Alex out for three weeks
Chelsea defender Alex is expected to miss three weeks after picking up a thigh strain in the Premier League match against Arsenal on Sunday.
The 28-year-old will miss Chelsea’s league game away to Aston Villa on 16 October and the player could also miss out on the Champions League game against Spartak Moscow three days later.
Alex scored the second goal in Chelsea’s 2-0 win over Arsenal with a wonderful free-kick in the 85th minute and the player managed to finish game.
However, it was confirmed afterwards that he picked up a thigh strain. The defender will now miss Brazil’s two friendly games against Iran and the Ukraine having withdrawn from the squad.
Alex was signed from PSV Eindhoven in 2007 and has established himself as John Terry’s central defensive partner.
The Brazilian has become a key member of the Chelsea side, especially since Ricardo Carvalho left the club for Real Madrid during the summer.
This has made Alex’s injury even more significant for Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti. With Alex injured, it is likely that right full-back Branislav Ivanovic will move into central defence. Paulo Ferreira should move to right-back and come into the team
in Ivanovic’s position.
The Chelsea manager will be concerned by losing any more defenders. With Carvalho gone, Chelsea don’t have the same strength in depth they once had. A long-term injury to Alex and Terry could mean that Michael Essien would be forced to drop into the defence.
With Frank Lampard also out Ancelotti will be hopeful that Alex can return to the Chelsea team for the Liverpool match at Anfield.
So far this season the Chelsea defence has performed very well and Alex has played a pivotal role in the team. The Premier League champions have only conceded two goals in seven games and this form has placed Chelsea at the top of the table and four points
clear of Manchester City.
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