Crespo Return

Last updated : 07 February 2004 By Liam Corbett

Crespo has been training all week following his calf injury.

While things may not be ideal as he tries to rectify the 4-2 Boxing Day defeat at the Valley, Claudio says the team will be ready.

“Now is important to recover all my injured players, that is very important for me. These months are very important, I know that, everybody knows that and for me the right thing is to try and recover all my players.


“I have a lot of players but at this moment I have very few players. I do not have any coming back this Sunday, I lose Parker, Petit and then I am in trouble but we must play. Damien’s getting better but his achilles tendon is not good enough and I cannot risk him.


“Players like Damien are very, very important because they dribble a man, break the line and give you the opportunity to stay two versus one and create space. Now I don’t have him and we must play.”


Claudio has expressed his delight at the new pitch laid at the Bridge, that the first tema trained on yesterday.

“It is good, better than last season, do you remember? It is very good; it is the best pitch after the renewal. We trained a little on it this morning but it is good.”


The 4-2 defeat to Charlton hurt, a different result is most definitely required by all on Sunday and Claudio admits lessons have most definitely been learned.


“I said to win against Manchester, Lazio, Besiktas were very big steps but also the defeat with Charlton, with Aston Villa in the Carling Cup were big steps. Also when you lose, when you want to build a team then defeats are very, very important. I hope to show you what we have learnt next Sunday. It is easy to speak but I like to let the players speak on the pitch.”


With the transfer window now closed, Claudio is happy with the squad he has assembled and is looking forward to the finale of the season.


“If I am the man who can win, it is my pleasure: if not then it is the pleasure for the other manager, I don’t know who. It is not important for me.


“Every player who has come I thought for the best for Chelsea, not now but also for the long-term, then if I can take the fruits I am happier. I know I am working well for Chelsea - for the Chelsea of the future - and of course I try to do something good also this season. For me the victory is to fight until the end, to put Chelsea on a high level, that for me is a victory. To continue to build a team, to have a good group, a good spirit, that for me is a victory.”