Thursday 14 September 2000
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| 19:30-22:00 |
| UEFA
Cup Football: Chelsea vs St Gallen - Live |
|
Chelsea
entertain Swiss team St Gallen in the first leg of the UEFA Cup
first round. Richard Keys introduces the live action.
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UEFA
Cup: Chelsea
v St Gallen: Thursday
 |
|
Gianluca
Vialli
|
On
paper, this UEFA Cup first round first leg should have been a
stroll in the park for Chelsea - but then the events of the last
48 hours unfolded. And now a managerless squad
of superstars with one win in 10 games face a slippery away jaunt
into the unknown, with Tuesday's unforeseen dismissal of Gianluca
Vialli preying all-too-heavily on their minds.
With Graham Rix placed in temporary charge, and the bookies
deciding that Zola, then Venables, and then either Johan Cruyff
or Aime Jacquet were favourite to succeed Chelsea's winningest
manager in history, they can't afford to take anything for granted.
Especially against a side rated as one of the top three in Switzerland
and who almost qualified for last season's Champions' League.
The main threat will come from Ghanaian striker Charles Amoah
who won the Swiss Golden Boot last year with 25 goals.
The
Blues probably have more chance against St Gallen than an Italian
or Spanish club, but the Swiss outfit started the season earlier
than Chelsea so they might be a bit further ahead physically
in terms of their preparation, and that could make a difference.
They have won two and drawn two of their five league games since
mid-August, but did little to impress during last weekend's
1-1 draw at Yverdon.
Chelsea
should be expected to overpower a moderate European side and
the likes of Hasselbaink and Zola should relish this type of
defence, particularly at Stamford Bridge where the Blues have
scored in their last 16 games. The key could be not conceding
the away goal which could ake the return very uncomfortable.
Sportlist
prediction: Chelsea 3-1 St Gallen
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