José Mourinho devoted the majority of a four-page interview in the match programme to explaining how “11 surgeries and eight traumatic injuries” cost Chelsea the Barclays Premiership title, a seemingly never-ending curse the manager believes could also scupper their chances in the FA Cup Final.

In typically dramatic fashion, Mourinho announced that he will struggle to find enough bodies to face Manchester United on Saturday, although it will be no surprise if at least some of walking wounded recover in time. John Obi Mikel is the latest doubt, joining Michael Ballack, Andriy Shevchenko, Ricardo Carvalho and Arjen Robben on the sidelines after picking up a hamstring problem. Steve Sidwell, the Reading midfield player, is expected to have a medical this week, but his debut must wait.

“Mikel has a muscular injury so has no chance to play,” Mourinho said. “The reality is that for a final we do not have 16 players. It’s not a good picture, but the 11 players I pick will go with a big spirit.”

Mourinho rested Ashley Cole, Michael Essien and Claude Makelele and was fortunate to keep an unbeaten home league record stretching back to FC Porto’s defeat by Beira Mar five years ago. In doing so, Chelsea equalled Liverpool’s record of 63 top-flight matches at home without defeat, although a more telling statistic is the fact that Mourinho’s team have ended the season with five successive Premiership draws, their worst run of his reign. The lap of honour was muted, although Mourinho vowed to return next season.

Chelsea will have to improve for the Cup Final because lethargy has overtaken them in recent weeks. After a forgettable first half yesterday, Everton seized control five minutes into the second, Leon Osman breaking down the right before squaring the ball to James Vaughan, who side-footed past Petr Cech. The 18-year-old could have condemned Chelsea to their first home league defeat in more than three years three minutes later, but Cech demonstrated great athleticism to reach his well-struck volley.

Chelsea are most dangerous when threatened, however, and they used their familiar qualities of strength and cunning to summon an equaliser. Wayne Bridge’s cross from the left found its way to Shaun Wright-Phillips, who picked out Didier Drogba for his 32nd goal of a remarkable season.

David Moyes, the Everton manager, was more concerned by an apparent foul by Paulo Ferreira on Mikel Arteta in the build-up, running on to the pitch, only to be sent to the stands by Mark Halsey, the referee, whose decision to disallow James McFadden’s late effort because James Beattie was standing in an offside position was a questionable call that cost Everton fifth place in the Premiership and £583,000 in prize-money. “ The players were superb, but I’m disappointed because we wanted to finish fifth,” Moyes said.”