[Chelsea FC News - Chelsea Football Club | The Chelsea FC] Chelsea vs Norwich...

[Vishal Marathe]

 

Chelsea vs Norwich

(English Premier League)

Date: Saturday, 27th August 2011; Kick-Off: 15:00 BST, TV: ESPN
Venue: Stamford Bridge

Chelsea and Andre Villas Boas secured their first win of the 2011-12 EPL campaign by defeating West Brom 2-1 at Stamford Bridge.  Norwich City on the other hand had to settle with 1-1 draw at home against Stoke.

Chelsea vs Norwich - Catch all the latest team news, match preview, pre-match analysis, interviews and a lot more right here at Chelsea FC News.

Chelsea Team News

Chelsea manager did confirm that David Luiz wont feature in this tie as he is still recovering from his injury but has returned to full training on Thursday morning.

Andre Villas Boas also confirmed that our new signing Juan Mata who completed his move to Chelsea a few days ago could also feature (probably on the bench), but chances of him starting are very few considering the fact that he only had a few days of training with the team.

As for the rest of the team, leaving Micheal Essien and Petr Cech everyone is fit to be picked in the starting line-up for tomorrows game against Norwich City.

Norwich City Team News

Norwich who made 11 changes to the team that drew with Stoke for their Carling Cup clash with MK Dons, have their injury concerns as well with midfielder Wes Hoolahan coming off with a hamstring concern and defender Daniel Ayala injuring his knee.

However Norwich Boss Paul Lambert will definitely put up his best starting XI against Chelsea this Saturday.

Probable Team Line-ups:

Chelsea: Hilario; Bosingwa, Ivanovic, Terry, Cole; Ramires, Mikel, Lampard; Drogba, Torres, Malouda.

Norwich City: Ruddy; De Laet, Ayala, Tierney, Naughton; Crofts, Johnson, Bennett, Pllkington; Martin, Holt

Andre Villas Boas on Juan Mata and David Luiz: 

"It is too early. This league is very specific in terms of intensity and emotionally and culturally. It doesn't mean he (Juan Mata) is not threatening the starting 11 but two training sessions is short for playing and creating new relationships with the players, so we will assess tomorrow. Tomorrow is the decisive day for the strategic part of our game and we will decide tomorrow."

"David Luiz is coming back to full training, today he had a full intensity training. It will be too early for him but he is selected for Brazil and I am going to let him go to add a couple of minutes.

Andre Villas Boas on Chelsea's team news:

"On other fronts there is nothing special. Petr has made a tremendous recovery and is looking good for after the international break, and Essien is long-term. Everybody is up for selection. At the moment the funny thing is we are on full weeks running into a game, then when the transfer window finishes we have two games a week. It seems now we went into a pattern of the 18 and 11 but it doesn't mean changes won't happen after."

Andre Villas Boas on our new signing Juan Mata:

"He can play right, left and through the middle, he has been tested as well in 4-4-2, not just 4-3-3 so it gives us flexibility in formation as well."

 "He has an eye for goal and a magnificent record for assists throughout his career. Now comes one of the biggest challenges for his career now in the Premiership and he has made public his comments on that, it is a step up for his career and we hope he can add to the quality of our squad."

 "We were looking for a player that would give us creativity in the final third, not that we don't have it, but we want always to add when you can find talent of this nature."

 "We thought the price was reasonable for what Mata's qualities and his demonstrations in the Spanish league and Champions League so we decided to bring him in. It's a big addition everybody was looking for, speculation was coming from all fronts, and criticism for a lack of market activity, so we can feel laid off now!"

Andre Villas Boas on Norwich City and manager Paul Lambert:

"I cannot go in depth on Norwich last season but I know they had a fantastic season, an incredible amount of goals scored last season and the season before, coming up twice."

"Paul Lambert likes to organise his teams and play good attacking football, that's why they were the highest scoring team last year."

"It is twice making promotion and this is a high value because you know how tight the Championship is."

"I can only assess what has been happening in pre-season and their first three games and there were some changes Paul made to his team. It leaves us a little bit trying to assess what he is going to do, it seems his principles are well established but to get the starting 11 right will be difficult for us because he changed dramatically his team in the last three games."

"In two difficult games coming out with a draw, almost a win against Stoke, means Norwich is here to play a part and I look forward to playing against him. I think Paul was influenced throughout his career on his influences in European football, and maybe why he uses a mixture of European flair with the attacking British game."

Andre Villas Boas on the potential transfer of Alvaro Pereira:

"I can confirm that we have made a bid for him but we are very far apart in terms of numbers, it's a big, big difference. I am not very confident."

"Not only in Porto, he has a tremendous influence in the Uruguayan national team and played an important part in the Copa America."

"He plays regularly, I think he beat the record for games played in Porto, and gives consistency. He has versatility as well, he can play in side in midfield, on the wing and left-back, so he can add to any squad in the world."

Andre Villas Boas on the speculation and rumors surrounding the future of Florent Malouda:

"Speaking about the number of goals and assists we can speak about the number of goals and assists Malouda has for Chelsea. This is the kind of importance this player has for us, he is an excellent professional, very driven and determined throughout his career, so we can't let ourselves sell talents of this quality. "

"As you know I have no problems whatsoever with the average age of the squad because I believe in their competence and I believe in Malouda's competence."

KEY STAT

Chelsea are unbeaten in our last 61 games against newly-promoted teams, a run stretching back to April 2001 and including 52 wins and nine draws.


History :


Chelsea v Norwich City in all competitions:
 
Games played 41
Chelsea wins 15
Norwich wins 14
Draws 12


Head to head in the League at Stamford Bridge:

Games played 16
Chelsea wins 7
Norwich wins 4
Draws 5


Biggest league win at Stamford Bridge for each team:

Chelsea 4-0 Norwich18/12/2004
Chelsea 0-3 Norwich16/11/1991

MORE TO FOLLOW...

So get ready for some pulsating action at Stamford Bridge. Come on CHELSEA!!! KTBFFH.

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Posted By Vishal Marathe to Chelsea FC News - Chelsea Football Club | The Chelsea FC at 8/26/2011 11:50:00 PM