Group F Marseille v Chelsea:CARLO ANCELOTTI has abandoned plans to rest all his available key players in this evening's final Champions League group game as Chelsea seek to revive their flagging season with a timely victory against Marseille.
Chelsea have already won the group, with the French club qualified in second place, to leave Ancelotti with the luxury of being able to omit players with critical Premier League matches against Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United and Arsenal to come. However, a dismal run of one victory in six domestic games has now forced the manager’s hand, with his line-up now charged with conjuring a performance at the Stade Velodrome to generate much needed momentum.
Only Nicolas Anelka, who has a slight knee problem, and Ashley Cole (ankle) of the squad for Saturday’s draw with Everton have remained in England with Ancelotti’s strongest possible team expected to start.
Patrick van Aanholt is the only natural left-back in the squad and is expected to start, with the manager’s only other real dilemma whether or not to play Mikel John Obi, who is one booking from a suspension. “This is an important game, maybe even a key game,” said Ancelotti.
“This could be a good opportunity to improve the confidence and get back to playing our football. And so, for this reason, we need to put the best line-up possible out on the pitch. While we want to win, the result is not the most important thing. What is is the performance to raise confidence levels.
“It is important for us to believe that the season is still going to be a good one for us. We all know we have lost a lot of points in the last few games but, even so, we are still very close to the top of the table in the Premier League. As far as the Champions League goes, we have won our group and we will have to look where we are in February. There is still time to do everything we want this season.”
While many of the first team had anticipated missing this fixture after winning Group F, Didier Drogba had always made clear his desire to play this evening with the Ivorian still hero-worshipped in Marseille following a fine season for the club in 2003-04. Drogba scored 30 goals for l’OM, propelling them to the Uefa Cup final, before the French club accepted Chelsea’s €28.5 million bid. “Didier will start the game because I’m not crazy,” said Ancelotti.
Drogba has described his return as “coming home” but acknowledged his focus must be purely upon rekindling his own form. He has not scored from open play since the first week in October and is only now suggesting he is fully recovered from a bout of malaria.
“It’s important for me to play better and for the team to do better than we’re doing now,” said the striker. “I’ve been sick for nearly a month but, even so, I know I can do better. We create a lot of chances, but we’ve only scored from set-pieces or penalties. That’s something we have to change.”
“For Didier it will be a particularly emotional to play here in Marseille,” added Ancelotti. “I can’t recall any other player who’s held in such regard at a club where he only played for a year. Didier is starting to have that good condition back again. But we all have to improve our concentration and stay focused on the little details.”
Marseille coach Didier Deschamps is hoping Drogba’s love for Marseille will inspire him to play for the club once more before he retires. “Every coach appreciates Drogba,” said Deschamps. “If you know a coach who doesn’t rate him, maybe you can introduce them to me. He’s someone everyone would want to have in their team. He’s a player of a very high calibre who had one great season at Marseille and the supporters took him to their hearts, which isn’t easy. But tomorrow he’s an opponent who, as he’s said before, is very attached to Marseille and maybe one day will wear the shirt again. I don’t know if that’s feasible or not, who knows.”
Guardian Service
Venue: Stade Vélodrome Kick-off: 7.45pm On TV: Setanta Ireland, Sky Sports 2
