Terry : Nemanja Matic's absence from the English League Cup final is "a big miss"
Chelsea captain John Terry believes Nemanja Matic's absence from the
English League Cup final is "a big miss" and added on Tuesday (24th
February) that he expects "a tight game" against Tottenham Hotspur on
Sunday (1st March), while goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois insisted they
weren't solely focussed on in-form Harry Kane and said "we need to see
how to stop him, but of course stop all of Tottenham".
Chelsea face Tottenham Hotspur in the English League Cup final on Sunday (1st March).
It is a repeat of the 2008 final, which Tottenham won 2-1 under the management of Juande Ramos.
A lot has changed at both clubs since that day, none of the Spurs team that day remain, while Petr Cech, John Terry, John Obi Mikel and the recently-returned Didier Drogba are still at Chelsea.
The two sides have met twice already in the English Premier League this season, Chelsea were 3-0 winners at Stamford Bridge when the sides met on December 3rd, while Spurs won the return fixture at White Hart Lane 5-3 on New Years Day.
"It's going to be a tight game, over the two games, you look at the two league games, us winning 3-0 at the Bridge, (losing) 5-3 at White Hart Lane. It's going to be a tight game. They're in pretty good form themselves at the moment, we've come off the back of a draw (1-1 against Burnley) going into this game. So we're hungry to bounce back and win the trophy" captain John Terry said.
Chelsea's build-up to the game has been dominated by the absence of midfielder Nemanja Matic, who is suspended after being sent off against Burnley for his reaction to Ashley Barnes' tackle in their 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge.
The Serbian's suspension, which Terry described as "a big miss", and the fact that Barnes received no caution for the challenge provoked a furious reaction from manager Jose Mourinho.
Gary Cahill denied there was a siege mentality within the club going into the game
"No I think we're fully focussed on the job we've got to do. You know whatever has happened in the past, whether it be like you said the incidents that have happened in the last few weeks, whether it be the result that we spoke about (against Burnley), everything, all of that goes out the window for the final" the England defender said.
Thibaut Courtois is vying with Petr Cech to start the final and he will be looking to keep out the in-form Tottenham striker Harry Kane, if the Belgian goalkeeper plays at Wembley.
"I think of course he's doing very well the last ten or twelve games, I think he's scored almost every game one goal, so yeah we need to see how to stop him, but of course stop all of Tottenham. Because if you stop him maybe there is another guy who can score. So it will be a strong team performance to stop Tottenham and win that title."
Chelsea face Tottenham Hotspur in the English League Cup final on Sunday (1st March).
It is a repeat of the 2008 final, which Tottenham won 2-1 under the management of Juande Ramos.
A lot has changed at both clubs since that day, none of the Spurs team that day remain, while Petr Cech, John Terry, John Obi Mikel and the recently-returned Didier Drogba are still at Chelsea.
The two sides have met twice already in the English Premier League this season, Chelsea were 3-0 winners at Stamford Bridge when the sides met on December 3rd, while Spurs won the return fixture at White Hart Lane 5-3 on New Years Day.
"It's going to be a tight game, over the two games, you look at the two league games, us winning 3-0 at the Bridge, (losing) 5-3 at White Hart Lane. It's going to be a tight game. They're in pretty good form themselves at the moment, we've come off the back of a draw (1-1 against Burnley) going into this game. So we're hungry to bounce back and win the trophy" captain John Terry said.
Chelsea's build-up to the game has been dominated by the absence of midfielder Nemanja Matic, who is suspended after being sent off against Burnley for his reaction to Ashley Barnes' tackle in their 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge.
The Serbian's suspension, which Terry described as "a big miss", and the fact that Barnes received no caution for the challenge provoked a furious reaction from manager Jose Mourinho.
Gary Cahill denied there was a siege mentality within the club going into the game
"No I think we're fully focussed on the job we've got to do. You know whatever has happened in the past, whether it be like you said the incidents that have happened in the last few weeks, whether it be the result that we spoke about (against Burnley), everything, all of that goes out the window for the final" the England defender said.
Thibaut Courtois is vying with Petr Cech to start the final and he will be looking to keep out the in-form Tottenham striker Harry Kane, if the Belgian goalkeeper plays at Wembley.
"I think of course he's doing very well the last ten or twelve games, I think he's scored almost every game one goal, so yeah we need to see how to stop him, but of course stop all of Tottenham. Because if you stop him maybe there is another guy who can score. So it will be a strong team performance to stop Tottenham and win that title."
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