Eto'o faces race to be fit for PSG clash with Chelsea desperate for goals to progress

By Sami Mokbel for the Daily Mail

Published: 17:00 EDT, 6 April 2014 | Updated: 17:00 EDT, 6 April 2014

Samuel Eto'o is in a race against time to be fit for Tuesday's crucial clash against Paris Saint-Germain following complications with a hamstring injury.

The Chelsea striker is still suffering from the problem sustained in his side’s 6-0 win over Arsenal on March 22.

The hamstring strain was due to keep Eto’o on the sidelines for a maximum of two weeks but the injury has taken longer to heal than expected.

Doubtful: Eto'o (left) faces a late test to be fit for the clash with PSG, but will most likely miss out

Injured: Chelsea striker Samuel Eto'o (middle) is helped to his feet by team-mate Oscar after suffering a hamstring problem

Winner: Eto'o's early strike beats Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny to put Chelsea ahead

Jose Mourinho expected Eto’o to be available for Saturday’s game but was forced to make do without the former Barcelona man.  Chelsea’s first team were led through a light training session on Sunday but the 33-year-old did not join his team-mates.

Mourinho hopes Eto’o is fit enough to resume full training on Monday ahead of the Champions League quarter-final second leg against PSG, where Chelsea must overturn a 3-1 first-leg deficit.

Mourinho said: ‘Will Eto’o be fit? Let’s see. Let’s see if he trains on Monday. Maybe he could play but to risk a player you need to have minimum conditions to take that risk.

Ruled out: Veteran Eto'o looks set to miss at least 10 days through injury

‘If you think he’s going to be out after 10 minutes of the game you can’t take that risk. If there is a minimum of risk, then yes.

‘We need to score goals. If we don’t score a minimum of two goals we are out. We know that, so if we can have everybody available who can give us a chance to score goals then let’s do that.’

Eto’o is the club’s most prolific central striker, with 11 goals this season — all of which have come at Stamford Bridge. In comparison, Fernando Torres and Demba Ba have 14 between them.

Marching off: Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has been highly critical of his strikers so far this season

Still smiling! Torres has only found the net nine times for the Blues through a troubled campaign

But Eto’o isn’t Mourinho’s only selection headache, with Ramires suspended, Nemanja Matic ineligible and John Mikel Obi out of favour.

It means Chelsea are likely to start with a midfield pairing of David Luiz and Frank Lampard.

Despite the problems, Mourinho insists his side can complete an ‘almost impossible’ mission.

‘Am I nervous about the match? No,’ said Mourinho. ‘I’d have been nervous if we’d won 1-0 or 2-0 in Paris, but losing 3-1 means I am not nervous. I want to enjoy the game, I want to enjoy the fight, I want to enjoy the risk. So, no nerves.

‘A big game, an almost impossible job — so let’s go.

‘What’s important is that they give everything, that they leave nothing on the field. PSG as a club don’t have the experience we do.

Thankful: Salah (right) looks to the sky as he celebrates scoring Chelsea's first goal

Strike: Chelsea winger Willian scores a brilliant goal to put the Blues into a 3-0 lead

‘But the players do have it. Players from Milan, Inter and other clubs. It will be no problem for them. Will this be a special night? It could be. No... it will be special for sure.’

Lampard, who scored his 250th club goal in the win over Stoke, added: ‘The manager is very, very strong in these situations. We’ve been disappointed since the first game. We have to be positive and try to win the game but at the same time we have to keep our heads.

‘With the squad of players we’ve got we can win the game by two goals for sure. But we can’t be too gung-ho.

‘It’s more about being focused and getting our attitude and the pace in our game right. We’ve got the ability. We’ve got the desire.

‘We have to have a confidence in ourselves and we have to go out to try and turn it around.’

Blocked: Torres sees his shot saved by Stoke goalkeeper Asmir Begovic in the first half (right)

ADAM MUST BE PUNISHED BY FA AFTER NASTY TACKLE

Lee Probert has been reluctant to show cards all season, and some players exploit that. Charlie Adam appears to be one of them.

The Stoke midfielder ‘left one in’ on Andre Schurrle which meant the German was taken off. While Adam may argue he won the ball, he made sure his weight was on his other foot as it landed on Schurrle on the follow-through.

He escaped any action then clashed with David Luiz (above), catching the Brazilian in the chest with his studs and then abusing Luiz who was upset at the poor challenge. Incredibly, Adam escaped the referee’s attention again.

If Probert didn’t see the challenge Adam could face punishment from the FA, which he deserves.
Luiz, clearly still incensed, then went unpunished for an over-the-top tackle on Erik Pieters which could have caused injury. No cards and no control from Probert.

GRAHAM POLL