Chelsea FC: Jose Mourinho May Risk Samuel Eto’o Against PSG

Chelsea FC manager Jose Mourinho confirmed today that he may risk striker Samuel Eto’o against Paris Saint Germain on Tuesday at Stamford Bridge. The Cameroonian was not fit enough to make a substitute appearance against Stoke City on Saturday and did not train with the team on Sunday. Eto’o did however train with the team today but it is unlikely that he will start against the Ligue 1 giants. He has been on the sidelines since picking up a hamstring injury two weeks ago against Arsenal in the league and things have not gone well for the Chelsea strikers since his injury.

Mourinho on Eto’o’s chances of playing against PSG:

"“I wanted Eto’o to be on the bench on Saturday and play 15 or 20 minutes, but he was not fit enough. He did not train with the team on Sunday, so we will have to see. Maybe I will pick him, but to risk a player, you need to have minimum conditions to take that risk. 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 conditions of risk, then yes.”"

What Mourinho is essentially saying is that Eto’o will only be brought on late in the game if Chelsea are chasing a goal or if they simply need some fresh legs to hold up play and protect a lead. If Eto’o is training today then there is hope that he may be fit enough to be a substitute because he is not fit enough to play a full match. The issue that Mourinho must deal with is whether to risk Eto’o for 10 minutes in a match or rest him as he will be vital to Chelsea’s Premier League title chances.

Eto’o’s injury means that we will likely see Fernando Torres start at striker after another unconvincing performance against Stoke City on the weekend. The dawn of the “false-nine” at Chelsea seems to have been short lived and a more traditional approach will be taken.

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