Sky Sports News.
Joe Cole's goal gave Chelsea a narrow win in the first leg but Mourinho believes Chelsea's advantage is negated by several factors in favour of Liverpool.
"1-0 is a lead but we have 90 minutes to play with the opponent at home," he explained.
"They are a team that has had one week to rest and prepare for this team against a team that has played two days ago and had to fight physically and mentally in a title race.
"So I don't see a team as being favourites."
If Chelsea score an away goal Liverpool will need three to advance to the final but Mourinho is determined for his side to find the right blend of attack and defence.
"We know that if we do not concede we are in the final so not to concede is an objective, but we will attack and we know if we score we have an advantage," he said.
Chelsea's Premiership challenge was dealt a blow at the weekend as they drew 2-2 with Bolton, but Mourinho does not think that should give his side extra incentive to beat Liverpool.
He commented: "That was the Premiership and this is the Champions League, I don't think there is a relation.
"I just think this is a second leg of a semi-final and the players will have a lot of motivation.
"They are more than ready to face this. There is no bigger motivation than (the possibility of) playing in the Champions League final."
By:Lewis Rutledge
Date:30 Apr 2007
Credit:www.skysports.com
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