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Kepa says Blues must be wary of rebel fighters
KEPA ARRIZABALAGA has warned Chelsea not to be taken in by the chaos surrounding Valencia.
An inexperienced Chelsea team – four of whom could be making their Champions League debuts tonight – face a Valencia side ripped apart by internal wrangling after the sacking of popular manager Marcelino (inset).
Valencia’s furious players last night refused to appear alongside new coach Albert Celades, who opened his reign with a 5-2 defeat at Barcelona on Sunday, at the mandatory pre-match press conference.
The Spanish club will face a UEFA fine for not fielding a player for the press conference.
And Valencia chiefs told the players – some voiced their anger at the decision to axe Marcelino on social media – that they will have to pay for their actions.
But Spain international Arrizabalaga, 24, who joined Chelsea from Athletic Bilbao, has warned the young players not to be fooled by the potential shambles.
The Blues goalkeeper said: “Valencia are always going to be a dangerous team.
“The circumstances in terms of changing their coach are not the best to prepare for a Champions League game.
“But at times circumstances can make you a more dangerous proposition, so I’m expecting the best type of Valencia performance.
“They have world-class players. I recently spent time with them as part of the Spanish national team.
“They weren’t expecting this, but Valencia is a team which is very compact and they know how to defend and counter-attack.”
Chelsea boss Frank Lampard also warned: “I am aware of what’s going on but it doesn’t affect my approach.
“We are going up against a team that has fantastic quality.”
Lampard has some experience of what Valencia’s players are going through. In 2011 Chelsea faced the Spaniards in the Champions League as then manager Andre Villas-Boas’ reign began to unravel, with senior players unhappy at his methods.
The out-of-favour Lampard was dropped to the bench as Chelsea went through.
But Villas-Boas was axed soon after a disastrous quarter-final first-leg defeat at Napoli.
Lampard added: “My experience of moments like this is that it can be a positive as much as a negative on the pitch.” FOOTBALL Premier League TODAY’S DIARY FOOTBALL
UEFA Champions League
Group E
Napoli v Liverpool (8pm) ............................... Red Bull Salzburg v Genk (8pm) ...................
Group F Borussia Dortmund v Barcelona (8pm) ....... Inter Milan v Slavia Prague (5.55pm) ...........
Group G Benfica v Red Bull Leipzig (8pm) ................. Lyon v Zenit St Petersburg (5.55pm) ............
Group H
Ajax v Lille (8pm) ............................................ Chelsea v Valencia (8pm) ..............................
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