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The time has come to say goodbye to the English football season . But before that awaits the final of the oldest and probably the most prestigious cup competitions . Although the competition has lost some of its sheen during the last two decades , the charisma of the F.A cup and the sheer passion of the fans towards it still makes it one of the most widely viewed matches in the world . There was a time in English football when winning the cup was equally important for the team as winning the first division league . But nowadays , when the financial returns are huge from the league and low from the cup , the competition has become a practice ground for the youth academy and the fringe players . There have been many examples, most notably Arsene Wenger who never plays his strongest team in cup competitions, even if they are scheduled to play the final .
However today, both managers are likely to field their strongest XI as the stakes are high. On one hand Chelsea are on the verge of becoming the sixth team in history to achieve a double in English football, on the other hand Portsmouth can complete a fairytale run by defeating Chelsea and achieve a miracle .
Chelsea, crowned the Barclays premier league champions would definitely be in a very confident mood and sure of grabbing successive F.A. cup trophies. Ancelotti would be keen to bag the double in his debut season and would be fielding his strongest XI. Lampard has already given a rallying call to his players to avoid another upset win for Portsmouth. However, complacency can upset Chelsea’s applecart as all the Chelsea players know how difficult it would be to beat a motivated Portsmouth. The Chelsea players have immense respect for Avram Grant due to his lovely but short spell at Chelsea where he took them to within a kick from Champions League glory.
“The challenge is very exciting because we have never done the double and this is the chance to make history for the club,” said Drogba.
“But we know how motivated they will be and we know Avram very well. He knows how to motivate and get the best out of players. It’s going to be a difficult final and we have to prepare well. The job he’s done wasn’t easy and I think if they hadn’t had the points taken off they would still be in the Premier League and to get to the final is a great achievement.”
Chelsea will look to grab their season double!
TEAM NEWS : Chelsea would be without their long term absentees like Bosingwa, Essien and Mikel. This would definitely be a golden opportunity for Ballack to play a crucial role in what is being touted as the last match of the icon in a Chelsea shirt. He is out of contract at the summer and would be probably be leaving. Chelsea have no fresh injury worries but Ivanovic is a doubtful starter for the game.
STRATEGY: Chelsea would be definitely playing the 4-3-3 formation with ballack in the central defensive position, lampard and Malouda at the left, Anelka and Kalou at the right. Joe Cole might also start which would mean that Kalou starts from the bench. The wing play of Kalou and Malouda can wreck havoc on the Portsmouth defence with Anelka, Drogba and Lampard bombing down the middle .
Portsmouth are facing a season or probably a lengthy spell in the championship after having some good and fruitful years in the Premiership. The club is in total shambles financially with a massive debt of about $ 150 million . Docked 9 points for going into administration the season was getting worse and worse day by day. However a dream cup run has installed confidence in the players who otherwise are having a horrible time at the club. No wages, No contracts, bleak future are a common for the players. The players very well know that this might be their last match in a Portsmouth shirt as most of them are going to be offloaded in the summer.
However, they are facing a final in Wembley, where players dream of playing. Certainly lady luck has not been kind but they are charting their own destiny . And at the end of the day, they can be part of history. A win which might even be bigger than David slaying Goliath. Much credit of this goes to their gaffer Avram Grant. The man who has single handedly taken the club from despair to a night which they will never forget. But he knows that a win against his former pupils would be a befitting reply to the footballing world driven by money, Abrahimovich and Chelsea football club.
Portsmouth are in great trouble and they might turn it around today!
TEAM NEWS : Jamie O’Hara remains a major doubt for Portsmouth because of a stress fracture in his back. Centre-half Tal Ben-Haim has recovered from a groin problem, Nadir Belhadj and Richard Hughes (both hamstring) should be available, but Aruna Dindane (groin), Kevin-Prince Boateng (ankle), Marc Wilson (hamstring), Hassan Yebda (thigh) and youngster Lenny Sowah (knee) are all concerns for Pompey.
STRATEGY : Portsmouth might be tempted to go with one man up front and defeat Chelsea in their own physical game. Playmakers like Jamie o Hara , Aruna Dindane and Piquonne ,the hero of the Semi final would be needed to fire on all cylinders to cause an upset. Portsmouth might be tempted to pack the midfield so that Lampard and Malouda can be kept quiet.
Teams:
Chelsea (from): Cech, Hilario, Turnbull, A Cole, Kalou, Alex, Drogba, Terry, Malouda, Lampard, Deco, Anelka, Zhirkov, J Cole, Belletti, Ballack, Kakuta, Sturridge, Ferreira, Bruma, Ivanovic.
Portsmouth (from): James, Finnan, Rocha, Mokoena, Ben-Haim, Mullins, Belhadj, Hughes, Boateng, Wilson, Yebda, Utaka, Piquionne, Diop, Dindane, Ashdown, Kanu, Smith, Basinas, Sowah, Vanden Borre, O’Hara.
