Source: Daily_Mail
Now let's all see what superkid has got! Kakuta set for first Chelsea start
Gael Kakuta is set to make his first start for Chelsea tonight as Carlo Ancelotti shuffles his pack for the visit of Apoel Nicosia.[LNB] The Italian manager will throw the 18-year-old into midfield at Stamford Bridge as the Barclays Premier League leaders aim to bounce back from the weekend defeat at Manchester City.[LNB] Ancelotti has refused to blame his goalkeeper Petr Cech for the defeat at Eastlands, insisting the game was lost by the uncharacteristic failure of his midfield to dominate. [LNB] Just warming up: Nicolas Anelka and Gael Kakuta (right) in training[LNB]VIDEO: Ancelotti prepares for Apoel...[LNB]The former AC Milan boss will use this Champions League dead rubber to freshen up his midfield and offer Kakuta, who is at the centre of Chelsea's suspended FIFA transfer ban, to demonstrate his talent. [LNB]A four-month ban on Kakuta has also been postponed while the Group D winners go to The Court of Arbitration for Sport. The attacking midfielder showed flashes of why Chelsea went to such lengths to sign him from Lens after coming off the bench against Wolves last month. [LNB]The teenager will be eager to put on a show after his penalty shoot-out miss against Blackburn saw Chelsea crash out of the Carling Cup. [LNB]Cech will be rested against the Cypriot side, meaning a first start for Ross Turnbull, who arrived on a free transfer from Middlesbrough in the summer. [LNB]Cech was erratic against City and needed Ricardo Carvalho to rescue him after missing a high cross from Shaun Wright-Phillips. Cech's failure to gather a corner also resulted in Emmanuel Adebayor's equaliser, and the Czech Republic keeper's poor footwork contributed to Carlos Tevez scoring City's winner from a free-kick. [LNB]But Ancelotti professed his faith in Cech, saying 'It is important above all in England to have a goalkeeper that comes out for crosses. For this Petr Cech is the best goalie in England. [LNB]'He could do better, if you ask me, about the free-kick on Saturday. The wall was good. Tevez put the ball around the wall, and it can happen. We have to congratulate him. Even a good goalkeeper can make a mistake sometimes. But Petr has been doing well this season.' [LNB]Chelsea have already won their Champions League group, but Ancelotti will be expecting a better display from his midfield than at Eastlands. [LNB]Dismissing accusations of complacency, Ancelotti said: 'The problemwas that Manchester City put strong pressure on our midfield after wescored, and we were not able to play through from behind. [LNB]'We have to improve our support play so we can open them up with theball and use our offensive players. We had difficulty in gettingservice to Anelka and Drogba in the first half.' [LNB] No blame game: Ancelotti will not single out Cech over Tevez's free-kick winner[LNB]Despite the defeat helping Manchester United cut Chelsea's lead at the top of the Premier League to two points, Ancelotti is not looking concerned. Indeed, the Chelsea manager was somewhat bullish when discussing his side's performances this season. [LNB]He said: 'I know the strengths of Manchester United, the quality of their players, the quality of the coach. But I don't know why I have to be worried - maybe in January, but not now. Now I am happy to stay at the top. [LNB]'We have two more points. We won the game against them. I don't know what will happen in the future. We have to consider what we've done, and until now we've done better than them.' [LNB]Michael Essien insists Chelsea have the experience to cope with United breathing down their necks. [LNB]He said: 'I don't really focus on Manchester. I just go out to try to win our games. The games are difficult over Christmas, but I want to get our own three points whenever I can.' [LNB] Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti defends his star men Petr Cech and Frank Lampard despite second successive defeatHow spot checks help Premier League keepers foil hot-shots like Lampard, Defoe and FabregasJohn Terry, Ashley Cole and Michael Ballack struggling as Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti gets set to tinkerCHELSEA FC
