Filed under: Blackpool, Chelsea, Premier League, Football, Match Previews
PREMIER LEAGUE: BLOOMFIELD ROAD, MONDAY MARCH 7, 2011. KICK-OFF: 2000 GMTChelsea might have breathed new life into their season after coming from behind to defeat Manchester United.
But it is still going to require something extra special from Carlo Ancelotti's men if the optimistic prediction of Salomon Kalou is to come true.
"I think we are showing the good side of Chelsea, because we can't just fight for one competition, we always fight for every competition," said Chelsea's former Feyenoord forward before insisting that his side can still win the title.
With games against Manchester City, Tottenham and Manchester United still to come, it is true to say Chelsea are not completely out of the race for the Premier League.
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But the Champions League remains Ancelotti's best hope of securing silverware this season, and victory over Blackpool will set them up nicely for the return leg of the 16 tie with Copenhagen - which Chelsea lead 2-0 - on March 16.
But as Chelsea's London rivals Tottenham found to their cost recently, Blackpool are not to be taken lightly.
Fresh from a stunning victory over AC Milan in the San Siro, Harry Redknapp's side were brought back down to earth as Ian Holloway's collection of bargain buys and free transfers inflicted a damaging 3-1 defeat on Spurs at Bloomfield Road last month.
But the good news for Chelsea, who crushed Blackpool 4-0 at Stamford Bridge back in September, is that the hosts are without two of their most influential players.
Midfielder Charlie Adam is serving the final leg of a two-match suspension while leading scorer DJ Campbell begins a three-match ban for his red card in the defeat to Wolves.
Key Match-Up: Craig Cathcart v Fernando Torres: Cathcart has caught the eye with his performances at the heart of the Blackpool defence and he knows another decent display against Chelsea will help his former club Manchester United in their chase for the title. Torres has faced Blackpool twice in Liverpool's colours this season and lost on both occasions. The Chelsea forward will be desperate to avoid an unwanted hat-trick as he looks for his first goal in five appearances since his £50 million move from Anfield.
Form Guide: Not only do Chelsea arrive at the seaside on the back of an impressive win over United, Ancelotti's men have now triumphed in four of the last six league games. Blackpool, who face back-to-back away matches against Blackburn and Fulham after this before entertaining Arsenal, need the points after losing eight of the last 11 top-flight matches.
Odds: Blackpool 10/1, Chelsea 1/3, Draw 5/1
BLACKPOOL:
Holloway has questioned the huge £50 million transfer fee Chelsea paid Liverpool for Torres.
But manager Holloway rubbished suggestions that last season's Premier League and FA Cup winners are a club in crisis.
Holloway has worked miracles on a shoestring budget to keep Blackpool out of the bottom three in the wealth-obsessed top-flight.
And he has admitted he was left feeling uncomfortable when he discovered the sums it took for Torres to move from Anfield to Stamford Bridge.
"They've recently gone out and bought someone for £50 million," said Holloway. "Do I agree with that? Probably not.
"Can I argue about it? Probably not. Good luck to them. But Chelsea are certainly not in crisis."
Holloway insists he will settle for a draw after the damage Chelsea inflicted on his side in London earlier in the season.
Two goals by Florent Malouda, an Ian Evatt own goal and another from Kalou saw the hosts romp home without reply, all four goals coming in the opening 41 minutes.
"It's scary what they did to us down there," added Holloway. "I'll take a draw now if someone was to offer it me, but we really need to try and win the game.
"We need at least two more wins and two draws from the 10 games we've got left."
Strategy: With highly influential duo Adam and Campbell missing, it is time for other members of the side to step up and show that Blackpool are more than a two-man team. Matt Phillips' pace on the wing will be critical while it is nearing 18 months since James Beattie last scored in the top-flight. With Campbell out, this would be the perfect moment for the former Everton and Stoke forward to open his account for Blackpool.
Injury Update: In addition to Campbell and Adam, Gary Taylor-Fletcher is still struggling with a damaged hamstring while Matthew Gilks has still not fully recovered from his knee problem. However, defender Stephen Crainey (ankle) is in the frame to return.
CHELSEA:
Ancelotti has already written off his side's chances of retaining the title but is anxious to build momentum during the final months of the campaign and strengthen their challenge in the Champions League.
The Italian is now confident of seeing out the final 18 months of his contract but admits the past few months have been challenging.
"Was I confident I would find a solution to our problems? Yes, of course," he said. "Did I doubt my ability when we started losing matches? Good question.
"I have a lot of experience. There was a statistic in Italy a week ago that I had managed in 756 matches.
"I have been working since 1995, so in 15 years I can say I have good experience. But it's important to learn from every experience - they improve you in your job.
"I don't think I am the best, I don't think I am the worst. But I do think I can improve and I can learn a lot more. A lot of times I put down on myself because this is a good motivation to improve.
"I've worked as a player and a manager for 30 years but I don't claim to know everything.
"We have had two months with a lot of problems and without good results, but at the end of it we have to consider it a fantastic experience.
"It was a negative one, obviously, but an experience that can improve everyone who has been through it."
Strategy: Ancelotti is still attempting to work out his first choice forward line-up following the arrival of Fernando Torres and Didier Drogba's impressive substitute appearance against Manchester United is likely to win him a starting place. The 4-4-2 formation worked effectively in that game and the manager is unlikely to make unnecessary changes alo Yuri Zhirkov could wome in on the kleft hand flank in place of Florent Malouda.
Injury Update: David Luiz is expected to recover from a hamstring strain in time to start. Yossi Benayoun has returned to training after a long-term Achilles problem while centre back Alex should be back in two weeks after a knee problem.
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