Carvalho: Blues won't bottle it

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Chelsea defender Ricardo Carvalho has warned Liverpool that the Blues won't bottle it in their Champions League quarter-final second leg on Tuesday night. The Portuguese international insists that Guus Hiddink's side have the mental strength to see off Rafael Benitez’s men to reach their second successive Champions league semi-final. The Stamford Bridge outfit have an imposing 3-1 first-leg lead over their Merseyside counterparts following a surprise result at Anfield a week ago.

However, the Blues' ability to ship three goals in their 4-3 Premier League victory against Bolton Wanderers at the weekend has raised hopes of an unlikely Liverpool comeback.

But Carvalho believes Chelsea are now a better team having emerged from a patchy period earlier in the season

“We are always improving. We had some problems in previous months but we have become stronger for it," he said.

“Now we’re in good shape and want to win the competition.”

Chelsea captain John Terry is unavailable due to suspension, so Alex is expected to play alongside Carvalho in the heart of the Blues' back-line.

The two last played together in an FA Cup tie against Ipswich in January, while Serbian defender Branislav Ivanovic - who netted his first and second goals of the season at Anfield last week - should keep his place at right-back.

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Gregg Davies
Gregg Davies

Gregg Davies is the Chief Sub Editor of FourFourTwo magazine, joining the team in January 2008 and spending seven years working on the website. He supports non-league behemoths Hereford and commentates on Bulls matches for Radio Hereford FC. His passions include chocolate hobnobs and attempting to shoehorn Ronnie Radford into any office conversation.

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