Liam Rosenior faces arguably his most important match as Chelsea manager tonight, and possibly even his toughest, as the Blues go to an injury-stricken Napoli in the Champions League.
Antonio Conte shares a touchline with Rosenior in what is only his sixth Chelsea game in charge, after winning four of his first five. Rosenior matched a Conte record in his first Champions League match.
The 1-0 win over Pafos has pushed Chelsea into eighth place in the first-round Champions League table. The top eight go into the last 16 immediately, while 8th-24th go into a play-off for the last 16 round.
Despite sitting in eighth, Chelsea are one of eight clubs sitting on 13 points. Three of those eight are in the top eight, with Newcastle and PSG ahead of Chelsea. But five are hoping to overtake Rosenior’s side.
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Plenty to play for then, with Rosenior and Chelsea desperate to avoid a Champions League play-off, which would mean two more games to play in February. So, all eyes on the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium.
The three figures crucial to Napoli v Chelsea tonight
Goran Pandev played for Napoli for three years between 2011 and 2014, with his first year at the club a loan from Inter Milan. The North Macedonian star would go on to score 22 goals in 124 appearances.
While he may fall short of iconic status, the former Inter Milan and Lazio star is a Serie A icon, and ahead of tonight’s clash, he predicted a win for Napoli despite all of Antonio Conte’s problems and injuries.
Goran Pandev.
Photo by Tiziano Ballabio/NurPhoto via Getty Images
He named three figures as crucial to Napoli getting a result, highlighting the experience of the manager and Napoli duo Scott McTominay and Rasmus Hojlund as players who can provide a difference tonight.
He told Gazzetta Dello Sport, as per TMW, that Napoli can win: “[Napoli are in] an unparalleled moment. A gutted team is a team in difficulty. But I believe: anyone with one of the top three midfielders in Europe.
“And I’m referring to McTominay, can afford to have faith in themselves. Chelsea are a great team, but Conte knows how to win. Maradona can lead the way; Hojlund does the rest,” Pandev said this week.
Napoli are without seven key players, Chelsea missing five
It has been a disastrous season for Napoli, and it’s hardly Conte’s fault. Having won Serie A last season, the Italian had had to tend with an injury crisis, and even for Chelsea tonight, he’s without seven players.
Antonio Conte loves the new Chelsea owners 😬
Do they come anywhere near close to Roman Abramovich?
Antonio Conte on Chelsea
Photo by SSC NAPOLI/SSC NAPOLI via Getty Images
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David Neres and Vanja Milinkovic-Savic are the latest to drop out. Even in the Napoli squad, Romelu Lukaku has made his return but Conte has already admitted that the Belgian is not 100% fit even now.
Chelsea though, also have their injury issues. Dario Essugo, Levi Colwill, Tosin Adarabioyo and Mykhailo Mudryk are all missing. Filip Jorgensen and Cole Palmer are doubts, while Romeo Lavia is back in training.
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