Well after this morning's Champions League draw when Chelsea were drawn against Valencia CF of Spain, one of my wishes came true. Chelsea DID NOT get another English club. Man Utd and Liverpool were drawn against AS Roma and PSV (Alex's club) respectively, you know the one, Alex the Chelsea player who in midweek consigned Emirates XI to another trophyless season. Oh dear what a shame!!
Question for Willie G. Who got the better move now then?? Ha Ha!!
As for the other wish. Well Chelsea didn't get the away leg first. Unfortunately Chelsea will be at home to Valencia on Wednesday April 4th in the first leg, with the second leg taking place in Spain on Tuesday 10th April 2007.
Subject to the right (if you want to look at it that way) results, the semi-final line-up will see Chelsea against Liverpool AGAIN!! Chelsea at home in the first leg, but before we get carried away, lets concentrate on Valencia first.
Asier Del Horno who left Chelsea last Summer, finally made his debut for Valencia against Inter during the week so he could be facing his old team-mates twice in a week, eight months after leaving The Blues.
As for the rest of Valencia CF, who knows? Along with Inter Milan they face UEFA's disciplinary committee next week (Wednesday 14th March) after the infamous brawl at the end of their 2nd leg on Tuesday night.
What could happen? Well wouldn't be ironic if Valencia CF were dismissed from the competition and Inter re-instated and Chelsea faced up to 'Hello, Hello Hernan Crespo,' who could be on his way back to Stamford Bridge in the Summer. Highly unlikely I know but you can never second guess UEFA, or Valencia could be kicked out and Chelsea get a bye to the semis.... no that won't happen - too much revenue would be lost.
Certainly a number of Valencia players could be and WILL be most likely banned - Navarro definitely as he was the worst offender of the lot, but as Navarro was a substitute his absence will not make any difference.
What will make the difference for Valencia in the home leg is the vociferous home crowd - 55,000 of them crammed packed in the Estadio Mestalla - but as Chelsea proved in the sold out (90,000+) Nou Camp in the group game against Barcelona, Chelsea CAN get the right result!!