Chelsea revelling in feel-good factor
Reuters - Tuesday 21 October 2008, 02:00
LONDON - Chelsea have another chance to
show off their new expansive style on Wednesday when AS Roma
visit Stamford Bridge in the Champions League.
In the short time that Luiz Felipe Scolari has been in
charge, the Brazilian has gone a long way to doing what both his
predecessors failed at -- which is to win over the neutrals.
Gone is the siege mentality adopted by Jose Mourinho during
his incredibly successful time in charge of the club while the
dour and brief Avram Grant era is a fast fading memory.
Scolari has been charm personified since taking one of the
toughest jobs in British football and his side, flying at the
top of the Premier League, are playing with a smile rather than
ruthless efficiency.
The 5-0 victory at Middlesbrough on Saturday, completed with
a long list of absentees, was a master class in passing and
movement that sent alarm bells ringing around the country.
Midfielder Frank Lampard, who finished one flowing move with
a diving header, said it was the best performance for a long
time, while skipper John Terry spoke of the different philosophy
that Scolari has brought to west London.
"In the first two years after Jose Mourinho took over we had
a strong mentality where we'd go to places and shut up shop to
get the three points," Terry said in the Daily Telegraph.
"Now we're eager to really push on and get that second goal
and kill the game.
"It's very enjoyable to play under him."
ONE BLIP
The one blip so far this season for Chelsea was a difficult
night in Romania in their last Group A clash when they could
only draw 0-0 with newcomers CFR Cluj.
However, with Roma having already lost to Cluj, Chelsea can
take command of their destiny with victory against the Italians
who are smarting from a 4-0 thumping by Inter Milan at the
weekend and who have bad memories of recent trips to England.
Chelsea could have Petr Cech back in goal after he missed
the Middlesbrough match with a leg injury while midfielder Joe
Cole may also return.
Roma coach Luciano Spalletti is under pressure after his
side's humiliation by Inter, their fourth defeat in seven league
games this season.
The defence was badly exposed by Inter and Spalletti will be
relieved to have first-choice centre backs Philippe Mexes and
Christian Panucci back from suspension for the trip to London.
A long injury list is beginning to clear for last season's
Serie A runners-up, with striker Francesco Totti starting
against Inter after struggling for months to shake off the
after-effects of knee surgery.
"Chelsea are strong but we can put this nasty defeat behind
us. We must show everyone our real worth. This Roma is too ugly
to be true," captain Totti told reporters.
A shock home defeat by unheralded Cluj in their Group A
opener was soothed by a 3-1 win at Bordeaux last time out.
Probable teams:
Chelsea: 1-Petr Cech; 35-Juliano Belletti, 33-Alex, 26-John
Terry, 18-Wayne Bridge; 10-Joe Cole, 12-John Obi-Mikel, 8-Frank
Lampard, 15-Florent Malouda; 21-Solomon Kalou, 39-Nicolas Anelka
AS Roma: 32-Doni; 3-Cicinho, 2-Christian Panucci, 5-Philippe
Mexes, 17-John Arne Riise; 11-Rodrigo Taddei, 16-Daniele De
Rossi, 8-Alberto Aquilani, 20-Simone Perrotta, 9-Mirko Vucinic;
10-Francesco Totti
Referee: Kyros Vassaras (Greece)
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