Dec 19,2024
Shamrock Rovers face the biggest challenge of their UEFA Conference League group campaign, but one with a huge prize on offer.
The Hoops travel to Stamford Bridge to take on Chelsea in their final group game with progress to the play-off stages already in the bag.
However, a win in London would be enough to secure a place in the top eight and with it progress directly to the round of 16. For Chelsea a point would be enough for the hosts to finish top in the group stage, due to their impressive goal difference.
Rovers and Chelsea are one of just three sides still unbeaten in the competition but Chelsea's the squad depth and resources available to manager Enzo Maresca mean that the Blues are levels above any other team the Hoops have faced.
Bookmakers have the chances of a Rovers win out as far as 35/1 but manager Stephen Bradley is relishing the challenge of testing himself side against the two-times Champions League winners.
"They are one of the best teams in Europe, one of the most in-form teams around, they’re scoring goals for fun, I get all that," Bradley said.
"But that’s what you want. We’ll go with a game-plan and we’ll see what happens and see where it takes us.
"We’ve put ourselves in a position where we can enjoy the occasion, as fans and players. We’ll focus and do what we know we can do but we know what we’re up against."
Bradley is unlikely to make too many changes to the side that beat Borac 3-0 last time out and could name the same starting eleven. Rory Gaffney and Aaron McEneff remain in the injury list but aside from that, Rovers have a clean bill of health.
The competition's top goal-scorer, Johnny Kenny will start up front again as will Neil Farrugia, with both players likely to be saying their farewells to Rovers after the match.
Farrugia will be out of contract after the Chelsea game with his future yet to be decided, while Kenny is poised to be recalled to his parent club Celtic as his loan spell ends.
Bradley has made no secret of his desire to extend Kenny’s spell at the club but he too has been linked with a move away from Tallaght with Championship club Millwall reportedly eager to speak to him with regards to their vacant managerial role.
With so much on the line for Rovers, Chelsea manager Maresca is taking nothing for granted against the Dublin side and admitted that he’s been impressed by what he’s seen of them in Europe this season.
"I watched four or five games and I think that they are a good team," he said. "They try to defend as a block altogether and they have some good players in general.
"I’m quite convinced that all the games are quite difficult.
"It depends on us in the way we take that game that it can be a little bit more easy or more difficult. But for sure it will be another game that we will try to win.
The Chelsea boss has looked to a blend of youth and squad players throughout the competition and is unlikely to deviate from that approach against Rovers and admitted that that he will rest key players with one eye on Sunday’s Premier League clash with Everton.
"We try to change players since we start and tomorrow is probably one more option for that. I said many times that I know my expectation in the way we play and also in the results."
Joao Felix and Romeo Lavia could be in line for a start, having missed their side’s 2-1 victory over Brentford at the weekend while highly rated youngster Josh Acheampong will almost certainly start in defence along with Tosin Adarabioyo.
Marc Cucurella could also feature as he serves a Premier League suspension at the weekend.
