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CHELSEA vs Burnley: Preview

CHELSEA vs BURNLEY

Venue: Stamford Bridge

Date: Saturday, 29 August

Kick-off: 1245 BST

 

It’s an early kick-off against Burnley for us today although personally, I’d rather we got to play them a bit later in the season.  The new-boys are always a bit of an unknown quantity and Burnley are certainly proving to be a surprise package so far, what with wins against both Everton and Manchester United already.

Owen Coyle’s lads will come to Stamford Bridge with probably little anxiety and plenty of confidence.  It’s not as if the Bridge or Chelsea will hold a lot of fear for them – their last game against us at home saw them pull off a win in the fourth round of last season’s Carling Cup. So, if anything, it’ll be Chelsea who need to be wary.

Having said that, Burnley will be facing a very different side to the one Scolari sent out against them last time round – maybe not in personnel but certainly in terms of attitude and work-rate.  And whilst I’m yet to be convinced about Ancelotti’s formation, he has managed to get both the results – and a better understanding between Drogba and Anelka out of it so far.

 

MANAGERS’ THOUGHTS

Ahead of the game, Carlo Ancelotti says “They like to play football and tomorrow will be a very good match, a spectacular match, and I don’t think that they come to Stamford Bridge only to defend. I am impressed with this team and the quality of their play.  I think that with Burnley it is important to take control of the game. They have good quality for attacking.   They can use the wing, they can use the long ball, they can use the quality of their midfielders. It will be an open game.”

Owen Coyle meanwhile, has a bit of a giggle about any comparisons between himself and the opposing manager, saying “There is a huge discrepancy between me and Carlo in terms of budget and everything else that goes with it.  Our priority is to stay in the Premier League, his priority is to win trophies. They are going to be at the business end come May.  Carlo is a world renowned coach and the great thing for me is I am now coming up against some of the best people in the game.  There is no doubt he will have his team well drilled, organised and effective. It will be a difficult afternoon.”  Not that he’ll be letting any of those differences hold him back, because the Burnley manager goes on  “Going up against the Manchester Uniteds, Liverpools and Chelseas, trying to defend for 90 minutes is pointless, as they will pick you off anyway.  I would rather lose a game than go into a match contributing nothing.  At least then you know you have tried to win a game.  Chelsea won’t underestimate us, for a number of factors.  We knocked them out of the Carling Cup when we were there last year and the Drogbas and the Lampards were all playing. They saw what we had in the locker.”

 

SQUAD NEWS

Reports earlier this week that suggested Chelsea had been boosted with some good news on the injury front seem to have proved a little premature and sadly, Joe Cole, Yuri Zhirkov and Paulo Ferreira (all knee) all remain absent.  Belletti (Achilles) also remains out and Alex is a doubt with a groin injury.

For Burnley, Steven Caldwell (groin) remains out although Michael Duff (ankle) could make a return.  Richard Eckersley misses out through suspension.

 

LAST MEETING

Chelsea 1-1 Burnley AET, 4-5 pens (12 Nov 2008)

 

TEAMS

CHELSEA (from): Cech, Turnbull, Hilario, Bosingwa, Ivanovic, Terry, Carvalho, A Cole, Ballack, Sturridge, Mikel, Deco, Lampard, Anelka, Drogba, Kalou, Malouda, Essien, Hutchinson.

BURNLEY (from): Jensen; Mears, Carlisle, Bikey, Jordan, Alexander, Fletcher, Elliott, McCann, Blake, Paterson, Thompson, Guerrero, Eagles, Penny, Kalvanes, Duff, McDonald, Gudjonsson, Edgar, Rodriquez, Easton.

 

PREDICTION

Didier Drogba to keep hold of everything that’s thrown at him.

 

REFEREE

Mark Clattenburg

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