CHELSEA vs HULL

Venue: Stamford Bridge

Date: Saturday 15 August

Kick-off: 12.45 BST

Chelsea kick-off the first game of the 2009/10 Premier League season with an early game at home to Hull today.

As seems to be the norm, we have a new manager to take us into the new season, what with our last game against Hull signaling the end for Luiz Felipe Scolari. Mind you, despite Ancelotti picking up the Community Shield against the champions last weekend, says he’s “not stepping into the dark”. 

MANAGERS THOUGHTS

Ahead of his first Premier League fixture, the new Chelsea boss says “This is my first season outside Italy so it is a bit different, but I want to do well with my team.  I am happy, not afraid. There’s no tension or pressure. It is new but not the unknown. I’m not in the dark. I know my team very well. I appreciate the squad over the month I’ve had here, and the quality of this team.  The ambition is to remain competitive until the end of the season in all the competitions – in the FA Cup, the Premiership and the Champions League.  We want to arrive well in March and April in all the competitions. If we have strength and the right mental attitude, we can win at the end.  In England the championship is more competitive because, in Italy, three or four teams can win. Here I think that more teams can win the league.  To win a season in England is not easy for any team. It’s not easy for Chelsea, Liverpool or Manchester United, and also for Arsenal.  To win here is very difficult. It’s a difficult start. We’ll have to overcome difficulties in every game.  We have to work to improve because the situation on the pitch has to be natural. Now it’s not natural because some things are new for the players.  But, with work, it will become automatic. We have to put continuity into the games. That wasn’t the case in the last game – some periods of the game were very good, others not. We need to put continuity on the pitch.”

Having won 6 of their first 9 games in the 2008/09, Hull boss Phil Brown is setting his sights on another flying start this campaign, stating “Since we came back on July 1, everyone’s mindset has been on Chelsea and Stamford Bridge.  It’s been brought forward for TV so now it’s even bigger and of course it’s Carlo Ancelotti’s first game so it’s very exciting.  It’s the best stage in the world and we’re on it again. Who knows, we might even be top of the league before everyone else kicks off.”

Brown might have his work cut out though seeing as Hull have never beaten us at Stamford Bridge in any competition since their first visit in 1905. It’s also worth bearing in mind we’ll be going for our eighth consecutive opening day win.

SQUAD NEWS

On squad news for Chelsea, new signing Yuri Zhirkov misses out with a knee injury. Juliano Belletti (Achilles) and Alex (groin) are also carrying injuries, whilst Joe Cole (knee) and Paulo Ferreira, although back in training, won’t make it for this one either.

For Hull, Ian Ashbee, Jimmy Bullard and Richard Garcia (all knee) all miss out, although Boaz Myhill (thumb) is fit again. Phil Brown also has the option of handing debuts to new signings Stephen Hunt, Kamel Ghilas, Seyi Olofinjana and Jozy Altidore.

LAST SEASON

7^th February 2009

Chelsea 0-0 Hull

PREDICTION

Stephen Hunt to get his usual warm welcome from the Chelsea faithful.

REFEREE

Alan Wiley.

Filed under: Match Day, Preview