Chelsea manager Roberto Di Matteo
has revealed Ashley Cole will miss
today UEFA Champions League
game with Shakhtar Donetsk due to a
hamstring injury.
Ryan Bertrand is likely to replace him at
left-back but Di Matteo was keen to
stress Cole is not expected to be out
long-term.
"Ashley Cole won't be available
for today match, he has a problem with his
hamstring, shouldn't be out for long,"
said the Italian.
"Ryan Bertrand has always performed
well for us when he's played and I
have full confidence he will play a great
game."
Chelsea lie second in the Group E
table, three points behind their
Ukrainian opponents, and De Matteo
was in confident mood ahead of the
game at Stamford Bridge.
"We had must-win games last season
and tomorrow is the same, we need to
play a perfect game but we are strong
at home," he added.
"The team has a winning mentality and
experience of performing in big games
like this, which helps. We have very
good players.
"We need to be at our best, every
player has to perform to the best of
their ability. The early goal in Donetsk
helped them.
"The way they played in Turin (against
Juventus) showed their confidence, we
need to put them under pressure and
score the goals we need to win."
Cole's injury could also rule him out of
England's friendly against Sweden next
week, in which he had hoped to win
his 100th international cap.
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