LONDON • Twice an FA Cup winner with Chelsea, Gianfranco Zola knows the importance of the competition and what it means to win the oldest tournament in England.
The 52-year-old Italian, now an assistant coach to Blues manager Maurizio Sarri, has urged his team not to take the Cup lightly or to treat it as just one of four trophies they are seeking this season.
"For me, I always rated it as one of the best. It is open to everyone like football should be. It is an open competition and it feeds the dream of many people," he said at a pre-match conference ahead of today's third-round tie at home to Championship side Nottingham Forest.
"The crowd loves it, everybody does. We are trying to establish ourselves in this championship and we want to do well in the FA Cup. It is a pity the game comes when we have played so many games."
Zola also felt that striker Alvaro Morata, who has scored just one goal in his last eight games in all competitions, needed to be patient despite his drought.
ENGLISH FA CUP
3RD RD (SELECTED)TODAY
Man United v Reading
Ch111, 8.25pm
Chelsea v Nottingham
Ch111, 10.55pm
Blackpool v Arsenal
Ch111, tomorrow, 1.25am
Gillingham v Cardiff
Ch112, 10.55pm
Newcastle v Blackburn
Ch112, tomorrow, 1.25am
West Ham v Birmingham
Ch113, 8.25pm
Everton v Lincoln
Ch113, 10.55pm
Crystal Palace v Grimsby
Ch113, tomorrow, 1.25amTOMORROW
Man City v Rotherham
Ch111, 9.55pm
Newport v Leicester
Ch111, Monday, 12.25am
Woking v Watford
Ch112, 9.55pm
Fulham v Oldham
Ch113, 9.55pmMONDAY
Wolves v Liverpool
Ch111, Tuesday, 3.40am
All on Singtel TV
"I have been a striker... When you look for goals and they don't come, it happens. Mainly it is confidence," he added.
"Alvaro has to understand to be important for the club. The way we play it helps the front players to score, you have to keep working.
"This is also the big issue we have for the amount of time we have the ball. We don't create enough chances. It is part of the process, we are not the perfect team."
Following the clash today, Chelsea will travel to Wembley to take on Tottenham in the first leg of the League Cup semi-finals on Tuesday and Zola hinted that Sarri will rotate his squad.
"You have to try to save some players," he said. "We have some players who cannot play, like Pedro, Willian and (Olivier) Giroud (due to injuries). It will leave space for others. We will rotate a little."
Off the pitch, a Chelsea supporter has been banned from attending games for three years after being found guilty of homophobic chants during the club's Premier League game against Brighton at the Amex Stadium last month.
George Bradley pleaded guilty at Brighton Magistrates' Court on Thursday to the offence of using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour to cause harassment, alarm or distress. The 20-year-old was also fined £965 (S$1,663).
Meanwhile, Arsenal manager Unai Emery insisted that he will not take his opponents lightly when they travel to League One side Blackpool today.
The Spaniard will be in charge of his first FA Cup tie and he hopes to avoid a repeat of an outcome similar to when his Sevilla side lost to third-tier Racing Santander in the Copa del Rey in 2013.
He said: "I think we can win, we can lose, we can draw but we must be concerned. It is important also to prepare and respect every team."
REUTERS
CHELSEA V NOTTINGHAM FOREST
Singtel TV Ch111, 10.55pm
BLACKPOOL V ARSENAL
Ch111, tomorrow, 1.25am
Edinson Cavani could miss Paris St Germain's Champions League clash with Manchester United due to a hip injury. The Uruguay international striker appears to be a major injury concern for Tuesday's
PSG star Edinson Cavani doubtful for Manchester United clash
"Messi is a one-club man. It's more than what he does on the pitch - his relationship with Barça will last forever. I use the example of Pele, who was always at Santos. We wantMessito always be at Barça, whether that's playing or linked to the club [when he's retired]," Bartomeu said.
Newcastle took a huge step towards securing their Premier League survival as Ayoze Perez sealed a 1-0 win against Leicester on Friday. Rafael Benitez's side moved 10 points clear of the relegation zone thanks to Perez's first half header at the King Power Stadium. Newcastle's first away league win
Ayoze Perez heads Newcastle closer to safety in EPL
Football: Playing the OLE United way, Football News & Top
Lyon's Anthony Lopes makes a save from Barcelona's Lionel Messi. Emmanuel Foudrot, Reuters LYON, France - Barcelona were held to a frustrating 0-0 draw at Olympique Lyonnais in their Champions League last-16 first leg on Tuesday as both sides remained unbeaten in this season's competition.
Lyon vs Barcelona: Wasteful Barcelona held to goalless draw
Former England footballer Paul Gascoigne will stand trial for sexual assault in October after allegedly kissing a woman without consent on a train, a judge Ex-football star faces assault trial.
Paul Gascoigne » Internationals - worldfootball.net
Man United not 'satisfied' despite winning run, says David de Gea Manchester United News:
Mar 15, 2019 · Olivier Giroud is the Europa League's top scorer - here he is, with Dominic Fifield: Olivier Giroud wants Premier League spot at Chelsea after European hat-trick Read more
Olivier Giroud determined to earn starting spot for Chelsea
Bayern Munich have been crowned Bundesliga champions for the seventh time in a row after beating Eintracht Frankfurt in the last game of the season. win seventh consecutive Bundesliga title.
Brewers aim to keep momentum going vs. Pirates The Milwaukee Brewers don't need Christian Yelich to hit homers to win. After all, Yelich didn't add to his total of 21 on Thursday.
Brewers aim to keep momentum going vs. Pirates
Massimiliano Allegri feels he will leave Juventus with the potential to go on and win the Champions League after it was announced he would step down as head coach at the end of the season. The 51
Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri to leave Serie A
Win over Watford more like draw: Ole, Football News & Top
Manchester City's hopes of retaining their Premier League title suffered a potentially grievous blow as struggling Newcastle United earned a remarkable 2-1 comeback win over the champions at St
Man City title hopes hit by shock defeat at Newcastle | The
City's title surely but brighton no pushovers, Football News
Hazard is expected to make an imminent visit to the Spanish capital to search for houses and get to know the city which will soon be his new home. Soccer Premier League Real Madrid Transfer
Real Madrid Kit Leak: Images of New Home Shirt for 2019/20
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar