Champions League Group D
Venue: Stamford Bridge
Date: Tuesday, 7 December
Kick-off: 1945 GMT
We might already have won the group but don’t be fooled into thinking tonight’s Champions League tie with Apoel Nicosia is a nothing game for us. After consecutive defeats in the Carling Cup and league, nothing less than a win will do tonight if we’re to avoid the sort of slump we suffered this time last season.
MANAGERS’ VIEWS
Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti says “I want to put the best team out, but the most important thing is to monitor the players, to check whether they’re able to play. I think we can use some young players if Ballack, Ashley and Terry are not able to play. We have two aims on Tuesday. One is to maintain a good position in our group – we’ve done very well, won four games out of five, and we want to finish this group with a good performance. We have a home record we want to improve and, also, we have to have respect for the other teams because Apoel and Atletico Madrid are still competing for third place, an important place for them. We want to do the best.”
The Cypriot side might sit bottom of the group but manager Ivan Jovanovic regards tonight’s game as valuable European experience, saying “Chelsea are the best team in this group. They are certainly one of the teams capable of winning the tournament. We will try our best as we have done in every game we have played this season. My team has exceeded itself. We will try and do the same tomorrow and hope for the best possible result. Our progress in the last six months is what we will take out of this Champions League experience. We will try to do everything to be here again next year. It is the greatest recognition we have had. Chelsea are one of the strongest English teams and English football is one of the best in Europe. It will not make any difference who is playing for Chelsea tomorrow. It will still be a tough game.”
SQUAD NEWS
For Chelsea, Alex, Kalou and Daniel Sturridge are all ruled out, whilst John Terry, Ashley Cole and Michael Ballack are doubtful. Carlo Ancelotti looks set to ring the changes though, with Petr Cech likely to be replaced by Ross Turnball and Gael Kakuta and Daniel Philliskirk added to the squad.
Apoel have doubts over (both calf) with the pair facing a late fitness test. Boban Grncarov and Altin Haxhi miss out with calf injuries for Apoel, whilst Nectarios Alexandrou and Christos Kontis face late fitness tests.
TEAMS
CHELSEA (from): Cech, Hilario, Turnbull, Ivanovic, A Cole, Carvalho, Terry, Belletti, Bruma, Hutchinson, Essien, Lampard, J Cole, Mikel, Ballack, Malouda, Zhirkov, Deco, Drogba, Anelka, Borini, Philliskirk, Kakuta.
LAST MEETING
Apoel Nicosia 0-1 Chelsea (Sept 30 2009)
PREDICTION
With two defeats behind us, you’d assume Ancelotti would go all out for the win although his team selection might not reflect that. Obviously we’re already safely through to the knockout stages but wholesale changes saw us come unstuck in the Carling Cup against Blackburn and I can’t see Ross Turnball in goal improving on that.