CHELSEA vs Inter Milan: Champions League Preview
Champions League last 16 second leg: Chelsea v Inter Milan
Venue: Stamford Bridge
Date: Tuesday, 16 March
Kick-off: 1945 GMT
Right, here we go then, Jose Mourinho’s first game at Stamford Bridge since he left and he’s milked the publicity for all it’s worth. I know, I know, it’s very unlike our shy and retiring former manager but there you go.
Inter Milan come into this game with a 2-1 aggregate lead over us from the first leg and despite their 3-1 defeat to Calcio Catania Friday, Mourinho seems to be as confident as ever. Obviously the fact that they managed a marginal win at the San Siro despite us being the better side on the night gives him reason for optimism but I’m sure even his confidence must have been a little shaken to see how comfortable our 4-1 win over West Ham was at the weekend.
MANAGERS’ VIEWS
For all Mourinho’s confidence and his expectations of having the upper hand at Stamford Bridge, Carlo Ancelotti isn’t letting it worry him too much, stating “For Mourinho, it’ll be a special evening. The fans will give him a very good reception, one he deserves. But the match will be another thing. The players are not involved in other things. All the Chelsea players and Inter players are focused on the game, an important game. The other things they’re not interested in. Jose has great experience. He has won the Champions League and won a lot of titles in different countries. The difference in this game will be the different play, the different confidence, the difference courage and personality that the teams put out on the pitch. That will be the difference. I hope there will be a third English club in the quarter-finals. Arsenal and Manchester United did a good job. Now we have to do the same on Tuesday.”
As for Jose Mourinho, he suggests “Everybody knows Mourinho doesn’t lose at Stamford Bridge. My record is unbeatable. It is amazing….blah….blah….blah.”
SQUAD NEWS
For us, Michael Essien (knee), Jose Bosingwa (knee), Ashley Cole (ankle), Petr Cech (calf) and Henrique Hilario (abductor) all remain out. Ricardo Carvalho returns from a hamstring injury.
For Inter, Thiago Motta (thigh), Marko Arnautovic (flu) and Balotelli (knee) all look set to miss out.
TEAM
CHELSEA (from): Turnbull, Taylor, Ivanovic, Kalou, Alex, Drogba, Malouda, Terry, Carvalho, Borini, Lampard, Obi, Deco, Anelka, Zhirkov, J Cole, Belletti, Ballack, Kakuta, Sturridge.
PREDICTION
Bloody hell, who knows which way this one will go? Obviously Mourinho’s spouted on enough about his record at Stamford Bridge but I’m hoping that was then and this is now. We showed enough at the San Siro to convince me we have enough in our locker to beat them, particularly at home so I just hope we take this opportunity to shut him up.
Chelsea News 24/7
With a definately suspect keeper (forget the media claptrap) and ‘if’ Scolari mark two plays Carvalho INSTEAD of Alex we will lose this encounter against one of the finest Managers in the World today. How CA can treat Alex as he has done since his injury comeback escapes me? Having had a couple of MOM performances in Riccys absence ‘if’ the Italian does drop Alex and loses this game I can see him being sacked at the end of the season with the club winning nothing! Bring back Hiddink OR Jose who are proven ‘winners with Chelsea’ and get rid of this over hyped Italian. For those that disagree I would simply ask you to try and logically defend Ancelotti if he does actually drop Alex and defend the clowns decision to leave him on the bench in the previous half dozen or so matches (when he was fully fit) and we had both JT and Riccy playing poorly?
Chelsea D…. I come in peace!!! LOL…
As per my video analysis posted on my site this morning, I have studied Inter Milan in depth before the 1st leg and again before tonights game and I am very confident…
Watch the runs of MILITO. DO NOT let him cut back on his right foot. Show him outside.
Watch the runs down the right of MAICON
Keep SNEIJDER quiet. If the game pans out as I expect he will be non existant anyway
When Inter attack, 5 men get forward. We must maintain our defensive shape.
ALEX must play in place of CARVALHO.
MALOUDA must play in midfield to force MAICON back and to dominate him
WIDTH. We need to attack Inter wide. Their full backs are easily caught out of position.
Have a strike a goal from 20-25 yards as Inter’s defence back’s off to the edge of own box.
LAMPARD can be the winner. Inter’s midfield do not track back when lose the ball. His late runs into the box could be key to the victory tonight.
TURNBULL – Inter will look to test him early and rough him up at corners. Needs to be strong.
THE MOST IMPORTANT – We must play to our own pace and tempo. Inter will run out of legs in the second half. Around 60-70 mins Inter will fade if we keep a high tempo. They will open up and this is where most of the damage can be done.
Its time for Carlo Ancelotti & the players to deliver and I believe they will. I predict a Chelsea goal before half time, to go in 1-0 on the night and 2-2 on aggregate. Inter will have to come out and score second half. We need to remain disciplined and hit them hard on the counter attack. Chelsea to score 2 more in last 20 minutes of the game to win it 3-0 and 4-2 on aggregate.
KTBFFH
Chelseadaft – fortunately, Ancelotti has confirmed Malouda won’t be at left-back, unfortunately it looks as if Carvalho WILL replace Alex – who is a much better player out of the two of them this season.
I’m not so sure Lampard will have a big influence on this game but I think if the right Didier Drogba turns up, he’ll be the player to do Inter the most damage. Mourinho will at least then be able to say he’s responsible for his signing eh? lol.
Totally agree about the tempo the game needs to be played at, and it goes without saying we need to make sure Turnball is protected, particularly during the early stages.