Carlo Ancelotti will take charge of Chelsea's game against Arsenal on Sunday despite the death of his father.
Giuseppe Ancelotti passed away in Italy last night aged 87, with his son at his side.
The funeral will take place on Saturday but the Blues boss plans to be at Stamford Bridge for his side's game 24 hours later.
"Everyone at Chelsea sends our deepest condolences to Carlo and his family. They are all in our thoughts at this time," read a statement on the club's official website, www.chelseafc.com.
Arsenal once again could be without captain Cesc Fabregas for this weekend's crunch clash.
The midfielder has been out for almost two weeks with a hamstring injury and was today omitted from Spain's squad for their upcoming Euro 2012 qualifiers against Scotland and Lithuania.
Darren Fletcher is expecting Javier Hernandez to do great things for Manchester United.
Although Hernandez's chances have been restricted since his summer signing from Mexican side Chivas, he proved to be the matchwinner in Valencia last night as United recorded a rare Champions League victory in Spain.
And Fletcher anticipates there is more to come from the 22-year-old ahead of Saturday's trip to Sunderland.
"He showed he is going to be a great player for Manchester United," said the Scotland captain.
"He is young and still getting used to the way we play. But he has come in from Mexico and is a real talent."
Ledley King has told his team-mates it is time prove they are not "the same old Tottenham" by following their Champions League thrashing of FC Twente by beating Aston Villa on Saturday.
Spurs captain King admits the club have too often allowed their standards to slip in the immediate aftermath of their European matches.
"The spotlight is on us and teams are waiting for us to slip up, saying we're the same old Tottenham," said the 29-year-old.
"We don't want to be like that. We're at home to Villa and those are the games that we need to take three points from."
Stiliyan Petrov will continue as Aston Villa captain under new manager Gerard Houllier.
Bulgaria midfielder Petrov was given the armband in succession to Gareth Barry two years ago when the latter looked destined to move to Liverpool before eventually signing for Manchester City 12 months later.
Houllier said: "I won't change captain. The captain is not only the leader on the field. He is a leader by example."
Stoke boss Tony Pulis believes Matthew Etherington and Ryan Shawcross deserve call-ups to the England squad for the forthcoming Euro 2012 qualifier against Montenegro.
Pulis, whose side host Blackburn on Saturday, said: "In my opinion, they must be very, very close.
"I'm not going to tell Fabio Capello who to pick, that's up to him and he's an experienced enough manager to know his own mind. But the two lads haven't done themselves any harm at all."
Saturday's other matches see bottom-of-the table Everton looking for their first league win of the season at Birmingham and fellow strugglers Wigan and Wolves meet at the DW Stadium.
West Ham will try to build on their opening victory over Spurs when they welcome Fulham for a London derby, while surprise high-flyers West Brom host Bolton.
Sunday will see Manchester City attempt to cement their place in the top four against Newcastle and struggling Liverpool will face a Blackpool side who are one point and one place better off in the table.
Match Fixtures
Saturday
Wigan Athletic vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
Birmingham vs Everton
Stoke City vs Blackburn Rovers
Sunderland vs Manchester United
Tottenham Hotspur vs Aston Villa
West Bromwich Albion vs Bolton Wanderers
West Ham United vs Fulham
Sunday
Manchester City vs Newcastle United
Liverpool vs Blackpool
Chelsea vs Arsenal
ไม่มีความคิดเห็น:
แสดงความคิดเห็น