Champions League preview: Chelsea v Marseille
So, it turns out that they are not invincible then.
Chelsea’s first defeats of the season – after five flawless Premier League games and one Champions League outing – came in the Carling Cup against Newcastle and at Manchester City on Saturday, the latter a clash that cynics had already labelled as their first real test of the campaign. As Marseille, the French champions, head for west London, this could be seen as the second.
The Blues may have lost at the City of Manchester Stadium, but they won convincingly on their only European assignment so far, a 4-1 triumph over MSK Žilina in Slovakia that gave them early control of Group F, and it is control that they are in no mood to let slip.
“My players will know everything about the opponent,” said Carlo Ancelotti, “but the most important thing is our play. Obviously we will know the skills of the opponent's team but we must play our way. If we play our best, we will win.
“We have to pay attention and get the points from this game. I don't need to see a reaction [to the defeats] from my players; they will have a good game because it is an important game for us to arrive at the top of the group. It is just for this.”
Just for this for Ancelotti, but just without two of the leading lights of his squad, as both Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba – a £24million signing for Chelsea from Marseille six years ago – sit out the clash through injury and suspension respectively, not that the Italian feels he is severely hampered by their losses.
“Sure, we will start Florent Malouda and Nicolas Anelka,” he continued, “but we will have to choose the right position up front. It could be Daniel Sturridge or Gael Kakuta. I could put these two players in, they are ready.”
They’ll have to be to get the better of Marseille, who claimed their first trophies since their controversial 1993 Champions League win with last season’s French League and League Cup double.
Eric Cantona used to call Didier Deschamps “the water carrier” when he played with the midfielder for France. Now a manager, the 41-year-old’s success in his first season with OM surprised many, but as he prepares for a showdown between two of his former clubs – he played for Chelsea for a season at the turn of the century, after three years at Marseille before that – he’s ready for the challenge that is sure to await him, and is under pressure following a 1-0 defeat to Spartak Moscow in the group’s opening game, not that he’s feeling it.
“Returning to Stamford Bridge will give me great pleasure,” he said, “although the stadium itself is renovated and much bigger, the wonderful ambience which I experienced remains.
“Without hesitation, the Champions League is the best of all competitions. Not only do Chelsea want to win this trophy, they are among four or five teams that can legitimately expect to do so.
“They won the Premier League last season and are already performing really well. I know their manager Ancelotti well. He was my coach for six months at Juventus and I also often played against him. I like his style of football and I'll also be pleased to see Carlo again.”
Whether he’ll be pleased to see him at full time is a different matter, as Chelsea, regardless of the absences of Lampard and Drogba, should have more than enough to win here.
Marseille do have their dangerous players in the likes of Lucho Gonzalez, Mathieu Valbuena and Loïc Rémy, the man chased by half of the Premier League in the summer, but not enough to worry Chelsea.
They aren’t invincible, but they are still very good.
Prediction: Chelsea 3 Marseille 1
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