By dixon9
November 29 2008

On the eve of tomorrow’s Super Sunday, Armageddon, Judgement Day, Carlos Fandango wide-wheeled, “We’re fe-ked if we lose” match between Chelsea and Arsenal at Stamford Bridge (which means it will be a 0-0 anti-climax!), here’s what they are saying about it. Scolari, Wenger, Cech, Flamini, Ballack, Lampard, Nasri and special guest star McCarra from the Graniurd all feature:

Scolari

“No. When I joined Chelsea I looked at the schedule from last season.

“You’ll remember Manchester United were nine points behind at this stage and in the second half of the season they became champions.

“It doesn’t matter if it’s 13 or 15 points – if it’s not five games before the end of the season you are not champions. Here in England, you can never say you are champions before the last game.”

“It is difficult to beat Arsenal because they play beautiful football and they play better in big matches than in other games. They played really well against Manchester United – it was one of the best games of the season but I think people will be saying the same thing after our game.

"It’s the first time I’m playing against Arsene. He is one of the men I like very much because he has been my friend for 10 or 12 years. I first met him in Japan and we are big friends. I like him as a coach – he is one of the best five coaches in the world.”  

Wenger

Sir Alex Ferguson - "there seems to be a lot of disarray in the Arsenal camp, with the carry-on with one of their players".

"I don't feel we are in disarray. You always know better from inside what is happening in your family than people from outside, who have quick conclusions."

"I just feel that Man City is a good side and that Man United can maybe see that on Sunday," 

“None of the teams I have seen look to be really dominating this league.  There is no team that is not vulnerable, none in the world. I know we can beat them.”  

“Luiz Felipe Scolari coached in Japan's J-League - He didn't stay a long time, he didn't like the sushi,"

 

Cech

"For them it is a 'must not lose' match because, if they lose this game, they are out of the title race completely.

“Maybe it is even a 'must win' game because, if they don't win, it is still 10 points, still a big gap. But I would say must not lose because, if it is 13 points, I think that is too far. If we can win, we can cut out one of our title rivals.”

"Both sides have the same characteristics. Both sides want to play with the ball, both teams want to entertain. I think they always played like that. You can see they don't have the squad for people to defend, that's why they are trying to use their own strengths, the passing game and the movement, and that's why they play the way they have the last few years.”

"At times they play beautiful football but, sometimes, you have to know how to win the game in a different way and that is the difference between us and them. When you have the type of game where you don't manage to move your opponent with the football, you need to be physical and fight; this is what they are missing."

“We play a different way and the goal difference this season tells its own story.

“In the past, maybe we could have won games the same way but, when we scored one or two, then we decided that points were more important than the style of play.

“Everyone says Arsenal have played beautiful football in the last few years but they never won anything.  For us, when it was 1-0 we shut the door, closed the game out and took the three points and that was the way we wanted to be champions.

“I think we can still do that, the core of the team is still there and we know that, when we need to shut the door, then we can.

“But this could be a very exciting game for everyone. Both teams want to play and, even if they come to try and defend, they can’t do it.

On the error at the Emirates last season:

“The moment I conceded that goal was terrible but it was also one of the most important things that happened in my career.

“I couldn’t explain why it happened so, along with the coaches, we analysed my movement in relation to the flight of the ball. Then I saw an eye specialist who realised that there had been a slight deterioration in my sight.”

“That goal was a real negative for me but in the end it was one of the most important of the season.

“Since that game I have worn contact lenses and it hasn’t happened again. Yeah, I got some stick from my team-mates but I just said that, even blind, I wasn’t half bad!”

Mathieu Flamini:

“I’m still an Arsenal fan and it is difficult for me to see what is going on,” the midfield player said. “Maybe he spoke to get a reaction from the team. Maybe he will get it, maybe not. Let’s see against Chelsea what the answer is.”

Michael Ballack:

“They’re like a boxer who has been knocked to the canvas. They want to get up and keep fighting and that is what makes them so dangerous for other teams. They’re hurt and unpredictable and it’s always very difficult to play against that kind of team.

“At the moment, Arsenal look like a strange team. They have many problems, some from within their dressing room. But you have to be aware of the situation they are in and this kind of opponent is very dangerous.”

“I think it’s very difficult for Arsenal to come back into the title race. Already they see a big gap between them and us. When you are on top of the league it’s up to other teams to chase and close the gap.

“When you play against a big team, sometimes a point is enough because you retain the gap between you and them. It’s not always the games between the big four which decide the title.

“There are games when all the big clubs lose unexpectedly. You can win five or six games in a row even when you are chasing. But when it comes to facing your big rival, when you’re behind, that’s when the pressure is there to win, not on the team that is on top already.”

“At the moment we’re on top, Arsenal are 10 points behind us, so they have to win.”

Lampard:

"I don't think teams have worked us out.  When you get to a certain level, teams give you respect, they work hard to stop you playing. That's what teams have been doing to us in the Premier League and in Europe as well now. Newcastle came, defended the edge of their box really well and made it hard. It's down to us then to find different alternatives to break them down."

Nasri:

“We know the quality we have, we know what’s in our dressing room and that everything is OK at the club. So we can prove them wrong.”

On his knee injury:

“It’s the same problem I’ve had before, with my knee, and it recurred in training on Monday.  We’ll have to see about the game with Chelsea on Sunday, which is obviously a very important one so I hope I’m fit.  

McCarra (The Guardian):

“Chelsea cannot bring overwhelming force to bear against Arsenal at Stamford Bridge tomorrow. Scolari has one senior forward at his disposal in Nicolas Anelka and, even if Didier Drogba were free from suspension, the Ivorian would still have to convince sceptics that the knee injury does not mark the end of his time as a mighty presence.”