Curbishley ready for Chelsea challenge
Alan Curbishley believes Chelsea must learn to “cope” with frustrating tactics from teams both in the Champions League and Barclays Premiership – but promised a “different game” in this weekend’s top-of-the-table clash at Charlton.
Jose Mourinho’s men struggled to break down a determined Anderlecht side in their Group G opener at Stamford Bridge last night, where a free-kick from Frank Lampard proved enough to secure them three points.
The Belgians had set their stall out early on, getting plenty of men behind the ball as they seemed to have come to west-London intent on keeping the home side out rather than looking for a first win in eight Champions League matches.
Curbishley, however, believes such tactics come with the territory of Chelsea competing to be the best, both at home and abroad.
“It is something which Chelsea have to cope with – they have to cope with it in the Premiership, and they will have to cope with it in the Champions League because teams are going to give them that respect,” said the Charlton manager, whose side have opened the new season with an impressive 100% record from four matches.
“Anderlecht did not come to play, they came to get behind the ball and restricted Chelsea to shooting from long range.
“People know Chelsea are really dangerous on the break, but against Anderlecht, they could not get past the full-backs to put any crosses in, mostly because they were doubling up on them.
“A lot of the Chelsea fans turned up expecting a big result, but the most important thing, and both Frank Lampard and Jose Mourinho have said it, is that they got the three points. But it was not the game which they expected.”
Curbishley added on ITV1: “I was interested to see Jose had said they have got to win some games, not play some games – but I understand what he is saying, and it could be a different game at The Valley this weekend.”
