Carlo Ancelotti wants Chelsea to claim an early psychological advantage over Manchester United by defeating their title rivals in today’s Community Shield clash at Wembley.
The last three winners of this prestigious pre-season friendly have gone on to lift the Premier League trophy, with Ancelotti’s side beating United on penalties last season, and the Chelsea boss believes it is important to seize the momentum ahead of the new season, which starts next weekend.
With Chelsea pipping United to the league last season, as well as winning the FA Cup, and United securing the League Cup, the two teams will walk out at Wembley as holders of all three English domestic trophies.
It would be little surprise if Ancelotti and United boss Alex Ferguson are duelling for the major honors again this season, giving the friendly fixture an edge.
“I think that for both teams it is an important game because it is a very important check for the season and we want to look how our condition is, and also because against Manchester United is never an easy game,” Ancelotti said. “We want to do our best because Manchester United could be the most important opponent this season, like they were last season.”
“I think we need to win because we have lost too many friendly games [in pre-season]. We are not happy to lose. We have to come back to win and start well,” he said.
Ancelotti named his team well in advance of today’s match and Didier Drogba will be on the bench as he returns to fitness.
Nicolas Anelka replaces Drogba, while Hilario is in goal in the absence of the injured Petr Cech.
England trio John Terry, Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole will all feature.
“I think the players that came back from the World Cup are not fit 100 per cent but they need to play. I will put them on the pitch on Sunday,” Ancelotti said.
A year ago Ferguson was drawing attention to the number of aging players in the Blues’ squad rather than singing their praises, but the Scot has no intention of underestimating them this time.
“With the experience Chelsea have got, you have to look at them being the biggest threat,” Ferguson said.
“They won the league and the cup last year and I do think you have to see the team that won the league as the ones you look at,” he said. “I don’t see why anyone should think any different. Chelsea have the experience. You can’t dismiss them.”
Wayne Rooney and Nemanja Vidic may play only a restricted role today as Ferguson eases them back after the World Cup, giving Javier Hernandez, Chris Smalling and Darron Gibson more playing time.
“We always take the long view,” Ferguson said. “There is no point pushing players too early, so I don’t think we will get the benefit of these players until the third week of the season.”
MARRED FINAL: As most of Senegalese players walked off the pitch after a controversial decision, some supporters threw objects and attempted to get onto the pitch Senegal on Sunday won the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) as Pape Gueye’s extra-time winner sunk hosts Morocco 1-0 after a chaotic final that saw the eventual champions storm off the pitch late in the game. Brahim Diaz could have won the trophy for Morocco with a controversial spot-kick in the 24th minute of added time at the end of normal time as ugly scenes broke out in the stands. However, Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy easily saved the weak attempted “Panenka” chip by the Real Madrid winger, who was clearly distracted by the long delay that followed the penalty award.
The Philadelphia 76ers, fueled by 36 points from Tyrese Maxey and a triple-double from Joel Embiid, on Thursday beat the Houston Rockets 128-122 in an NBA overtime thriller. Cameroonian big man Embiid scored 32 points, grabbed 15 rebounds and handed out 10 assists, posting the ninth triple-double of his career to help the Sixers end the Rockets’ three-game winning streak. Rockets star Kevin Durant scored 36 points and Amen Thompson added 17, but Thompson was scoreless in the fourth quarter. Even so, the Rockets led by nine midway through the final frame, Maxey tying it at 115-115 with 40.1 seconds left. Durant missed a
Qatar’s Nasser al-Attiyah on Saturday secured his sixth Dakar Rally car title in Saudi Arabia with Luciano Benavides scraping home by two seconds to claim the motorbike title. “We’ve worked very hard since last year. I might not be showing much emotion yet, but it’s there, deep down. We are so happy to win,” al-Attiyah said at the finish. Al-Attiyah, at the wheel of a Dacia, only had to avoid a final day slip-up to top the podium after bringing his career tally of stage wins to 50 on Friday. The 55-year-old, who took clay pigeon shooting bronze at the
Tobias Harris on Monday scored 25 points as the Detroit Pistons held off the Boston Celtics to score a 104-103 victory in their top-of-the-table Eastern Conference showdown. Harris was one of four Detroit players to finish in double figures, with Jalen Duren adding 18 points and point guard Cade Cunningham scoring 16 points with 14 assists. The win sees Detroit extend their lead at the top of the Eastern Conference to 31-10, 5.5 games ahead of second-placed Boston, who fell to 26-16 with the defeat. Jaylen Brown led the Celtics scoring with 32 points and almost snatched victory in the
RSS