History will be kind to me because I intend to write it

CECH: CLEAN SHEETS ARE US

Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech is confident that he and his stingy defence can, once again, get the better of Serie A giants Juventus in Turin on April 10 and cruise through to the last eight of the Champions League.

The Czech international has conceded only one goal in the five games that new manager Guus Hiddink has taken charge of. He believes that clean sheets will be the key to winning the trophy that eluded Chelsea so cruelly last May.

“We were all delighted with result in the first leg,” said the 26-year-old of the 1-0 win at Stamford Bridge a fortnight ago. “Although we could have scored a second goal, it was important to keep a clean sheet at home. Overall it was a good result for the second leg.

“Both teams are organised so maybe the one goal is enough. It is always better if you score more and kill the game early – then you can play with more confidence.

“We are expecting a very tough game because Juventus played some good football at Stamford Bridge and will have the home advantage this time. But we’ve been working hard as a defensive unit and I think that could see us through.”

Cech credits Dutchman Hiddink, who lifted the European Cup with PSV in 1988, as the man who has re-focused the team – and, in particular, striker Didier Drogba. “It is always important when you have a new manager to start well and there are a lot of things which have changed since he took over,” he continued. “At the moment it is working well for use but it is still early days.

“Didier’s been great recently. He’s such a strong guy and we can rely on him, put the long ball and he’ll hold it. It is a big boost for the team to have someone who can do that.”

Labels: Champions League, Chelsea, Didier Drogba, Guus Hiddink, Juventus, Petr Cech

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 4:36 pm | Permalink | Comments

LAMPARD: CHELSEA EXTRA DETERMINED TO WIN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Frank Lampard is hoping lady luck is shining on Chelsea on Wednesday when his team host Italian giants Juventus – and he has expressed the deep desire the Blues have to make amends for last May’s heartache in the Champions League Final when they lost out to Manchester United.

In Moscow Lampard levelled out Cristiano Ronaldo’s opener but his team were defeated 6-5 on penalties when captain John Terry missed his spot kick and Nicolas Anelka had his saved by Edwin van der Sar. And the 30-year-old has admitted that he is hoping for a slice of fortune so his team claim Europe’s biggest prize this year.

“After last year we really want to win the Champions League,” he said ahead of the first leg of the last-16 game at Stamford Bridge – new manager Guus Hiddink’s first at home. “There is obviously something added this year because of the manner we came so close. You can’t help but have that on the back of your mind. There is a just a great determination to go back and win it.

“Whether that is this year or not is very hard to call. In the Champions League there are so many top teams. There are so many moments to get to that final that can go either way. You can win a game on a little bit of luck, or on a small detail.”

Labels: Champions League, Chelsea, Frank Lampard, Guus Hiddink, Juventus

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 1:20 am | Permalink | Comments

RANIERI DESERVES CREDIT FOR CHELSEA SUCCESS

Claudio Ranieri deserves to be credited with transforming Chelsea from a team of also-rans to champions – that is the view of Frank Lampard and current manager Guus Hiddink,

The Italian was at the Stamford Bridge helm for four years from 2000 before Roman’s Revolution took over in 2003.

And he was sacked for Special One Jose Mourinho after one season under Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich – despite finishing second in the Premier League.

The 57-year-old, who is now in charge of Juventus, Chelsea’s Champions League opponents on Wednesday, bought Lampard from West Ham for £11m in 2001.

And the England midfielder believes that if it wasn’t for Ranieri, who also reached the FA Cup Final with the Blues, he would not be the player he is today.

“I think Claudio should take a lot of credit for Chelsea’s success,” said Lampard. “A lot of things have happened at the club and Claudio is part of that.

“He bought a lot of good players to the team, even before the Abramovich era and without him I would not be here.

“I have the utmost respect for him and think he is a great man as well as a great manager. He opened my eyes in football terms.

“I think Claudio has to take a lot of credit of what he has done for the club in the time he was here (at Chelsea).”

The 30-year-old continued: “He elevated John Terry to captain and now he has developed in to one of the best captains in the world.

“Claudio achieved a lot when he was at Chelsea. He oversaw the transition of Chelsea being a good team who were not challenging for titles to one that was.

“He certainly gets credit for that in-house – I appreciate what he did for me and for the team.

“The fans, who are the most important people at Chelsea, hold him in very high regard because of the way he took the team on.”

Chelsea’s new Dutch manager Hiddink, who won his first game in charge of the Blues at the weekend, also praised Ranieri.

He said ahead of last-16 clash: “He is a gentleman coach and very intelligent.

“He knows how to cope with the press and cope with the pressure in this job and I respect him very much.

“He has several abilities. When he was at Chelsea he made a team that was very competitive for the Premier League.

“I have seen that he is a very good organiser of his teams – they have enormous tactical discipline.

“It is difficult to play against the teams he is managing.”

Labels: Champions League, Chelsea, Claudio Ranieri, Frank Lampard, Guus Hiddink, Juventus

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 1:17 am | Permalink | Comments