West Ham United FC

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Chelsea return excites Zola

12 Dec 2008 - 15:02:37

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Gianfranco Zola is looking forward to returning to Chelsea on Sunday for the first time since his appointment as West Ham United manager three months ago.

The 42-year-old Italian spent seven years of his playing career at Stamford Bridge before heading to Cagliari in 2003.

He told the London Evening Standard: "Going back to Chelsea is always a pleasure. It is a very important match for us but for me, obviously, it is always a special game.

"I had great times, fantastic times, there as a player and hopefully I am going to have the same kind of time here at West Ham as a manager.

"Chelsea are my past, a wonderful past and I hope with all my heart that the present and future with West Ham will be as good."

The Hammers have slumped towards the relegation zone following a run of only one win in ten matches, scoring only four goals in the process, and Zola added: "For us maybe it is not the perfect time to go back there.

"But it is one of those games where, if you can get something out of it as we did at Liverpool, it can be great for us.

"Maybe it's not the greatest moment for Chelsea either, but I know well that this is a team who can explode at any time.

"It also sounds a bit silly saying they are having a hard time because they've just won their last two games, they are fighting for the Championship and they are a fantastic team so they need every respect from us."