Blackpool boss Ian Holloway insists
he is still loving his first season of
top-flight management - even if
it has left him looking ``haggard
and jaded''.
The Seasiders, who were widely
tipped to finish bottom of the
Barclays Premier League following
their promotion from the
Championship last summer, made
an impressive start to the
2010-11 campaign and at the
turn of the year sat comfortably
in mid-table.
Their form has stuttered
somewhat since January 1, with
only two wins - albeit against
Liverpool and Tottenham -
recorded from 11 fixtures.
Currently they are hovering just
above the relegation zone, but
with 10 games to go, remain very
much in contention to beat the
drop.
They host champions Chelsea,
who hammered them 4-0 at
Stamford Bridge back in
September, on Monday.
There have been plenty of highs
and lows for Blackpool in the
intervening months and Holloway
has described the experience as
a ``scary'' rollercoaster ride - but
one which he continues to enjoy
as much as ever.
``We've had almost a full season in
the Premier League,'' Holloway
said.
``I look haggard and jaded but I'm
loving every minute of it. It has
been absolutely fantastic and I'm
proud of how we've tried to
acquit ourselves.''
Holloway believes Blackpool are a
better side now than the one
that was beaten so
comprehensively by Chelsea in
London.
``We certainly cannot give them
the space in behind us like we did
in that first game,'' Holloway said.
``In the second half we sorted it
out a bit, but in the first half
they absolutely passed it around
us.
``We were too high up the pitch,
they played through us and it
was a field day for them. But I
think we have improved since, so
let's see how we can get on.''
The Tangerines will be without
their top-scorer DJ Campbell and
captain Charlie Adam for the
contest at Bloomfield Road.
Campbell begins a three-match
suspension after he was sent off
in the 4-0 defeat at Wolves last
Saturday, while Adam serves the
second of his two-game ban for
picking up 10 yellow cards this
season.
Defender Stephen Crainey, who
has not made a first-team
appearance since January 22 due
to an ankle injury, is in line to
return against the Blues and
midfielder Elliot Grandin, absent
for the last two games with a
hamstring problem, has an
outside chance of being involved.
However, the match will come too
soon for Gary Taylor-Fletcher
(hamstring) and Matt Gilks (knee).
Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti
insists Fernando Torres was
``born to score'' and is on the
brink of starting to repay his
£50million transfer fee.
Torres has flopped in front of
goal since making his record-
breaking move from Liverpool,
the Spain star missing a hatful of
chances to open his account
across his four games for the
Blues.
Asked how he would feel if
Torres' goal drought continued
until the end of the season, the
Italian said: ``It is impossible,
because he will score.
``He will score, sure, because
Torres was born to score.''
One man who might be secretly
hoping Torres continues to
flounder is Salomon Kalou, who
has arguably been the player to
suffer most from the Spaniard's
arrival.
Kalou has started just once since
then - when Torres was cup-tied
- and has admitted he will
consider his future at the end of
the season if his situation does
not improve.
``It's been difficult watching from
the sidelines these past few
weeks,'' said Kalou, whose
contract expires in the summer
of 2012.
``If an opportunity doesn't come,
that's when you sit down at the
end of the season and think
about it.
``It has to be something you're
doing for the good of your own
career.
``You don't make any decisions by
rushing them.''
For now, Kalou is focused on
helping Chelsea try to win the
Champions League and stage a
sensational comeback in the
Barclays Premier League title
race.
The forward is one of several
Blues players who believe the
huge gap to Manchester United,
beaten at Stamford Bridge on
Tuesday, is not insurmountable.
Manager Ancelotti, who has
previously all but written off his
side's chances, said ahead of
Monday's trip to Blackpool: ``If
some players think that we can
win the title, I think that it's a
good idea because this can give
them good motivation.
``Man United can lose the title.
``Compared to us, Arsenal is
closer to them, and maybe they
can have more possibility to
reach first place.
``For us, it's very difficult to think
this but obviously we want to win
all the games that remain until
the end of the season.
``We reached fourth place and we
want to maintain this and, if
possible, to improve this.''
HEAD-TO-HEAD
at Chelsea
Sep 19, 2010 Chelsea 4-0
Blackpool (Premier League)

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