Cluj eye upset of season at Stamford Bridge

News
By published

LONDON - CFR Cluj will create the upset of the season if they avoid defeat against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday and help stop last season's beaten finalists advancing to the last 16 of the Champions League.

Chelsea have already failed to beat Cluj in the competition having drawn 0-0 in their first meeting in Group A in Romania in October.

But Cluj have lost their last three Champions League games while Chelsea recovered from their home defeat by Arsenal last weekend with an outstanding 2-0 win at Bolton Wanderers in the Premier League on Saturday.

If Chelsea beat Cluj as expected they will qualify for the last 16, but if they lose or draw and Girondins Bordeaux beat AS Roma in Rome, the French and Italian sides will advance at Chelsea's expense.

"I don't think about going out because I believe in these players. But we need to play better than we have so far if we want to go on," he said.

"Is it unthinkable that Chelsea go out? Well, I don't think any people in the world are thinking about this, but it is possible because we have given this opportunity to other teams," Scolari added.

Midfielder Gabriel Muresan will play in the centre of defence and Emmanuel Kone will go into Muresan's midfield berth.

Cluj president Iuliu Muresan was far from impressed with the way the team has played recently, saying: "I'm really angry as recent performances have been poor and somebody must be responsible for that."

Trombetta told reporters last week: "I know that my job is threatened but I'm thinking now only about the Chelsea match. It's crucial for me and the players."

Gregg Davies
Gregg Davies

Gregg Davies is the Chief Sub Editor of FourFourTwo magazine, joining the team in January 2008 and spending seven years working on the website. He supports non-league behemoths Hereford and commentates on Bulls matches for Radio Hereford FC. His passions include chocolate hobnobs and attempting to shoehorn Ronnie Radford into any office conversation.