Chelsea and MSK Zilina face each other in the UEFA Champions League fixture on Tuesday, 23 November. The Blues are one of the three teams, others being Bayern Munich and Real Madrid, to have already ensured their place in the next round-of-16.
The Londoners play host to the Slovakian side, who have a possibility of finishing third and playing in the Europa League next year. Chelsea are currently on top of Group F with 12 points and Zilina at the bottom with 0, both having played 4 matches. The other teams in their group include Spartak Moscow and Marseille. Chelsea will just need a draw from this match to maintain their position as Group F leaders.
The Blues have endured numerous problems in their domestic league for the past week or so. Chelsea were defeated by Sunderland in a humbling 0-3 defeat in front of their home crowd before losing again to Birmingham over the weekend. The current English Premier League title defenders lost to Liverpool at Anfield but defeated the Russians, Spartak Moscow in the beginning of November, in a match that ended 4-1 at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea have been dealing with off-the-field issues for over a week, with the controversial sacking of assistant manager, Ray Wilkins making headlines and manager Carlo Ancelotti having to deny rumours that he was unhappy and wanted to resign from his position at the club. At a press conference he branded the talk of him leaving as “totally untrue” and verified his interest in continuing to manage the Blues until his contract expires in 2012, by saying “I've said a lot of times that I'd like to stay here.”
Fans of the Blues at the bridge will be keen to see Essien playing, after facing a ban in the English Premier League, due to a reckless two-footed challenge. There are no confirmations as to whether he will be in the starting line-up or even in the substitution list as rumours have arisen that he has a swollen toe injury. Captain John Terry will not be available as his nerve-problem has grown worse and has admitted to not being 100% fit. Terry’s international and club team-mate Frank Lampard will not be playing either due to his groin injury.
Alex, the club’s centre back will need work done on his troublesome knee but a date for the surgery has not been confirmed and neither has his position in the starting line-up or substitution list. Other long term injuries include Yossi Benayoun, who has been sidelined due to Achilles' injury until April.
The opportunity thus arises for the Blues youngsters to step up to the Stamford stage for the Champions League fixture. Reports state that Jeffrey Bruma will play at the back with regular, Branislov Ivanovic. It will be the first time that the teenager Josh McEachren will start with Bruma at centre-back.
Zilina manager, Pavel Hapal was not confident despite Chelsea’s recent dismal form. His side were thrashed in a game against Marseille, where the final score stood at 7-0. Hapal described Chelsea as a “giant” and full of “fantastic players, who are the best in the world.”
Instead of using the defensive approach that did not benefit them against Marseille, the Zilina manager said that his side will try to employ counter-attacks to gain an advantage over Ancelotti’s men. Zilina lost at home in a 4-1 defeat at the hands of Chelsea in one of the opening games of the season and with the Blues looking vulnerable in their domestic form, Zilina fans can be forgiven for thinking their side may not leave London empty handed.
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