Another bad night at the office

Last updated : 08 December 2009 By Paul Lagan

Chelsea got the preverbial kick up the whatsits last night.

Drawing 2-2 against Apoel Nicosia in the final Champions League group match meant that Chelsea - already group winners - added another meaningless point to their total.

But it came at a cost.

Michael Essien limped off with what Carlo Ancelotti decribed as a "hamstring problem."

He added: "We will have a look at him and see where he is fitness-wise in a couple of days."

Perhaps the greatest shock was the awful second-half performance - again Ancelotti got it spot-on when he said: "It was the worst performance so far this season."

The seeminly invincibles who were sweeping all before them up to seven days ago now look vulnerable at the back and shaky in midfield. Up front, Didier Drogba comtinues to put in 9 out of 10 performances.

Ancelotti was refreshingly honest about his team's woeful play but lost all credibility by claiming Gael Kakuta was the best player in his side.

If that was the case then the rest must have being really, really bad.

Of course the 18-year-old has the expectation of "Being the future of Chelsea" as Carlo described him.

But apart from the odd incisive pass, he was largely marginal in the proceedings.

Yury Zhirkov was easily the best player on the pitch and for once, Ashley Cole has some serious competition for left back.

Apeol finished fourth in the group and miss out to Athletico Madrid for the third -placed Europa League spot.

Madrid go through by virture of a better head-to-head result.

They scored an away goal in their 1-1 encounter with Apoel following a 0-0 draw in Madrid.

Chelsea face Everton on Saturday knowing that a much-improved performance is required.

Essien is a serious doubt but Ancelotti will recall Petr Cech, Ashley Cole, Branislav Ivanovic, Nicolas Anelka and Deco. Frank Lampard came on as a sub and will also play against the Toffeemen who have Tim Cahill out suspended.

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