UEFA Champions League Preview: Chelsea versus Marseille (Part 2)
Chelsea is still on the top of the table, and is probably, despite the loss at Eastlands, the most in form team in England. This will help ensure that the game against Arsenal is a cracker.
In reference to the match against Arsenal and the Gunners’ performance Ancelotti commented, “I was surprised by the result of Arsenal, they lost against West Brom at home.”
In the other match of the weekend the North Londoners were humiliated at the Emirates by West Bromwich Albion, the newly promoted team that is currently performing brilliantly in the English League and are 6th in the
table.
West Brom went up three goals to nil but later Arsenal playmaker Samir Nasri scored two late goals. However the goals were too little and too late as they proved to be nothing but consolation strikes.
Regarding the loss against Manchester City, the 51 year old Ancelotti mentioned, “It was a strange result. I said before Saturday that it would be very difficult to be unbeaten during the season because it is very competitive here.”
He added, “So for this reason, we are not so upset to lose our unbeaten record, but we have to look forward. It will not be the last time we lose a game.”
Upon his players’ response and his own response as well as a possible plan he elucidated, “I don't ask my players for a reaction. We have to play our football and pay attention. Marseille will look to get three points from this
game because they lost the first one.”
On Marseille, the manager who joined Chelsea after managing AC Milan for eight seasons, expressed, “Marseille are a good team. They play attacking football and they are quick. My players will know everything about our opponents
but the main thing is our own game. We have to stay in focus. If we play at our best, we can win.”
Nonetheless, the worries for Chelsea are not just restricted to Marseille or Lampard as the club is also facing the unavailability of striker Salomon Kalou and midfielder Yossi Benayoun. However that is not the worst as Ivorian
Didier Drogba will also not play because of his suspension.
Chelsea will certainly have to reform their offensive formations, and this will leave Ancelotti with some major shuffling around.
On the other hand, the Marseille manager Didier Deschamps will also have a lot on his mind.
He has returned to his former club that he helped win two league victories. On the match against Chelsea he has stated that in order to win against the English giants his men will have to be on their top form.
Deschamps and his men lost their opening match against Spartak Moscow but after two domestic wins a row, it has helped ensure that his team is refreshed and rejuvenated for the encounter.
He expressed, “'Winning two games does not so much give us a guarantee but a calmness going into this game. It is a bigger task taking on a team like Chelsea.”
Tags: