Interview: Chelsea bloggers

We caught up with the mysteriously named BC, who runs the Blue Champions blog and to Ash Kirby, the web consultant for Swindon Blues (I think some of the latter's answers were tongue in cheek!) Our grateful thanks to both for their time.

Incidentally, to see a breakdown of our Premier League record at Stamford Bridge click here, and to read a preview of tomorrow's match click here.


Q. What do you make of the departure of Mourinho?
BC. I cannot avoid the cliché - a big loss to Chelsea and the Premier League.
Two sad things about Mourinho's departure - one is there was no pressing need to oust our most successful manager and the second is the manner in which he was made to quit. The whole thing could have been avoided or at least handled better by the club. Honestly speaking, surely something's wrong behind the scenes. The club could be Roman's but the team was/is certainly Mourinho's. As fans we feel completely ill-treated and betrayed. Enough said.
AK. Me personally am gutted

Q. Do you think Avram Grant is the man for the job?
BC. Straight answer is No. Avram Grant cannot be replacing someone like Jose Mourinho. Avram Grant does not have the pedigree to be managing the Chelsea of today. Whatever the club says, it seems almost certain that we'll get a more permanent replacement, so that Avram can return to his directorship of football. All said, I'd give Avram some time. Let's see what he's got. For all his eccentricity in sacking Jose, Roman is not a multi-billionaire for nothing.
AK. Not at all

Q. How confident are you that you'll end the season as champions?
BC. Well, given the current turbulence and the kind of competition we have this season, it would be a massive achievement to win the title. Arsenal and Liverpool are flying high but we know quite a lot about their consistency or the lack of it. If we are able to get over this whole Jose saga, if we do not lose players to other clubs/injuries, if African Cup of Nations does not impact us too much - we should be able to do it. But there are too many ifs you see. We have a great team with brilliant spirit, determination and winning mindset and killer instinct. I'm fairly confident.
AK. I am not

Q. How do you view Fulham? As rivals? As an irrelevence?
BC. Can I choose the latter? Kidding. Certainly, I won’t see Fulham as a rival until you get your own version of Roman! But the derby is always fun and interesting but always seen as a three-pointer. That said, I’d like to see Fulham in the top half of the table.
AK. In terms of a threat, none

Q. What do you think of the new-look Fulham team under Sanchez?
BC. I should admit that I’ve not seen the Fulham matches this season. I thought Chris Coleman was quite good but Sanchez should be better. With all these players he has bought this season, you should only improve, something like Eriksson’s YouTube youngsters.
AK. I preferred Coleman but he seems to be settling the team

Q. Are there any of our players you’re worried about?
BC. Worried, no. Wary, yes. Kamara, Dempsey and old boy Smertin in the same order. But I don’t think beating Terry, Alex, Belletti, Ashley Cole and finally Petr Cech for a goal, is that easy a proposition.
AK. All of them at the moment

Q. Who, on present form, should we most fear this weekend?
BC. Shaun Wright-Phillips is on real good form at the moment. He can be real threat and with the side midfielder role in 4-4-2, he is completely unleashed and also has people to cross the ball to. Watch out for him.
AK. Abramovich

Q. What do you think the score will be this weekend?
BC. 2-0. That would be the first match at the Stamford Bridge since the departure of the Special One. It would be an emotional one. There could be demonstrations, protests, songs and banners to show support to Jose.
Like Jose said, fans at the Stamford Bridge never had to cry because we never lost there under him. Avram knows the consequence of losing that record a week after Jose's exit. By all probabilities, we should win comfortably.
AK. 1-1

You can read a preview of the match from BC's point of view by clicking here.