Venue: Upton Park
Date: Saturday, 11 September
Kick-off: 1500 BST
So, after the boredom of the international break, it’s back to the bread and butter of the Premier League and today’s game sees us away to West Ham.
We’d got some momentum up before the break, with nine points out of nine and 14 goals from our first three games of the season but whether or not the international interruption has stemmed the flow of the Chelsea tide, we’ll find out this afternoon.
MANAGERS’ VIEWS
Ahead of this top versus bottom clash, West Ham manager Avram Grant says “Right now Chelsea are the best team in the country and I think are best placed to go on and win the title again and also make a big challenge for the Champions League, too. You could argue that the fixture list has been a bit kind to them when it has been difficult for us but Chelsea have been very good. The squad is so strong and experienced. They are the team for everyone else to beat. I have to admire and respect Carlo Ancelotti for leading them to the league and (FA) cup double last season. He has done a great job.
Like the predecessor he was lucky enough to follow though, the former Chelsea manager just can’t help trying to gleam some credit for himself, suggesting “But in many ways the team has not really changed since I was in charge or, for that matter, the days of Mourinho. I would say that when I took over from Mourinho in what were difficult circumstances we changed the style a bit and played a little bit less long-ball. After Scolari, Ancelotti has continued in that direction and they play some very good, exciting football now. But, essentially, it is the same group of players and the same system for the last few years. When you have that sort of consistency it makes you very strong and Chelsea are very much that, as they have shown in the start they have made.”
The less modest current Chelsea boss however, says “In football there are a lot of things, a lot of details that you can always improve. Every experience can give you the possibility to improve. I had good experience before I came here and now I think I improved with this experience. There are not a lot of differences between Italy and England, but I think the English players have a stronger mentality, they like to work very hard on the pitch every day. Now after one year my relationship with the players is very close, so they can understand me very well and I can understand them very well. If you shout all the time they do not listen.”
SQUAD NEWS
For West Ham, Collison, Hines and Kurucz (all knee) are out injured, whilst Hitzlsperger (thigh) and Gabbidon (hamstring) are doubtful. Robert Green and Valon Behrami are fit again though and new signings Victor Obinna and Lars Jacobsen could make their debuts.
For Chelsea, Bosingwa (knee), Ivanovic (back) and Lampard (groin) all miss out. John Terry makes it back from hamstring trouble and Gael Kakuta has recovered from a back injury. New signing Ramires could make his first start.
TEAMS
WEST HAM (from): Green, Stech, Boffin, Upson, Tomkins, Ilunga, Ben Haim, Gabbidon, Spector, Da Costa, Reid, Daprela, Jacobsen, Behrami, Noble, Parker, Kovac, Barrera, Faubert, Boa Morte, Dyer, McCarthy, Sears, Nouble, Stanislas, Piquionne, Cole, McCarthy, Obinna.
CHELSEA (from): Cech, Ferreira, Ivanovic, Terry, Alex, Cole, Kakuta, Essien, Benayoun, Ramires, Obi, Drogba, Malouda, Zhirkov, Hilario, Turnbull, Kalou, Bruma, Sturridge, Anelka, Van Aanholt, Borini.
LAST SEASON
West ham 1-1 Chelsea (20 December 2009)
REFEREE
Chris Foy
PREDICTION
Well after our blistering start to the season and with West Ham rock bottom, most would assume three points was a foregone conclusion. The Hammers haven’t beaten us since 2003 either and we haven’t conceded a goal for almost ten hours of football…………….if only we hadn’t had that international break, we’d be laughing.
Blue is the colour
