Source: Daily_Mail
Confident Carlo names Chelsea starting XI 24 hours before Cardiff clash
Carlo Ancelotti insists Chelsea are taking Saturday's FA Cup fifth-round clash with Cardiff seriously - but he was confident enough to reveal his starting XI.[LNB]The Blues will be without John Terry, given compassionate leave, and the injured Ashley Cole, while goalkeeper Petr Cech and striker Nicolas Anelka were also absent from the team named by the Italian.[LNB]He said: 'We'll play Hilario in goal, Paulo Ferreira, Alex, Ricardo Carvalho and Yuri Zhirkov; Frank Lampard, John Obi Mikel, Michael Ballack; Daniel Sturridge, Joe Cole and Didier Drogba up front.[LNB] Leading the way: Frank Lampard takes the Chelsea armband in the absence of skipper John Terry[LNB]'The bench will be Ross Turnbull, Jeffrey Bruma, Branislav Ivanovic, Florent Malouda, Nemanja Matic, Fabio Borini and Salomon Kalou.[LNB]TEAM CHELSEA? Starting XI: Hilario; Ferreira, Alex, Carvalho, Zhirkov; Obi Mikel, Ballack, Lampard; Sturridge, J Cole and Drogba.[LNB]Subs: Turnbull, Bruma, Ivanovic, Malouda, Matic, Borini, Kalou.[LNB]'It's a very important competition. We won it last year - I was not here - and we have a great opportunity to go forward in this competition.[LNB]'We know Cardiff will come to do their best. They have a good team and a lot of passion around them. We have to pay attention. We want to come back to win after the defeat against Everton.[LNB]'I said that the FA Cup is a fantastic opportunity for all the teams to play their best.[LNB] Part of the list: Drogba will the lead the line while Zhirkov steps in for Ashley Cole[LNB]'They are followed with a lot of passion around them, and they have good quality, They have two fantastic strikers and score a lot of goals in the Championship. We have to pay attention.'[LNB] Ashley Cole WILL play at the World Cup, insists Carlo Ancelotti as Chelsea star undergoes surgeryBridge can play with love rival Terry at World Cup, says Man City boss ManciniAC Milan track Joe Cole as Chelsea star waits on new deal at Stamford BridgeCHELSEA FC
