Carling Cup Final : Chelsea Vs Arsenal

ghimpheng SG

Gallas: Arsenal kids can beat Chelsea
tribalfooball.com - February 18, 2007

William Gallas also insists Arsenal's kids can beat former club Chelsea in the Carling Cup on Sunday.
The fit-again defender said: "In the league, we drew 1-1 at Chelsea with a young team. I know I won't be involved as the boss has already decided, but they can do it.

"This team is not afraid and they are improving all the time. When I arrived at Arsenal, I was so surprised by the quality of all these youngsters. It is fantastic to train with all of them."

I seriously doubt that

stellazio SG

pressure’s on chelsea to deliver, arsenal has nth to lose.

eemtij SG

More pressure on Chelsea. Terry out, Robben not sure, Joe Cole still out.

eemtij SG

I am going to root for a convincing Chelsea win.

Prediction : 3 - 1

miss_soojung SG

I'm going for a 2-1 Chelsea win Smile

Ferguson SG

arse trash pool
so chelsea going down 6-5

coldzero SG

Close 1-0 win for Chelsea with Shevchenko scoring! Very Happy

stellazio SG

2-0 to chelsea.

798 SG

arsenal win! Very Happy

CKeer SG

I'm going for a 2-1 Chelsea win. Mr. Green
Arsenal has now been given the honour of Comeback Kings. It's hard to see them coming back unless Terry is out cold for the whole season.

Cheers.
C.K

lolxzxz SG

arsenal.. henry scoring..like giggs in da match wit lille Mr. Green

eemtij SG

Henry is OUT injured. He will take no part in the finals.

Both captains are OUT.

ghimpheng SG

Arsenal's Gallas demands Cup final spot
tribalfooball.com - February 23, 2007

William Gallas is pleading with Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger to field him in tomorrow's Carling Cup final against Chelsea.

The Arsenal defender returned from a three-month injury absence only last week and is desperate to face former club Chelsea to step up his fitness.

But boss Wenger looks sure to stick by his youngsters.

Gallas, 29, said: "I want to be in the starting eleven. Not because we are playing Chelsea but because I'm suffering from a lack of playing time after three months out.

It strikes me as natural I should play in this game, so I can return to peak form. But the decision is down to the manager.

"I see it as a chance to get back the rhythm I lack.

"Yet I think it is a good idea of the manager to give the youngsters their chance. It is a good thing for them to get to play in a final.

"It will allow them to learn about the pressure of such big events."

ghimpheng SG

Chelsea v Arsenal (Sunday)

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho is expecting to have left-back Ashley Cole and winger Arjen Robben available for Sunday's Carling Cup final.
John Terry is out with an ankle injury so midfielder Michael Essien is likely to deputise for him in defence.

Arsenal full-backs Justin Hoyte (hamstring) and Gael Clichy (foot) will have fitness tests.

Meanwhile, the youngsters who have led Gunners to the final are likely to be leading the challenge in Cardiff.

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Chelsea (from): Cech, Hilario, Cudicini, Ferreira, A Cole, Geremi, Diarra, Carvalho, Bridge, Morais, Mikel, Lampard, Makelele, Ballack, Essien, Shevchenko, Drogba, Robben, Kalou, Wright-Phillips.

Arsenal (from): Almunia, Poom, Hoyte, Senderos, Toure, Djourou, Clichy, Traore, Walcott, Diaby, Flamini, Fabregas, Denilson, Aliadiere, Adebayor, Baptista, Hleb, Rosicky, Randall, Connolly.

lolxzxz SG

thanks for enlighting Very Happy

SexyChin SG

Mourinho shoots Wenger

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has responded to Arsenal counterpart Arsene Wenger ahead of Sunday's Carling Cup final in Cardiff.

Earlier this week, on hearing Mourinho cite Wenger as a "big example" of managers who have failed to win the Champions League when highlighting his own success with Porto in 2004, the Arsenal boss retorted that there were some managers who had won the Champions League who would "not be considered as great".

Now Mourinho has responded to that by saying: "I think I am a great manager. Not many did what I did.

"I'm not the best, but I'm in the group of eight, 10, 12, 14 in the world."

Mourinho won the Portuguese title twice, Portuguese Cup, Uefa Cup and Champions League with Porto, before joining Chelsea and immediately masterminding back-to-back Premiership titles and a Carling Cup triumph.

He added: "I am the best in the history of my country. I think that's enough. Portugal is not third world. So what I did there is good enough.

"I came to England and won the title with Chelsea 50 years after they last won it. I was the first to win the title in the first year in the club. I won it twice.

"I won other competitions. I have a few records in the Premiership, I think. Records for victories or goals or not conceding goals, or something like that.

"Victories at home or unbeatable at home is not a record, but we are not far from the record for that."

Mourinho did agree with Wenger's view that managers who had not won Europe's premier club competition could still be considered as "great".

"He is a great manager who has never won the Champions League so I completely agree with him," added the Chelsea manager, somewhat mischieviously.

stellazio SG

Chelsea have confirmed that inspirational skipper John Terry will make a shock return from injury to play in the Carling Cup final on Sunday, live on Sky Sports 1.

The England star had been expected to miss the London derby with rivals Arsenal after sustaining an ankle injury during The Blues' 1-1 draw with Porto in midweek.

However, Terry has made stunning progress after rupturing his ankle ligaments and will now marshal Jose Mourinho's side as they aim to secure the first domestic silverware of the season.

"On Thursday he (Terry) started walking and he was treated at the training ground," club doctor Bryan English told the club's official website.

"On Friday I was of the impression that this injury would still take five more days to recover and so informed Jose that John would not be available for selection for the Carling Cup Final.

"Today (Saturday) John felt a big improvement in his ankle and requested that the medical department performed a fitness test. On passing this test he was put into a full training session and was able to train fully.

"This rate of recovery has surprised the medical department. I have apologised to Jose for providing him with misleading information that led to his statements in relation to John Terry's injury yesterday."

Chelsea will also be able to field Arjen Robben at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium as the Dutch winger has made a full recovery from the hamstring problem he picked up in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday.

Patrik SG

For once,I will be rooting for Chelsea.
Very Happy

eemtij SG

cos you don't like Arsenal more????
Go Liverpool.........

Patrik SG

I prefer Chelsea over Arsenal.
Very Happy