Chelsea return to the Luzhniki Stadium to face Spartak Moskva in the Champions League tonight. Will the venue and the pitch give Ancelotti’s men the blues?
Chelsea and Spartak Moskva have 6 points in Group F and they both stand an opportunity to all but seal their passage into the Round of 16. Despite being without Drogba and Lampard for this important match, the Blues are still superior to their opponents on paper.
However, Tuesday’s home side could benefit from the spirit of the Luzhniki Stadium and eventually play the trick against the visitors, Chelsea.
How can anyone forget about what happened in Russia three seasons ago when the London club was a spot kick away from clinching European glory for the first time ever? Who isn’t aware of the terrible fate that swallowed the Blues at the Luzhniki Stadium in May 2008?
Well, Chelsea lost the UEFA Champions League title to Manchester United that year and captain John Terry wasted the decisive spot-kick before the Red Devils recovered from Cristiano Ronaldo’s penalty miss to claim the trophy: that was what happened, briefly speaking.
The English international and the rest of his Chelsea team mates might find it hard emotionally to play at the Luzhniki Stadium again. However, Coach Carlo Ancelotti believes that what happened almost three years ago is something of the past.
“The last game Chelsea played here was a different story. It was the final. They lost the final on penalties, but I don't think that psychologically we will have a problem,” the ex-Milan manager was quoted as saying by UEFA.com.
“John Terry has great experience and what happened two years ago has no effect on him. He knows that in football, you can sometimes lose games. I myself lost the final in 2005.”
Now if Chelsea may have no problem to deal with emotions, what about dealing with Spartak Moskva’s artificial pitch? Carlo Ancelotti seems certain that it won’t come as a threat the least, as he rather wants his side to focus on the opposition’s potential.
“The pitch is different, but this is one of the best artificial pitches in the world. We don't have complaints about that,” the Chelsea boss explained.
“We have complains about the opposition. Spartak are a good team! They are on top in the group and, maybe the two games against them will decide the first place. This is the most important thing because our aim is to come first in the group.”
As he revealed his awareness of Spartak Moskva’s strengths, Carlo Ancelotti continued:
“I have seen Spartak games, like those against Žilina and Marseiile; they have a lot of good players. They are a very good team. They have a good mix of Brazilian and Russian players
“Brazilians can use their technical abilities, the Russian players are good physically, and this is a very good combination.”
Will this combination appear to be too strong for Chelsea to break on Tuesday night?
However, Tuesday’s home side could benefit from the spirit of the Luzhniki Stadium and eventually play the trick against the visitors, Chelsea.
How can anyone forget about what happened in Russia three seasons ago when the London club was a spot kick away from clinching European glory for the first time ever? Who isn’t aware of the terrible fate that swallowed the Blues at the Luzhniki Stadium in May 2008?
Well, Chelsea lost the UEFA Champions League title to Manchester United that year and captain John Terry wasted the decisive spot-kick before the Red Devils recovered from Cristiano Ronaldo’s penalty miss to claim the trophy: that was what happened, briefly speaking.
The English international and the rest of his Chelsea team mates might find it hard emotionally to play at the Luzhniki Stadium again. However, Coach Carlo Ancelotti believes that what happened almost three years ago is something of the past.
“The last game Chelsea played here was a different story. It was the final. They lost the final on penalties, but I don't think that psychologically we will have a problem,” the ex-Milan manager was quoted as saying by UEFA.com.
“John Terry has great experience and what happened two years ago has no effect on him. He knows that in football, you can sometimes lose games. I myself lost the final in 2005.”
Now if Chelsea may have no problem to deal with emotions, what about dealing with Spartak Moskva’s artificial pitch? Carlo Ancelotti seems certain that it won’t come as a threat the least, as he rather wants his side to focus on the opposition’s potential.
“The pitch is different, but this is one of the best artificial pitches in the world. We don't have complaints about that,” the Chelsea boss explained.
“We have complains about the opposition. Spartak are a good team! They are on top in the group and, maybe the two games against them will decide the first place. This is the most important thing because our aim is to come first in the group.”
As he revealed his awareness of Spartak Moskva’s strengths, Carlo Ancelotti continued:
“I have seen Spartak games, like those against Žilina and Marseiile; they have a lot of good players. They are a very good team. They have a good mix of Brazilian and Russian players
“Brazilians can use their technical abilities, the Russian players are good physically, and this is a very good combination.”
Will this combination appear to be too strong for Chelsea to break on Tuesday night?
