Fenerbahçe do not fear Chelsea

UEFA Champions League quarter-final debutants Fenerbahçe SK may be welcoming a club in Chelsea FC who have won three ties at this stage in four years, but the Turkish side have high hopes for Wednesday's first leg.

No fear
Fenerbahçe have already beaten FC Internazionale Milano, PSV Eindhoven, PFC CSKA Moskva and Sevilla FC at the Sükrü Saraçoglu Stadium in this campaign, and coach Zico argues that reputations count for nothing once you get among Europe's élite eight. "In modern football, with modern communications, everyone knows all about their opponents," the Brazilian said. "So it is not important what names or shirts you have, but what you do on the pitch."

Positive approach
Fresh from a weekend Süper Lig win against Beşiktaş JK – just as before the pivotal group stage defeat of PSV – Zico intends to maintain the positive approach which has reaped dividends this season. "Chelsea have a strong defence but we have a good attacking team and good forwards, so we believe we can get through their back line." The Turkish champions will also have the fervent backing of the Fenerbahçe faithful. "It drives on the team and the players," Zico added.

Full-back worries
Both Zico's usual full-backs could be missing, however, as Gökhan Gönül is suspended and Roberto Carlos sidelined since injuring his thigh against Sevilla on 20 February – his coach does not think he can last 90 minutes. Winter signing Claudio Maldonado could make his competition debut in midfield, while Chelsea manager Avram Grant will continue with Carlo Cudicini in goal as Petr Čech has failed to shake off an ankle injury. Better news for the former Israel coach is that Frank Lampard seems to have overcome a stomach bug.

Caution
When Chelsea went to Olympiacos CFP in the first knockout round, they played a cautious game and secured a 0-0 draw that set them up to go through at Stamford Bridge. Yet that does not mean they will not attempt to play entertaining, as well as winning, football. "We try all the time to combine both of those, but we cannot do it all the time," Grant said. "We will try to do both but the most important thing after these two games is to be in the semi-finals." As for the hosts, he added: "Any team in the last 16 are a good team and Fenerbahçe are a very good team. They score a lot of goals, they play very good football and it will be very difficult."

Atmosphere guaranteed
Grant, who could start with former Fenerbahçe favourite Nicolas Anelka up front while ex-Chelsea striker Mateja Kežman leads the opposition line, began his press conference with a light-hearted thank you to the Galatasaray AS fans who turned up to cheer his side on their arrival at Istanbul airport. The Fenerbahçe supporters may be slightly less welcoming, yet Grant relishes the occasion. "I like the atmosphere here, it is a good atmosphere for football," said Grant, who will hope Chelsea can come anywhere near the 5-0 win gained at Galatasaray on their previous Turkish trip in 1999.