Soccer

Bertrand to sit out second leg

Defender misses trip to Moscow as Chelsea seek place in semi-finals

Chelsea's Fernando Torres celebrates with Yossi Benayoun after scoring during the first leg at Stamford Bridge. Photograph: Paul Hackett/Reuters
Chelsea's Fernando Torres celebrates with Yossi Benayoun after scoring during the first leg at Stamford Bridge. Photograph: Paul Hackett/Reuters
Wed Apr 10 2013 - 15:00

Ryan Bertrand is to miss Chelsea's Europa League quarter-final second leg with Rubin Kazan after missing the trip to Russia due to illness.

The Blues, last season’s Champions League winners, confirmed on Twitter that the 23-year-old understudy to Ashley Cole did not travel to Moscow today.

“Not travelling is Ryan Bertrand, who is ill, and injured Gary Cahill and Oriol Romeu,” read the club’s official Twitter feed.

Cahill (knee) and Cole (hamstring) were already out alongside long-term absentee Romeu (knee) and cup-tied striker Demba Ba.

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Bertrand’s absence means young Dutchman Nathan Ake or experienced Portuguese Paulo Ferreira could start at the Luzhniki Stadium, a venue which holds painful memories for the Blues following their penalty shootout defeat to Manchester United in the 2008 Champions League final.

Chelsea hold a 3-1 aggregate lead following their first leg win at Stamford Bridge last week, which featured two Fernando Torres goals, and are seeking to confirm their place in the semi-finals.

The Blues then play a semi-final against Manchester City at Wembley on Sunday as they continue the defence of the FA Cup trophy they have won in four of the past six seasons.