Our last game in the Premier League on Saturday, saw us play against a Blackburn side exposed to swine flu as a result of some squad and club staff falling foul of the virus.

Tonight, we’re apparently up against another set of potentially contagious opponents, with Bolton manager Gary Megson suggesting several of their personnel have been victims of swine flu although declining to name names.

Despite national hysteria and general advice for players to forego the usual post-match pleasantries, it didn’t stop our players swapping shirts after thumping Blackburn at the weekend and according to Carlo Ancelotti, we won’t be wrapped in cotton wool tonight either. The Chelsea boss says “I’m not worried. The flu is not only on the pitch, it’s everywhere. We take all the precautions and we want to think about playing, that’s it.  We will do the same things we normally do. It’s not a problem and the players have stayed very well.”

Ancelotti insists tonight’s wholesale changes are more about protecting his players from fatigue than flu, stating “I know very well what I have to do if I have the flu. It’s not a medical prescription. It’s my grandmother’s prescription — hot milk. Alcohol — red wine. Fantastic.”

Not entirely sure he’d be advocating the same for his squad although personally I’d be prescribing decent face masks the rate we’re being exposed to it.

Filed under: Rants