LONDON (Sporting Alert) — Didier Drogba start in the attack for Chelsea in the today’s English Premier League clash at QPR, after Loic Remy picked up an injury.
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Remy, who has been in good game winning goalscoring form recently, was the man expected to continue lead the attack on Sunday, following the injury setback of leading goalscorer Diego Costa.
However, the French forward is suffering from a sore muscle after being kicked in training on Saturday, and Blue manager Jose Mourinho confirmed that he will miss the game.
“Loic Remy is injured,” Mourinho told Sky Sports ahead of the game. “He got a kick yesterday in training and the muscle is sore.
“We never cry or complain we just trust the people on the pitch and it’s Drogba on the pitch and we trust him. Today we forget Diego [Costa] and Remy.
“It’s a difficult match for us because we want to win against a team fighting for points to stay in the division. For them [QPR] it is difficult because they play against a very good team.”
Meanwhile, in midfield Brazilian Ramires comes into the starting lineup for his fellow countryman Oscar, who is among the substitutes, while Cesc Fabregas will be wearing a protective mask after he was hit by Charlie Adam in his team’s victory over Stoke last weekend.
Willian, Eden Hazard, Gary Cahill, John Terry, Cesar Azpilicueta and Nemanja Matic all start as well.
In the meantime, there is one change to the QPR team that started the last game, as Karl Henry comes in for Niko Kranjcar in the midfield.
The coaching staff must have liked what they saw in midfield against Aston Villa, after Henry came on for Kranjcar during that midweek draw.
Leaders Chelsea, who are the favourites to win the EPL this season, are looking to move seven points clear of second place Arsenal at the top of the table standing.
QPR starting XI: Green, Isla, Hill, Onuoha, Caulker, Phillips, Sandro, Barton, Henry, Austin, Zamora. Subs: McCarthy, Traore, Dunne, Kranjcar, Hoilett, Grego-Cox, Comley
Chelsea starting XI: Courtois, Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta, Matic, Fabregas, Ramires, Willian, Hazard, Drogba. Subs: Cech, Zouma, Filipe Luis, Mikel, Oscar, Cuadrado, Brown
Chelsea FC EPL Team
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