Chelsea Coach Carlo Ancelotti Not Underestimating Atletico Madrid

Chelsea coach Carlo Ancelotti has insisted that Atletico Madrid will be very difficult opponents in tonight's Champions League fixture, despite their poor start to the season.

The Blues face Atletico having won both of their opening group matches against FC Porto and Apoel Nicosia.

A win against the Spaniards will see the London club firmly at the top of their group with nine points, and all but guarantee safe passage through to the next stage.

While Chelsea are flying high in both Europe and at home, Atletico are suffering their worst start to a season in 15 years. Having won just one of their last nine matches, they are bottom of their Champions League group and languish in the lower depths of La Liga.

But Ancelotti will not be fooled by Los Colchoneros' slow start, insisting that the quality players in their squad will ultimately shine through.

"Atletico have not started the season well, but they have a very good quality," Ancelotti said on Sky Sports.

"In attack they have Sergio Aguero and Diego Forlan who are dangerous strikers. We have to pay attention to this.

"Aguero has fantastic quality and he can resolve the match with his quality. They're a good team but, at this moment, they haven't found a good disposition tactically on the pitch.

"I think that Atletico has a possibility to return to playing well because they have a lot of quality. Now, at this moment, for them it's not easy because Porto have also made a good start.

"But in these four games, they can still arrive at the top.

"It's a very important game. Not only to get back to winning ways after Aston Villa, but to stay top of the group and move to nine points. This will make the next three games in the group easier."

The Blues boss insisted that there were no easy games in Europe.

"We have had difficult games in the Champions League," he stressed.

"Porto, in the first game, was not an easy match because they have very good organisation.

"The same thing against Apoel Nicosia. Everyone thinks that playing in Cyprus is easy, but it's not.

"Football in Cyprus has improved. For example, the national team won 4-1 against Bulgaria recently.

"There are no easy games. We can play better in the Champions League, for sure, but at the moment it's important to win."

Phillip Wen, Goal.com UK

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