Qelle: www.soccerage.com
Crespo: one of Chelsea's galaxy of stars who could face Reading (Getty Images)
12/02/2003. It's almost a local derby in the Carling Cup as Premiership leaders Chelsea head west down the M4 to the Madejski Stadium, home of Reading, who moved into sixth place in the First Division with their weekend victory over Watford.
The Royals have done well since Steve Coppell took over from Alan Pardew as manager, and with home advantage in a one-off Cup tie they are unlikely to be overawed. Much will depend upon what team Claudio Ranieri puts out, and indeed what priority he attaches to progressing in this competition – which Chelsea won in 1965 and 1998, finishing as runners-up in 1972.
But Reading midfielder Steven Sidwell, the former Arsenal trainee who has excelled at Reading, told the club's official website: "I've got some friends at Chelsea and they're saying that Ranieri wants to win everything, so I know for a fact that he'll put out a very strong team. He wants to win this competition."
Sidwell is relishing the opportunity to take on some of the best midfielders in the country. "It's every kid's dream to be a professional footballer, and when you come up against great players like Chelsea's it's fantastic. I thrive on playing against big players, it's a test for me and a challenge for me to show how good I am.
"You never know who they're going to put out, but I want to play against their top players - Veron, Lampard, Cole - I'll enjoy playing against anyone and the bigger the name the better.
"I've never played against Frank Lampard before but I'm a great admirer of the way he plays. He's done so well recently, he's a box-to-box player who scores goals, wins his fair share of tackles and he's also a good passer. People put me in that sort of category as well, but I'm really just a hard-working midfielder who puts his tackles in and if I pop the odd goal in, great."
In fact Ranieri could rest key players in the wake of Sunday's 1-0 victory against Manchester United and ahead of Saturday's Premiership trip to Leeds. Veron is battling to recover from the back injury that forced him to miss the clash with former club United.
As for Reading, they have problems in attack, with Nicky Forster their only fit striker. Shaun Goater had knee surgery on Monday and is out for a month, while Darius Henderson is suffering from a groin strain. Steve Brown and Adie Williams are both recovering from knee operations, so Coppell will probably field an unchanged back five. However, he may rotate the midfield with Scott Murray looking to win back a starting place.
A boost for morale in the Reading camp is that winger Murray and full-back Graeme Murty have been named in the Scotland Future squad for the clash with Turkey on 10 December. That will give Murty his first taste of international football, and Murray the opportunity to challenge for a place in the full squad.
At Chelsea, of course, it's wall-to-wall internationals...
Graham Lister
reading wird wohl sehr defensiv spielen, ich tippe auf einen knappen sieg von chelsea (handicap x)
Crespo: one of Chelsea's galaxy of stars who could face Reading (Getty Images)
12/02/2003. It's almost a local derby in the Carling Cup as Premiership leaders Chelsea head west down the M4 to the Madejski Stadium, home of Reading, who moved into sixth place in the First Division with their weekend victory over Watford.
The Royals have done well since Steve Coppell took over from Alan Pardew as manager, and with home advantage in a one-off Cup tie they are unlikely to be overawed. Much will depend upon what team Claudio Ranieri puts out, and indeed what priority he attaches to progressing in this competition – which Chelsea won in 1965 and 1998, finishing as runners-up in 1972.
But Reading midfielder Steven Sidwell, the former Arsenal trainee who has excelled at Reading, told the club's official website: "I've got some friends at Chelsea and they're saying that Ranieri wants to win everything, so I know for a fact that he'll put out a very strong team. He wants to win this competition."
Sidwell is relishing the opportunity to take on some of the best midfielders in the country. "It's every kid's dream to be a professional footballer, and when you come up against great players like Chelsea's it's fantastic. I thrive on playing against big players, it's a test for me and a challenge for me to show how good I am.
"You never know who they're going to put out, but I want to play against their top players - Veron, Lampard, Cole - I'll enjoy playing against anyone and the bigger the name the better.
"I've never played against Frank Lampard before but I'm a great admirer of the way he plays. He's done so well recently, he's a box-to-box player who scores goals, wins his fair share of tackles and he's also a good passer. People put me in that sort of category as well, but I'm really just a hard-working midfielder who puts his tackles in and if I pop the odd goal in, great."
In fact Ranieri could rest key players in the wake of Sunday's 1-0 victory against Manchester United and ahead of Saturday's Premiership trip to Leeds. Veron is battling to recover from the back injury that forced him to miss the clash with former club United.
As for Reading, they have problems in attack, with Nicky Forster their only fit striker. Shaun Goater had knee surgery on Monday and is out for a month, while Darius Henderson is suffering from a groin strain. Steve Brown and Adie Williams are both recovering from knee operations, so Coppell will probably field an unchanged back five. However, he may rotate the midfield with Scott Murray looking to win back a starting place.
A boost for morale in the Reading camp is that winger Murray and full-back Graeme Murty have been named in the Scotland Future squad for the clash with Turkey on 10 December. That will give Murty his first taste of international football, and Murray the opportunity to challenge for a place in the full squad.
At Chelsea, of course, it's wall-to-wall internationals...
Graham Lister
reading wird wohl sehr defensiv spielen, ich tippe auf einen knappen sieg von chelsea (handicap x)
