The English FA Cup replay between Championship side, Birmingham City FC and Premier League campaigners, Chelsea will be played at the St. Andrews later tonight. The first meeting between these two sides ended in a 1-1 draw at the Stamford Bridge last month. That match was played during the era of Andre Villas Boas. Roberto Di Matteo will have to lead his players victory of any kind tonight. Whether via penalties or otherwise. A defeat for Chelsea will further increasing the confusion and the bad atmosphere at the club owing to the departure of AVB. Birmingham City is being handled by Chris Hutton, a former Newcastle manger with Premier League experience. A second half equaliser by Daniel Sturridge saved Chelsea from being beaten at home about 3 weeks ago. Didier Drogba,Frank Lampard,John Terry, Florent Malouda and Ashley Cole were among the senior players that didn't say goodbye to their former Portuguese manager after he was fired last Sunday. His assistant, Roberto Di Matteo is also an unpopular figure according to reports from London. The fans will hope the instability in the camp won't lead to their ouster from the FA Cup. The Blues are currently fifth in the Premier League and are trailing Napoli of Italy by three goals to one in the UEFA Champions League.
Showing posts with label Birmingham. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Birmingham. Show all posts
Dwindling fortunes of Chelsea,Arsenal and Internazionale.
Chelsea FC won a double under Carlo Ancelotti in the 2009/2010 league season. Amazingly, the Italian tactician was fired by Roman Abrahamovic in the summer of 2011 following a trophy-less campaign in the 2010/2011 season. Andeas Villa Boaz won the UEFA Europa League with FC Porto the same season. The young Portugese manager has not been able to find his feet at the West London side since his summer move away from the Iberian Peninsula. Chelsea have been knocked out of the League Cup and are also out of contention for a Premier League title. There European campaign is also in jeopardy after a 3-1 loss to Napoli in Naples,Italy. Juan Mata put the West London side ahead before the Italians fired three goals into Chelsea's net.
The Blues will need to beat Birmingham at the Saint Andrews stadium if they intend to qualify for the quarter final of the FA Cup. AVB is definitely under pressure.
Arsenal FC
The Gunners have been knocked out of the FA Cup,Carling Cup and are almost out of the Champions League after a 4-0 mauling in the hands of Italian giants-AC Milan. The Gunners are only looking forward to a fourth place finish in the Barclays Premier League in order to return to the Champions League next season.
This is the first time in over two decades that the league's highest goal scorer(Robin Van Persie) will come from a club that is 17 points behind the league leaders. Arsenal started the season on a bad note by losing at home to Liverpool at the Emirates. The North Londoners were also beaten by Blackburn Rovers and equally lost scandalously to Manchester United by 8-2. RVP scored series of goals for Arsenal and the team went on a 7 match winning streak before they started stuttering again. Jack Wilshere is one of several Arsenal players that sustained injuries in the course of the season. Only time will tell whether Arsene Wenger will still be in charge next season.
Internazionale
Inter Milan are in a serious mess. They've lost 6 of their past 7 matches including a 3-0 loss to Novara in the Serie A. Only last Wednesday, the Italians went down 1-0 to Marseille in the Champions League. The 2010 Champions League winners seems to have lost the "invincible" form they had under Jose Mourinho. Claudio Ranieri is simply not having the best of time at the Calcio outfit.
The fans expressed their displeasure towards the poor form of their team when they echoed the name of the former Portugese manager.
The Nerazzuris are currentlyplaced seventh in the Serie A standings.
The Blues will need to beat Birmingham at the Saint Andrews stadium if they intend to qualify for the quarter final of the FA Cup. AVB is definitely under pressure.
Arsenal FC
The Gunners have been knocked out of the FA Cup,Carling Cup and are almost out of the Champions League after a 4-0 mauling in the hands of Italian giants-AC Milan. The Gunners are only looking forward to a fourth place finish in the Barclays Premier League in order to return to the Champions League next season.
This is the first time in over two decades that the league's highest goal scorer(Robin Van Persie) will come from a club that is 17 points behind the league leaders. Arsenal started the season on a bad note by losing at home to Liverpool at the Emirates. The North Londoners were also beaten by Blackburn Rovers and equally lost scandalously to Manchester United by 8-2. RVP scored series of goals for Arsenal and the team went on a 7 match winning streak before they started stuttering again. Jack Wilshere is one of several Arsenal players that sustained injuries in the course of the season. Only time will tell whether Arsene Wenger will still be in charge next season.
Internazionale
Inter Milan are in a serious mess. They've lost 6 of their past 7 matches including a 3-0 loss to Novara in the Serie A. Only last Wednesday, the Italians went down 1-0 to Marseille in the Champions League. The 2010 Champions League winners seems to have lost the "invincible" form they had under Jose Mourinho. Claudio Ranieri is simply not having the best of time at the Calcio outfit.
The fans expressed their displeasure towards the poor form of their team when they echoed the name of the former Portugese manager.
The Nerazzuris are currentlyplaced seventh in the Serie A standings.
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