Match Preview: Blackburn Vs Chelsea

Chelsea face a stern test of their title credentials as they look to bounce back from European disappointment.

Blackburn have an impressive record at Ewood Park this season, losing just two games in the Premier League, and their home form has kept them away from the relegation battle.

Rovers are currently 10 points clear of the bottom three in 12th position and will feel they can push into the top half of the table if they enjoy a strong finish to the campaign.

Having knocked Chelsea out of the Carling Cup in December, prevailing on penalties after a thrilling 3-3 draw, Blackburn will go into the clash in confident mood.

But Sam Allardyce will be without Paul Robinson for around a month after the goalkeeper was substituted with a torn calf muscle in the defeat to Tottenham.

Jason Brown came on at White Hart Lane and could start against Chelsea, although Mark Bunn has been recalled from his loan spell with Sheffield United to provide an extra option.

Ryan Nelsen (knee) and Lars Jacobsen (hernia) are still sidelined, while Gael Givet (groin) is also out and on-loan striker Franco di Santo cannot play against his parent club.

However, David Dunn came through the encounter against Spurs unscathed and should start again.

Chelsea bowed out of the UEFA Champions League in midweek after losing 1-0 at home to Inter Milan, coached by former manager Jose Mourinho.

The onus had been on the Blues to attack after Inter won the first leg 2-1 and Carlo Ancelotti will have been disappointed by how rarely they threatened the Italians' goal.

But Ancelotti must now focus on domestic matters as Chelsea continue to fight for silverware in the Premier League and FA Cup.

Chelsea are currently two points behind league leaders Manchester United but have control of their own destiny with a game in hand.

Third-choice goalkeeper Ross Turnbull has played between the posts in the absence of injured No.1 Petr Cech and also Hilario, who are both still doubtful.

Michael Essien, Ashley Cole and Jose Bosingwa are still sidelined, so there are unlikely to be many changes from the side beaten by Inter.

Joe Cole will hope to start as time runs out for him to impress England manager Fabio Capello ahead of the World Cup.

Possible starting XIs:

Blackburn: Brown, Salgado, Chimbonda, Samba, Olsson, Andrews, Dunn, Emerton, N'Zonzi, Pedersen, Kalinic.

Chelsea: Turnbull, Ivanovic, Terry, Carvalho, Zhirkov, Mikel, Lampard, Ballack, Malouda, Anelka, Drogba.

Allardyce Wary Of Chelsea Backlash

Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce has warned his players to expect Chelsea to react like a wounded animal after their Champions League mauling by Jose Mourinho's Inter Milan side.

Allardyce said Chelsea, who visit Ewood Park on Sunday, had receiving a "massive kick up the backside" from Inter but is hoping their players will suffer from fatigue.

He said: "I'm not sure it's a good time to play them but the only thing we do know is that they are going to tire later on in the game.

"They put a huge amount of effort in against Inter Milan so there will be some physical and mental fatigue, so we have to make sure we are in there with a shout for the last quarter of the game.

"Chelsea have had a massive kick up the backside and didn't expect to lose that game and get knocked out of the Champions League, and they are now a wounded animal that you have got to protect against."

Allardyce has taken some tips from Mourinho's book of tactics by studying the success of Inter Milan - and Wigan earlier in the season - to pinpoint weaknesses in Carlo Ancelotti's side.

"I learn an awful lot from every game, I usually used to manage to set out a team tactically against Chelsea that could get a result and we have had a look at some of the stuff that Inter did," said Allardyce.

"We've also looked at what Wigan did when they beat them, as they are a team very similar to ourselves.

"If you watch Inter Milan's work-rate and the tactics that they put together it shows why they nullified Chelsea so much.

"Whether you can keep that up for 90 minutes is another thing but we'll have a go.

"We have to be right tactically and we need 11 lads prepared to roll their sleeves up and work harder and run longer than they have done all season."

Agent Denies Neymar Approach

Chelsea have not made an approach to sign Brazilian youngster Neymar, according to the player's agent Wagner Ribeiro.

Another one of the Santos forward's representatives, Augusto Frederico Pena, previously announced that he would likely leave Brazil in the summer, with Chelsea or Manchester City the destination.

However, Ribeiro has now said that his client has not entered negotiations with the Stamford Bridge outfit over a possible move.

"It isn't true at all that I had a meeting with people from Chelsea for negotiating Neymar," he told Radio Cultura.

"Nobody got in touch with either me or his father and even less with the officials of Santos.

Interest
"The only moment they showed interest in Neymar was two years ago when he was 16 years old.

"In that moment they came to Brazil and saw him in action personally during the Sao Paulo Youth Cup."

Neymar is one of the most sought-after talents in world football, with several of Europe's top clubs ready to secure his signature.

But his agent is adamant that Santos do not yet want to sell the player, instead hinting that they could hold out for a mega-money deal later in the summer transfer window.

He added: "On the other hand the president Luis Alvaro de Oliveira Ribeiro has said to me that he doesn't want to sell Neymar.

"And that is true because the club has signed a new contract with him until December 2014. And the most important thing is that Neymar isn't interested in leaving the team.

"And we know that we will have much more offers for him after the World Cup."

Carlo Ancelotti: I Won't Be Axed

Defiant Carlo Ancelotti claims Chelsea will not sack him even if they finish the season without a trophy.

But the under-pressure Blues boss has challenged his Champions League flops to do the Double anyway – just in case.

Chelsea will try to rebound from their crushing defeat to Jose Mourinho’s Inter Milan when they face Blackburn on Sunday.

And Ancelotti said: “Will I still be here next season? Yes. I’m sure – 100 per cent.

“I’m sure because I think that, at the end of the season, we will have had a very good season. A fantastic season.

“We are in the semi-finals of the FA Cup and two points behind Manchester United but with a game in hand, so our destiny is in our own hands.

“If we win every game, we can do the Double. That’s very difficult, but we can try to do this. That’s very important, to think about this.”

Ancelotti had a sleepless night after being outfoxed by former Chelsea boss Mourinho and could not bear to watch yesterday’s Champions League draw.

But he was back to his defiant best after vital clear-the-air talks with disappointed Blues owner Roman Abramovich at the club’s Surrey HQ on Thursday.

Ancelotti said: “He came here to support us because he knows football very well and he knows that we are involved in important competitions again.

“We have to shift the objectives because we were focused on the Champions League and now we’ve changed our aim.

“I think to think you can do a Double is a good motivation for everyone at this club. It was my idea. It’s a new motivation for me, also.

“I needed this because I was disappointed by what happened on Tuesday. I slept two hours.

“Not very much but enough. I couldn’t sleep. But now I am fresh, no?

“Only five teams, I think, have won a Double in 140 years here in England.

“It’s not easy, but we can think about this and do our best – that’s our aim.”

Actually six teams have won a league championship and FA Cup Double in this country – Preston, Aston Villa, Tottenham, Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United.

But it is something that Chelsea have not managed – even under ‘Special One’ Mourinho.

And now Ancelotti is convinced he can achieve it in his first season in England.

As AC Milan boss, he suffered a shock early exit from the Champions League to Deportivo La Coruna in 2004.

But Ancelotti said: “Immediately we changed focus and concentrated on Serie A – and we won it.

“It’s not easy because the disappointment stays in your mind, but you have to put it out of your head and concentrate on the league.” Ancelotti also confirmed Starsport’s exclusive that time could be up for some of Chelsea’s ageing stars, who face being replaced by younger players this summer.

He said: “It’s normal that, with a new season, there are new faces. This is normal.”

Anelka Desires New Blues Deal

Nicolas Anelka has given Chelsea the clearest indication that he is ready to pledge his future to the club, while Ross Turnbull is hoping he can stay in Carlo Ancelotti's first team plans.

The Premier League challengers are understood to have reopened talks with the French striker's representatives over a contract extension that would see the much-travelled marksman remain at Stamford Bridge until 2013.

Initial discussions with Anelka's team last week stalled, allegedly over his desire for a £40,000-a-week pay increase from his current £80,000-a-week deal.

But the 31-year-old is adamant he wants to remain in London with Ancelotti's side after chopping and changing clubs throughout his career.

"I feel at home here at Chelsea," said Anelka, whose current deal expires in 2012. "I'm happy in my life and I will be more happy at the end of the season if we win the Premier League.

"I said when I first signed that I wanted a big club and I've found a big club, so now I don't need to move anywhere else.

"I am very glad to be here. I've been at big clubs before with Arsenal, Real Madrid and Liverpool, but between the ages of 25 and 30 you want to be able to find a real home for yourself.

"It came at 28 for me, when I signed here, so I am glad - it has been a long career, playing for a lot of clubs, but I like the fact that I'm playing now in one of the biggest clubs in the world, I don't need to move anywhere."

Meanwhile, rookie goalkeeper Turnbull is hoping to remain in goal against Blackburn on Sunday even though first-choice Petr Cech will undergo a late fitness test on his calf problem.

The former Middlesbrough shot-stopper - who joined the Blues in the summer - played in Chelsea's 4-1 victory over West Ham last weekend and the 1-0 defeat to Inter in the UEFA Champions League, and he now wants to hold on to the shirt.

"I want to play but at the same time I don't wish ill health on Petr," said Turnbull.

"Football is funny, it's not an 11-man game anymore, it's a big-squad game and people are starting to understand that.

"You will get injuries and you need a big squad. If the games continue to come, great, but if not I will support Petr as much as I can. The most important thing is for the team to have success.

"My chance to make a contribution is now and it would be nice to look back at the end of the season having done my part.

"As I said every game now is a big one and we have to step up and do our stuff. I think I have improved massively, coming here has been a big step. There have been some hard times, I've been training extremely hard doing double sessions and it's been pleasing to show that's paid off."

Deco In Blues Exit U-turn

Deco has moved to clear up matters reported on his desire to quit Chelsea this summer in order to move back to his homeland of Brazil.

The Portugal international, born in Sao Bernardo do Campo in Brazil, earlier this month revealed his plans to cut short his Stamford Bridge stay for family reasons.

The former Barcelona and Porto player admits finishing his career with first club Corinthians remains a dream of his, but he would like to fulfil his Chelsea contract which expires next year.

"I still have the dream of playing in Brazil but this isn't the moment for returning to my country as I am still in contract at Chelsea and I don't have it in mind to break it," said Deco.

"Besides saying that I wanted to go back to Brazil to play for Corinthians, I didn't mean that it was going to be now. I am in contract at Chelsea until June 2011."

Deco, who has not played since the Blues' 1-1 draw with Hull last month, was not part of the Chelsea squad dumped out of the UEFA Champions League by Inter Milan in midweek.

The 32-year-old is still frustrated at the European exit, however, and hopes involvement in this summer's World Cup with Portugal can help soften the blow.

"We failed once again," said the two-time European Cup winner.

"If I am called to the Portuguese national team (for South Africa 2010) I am going to give the very best from me to the team.

"This could be my last participation in the national team as I don't think that I will be fit for Euro 2012."

Sturridge: For The Kids

The FA Youth Cup returns to Stamford Bridge on Monday, and Daniel Sturridge has been recalling the time he scored there in the competition.

The 20-year-old forward netted for Manchester City in the first leg of the Final back in 2008, a goal that earned his side a 1-1 draw against the Blues, before we were beaten 3-1 in the return leg at Eastlands.

'I'd already played for the first team at City but it was still a buzz to be in such a big stadium with a big crowd, even though I wasn't too popular that night because I scored the City goal,' Sturridge said.

'Playing in the Youth Cup in front of a big crowd was a great feeling. I remember the game at Stamford Bridge, I was playing for City obviously but the atmosphere that night was amazing; there were a lot of people there.

'It is a great tournament, it really opens your eyes as a kid and even though I missed the second leg of the Final I still have my winners' medal at home, it's all great memories.'

Now our lads face Blackburn in the semi-final second leg on Monday, with a 1-0 advantage brought back south from Ewood Park on Wednesday. Sturridge is hoping they receive the same levels of support that he saw two years ago.

'I urge people to get along to Stamford Bridge because it helps the lads having people support them, and they have a great chance of making the Final again,' he said.