Stoke City -Chelsea Preview
Posted Friday, August 27, 2010 by YAHOO Sport
LONDON (SE) - Florent Malouda is confident that Chelsea can continue their fine form at the start of the Premier League season against Stoke on Saturday.
The midfield ace was in sparkling form last season and he hopes that he can fire Chelsea to more success this campaign.
Malouda said: “I am confident we can continue our decent run this season against a good Stoke side.
“There is no better side in Europe then Chelsea at the moment and it is a great club to play for.
“It was a wonderful experience to win the Premier League last season and I want to keep it. The trophy is heavy but I really enjoyed it.
“When you are at a club like this you have to win. The seasons I have spent here have been special but I want to make this year even more so.”
Blues manager Carlo Ancelotti is set to name an unchanged side that has won 6-0 in the past two matches.
And the Italian hopes that his side can push on and win back-to-back titles this season.
Ancelotti said: “We have started really well this season and I hope we can carry on that decent form.
“We have a great opportunity to win successive titles because we have the quality in the squad that no team can match.”
Chelsea have no fresh injuries worries with long term absentee Jose Bosingwa still out with a knee injury.
Stoke manager Tony Pulis hopes to get his side’s campaign back on track against Chelsea on Saturday, so he can spend big next season.
The Potters have made a poor start to the campaign with narrow losses to Wolves and Tottenham.
But Pulis hopes that a shock win at Stamford Bridge can get his side’s season into full swing.
Pulis said: “I am under no illusions that it is going to be a really hard game against Chelsea.
“We got smashed the last time we went down there but I think that we can get something out of the game.
“We haven’t got off to the best start this season but we were really unlucky against Tottenham.
“I have always said that if you get through two seasons in the Premier League you can spend massive in the third.”
New-signing Jon Walters has said that he is made for Premier League football and can adapt quickly to the top flight.
Walters, who joined last week from Ipswich Town, said: “I think I have what it takes at this level of the game.
“If I work hard and keep my head down there is no reason why I cannot score lots of goals.
“We have had a difficult start and it does not get any easier with Chelsea but we have a good chance if we play well.”
Stoke will be without Manny Sidibie who is out for the season with a knee injury, Liam Lawrence (groin) and Kenwyne Jones (ankle).
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