UEFA Champions League (Last 16)
Tuesday February 21, 2012
Napoli v Chelsea
Latest Update:
Chelsea Line-up:
Cech (c), Ivanovic, Luiz, Cahill, Bosingwa, Ramires, Meireles, Malouda, Sturridge, Drogba, Mata
Subs: Turnbull, Cole, John Mikel Obi, Essien, Lampard, Kalou, Torres
Preview:
As Champions League campaign continues with a vengeance tomorrow (Tuesday) evening Chelsea take on Napoli in a last sixteen tie. Chelsea's form going into the tie isn`t anything special to write home about, have not kept a clean sheet since Chelsea beat Queens Park Rangers, in the FA Cup, four games ago and offensive play, in those four games, has looked far from convincing. Worringly Torres's Current form is nowhere near at his top form. With Euro 2012 kicking off this summer, many Euro 2012 betting tips point to Spain to reclaim their title. But for Torres making into Spain's squad very much remains under question.
The match has taken on extra significance with the beleaguered Andre Villas-Boas under increasing pressure to get a result or, as the tabloid press are insinuating, quite possibly face the axe.
Napoli, on the other hand, go into the fixture on the back of a splendid 3-0 away win against Fiorentina and the Italian side will be looking to ease past Chelsea, adding to more owes, whilst advancing in the competition.
Villas-Boas stated that he would not be changing the way his team play for any one player, and insisted that Torres would have to compete with Didier Drogba and Romelu Lukaku for a place in the team.
"[I won't change the team philosophy] on the way I put things together, not in a team basis. [Torres] is trying hard. This season shows that he's had some ups and downs on performance. We had him at a good level at the beginning of the season and at the beginning of January.
"We will continue to push for that level lf performance and get to the top level. That comes with confidence and for Fernando with goals and he will have to find that eventually, for sure.
"First, Torres, Drogba and Lukaku will compete in training to be in the team. There's competition in the striker positions and it will be a battle between the three of them. Drogba increases the level of competition.
"They are all top, top talents. We need that goal efficiency and we will try and get it one way or another.
"I think everybody is desperate for [Torres] to score. Everybody pushes him, praises him in training and it will come with him getting opportunities. His confidence is low but we will have to continue to persist with our belief in his talent. The belief is the same.
"The only thing that changes is the level of competition for him and maybe that will be the key. More competition will see him push himself that little bit harder and maybe he will eventually reach his goal and targets."
Team news:
Napoli boss Walter Mazzari is suspended from the touchline after an altercation with Nilmar during the group stage win over Villarreal. Defender Hugo Campagnaro is a doubt for the Italian side after coming off with a knock in the 3-0 win at Fiorentina. Gianluca Grava would replace him.
John Terry is a major doubt for Chelsea after only recently returning to full training following a knee injury. Ashley Cole also a doubt with a calf strain so Ryan Bertrand could continue in his absence. Frank Lampard is expected to start having been left on the bench for the FA Cup draw with Birmingham.
Expected Starting Line-up:
NAPOLI
De Sanctis
Aronica, Campagnaro, Cannavaro
Maggio, Inler, Gargano, Dossena
Hamsik, Lavezzi
Cavani
CHELSEA
Cech
Ivanovic, Luiz, Cahill, Bosingwa
Essien, Meireles, Ramires
Mata, Sturridge, Torres
Tuesday February 21, 2012
Napoli v Chelsea
Latest Update:
Chelsea Line-up:
Cech (c), Ivanovic, Luiz, Cahill, Bosingwa, Ramires, Meireles, Malouda, Sturridge, Drogba, Mata
Subs: Turnbull, Cole, John Mikel Obi, Essien, Lampard, Kalou, Torres
Preview:
As Champions League campaign continues with a vengeance tomorrow (Tuesday) evening Chelsea take on Napoli in a last sixteen tie. Chelsea's form going into the tie isn`t anything special to write home about, have not kept a clean sheet since Chelsea beat Queens Park Rangers, in the FA Cup, four games ago and offensive play, in those four games, has looked far from convincing. Worringly Torres's Current form is nowhere near at his top form. With Euro 2012 kicking off this summer, many Euro 2012 betting tips point to Spain to reclaim their title. But for Torres making into Spain's squad very much remains under question.
The match has taken on extra significance with the beleaguered Andre Villas-Boas under increasing pressure to get a result or, as the tabloid press are insinuating, quite possibly face the axe.
Napoli, on the other hand, go into the fixture on the back of a splendid 3-0 away win against Fiorentina and the Italian side will be looking to ease past Chelsea, adding to more owes, whilst advancing in the competition.
Villas-Boas stated that he would not be changing the way his team play for any one player, and insisted that Torres would have to compete with Didier Drogba and Romelu Lukaku for a place in the team.
"[I won't change the team philosophy] on the way I put things together, not in a team basis. [Torres] is trying hard. This season shows that he's had some ups and downs on performance. We had him at a good level at the beginning of the season and at the beginning of January.
"We will continue to push for that level lf performance and get to the top level. That comes with confidence and for Fernando with goals and he will have to find that eventually, for sure.
"First, Torres, Drogba and Lukaku will compete in training to be in the team. There's competition in the striker positions and it will be a battle between the three of them. Drogba increases the level of competition.
"They are all top, top talents. We need that goal efficiency and we will try and get it one way or another.
"I think everybody is desperate for [Torres] to score. Everybody pushes him, praises him in training and it will come with him getting opportunities. His confidence is low but we will have to continue to persist with our belief in his talent. The belief is the same.
"The only thing that changes is the level of competition for him and maybe that will be the key. More competition will see him push himself that little bit harder and maybe he will eventually reach his goal and targets."
Team news:
Napoli boss Walter Mazzari is suspended from the touchline after an altercation with Nilmar during the group stage win over Villarreal. Defender Hugo Campagnaro is a doubt for the Italian side after coming off with a knock in the 3-0 win at Fiorentina. Gianluca Grava would replace him.
John Terry is a major doubt for Chelsea after only recently returning to full training following a knee injury. Ashley Cole also a doubt with a calf strain so Ryan Bertrand could continue in his absence. Frank Lampard is expected to start having been left on the bench for the FA Cup draw with Birmingham.
Expected Starting Line-up:
NAPOLI
De Sanctis
Aronica, Campagnaro, Cannavaro
Maggio, Inler, Gargano, Dossena
Hamsik, Lavezzi
Cavani
CHELSEA
Cech
Ivanovic, Luiz, Cahill, Bosingwa
Essien, Meireles, Ramires
Mata, Sturridge, Torres
or
Napoli
Starting line-up
M. De Sanctis H. Campagnaro P. Cannavaro S. Aronica W. Gargano G. Inler C. Maggio M. Hamšík J. Zúñiga E. Cavani E. Lavezzi
Chelsea
Starting line-up
P. Cech B. Ivanovic G. Cahill David Luiz A. Cole Raul Meireles Ramires F. Lampard D. Sturridge J. Mata D. Drogba
