Champions League: Chelsea v Olympiakos Preview
By dixon9
March 4 2008
We should win this shouldn’t we? Olympiakos are very tough to play against away and aren’t supposed to travel well – so how come they beat both Lazio and Werder Bremen away then? The key in this game is to score first and hope that they resort to their traditional defensive game – should they score first we will have a mountain to climb given that they will have that vital away goal.
We haven't conceded a Champions League goal in our last five outings and it’s been 531 minutes since Valencia's Villa scored against us. Not bad and we’ll have to hope that they don’t get that away goal which will send us into panic mode.
Just how are we going to approach this match tomorrow night though? Well Grant and co seem frustratingly stubborn with 4-3-3 so this means having either Anelka or Drogba on the bench – or Anelka wasted out on the left wing and both Lampard and Ballack in a 3 men midfield. What a waste of resources!
I would love us to go 4-4-2 (or even 4-1-3-2) with that extra man in midfield and BOTH Anelka and Drogba paired as the strike force!
It won’t happen though – unless of course we go 1 down with 15-20 mins to go and it’s too late! Oh well…
I’m sure they will sit back and try and defend resolutely and hit us on the break (which they do very well) waiting for their opportunity for that vital away goal.
I’m expecting us to hit them hard from the off and I am fairly confident of getting the result although we’ll need to score at least 2 before my nerves calm – don’t forget, if they score we need 2 goals to go through.
Drogba was rested at the weekend (and seemed very happy about it) so I’m expecting him to start with Anelka kept on the bench for emergency should we go behind.
Malouda made only a token appearance against West ham so Grant will probably start him on the left with Wright-Phillips, who was also rested at the weekend on the right flank. Wright-Phillips doesn’t play well there – he is just not good enough crossing the ball, switching him inside works well however so maybe Grant will switch him in there if we have to go 4-4-2 later?
Essien hasn’t been in his usual imperious form but he also played a bit part in our 4-0 away win at Upton Park – so will he start? Would that mean sacrificing a Mikel or a Makelele in a holding role as we can only have 3 midfielders? This is another reason why this 4-3-3 is wrong in my opinion.
What about the centre of defence? Alex was in great form until Terry was fit again –and to be fair, Terry seems to be getting back near his best. Grant won’t leave our captain out will he so it looks like the bench for Alex doesn’t it?
We’ve made 3 CL semis during the last 4 seasons whereas Olympiakos last reached the last eight 9 years ago – the odds are with us but it’s up to us to take the game to them.
The line-up is as difficult to predict as ever but I’ll guess at the following (not my cup of tea by the way);
Cech
Belletti Carvalho Terry A Cole
Mikel
Lampard Ballack
Wright-Phillips Drogba Malouda
Subs: J Cole will have to come on obviously (or maybe he’ll start in place of Wright-Phillips?), Anelka, Alex, Makelele, Cuducini.
I reckon 3-0 to us!
'Every game is a different game tactically, every game the other team plays differently, so people will have to wait to tomorrow to find out who will play - but any formation or any 11 that I pick, there will be big players on the bench and there will also be big players not in the squad. This is life in a big club.
'It was not easy playing in Greece. Tactically, Olympiacos played very well. They closed almost all the spaces and we had maybe two chances. It was not our best game and we know the record of Olympiacos away because they always score. They lost away against Real Madrid but they beat Lazio and Werder Bremen away.'
'It is important both the defence and the attack together. We cannot win if we don't score goals, but we started the Champions League with a 1-1 draw against Rosenborg, which if that is the score tomorrow means we are out. So it is important to score but keep the record of our defence.
'We also attacked in the first game but they defended with all the players and made it hard to create chances. Every game we play with a lot of attacking players, whichever the formation, and it will be the same tomorrow.
'The players have experience in this stage of the competition and we said from the beginning our target is to succeed in the Champions League. It is the priority of this club and also the priority for me. As a good team that wants to be bigger, we need to make the final.
'It is not easy because there are many good clubs and we have a tough game tomorrow - but it is in our home.'
'If we win, I am not sure but if we lose, I am sure the press will find a good word for it,'
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"It is born out of hypocrisy and fundamental insecurity. There have been two kids on the block for the past 12 years. Suddenly, there is a third and that one is threatening to be more successful than the others and they don’t like it." P Kenyon.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2008:03:04:19:05:52 by dixon9.