Its Going To Be Tough

Gianluca Vialli is tipping Lazio to win Chelsea's Champions League group-leaving the Londoners scrapping for second place.

Vialli, the former Sampdoria and Juventus star , believes that Feyenoord, Marseille and Chelsea are fighting for the Runners-Up spot even before a ball is kicked.

Chelsea have already helped kick one Italian giant, AC Milan out of the competition, but he is not so confident of facing Lazio who are the favourites to win Serie A.

Chelsea open their second group Champions League campaign against Dutch giants Feyenoord at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday knowing that they must get a home win.

Vialli said "This is a mini-league so anything can happen .But I think Lazio are definetly the best team in the group and behind them we all have some chasing to do.

"Its going to be a fight between the three of us"

Vialli refuses to let his team get carried away by their European results because he knows better than anyone that the Blues have been struggling in the Premiership.

Chairman Ken Bates has already voiced his concern over their league results especially a morale damaging defeat  at lowly Derby .

Vialli's reputation as a coach rose to new heights in Italy after Chelsea pulled off two fighting draws against Milan, but the Blues boss dismisses those performances.

"What do you say in England? One swallow does not make a summer " he said "So one good match does,not make you a unbeatable team".

"We know we are a good side but most of the job is still to be done in Europe"
"Unless we manage to do well in the Champions League and the Premiership , I wont be happy as a manager"

"This year so far , it seems we need a big match to play at our best , which is not goood enough if you want to be succesfull"
"We have to impose ourselfs against great teams And against teams that are not as good as us"

Vialli praised the unstinting work of Dutch goalkeeper Ed De Goey who faces his old club Feyenoord this week.
The manager said "Ed is doing very well this season"

"The fact that he is playing against his old team might give him extra motivation "
"We haven't been really succesfull in England yet, until you have proved you are the best English supporters and the media dont give you a lot of credit."

"That can be another motivation factor for Ed and the other players to do well in England -and get the credit they deserve"

"I am a perfectionist- and I know there is a lot we can improve on at Chelsea"


Graham Nickless
Sunday Mirror