http://www.chelseafc.com/article.asp?hlid=256904
Friday, Feb 18, 2005
Chelsea’s packed eight days in three major competitions begins at Newcastle
on Sunday before the same party of players flies straight to Spain.
For regular away trips Chelsea would travel with approximately 18 players but
assistant manager Steve Clarke has explained that this time the plans are
scaled up.
"We will take a bigger squad," he confirmed. "We will take 22 players
including three goalkeepers. When you leave for Barcelona straight after the
Newcastle game you have to take extra bodies to cover all eventualities.”
Arjen Robben, Scott Parker and Robert Huth are the only senior players who
will not make the two-legged trip. Nuno Morais and Steven Watt have been added
to the party. John Terry is suspended for Newcastle but becomes eligible for
the Champions League game.
For Newcastle there are doubts over central defender Jean-Alain Boumsong (back)
plus midfielders Kieron Dyer (viral infection) and Nicky Butt (ankle). Midfield
resources are depleted by suspensions to Lee Bowyer and Amdy Faye.
Celestine Babayaro who left Stamford Bridge for Tyneside in January after
seven-and-a-half years here is fighting to be fit after coming off during
Thursday’s UEFA Cup game with a knee injury.
"It will be nice to see Baba, hopefully he will be fit to play against us,”
said Clarke. “He was a great servant, everybody appreciates what he did here
andI was a little sad to see him go as he was the last link from the team I
played in,” he added with a smile before detailing the week ahead.
"We train at Cobham on Saturday morning then jump on a plane to Newcastle,
ready for a difficult game. Then immediately after that we head for Barcelona
from Newcastle airport, arriving in the early hours of Monday morning.
"We will probably train on Monday afternoon, then Tuesday train at the stadium,
play the game on Wednesday night and come straight back to Cobham.
"We will train late Thursday, train normally on Friday and then travel to
Cardiff on Saturday for the Carling Cup Final. There is no rest for us but
at the start of the season, these are the kind of weeks you look forward to.”
The heavy schedule has led Jose Mourinho to indicate that team changes will
be made for Sunday’s FA Cup game. Reports from Spain have suggested that
Mourinho does not respect the FA Cup. These reports have misrepresented him.
Mourinho said: "I respect every competition that Chelsea compete in, including
the FA Cup which has great tradition and is one of the most famous in the
world.
"It is true that next week's game against Barcelona is more of a priority and
I will rest players for the match at Newcastle because I am not happy about
the time we play, but this does not mean I do not respect the competition.”
Clarke, who was assistant manager at Newcastle for a spell under Ruud Gullit
and then Bobby Robson, believes that while Sunday will be a tough game for
Chelsea, the Geordie public will also put big pressure on their team. Newcastle
has not won a trophy since 1969 and a domestic cup since 1955.
Clarke explained: “I think the Chelsea fans pre-’97 felt we were a big club,
becoming bigger and they were desperate for success. It is the same at
Newcastle.
"They have got a big fan base who would love to see the club win trophies and
the longer it goes, the more the feeling grows and the more the pressure goes
on the manager and the players. It can become a vicious circle where the
expectation of the crowd puts too much pressure on.”
"But they are a difficult team to beat, especially at St. James’. We managed
to beat them there in the Carling Cup but it took us 30 minutes extra-time.
This time if we can win it in 90 minutes then great, if it takes a replay then
fine, that’s the way it has to be.”
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