Double final blow for Blues

12 April 2012

Jose Mourinho has ruled midfielder Michael Ballack and defender Ricardo Carvalho out of the FA Cup final against Manchester United on Saturday week.

The Chelsea manager watched his side take their unbeaten home run to 62 games with a goalless draw against the newly-crowned champions, and then revealed that two of his stars will miss out on the first major final at the new Wembley.

Ballack has undergone surgery on his ankle and is back in training while Carvalho injured his knee against Bolton two weeks ago, but Mourinho declared: "Michael Ballack has 0% chance of playing. Ricardo has 1% chance."

Mourinho also played down suggestions that he had a problem with Ballack after he underwent surgery on his ankle in Germany - reportedly against the club's wishes.

He added: "Michael is injured. My relationship with injured players is nothing special. It is true. Injured players are for the medical department. I am the manager and I have to coach fit players - players who are ready to play.

"I remember about injured players and I have them in my mind, because I miss them. But my relationship with injured players is not a special one. I have to concentrate on the players ready to play."

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