THE one positive from Chelsea’s FA Cup defeat by Everton on penalties is that Carlo Ancelotti’s faltering side can now focus solely on the trophy that has proved agonisingly elusive in recent years.
Not that FC Copenhagen will be concerned with that when the Danes host the Premier League champions in their atmospheric Parken Stadium tonight in the first leg of their Champions League, last 16 tie.
While there is a huge difference in experience between the two with Copenhagen in uncharted territory up against a club with five Champions League semi-finals in the last seven years, Chelsea’s current malaise suggests Ancelotti’s side could be in for a testing night in the Danish capital.
Copenhagen have been thorny opponents for some of Europe’s big names in recent years. They were undefeated at home in Group D this season, holding Barcelona to a 1-1 draw, while they also enjoyed a victory over Manchester United a few seasons ago.
With Chelsea’s Premier League title hopes all but gone and defeat by Everton ending their dream of a third consecutive FA Cup, Ancelotti is now under pressure to deliver Europe’s biggest club prize for the first time.
“We wanted to repeat our FA Cup success,” the Italian said after penalty misses by Ashley Cole and Nicolas Anelka cost them dear at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.
“It is a very important competition for us, but now we have to move forward and use these days to recover energy and prepare for the next games.
“It is not an easy moment because we have to play very important games but sometimes it is good to play tough games because you are more in focus, so we don’t have be afraid to play against Copenhagen, it could be a good motivation.”
Copenhagen are coached by enigmatic Norwegian Stale Solbakken, who played in midfield for the club before his career was abruptly ended by a heart attack on the training ground.
Solbakken’s heart problems have not had any effect on his competitive nature, however, and he and Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola had to be separated following the final whistle of the group game in Denmark.
Though a quintessentially Danish team with a well-organised defence and a quick, technical passing game, Solbakken’s side has a distinctly South American flavour going forward.
The Brazilian pairing of box-to-box midfielder Claudemir and striker Cesar Santin are augmented by Christian Bolanos, a technically gifted Costa Rican midfielder who is adept at getting forward and creating chances.
On the wing, former Chelsea player Jesper Gronkjaer is still capable of causing problems, as he showed against Barcelona.
While Chelsea’s season has hit the skids during the English winter, Copenhagen have been on their mid-season break and have not played a competitive fixture since early December.
They have kept sharp by playing in Spain but a battle-hardened Chelsea with a point to prove and 50 million-pound striker Fernando Torres eager to justify his huge fee will be an entirely more taxing challenge.
Elsewhere, Jose Mourinho ended Chelsea’s half a century wait for an English title, he brought European Cup glory back to Inter Milan after 45 years and now he battles Olympique Lyon’s mesmeric hold over mighty Real Madrid.
If there was ever a man to conquer a hoodoo it is the Portuguese coach but he has more than one jinx to deal with in tonight’s last-16 first leg in France.
Lyon have beaten Real at home three times in a row in the competition including last year where they condemned the Spaniards to their sixth successive last 16 elimination.
Overcoming Claude Puel’s team and the mental block of quarter-final progress will be no mean feat but Mourinho, as ever, oozes the confidence that prompted the nine-times winners to appoint him last May.
“No one keeps me awake, neither Lyon nor anyone else,” the outspoken Mourinho told reporters after Saturday’s comfortable 2-0 La Liga win at home to Levante where he rested several players.
“The night I don’t sleep well is after the match. Ever since we drew Lyon we have been following them. (Real consultant Zinedine) Zidane knows them and has been giving me information.”
On a personal note, Mourinho is bidding to become the first coach to win the Champions League with three different clubs after stunning the European game with Porto’s 2004 triumph and then taking just two seasons to mould a winning side at Inter.
May’s victory in the final over Bayern Munich is still fresh in his memory but with the brilliance of Cristiano Ronaldo and pumped-up striker Karim Benzema returning to face his former team, Mourinho’s prospects look as good as with Inter last year.
