With the exception of club captain Olof Mellberg, none of David O’Leary’s men were overly exerted playing for their national teams. Mark Delaney came off in the first half for Wales to allow Mark Hughes to add another attacker while elsewhere in Group 6, Darius Vassell did not make it off the bench in two England games. After keeping a clean sheet last Saturday, Thomas Sørenson’s Denmark side were not in action in midweek and his international team-mate, Martin Laursen, has been sidelined for two weeks and is a major doubt for the Saturday lunchtime clash. No longer troubling Sven Göran Eriksson, the perpetually teenage Lee Hendrie could get a start in central midfield.
Jose Mourinho was far less fortunate though, as his players played across the length and breadth of Europe. Chelsea however, have the sort of strength in depth that would leave David O’Leary bereft of anything to say at post-match interviews. Geremi and Joe Cole have both sprinted out of the early season blocks and will have benefited from the active rest, while the Frank Lampard has levels of indefatigability that would leave Paula Radcliffe bawling. Again.
As much as having a team bankrolled by the oily pockets of Roman Abramovich and led by an arrogant perma-tanned manager should irk, it is impossible not to admire the squad they have put together. After over £190m, the star-studded outfit remains one without any real bright lights to divert attention from the team as a whole. There is no one player who dominates the dressing room with the immensity of his head, and all, while immensely talented international players, have a level of dogged workmanship that make it difficult to see Chelsea not claim the title within the next two seasons.
Villa should not really be able to compete. In the same time that Abramovich has showered his club with riches, Doug Ellis has consolidated, determined not to send Villa down the same road as similar sized clubs like Leeds and Everton. David O’Leary has spent less than £10 in two seasons at the club. However, the monetary comparison now is not all that different from the end of last season when Villa beat Chelsea 3-1, in a heartening all-round performance. There was an element of luck in that win, and one feels that the O’Leary’s men would require similar levels of fortune tomorrow. Whether Mourinho has any to spare though will remain to be seen and Villa may struggle to score without the in-form Carlton Cole, who is ineligible to play for the club with whom he is registered with.
Prediction: Aston Villa 0-2 Chelsea
With Villa’s Cole absent, Chelsea’s own brand could shine and bring Chelsea their first win at Villa Park since March 1999.