Chelsea build up

[wiw]

I have a bad feeling they're going to knock us out. I'm not predicting that, just got a bad feeling for some reason

[ronniedrew]

I have a bad feeling they're going to knock us out. I'm not predicting that, just got a bad feeling for some reason

you wont get anywhere with that attitude, we are the form team in the league and in europe, with people commiting their futures to the club all over the shop, we are flying.

if you cant be confident now, you never will be

[Shaggy]

I think we'll turn them over 2 or 3. They're really not all that IMO and I reckon they'll finish about 6 points behind us in the league. This tie should reflect that.

[wiw]

you wont get anywhere with that attitude, we are the form team in the league and in europe, with people commiting their futures to the club all over the shop, we are flying.

if you cant be confident now, you never will be

I know I know..you're right I'm usually very confident, just have a bad feeling tis all

[Craig_H]

I think we'll turn them over 2 or 3. They're really not all that IMO and I reckon they'll finish about 6 points behind us in the league. This tie should reflect that.

Without wishing to tempt fate, i feel the same way.

Isnt drogba out as well? They have very little that i'm fearful of.

As long as we dont produce any defensive **** ups, we should be ok.

[dww]

I think we'll turn them over 2 or 3. They're really not all that IMO and I reckon they'll finish about 6 points behind us in the league. This tie should reflect that.

I sort of agree in that I don't think that they are that great a team. However they have a number of players who have proved themselves to be capable of pulling results out of the bag.

I do wonder how the general apathy to the draw will affect the crowd and teams. My hope is that it relaxes us and as a consequence unlike previous times playing at home first will not be such a factor.

A clean sheet is everything.

[BigChief]

The one thing that nobody denies is that the Champions League is what Rafa was born for. There is no one better in this competition and all my doubts fade away when we enter this phase and Rafa starts scheming. Barring a Riise-up we often negate top players very effectively so I expect an invisible performance from Anelka and Lampard.

I'm also excited as players like Aurelio, Babel, Riera, Benayoun and even Dossena(!) are in good form and should compensate for the double marking Torres and Gerrard will each get.

[Craig_H]

http://www.chelseafc.com/page/LatestNews/0,,10268~1614008,00.html

[Joe King]

[Fierce]

Jesus christ, its real! Saw it on another forum and assumed it was a wind up!!

That is genuinely tragic

I know some, well one decent Chelsea fan and I bet he's absolutely mortified

[ronanm]

If we can keep a clean sheet in the 1st leg we'll go through

[Ben_Itez]

For those who cant get up for the Chelsea game - look at it this way - Wednesday night is our opportunity to get a good win under our belts and all but seal a place in the next round - where we'll probably face the mighty Barcelona and will be just one step away from ANOTHER EUROPEAN CUP FINAL - it'd be our EIGHTH EUROPEAN CUP FINAL and our chance to win it for the SIXTH time.

Just imagine how you felt on the morning of Istanbul and then two years later before Athens.

Remember the prestige, the honour, the glory, the sight of Stevie G lifting that massive trophy as mountains of red confetti come down covering him.

And then, think of how good it feels to spend a whole season singing 'We are the Champions, Champions of Europe' to every set of supporters we come across. And not forgetting the fact that the finger gestures to mancs would gloriously require 2 hands.

Yes, we want to ****ing win it.

Too ****ing right. At the start of the season if someone said which would you prefer to win it would be the league every time but to dismiss the CL as boring is just plain folly. It's the most prestigious tournament in the world and i'd just LOVE to win it again!

[Joe King]

Drogba 'looking good' for Reds clash
by Joseph Caron Dawe , 06 April 2009

Chelsea have received positive news in the lead-up to the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final with Liverpool on Wednesday after Didier Drogba trained on Monday.

The Ivorian striker sat out Saturday’s win over Newcastle with an ankle injury after going over on the joint in training on Friday, and as a result Chelsea boss Guus Hiddink had been left in some doubt as to whether the player would be available for the clash with The Reds at Anfield.

Drogba’s recovery over the weekend was rapid however and the 31-year-old is now “looking good” and in line for a return against Rafa Benitez’s side.

A statement on Chelsea’s official website read: "Didier Drogba has just completed a full training session and is looking good."

Drogba scored twice against Liverpool at the semi-final stage of the competition last season as Chelsea progressed to the final in Moscow, and has found the back of the net four times in his last seven appearances for The Blues.

[Joe King]

Lampard buries hatchet with Alonso
by Toby Davis , 05 April 2009

Frank Lampard says he has ended his feud with Xabi Alonso ahead of Chelsea’s Champions League clash with Liverpool.

The two clubs are set to meet in the knock stages of the competition for the fourth time in five seasons on Wednesday where the midfield pair will renew their long-running rivalry.

Their on-pitch battles go back to 2005 when a robust challenge from the England midfielder broke the Spaniard’s leg.

The two players came together again in the clubs’ Premier League clash at Anfield this season when Lampard was sent off for a tackle on the Spaniard.

The red card was later rescinded and Lampard admitted he spoke to Alonso after the friendly between England and Spain in February to smooth things over.

“It’s always a good battle between Alonso and me. We have had our moments but there is a lot of respect,” said Lampard.

“I spoke to him after the Spain game because of the red card and cleared the air a bit.

“Look, there are a lot more important things in the world than things in football and you shouldn’t have petty arguments off the pitch.”

[Craig_H]

Lampard and Drogba can both suck each other's balls and **** off.