Chelsea to show Olympiacos respect

Any team with the ability to win away to Werder Bremen and S.S. Lazio deserves the utmost respect and Chelsea FC coach Avram Grant believes it would be folly to dismiss the threat that Olympiacos CFP pose when the sides resume their UEFA Champions League first knockout round tie after a goalless first leg.

Positive omens
Nevertheless, Chelsea will be favourites to progress and claim a quarter-final berth for the fourth time in five seasons. They have a fully-fit squad, enjoyed a resounding 4-0 victory at West Ham United FC on Saturday – despite playing with ten men for 54 minutes following the dismissal of Frank Lampard – and make no secret of the fact this competition is their priority this term. "We are a big club and we want to be bigger, we want to get to the Champions League final because we have not been there before," said Grant.

'Tough game'
"It's not easy because there are many good clubs trying for the same thing but that is our target. It is the priority of this club and also of me. Our players have experience of this stage, though we know it will be a tough game. Olympiacos have won at Werder Bremen and also at Lazio [this season], two very good teams. But we are at home so we want to win." The Israeli recognises that he will disappoint some major names and will think long and hard about his selection after receiving fierce criticism for the changes he made before the recent English League Cup final loss to Tottenham Hotspur FC.

Achieving the best
"I can only pick eleven so there will be big players on the bench and also big players who are not in the squad," he continued. "There is a lot of pressure in football and I welcome that because it pushes you always to achieve the best things. The results over the last four or five months should give us confidence, not just the win at West Ham. When we lose we respond and that was shown again on Saturday."

LuaLua blow
The Greek champions know a scoring draw will be enough to take them through to the quarter-finals for the second time and they intend to grab any opportunities to get at the Chelsea back line. "Our defence has played a major role in this competition and we are hoping the same applies and that it will give us opportunities to attack as well," said coach Panagiotis Lemonis. His attacking options are limited by the absence through injury of winger Luciano Galletti (thigh) and Lomana LuaLua. The former Newcastle United FC and Portsmouth FC forward dislocated a shoulder during Saturday's 1-1 draw with Asteras Tripolis FC – a setback which cost the Piraeus team first place in the Super League.

Onslaught
Lemonis is expecting an onslaught from Chelsea but reckons his side have the strength to recover should they fall behind. "We have responded in the past and I am hoping we can do so again," he said. "The first few minutes will be important as Chelsea try to control the pace of the game but I'm confident we can cope with that."