Chelsea

Chelsea

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Chelsea 1-0 Wigan Athletic

BLUES boss Carlo Ancelotti warned his side to get their act together or face a Champions League battering at Old Trafford on Tuesday.
Florent Malouda's second-half strike handed Chelsea a victory they scarcely deserved but the Italian knows his team can't afford the same level of performance when they head to Manchester.
Chelsea must make history to overturn Wednesday night's 1-0 defeat to United, who have never lost a European tie having won the first leg away from home.
And on only two previous occasions has a club won a Champions League tie after being defeated in the first leg at home.
Ancelotti said: "We certainly have to play much better. To win there, we have to play at our 100 per cent."
Ancelotti's men do have hope, having won 2-1 at Old Trafford last season in what proved to be a title decider.
The Italian, who yesterday denied he needed to win the Champions League to keep his job, said: "Obviously, we have more difficulty compared to last season to score a lot of goals. We are not able to convert the chances that we create."
Fernando Torres was as guilty as anyone after missing a golden opportunity to end his 12-hour goal drought.
The Spaniard came off the bench for the final half-hour and had several chances but failed to find the net.
Ancelotti said: "Every one of us wanted him to score today. But we continue to have confidence in him. Maybe he'll score the most important goals of our season."
The Chelsea boss reverted to his more preferred 4-3-3 with Torres on the bench but it had little effect as the home side struggled to break down a Wigan team they had scored 14 goals against in their previous two meetings.
Malouda's winner was also not without controversy, with Torres appearing to impede Latics keeper Ali Al Habsi before the Frenchman struck.
Wigan boss Roberto Martinez said: "It's as clear as day that he's got his elbow in his face. I rate ref Howard Webb so much that I'm extremely disappointed.
"That was the call of the game."
The defeat leaves Wigan rooted to the foot of the table but Martinez was bullish about his side's survival chances.
He said: "I'm 100 per cent sure that if we play in that manner, we'll get enough points to stay in the Premier League."
Martinez spent the build-up praising Torres but asked whether he now had any sympathy for the striker, he said: "After what he did to my keeper, not at all."

Thought's anyone? I personally hope that this dull game was Chelsea saving their energy for the Champions League match against Manchester United mid-week...

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