Full Version: Schalke's plans for Chelsea defeat in doubt as top striker injured

Schalke's plans for Chelsea defeat in doubt as top striker injured

GELSENKIRCHEN, Germany (AFP) - - Schalke 04 are hoping that a revenge win against Chelsea will revive their flagging Champions League campaign, but their chances of success were looking doubtful after top striker Kevin Kuranyi was injured at the weekend.

Schalke received bad news on Sunday ahead of Tuesday's clash here at the Veltins Arena when it was revealed German international Kuranyi may not play due to a leg injury sustained on Friday.

But team-mate Gerald Asamoah says the Bundesliga's Royal Blues are gunning for both a win against the English giants and revenge for their 2-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge at the end of last month.

"We want to score against them and we want to win," said former international Asamoah, with his side bottom of their group.

"It won't be easy, because as we saw in the first leg, Chelsea capitalise on every mistake you make, no matter how small.

"But I am really optimistic because this time we will have 50,000 fans behind us and that will be motivation enough.

"It is obvious Chelsea will progress in the competition, so for us, Rosenborg and Valencia it is about second place."

But Schalke's chances dipped when Kuranyi limped off with a left thigh injury after 65 minutes of Friday's 1-0 defeat to Bundesliga bottom-side Energie Cottbus and looks set to miss the game.

"It is a quadriceps injury, without doubt a strain, or could be a tear," said Schalke coach Mirko Slomka.

Along with Asamoah, Kuranyi is Schalke's leading scorer with four goals this term, and has the experience Schalke need against mighty Chelsea.

Friday's defeat was a hammer blow for the Royal Blues' confidence as Cottbus enjoyed their first win of the season, while Schalke face a Chelsea side who saw off Wigan Athletic 2-0 on Saturday in the Premier League.

Schalke are seventh in the Bundesliga, 10 points behind leaders Bayern Munich while they are bottom of their Champions League group with three points as Chelsea top their group.

The Londoners travel to Gelsenkirchen without defender Paulo Ferreira who has been ruled out for six weeks with an ankle injury.

Ferreira strained ankle ligaments during a League Cup victory on Wednesday and did not feature in Saturday's 2-0 Premier League win over Wigan.

Manager Avram Grant said: "Paulo Ferreira is not available and will be out for five to six weeks.

"We are short, but we have a big squad and we have good players to replace him."

Chelsea are third in the Premier League just three points behind top-two sides Arsenal and Manchester United, but Grant says his side will be playing their own game.

"Our eyes were only on our team, we won again at the weekend and we played very well, especially in the first half and we could have scored more goals.

"For us, it is important what we are doing, not other teams."