Champions League: Chelsea look to youth as MSK Zilina visit Stamford Bridge
Carlo Ancelotti has hinted that he will give his youngsters opportunity to shine and gain valuable time on the pitch as Chelsea face MSK Zilina in their Champions League encounter on Tuesday night. Chelsea has already qualified
to the knockout stages of the competition courtesy a 100% record in their opening four fixtures. Ancelotti is likely to rest his top players as they face tough games in the coming weeks with injuries and fatigue crippling in. It is an all together different
story in Europe as they have swept aside their opponents recording four consecutive wins and scoring a remarkable 12 goals and conceding just two.
Chelsea’s recent form is shaky with the English champions losing three of their last four games. Injuries to star players like John Terry, Frank Lampard and Michael Essien have undermined their dominance in the last couple of weeks.
Salomon Kalou agrees with this view but remains optimistic that Chelsea can turn the tables against their Slovakian counterparts.
“We've had a few bad results but that's football," said the Ivory Coast international, whose side nonetheless boast a 100% group stage record.
"There are moments in football when you have injured players, poor form and bad results, but we have to work on that and come back stronger.”
Ancelotti was particularly full of praise for Oxford born youngster, midfielder Josh McEachran, telling Sky Sports News: “Josh (McEachran) will start against Zilina”. The lad has been likened to Italian Andrea Pirlo, who
Ancelotti coached when he was at AC Milan.
“He is ready because he has personality and he will play an important position on the pitch as a holding midfielder.
“I think he can put in a good performance. He is able to do this.”
Chelsea have been scouting the world to attract talented youngsters and it seems it is finally paying dividends. Ancelotti revealed that, “As well as McEachran other young players will be involved in the Zilina game. There’s Gael
Kakuta, Patrick Van Aanholt and Jeffrey Bruma. I want to change things for this game.
“It is important. We can use this game to give the opportunity to young players to improve their experience. We need to take one point and it is possible to win.”
Ancelotti can risk fielding a young side against Zilina. He can sit back and enjoy this game and maybe learn something new about his youngsters. If Chelsea doesn’t strengthen their squad in the January transfer window, these youngsters
could prove vital in this season.
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