Mata Believes, Zola Not So Sure

22 February 2012

Juan Mata is parroting Andre Villas-Boas’ belief that Chelsea can still make the next round of the Champions League.

The Blues showed more pluck in defeat than their London neighbours Arsenal did in their own last-16 humiliation, but they were still comprehensively outdone by Napoli.

Only Mata’s opening goal against the run of play has given Chelsea something to hold onto for the return-leg against the dangerous Italians at Stamford Bridge.

The odds are heavily stacked against Chelsea, but Mata says he has not given up hope of an unlikely progression.

"I knew it would be an open game because Napoli are offensive with three players, Cavani, Lavezzi and (Marek) Hamsik who are very fast on the counter-attack," he said.

"But today we had a lot of chances to score and we will have to convert those chances at the Bridge.

"I have confidence in this team, we are not dead. It will not be easy for us but I think we can do it."  

Former Blue Gianfranco Zola is not so sure Chelsea can recover however.

Zola, who at Chelsea set the blueprint for small, foreign playmakers in the EPL which Mata is trying to follow, thinks Chelsea are “fragile”, and will not have a snowball’s chance in hell in the return leg unless they make rapid mental and on-field improvements.

''I think they will have to analyse what is going on and to sort it out quickly,'' the little legend said.

''Especially psychologically, at the moment they are a little too fragile and you cannot afford that, especially at this stage of the season.

''You have to know what you're doing and you have to do it 100% convincingly.''