Ancelotti looks forward to the hardest game of the tour

Chelsea will play Club America tonight in what is basically the grand final of the mini-tournament, as the Mexican side have also beaten Inter Milan (on penalties) and AC Milan ahead of tonights game.

Chelsea are aware that America will strip fitter than the two Italian teams, but Ancelotti is already looking at changing the team after playing two games already in quick succession.

“Now we have to think about the next game against Club America and we want to close these matches with a victory,” Ancelotti said on the official Chelsea website.

“It is not easy because Club America is a very good team, won against Milan, against Inter, so it will be a difficult game. We played yesterday and probably we’ll change something in the team because we want to use fresh players for tomorrow.

“We hope to play a very good game, to put our quality on the pitch and to give enjoyment for the fans that have come to see the game.’

“I know very well Mexican soccer because Mexico has a very good tradition for soccer. We played in USA 1994 in Philadelphia, they [play] technical football, they like to play on the pitch, no long ball, and tomorrow we will enjoy to meet Club America.’

He was then asked about John Obi Mikel, and where he will play in his new formation. He replied: “Mikel has very good quality to play in front of the defence. He has good defensive play and has to improve when we have the ball,”

“He has the possibility because he is young and intelligent, and he is motivated to do better.

“In this game I want to try other solutions. Tomorrow for example Michael [Essien] will play in the same position, he is a lucky man because he has the quality to play in many spaces on the pitch.

“He (Mikel) plays in a position, the same position as I played, where it is not so easy to score. It is important for him to play well for the team, an important position for the team because from there passes a lot of play for the team – It is not so important to score.”

Ancelotti’s English still needs a little work, but he has obviously managed to communicate to the team how he wants them to play, and with a couple of good practices under their belt should be able to give a fine account of themselves against Club America.

They are playing in the new Dallas Cowboys stadium, which cost over a BILLION dollars to create, including the biggest HD TV screen in the world. It is four-sided and hangs over the middle of the pitch so it can be seen from all four sides of the arena. The cost for that was around $40m alone! The whole set-up is overlooked by a fully retractable roof which will protect the players from the extremes of the weather in Dallas.

“This place is amazing,” said Petr Cech. “I remember when Cardiff was closed for the Carling Cup Final in 2005 against Liverpool and that was a great experience. Well this is a newer, much bigger stadium and all the noise stays in which makes it special.

“That is an unbelievable screen in the middle. It must be great fun for the supporters. The cost doesn’t surprise me.”

1 Comment
  1. Richie says

    Respect to Club America, and they will be playing in front of thousands of their fans, but Chelsea still need to beat them well to show that we are going the right way.

    Come on you Blues!!!!

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