UEFA Champions League – Match Preview: MSK Zilina verus Chelsea
All the money in the world, the world’s best manager and no European Cup for Chelsea. This has been a summary of their six or so club football seasons. Last season seemed like it would be the one for Chelsea, the one year where they would finally get the holy grail of club football i.e. the European Cup. But it wasn’t meant to be as Carlo Ancelloti’s side exited the tournament due to a home leg defeat at the hands of Inter Milan.
Under Jose Mourinho, their previous manager Chelsea reached three semi-finals in the champion’s league but failed to win any of them. Under Grant, they made it to the final match of the tournament but lost on penalties to Manchester United. Chelsea are again favourites to lift the UEFA Champions League title but will they be able to do it?
In their first match of the tournament, Chelsea are set to visit Slovakia to face the Slovakian league champions Zilina. They are fully expected to win this encounter but football can strange at times, football can be unpredictable. Zilina are not expected to light the whole tournament on fire in realistic terms, they have got nothing to lose in the UEFA Champions League but that can work in their favour. Teams which have nothing to lose go for the win, they don’t hold back and that is why Zilina are the dark horses in this tie.
Despite having a healthy amount of domestic success in the previous five years, Zilina have failed to impress in Europe. In a historical perspective, they haven’t got much to savour in Europe from their previous experiences and against a Chelsea side that is brimming with confidence, they will do well to keep a score line that is not a hockey one. Zilina’s most important player is their midfielder Robert Jez, a character similar to Michael Essien at Chelsea. The Slovak footballer is someone who excels at rallying his troops under the toughest of situations and he will be the man to watch out for as far as Chelsea are concerned.
Zilina’s striking line is led by the Gambia forward Ceesay and sometimes also by Tomas Oravec who is a regular international for his national side Slovakia. Patience has to be the key for Chelsea, they might find it hard to break down Zilina, who will be backed by their home support.
However, the London giants do have the capability to murder any team on their day. Ancelloti was brought into the club last season and the ex-Milanese man won the English Premier League in his very first season in England. Now the target is Europe and given his experience with Milan in the European Cup, Chelsea are bound to be a tougher side.
The Italian manager has played down the fact that his club are only hunting for the UEFA Champions League this season. He told the press over the weekend that Chelsea are also focused on the English Premier League. In their last English Premier League game, Chelsea won against West Ham at the Upton Park as Ramirez made his debut for the blues. It was an excellent performance by the Lions as the final score of the match was 3-0 in their favour.
Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka will be obvious suspects to start up front for the London club but Kakuta is also in contention as Carlo Ancelloti is set to make a host of selection decisions before his teams opening match in the UEFA Champions League.
Nonetheless, Ashley Cole and Lampard are set to miss out on the eastern European trip for Chelsea, as the English duo are out with injury. Obviously Chelsea are favourites to win the tie by a comfortable margin, if they don’t however, expect the London boo boys to be out in full force.
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