Vendetta: Chelsea FC

By: Cesar | October 2nd, 2007

The upcoming match with England’s Chelsea FC isn’t really about revenge.

True, they beat us in last season’s Champions League quarterfinals en route to the semis and defeat to old coach Rafa Benitez’s Liverpool.

But does anyone here truly hate Chelsea? Like, really loathe them? Like how we disliked Inter Milan?

I doubt it.

Let’s be honest: Chelsea came to the Mestalla last season and after a poor first-half, turned on the engines and showed us what a truly well-coached club could do. Jose Mourinho’s men ran us ragged for 45 minutes, inserting the final knife wound with Michael Essien’s strike at the death. 2-1 and we were out of the Champions League.

Things are much different this season.

Valencia is ‘flyin’ high’, winners of our last seven matches in all competitions.

Chelsea? Well, they’re in the pits.

The Special One is gone. The owner is the new ‘coach’. Confidence for the once-proud Blues is at an all-time low.

Still, no need to awaken a sleeping giant. The tone has been subdued, compared to the venomous words uttered before last season’s ‘Vendetta’ matches against Inter. We remember what happened in those games, no?

Well, save for some interesting comments today from striker extraordinaire Fernando Morientes. Seems he thinks Chelsea’s a bit out of it, especially with John Terry a question mark with a broken cheekbone.

“I don’t think Chelsea’s problems are confined to defense,” he said.

“Jose Mourinho has gone and that is sure to have a big effect on them and it will take time for the new coach to implement his ideas, and now Terry is injured. Not only that but they will be facing a Valencia team that has won its last five games and is starting to find its best form of the season. This game is coming at a very good moment for us, but it would be wrong to rely on Chelsea’s problems. They still have a lot of good individuals but they are not the team of the last few years.”

After a deep breath, Moro continued: “We were all very impressed with Chelsea last year and because of what happened at the Mestalla we are hoping for revenge,” Morientes admitted. “They are a hard team and they still have great technique in midfield and the best centre-forward in the world in Didier Drogba. This is the key game in the group for us.”

Besides the controversy revolving around Mourinho, Chelsea have other issues to worry about.
For instance, as mentioned before, Blues captain John Terry fractured his cheekbone at the weekend, requiring surgery.

A protective mask is being fitted and there’s hope he can play Wednesday at the Mestalla. My money’s on his being out there, gutting it out like the warrior that he is.

Also, last season’s killer Michael Essien isn’t recovered from injury and could miss the matchup.
Didier Drogba isn’t happy over the Portuguese gaffer’s sacking, Andrei Shevchenko isn’t firing on all cylinders and Frank Lampard might also miss the game with a knock.

Ok, sounds good. But we’re not in the best shape either.
Santiago Cañizares is battling to be fit in time for the game, while Manuel Fernandes and Carlos Marchena also remain doubtful. ‘El Dragon’ Cañizares has a strain in his leg that saw him miss the weekend victory.
Marchena did not train at all after suffering from pains in his neck having been hit in the face by the ball during the Recreativo Huelva match on the weekend and it remains to be seen if he will be fit to face the Blues.
Fernandes did not train either as he still has bruising on his legs and will be given until the last moment to decide whether he feels ready to play.
Yikes! Lots of injuries!

But there’s some good news. Vicente reported back to Valencia’s training ground Paterna after spending time in Madrid as he aims to shake off the problems that have plagued him for several months.

The Spain international winger was fined for criticizing the club’s doctors, but was still allowed to see specialists in the Spanish capital.
Still, don’t expect to see him for some time.

So, what do we make of this match?
It’s an exciting duel between two hard-nosed teams. Both have something to prove: Chelsea that their slide is over, Valencia that their good run is for real.

I’ll let John Rowlands of goal.com have the last few words here. Take it away, fella …

As much as [new coach Roman Abramovich's] appointment came in a hail of claims that Chelsea were going to play attacking football, doing so at the Mestalla could see the Blues fall into the Che trap. The hosts love to counter attack, often seeming far more comfortable away than at home when form is lacking. Valencia are on a roll now, while confidence and belief in Chelsea’s new project has clearly yet to be instigated in the players.

To win, both teams will have to deliver a performance better than anything they have displayed so far this season, but the extent of that required improvement is far greater for the visitors, while QQ Flores and his players have added motivation with revenge on their minds. Pressure on [Roman] looks set to increase.

Valencia 2 – 0 Chelsea

Sounds good to me. AMUNT!!!!!!