Chelsea vs. Fulham preview, Carling Cup
Fulham travel to Stamford Bridge tonight to take on English Premier League giants Chelsea in the Carling Cup fixture, in a match that promises to be highly entertaining. While the Blues suffered a 3-1 loss to Manchester United over the weekend, Fulham managed a draw against Manchester City.
While the Carling Cup is not a top priority for either side, they will be looking to establish a win after their results over the weekend. Chelsea will be looking to bounce back, while Fulham will want another win to add to their confidence after holding a strong Manchester City side to a draw.
Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas insisted the squad had not been too let down by the defeat to the Red Devils and were looking forward to their next game. He revealed that had returned to training and were now focused on the upcoming Carling Cup fixture.
Villas-Boas said while speaking to reporters:
“It is not a question about an individual player. We are very happy with how the team has responded and we have managed two days' training.
Everybody has come back strong and with the correct frame of mind to change from one competition to another.”
Villas-Boas revealed he was planning to start a relatively younger side, as opposed to the team that was fielded against Manchester United. The likes of http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Fernando-Torres-c13707 are expected to be rested for the weekend fixture.
He continued:
“Opportunities will be given to our youngest players. We have to put ourselves of course in a situation where we can try to win the game and try to continue in the competition.”
Fulham manager Martin Jol revealed that even though his side had managed to hold http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Mancini-c23323’s men to a draw on Sunday, he felt they were beginning to tire due to the tough schedule. He was hopeful his side would continue their top form in the upcoming games.
Jol said:
“I felt like we had nothing, with only two points, and the players felt the same. But to show against a team like Manchester City that you can come back and score two goals, must have given us a big boost and confidence for the future.”
Team news
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Chelsea-c38786
Chelsea hit-man http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Romelu-Lukaku-c31672 in attack.
The rest of the squad is expected to consist of youngsters, with Josh McEachran, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Ross-Turnbull-c31796 and Romelu Lukaku all looking to get a start tonight. Villas-Boas is planning to rest the first team for the upcoming clash over the weekend against Swansea City on Saturday.
Fulham
Fulham skipper http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Danny-c10193 Murphy and Brede Hangeland are expected to be rested for the trip to Stamford Bridge, especially with far more important fixtures coming up later in the week. Apart from the English Premier League, Fulham are featuring in the UEFA Europa League this season.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Rafik-Halliche-c30429 was expected to start against the Blues, but has now been ruled out with an illness. Bjorn Helge Riise and Aaron Hughes are out with groin and knee injuries respectively, but are expected to be fit for the weekend fixture against West Bromwich Albion.
Possible line-ups
Chelsea
Ross Turnbull; http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Salomon-Kalou-c32266, Didier Drogba, Romelu Lukaku.
Fulham
Mark Schwarzer; Rafik Halliche, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Zamora-c40983.
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