Cup glory in the past for Chelsea icon
Former captain given cold shoulder treatment by manager, reports Matt Law.
As Chelsea’s players file into the first-team canteen at the club’s Cobham training ground, one of the first images to confront them is that of Gary Cahill holding the FA Cup high above his head.
Captaining Chelsea to cup glory last season was one of the proudest moments of Cahill’s trophy-laden career, and yet the following nine months have turned into a nightmare ahead of the rerun of last season’s final against Manchester United on Tuesday morning (NZ time).
Cahill hit rock bottom this week, when he was left out of coach Maurizio Sarri’s travelling squad for the Europa League trip to Malmo without any sort of explanation or warning.
Having seen his team-mates humiliated in a 6-0 thrashing by Manchester City last Monday, Cahill would have been hopeful of at least getting on the substitutes’ bench in Sweden, if not making his first appearance since November. But the 33-year-old is said to have been stunned to find his name was not on the travelling list, having not been warned that he was going to be left out by Sarri or his backroom staff.
As is the case with a number of fringe players, Sarri has barely spoken to Cahill. Long-serving staff have been surprised by the treatment of a player who has been one of the club’s best ambassadors and has won every domestic and European honour.
With less than six months on his contract, it is becoming a sad end to what has been an incredible career for Cahill at Chelsea since his arrival in 2012.
Cahill has reiterated to the club he will continue to give his best in the final months of his deal, and Sarri has not attempted to talk to him about whether he intends to use him or what role he will play, if any.
Having seen the meltdowns under previous managers Andre Villas-Boas and Jose Mourinho and witnessed the sackings of, among others, Roberto Di Matteo and Antonio Conte, Cahill would be the perfect man for Sarri to speak to about the culture at Chelsea as he fights to keep his job.
Yet Sarri has not spoken to Cahill about the club’s situation or asked for his input during team meetings or around the training ground. Instead, as one former team-mate put it to The Daily Telegraph, he has been made to feel like a ‘‘ghost’’.
Mourinho and Conte dropped Cahill at different times, but neither froze him out and both ended up restoring him to the team.
Conte brought him back in time for last season’s cup final and the former Aston Villa youngster helped Chelsea keep a clean sheet in their 1-0 success against United at Wembley. Given his Malmo omission, Cahill will not be confident of playing against United on Tuesday, even though the picture of him in the canteen should serve as a reminder to his team-mates of how the FA Cup could help rescue their faltering league season.
Another player who has been annoyed by his lack of opportunities is teenager Callum Hudson-Odoi, who was given six minutes as a substitute in the 2-1 win against Malmo.
Gianfranco Zola, the assistant manager, defended Sarri’s handling of Hudson-Odoi by saying: ‘‘As soon as there is an opportunity, he plays. The manager is giving him plenty of reasons to feel involved and wanted.
‘‘You need to understand he’s surrounded by top players. You have to work hard to be better than them and that’s what we want. He can still do better than he’s doing.’’ Chelsea, meanwhile, have been charged by Uefa after a fan ran on to the pitch and hugged Eden Hazard following the 2-1 victory over Malmo. Uefa has opened proceedings against Chelsea for field invasion by supporters and the throwing of objects.
❚ Manchester United could be without Jesse Lingard and Anthony Martial for up to five matches because of injuries they suffered in the Champions League defeat by Paris SaintGermain this week.
The attacking midfielder Lingard, 26, and Martial, the 23-year-old forward, hobbled off during the 2-0 defeat at Old Trafford with hamstring and groin injuries respectively.
Both have played key roles in United’s recent revival, scoring six goals and setting up four between them since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer became caretaker manager after Mourinho’s dismissal in December.
But now the duo are definitely out of the Chelsea clash on Tuesday and the home match against Liverpool next weekend. A three-week absence would also force Martial and Lingard to miss league games against Crystal Palace and Southampton, as well as the second leg of the PSG tie on March 7.
‘‘Anthony and Jesse have done really well for us. They’re vital in the attacking part for us, of course, with their vital attributes, their pace,’’ Solskjaer said.
Solskjaer has plenty of options in reserve. Alexis Sanchez, 30, is desperate for a chance to prove himself after scoring only one league goal this season, while Juan Mata and Romelu Lukaku have started only six league games between them under Solskjaer.
Winger Tahith Chong, 19, and Angel Gomes, the 18-year-old attacking midfielder, are set to travel with the squad to Chelsea. Mason Greenwood would have been in the squad had the 17-yearold striker not suffered an injury.
‘‘It’s a big chance for anyone who plays,’’ Solskjaer said.
The Daily Telegraph