Money Citeh Preview: Wayne Bridge to Face JT and Vice Versa
COME ON CHELSEA
By Since66
February 26 2010
Money Citeh's coach Roberto Mancini declared that Wayne Bridge is fit and ready to face JT as the Money Citeh Bank rolls onto the Stamford Bridge turf for Saturday's silly o'clock kick-off. Yep another early start and all for the benefit of the TV cameras and the millions of armchair viewers indoors, in the warmth, snuggled in their comfy armchairs.
Mancini said, "I think Wayne is OK. I don't know what has happened in the last two weeks but I am sorry for him.
"But mentally he is fine. He is an important player for us and we want him to play. Wayne must only think about the game.
"He is a very good player and a good man. I hope he will play well."
As for Bridge's decision to 'give up' on England, Mancini said, "I thought Wayne would stay with the national team.
"It must have been a very difficult decision because I know how important the national team is for any player."
Money Citeh will be without Adebayor and Vieira who are both suspended. Tevez is expected to start after his compassionate leave to go home to Argentina after the premature birth of his new baby.
As with all ex-Chelsea players that return as part of the opposition, I hope Bridgey gets a warm welcome.
After all he DID score THAT goal at Crybury in the Champions League, but he could receive a mixed reception after the publicity surrounding his England withdrawal.
In the home camp, 'Anco' said, "I think John Terry is professional and doesn't have a problem to look forward and stay focused on the match. He is doing a good performance, I don't see that his condition went down. I think he is in good condition and he is doing a good job for the team."
Hilario is set to start in goal after Petr Cech was ruled out for four weeks with a calf tear and 'Anco' confirmed that Malouda with continue at left-back.
'Anco' said, "Zhirkov is out, but we have the possibility to put Ferreira at left-back, we have the possibility to put in Belletti, and we can have Malouda in the same position because he had a very good performance on Wednesday.
"I was surprised because he never played there in this season, he played for Lyon in some matches but a long time ago, and for me he was a surprise. I can confirm him tomorrow.
"I saw the training today and I saw the players had a good rest in these two days. We have to consider that Manchester City has the same problem because they played Wednesday night with 10 men and extra-time. Maybe they have a more difficult recovery than us, so I don't think to change a lot of players."
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I hope Bridge doesn´t get too much stick from some fans - he did score THAT goal and many will remember him for it.
This will be tough - but I´m feeling strangely confident.
Frank should be fully recovered from his virus by now (I suspect he wasn´t 100% in the week in Milan), and I reckon the team will be really fired up for this.
"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.
"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.
