Chelsea coach Carlo Ancelotti has demanded his side turn on the style
against Marseille in their final Champions League Group F game.
Chelsea, suffering a mid-season slump that has seen them win just
one game out of the last six in the Barclays Premier League, have been
ordered to return to the free-flowing football that excited everyone
when the new campaign began.
- Marseille v Chelsea LIVE from 7.45pmAncelotti was clearly angered and upset by Chelsea's 1-1 draw
against Everton last Saturday and told his players so in a team
meeting.
With Chelsea have already finished top of the pool, and Marseille
through in second, there is little but pride riding on tomorrow's game,
but the Italian coach made it clear he wants his side to go back to the
style of football which brought them a flood of goals and five straight
wins at the start of the Barclays Premier campaign.
"We are trying to search the right way to move on quickly from this
moment and we have a possibility to do this tomorrow," said Ancelotti.
"The result of the game is not important but the performance is
very important. We want to put out the best line-up possible because we
consider the game important for our confidence and to come back and
play our football.
"We have to come back quickly to play our football. I spoke with my
players. It is not the right place to explain what I said to them. it
was private and confidential. The reaction has to be good tomorrow.
"When I say strong team, it doesn't mean there are no young players
in the team. Maybe some of them will be involved. We give a lot of
importance to this game for the reason that we need to come back to
play our football."
Meanwhile, Didier Drogba will make an emotional return to the Stade
Velodrome and admits finishing his career at the club remains a very
tempting prospect.
Drogba, now 32, spent just a year at Marseille, scoring 18 Ligue
One goals, plus another 11 in Europe in 2003/04 after arriving from
Guingamp.
His goal record made him a cult hero among the Marseille fans and
the Chelsea ace has often spoken of finishing his career back at Stade
Velodrome.
"I am glad to be here and see some familiar faces," said Drogba.
"I know that everything will be good tomorrow. All I can say is
that I have been at Chelsea for six years now and I am happy there.
"My family is also happy there. Of course Marseille is tempting.
But there are so many parameters that come into play. I can see myself
ending my career at Chelsea."
OM coach Didier Deschamps is hoping Drogba's love for the
south-coast club will inspire him to play for them 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."
Meanwhile, Marseille goalkeeper and captain Steve Mandanda is relishing the match.
"It's my first Champions League game without pressure, we've prepared well and it'll be a decent game," said Mandanda.
"We know we're going to play a big team tomorrow. Maybe for the
fans it's like an exhibition match but for the players it's still an
important game. There's not too much pressure but it matters to us.
"Whether it's Drogba in front of me or whoever it is, my aim will
be the same, to keep a clean sheet. I'm not focusing on Drogba
especially."
Source: DSG