Interview with Chelsea fan

Ahead of Liverpool's Premiership clash with Chelsea tomorrow, I exchanged a few questions with Vital Chelsea editor Gary Bacchus aka Merlin.

1. Last season you won both domestic cups but lost the title to the mancs and once again we knocked you out of the Champions League at the semi-final stage, what was your assessment of the season overall?
After the highs of the previous two seasons whereby we won back-to-back Premiership titles, it would appear, on the surface, to have been a slightly disappointing season. That is until I pinch myself and recall the days when we won nothing for twenty-six long years and then I realise that we didn't do too bad. If we'd have avoided having so many injuries to so many key players the league would have been slightly different. As for the Champions League, well let's not go there for the time being.

2. Jose has been a bit more frugal then usual in the transfer market so far, but what do you think of the players he's brought in and what are your thoughts on Alves?
Let's deal with Alves first. Firstly, I think the proposed fee of £25 million is absolutely absurb. Once again we're being held to ransom by a club realising the financial clout we have. In all honesty it wouldn't bother me if the deal never happened.
As for being frugal, I think it makes common sense. Our squad is already one of the best around and only injuries exposed a weakness. Therefore, there was never any need to go out and spend big time. Ben Haim, Pizarro and Sidwell are all competent top level performers who will provide the depth we lacked last season. Also, with the African Nations Cup set to eat into our squad, it's fairly certain they'll all be given a fair chance.

3. Rafa has had a bit more money to spend this time, what do you think of the signings he's made?
Torres is by far the most important to Liverpool. His signing and the subsequent fee has signalled your intent to step up another level and try to close the gap down on the big two. The lad Vorinin is perhaps in the same category as Pizarro but he'll do a job when needed. I get the feeling the pressure is on Rafa to do well this season considering the money that has been put in and your proposed move to Stanley Park.

4. During the close season John Terry finally agreed to sign a new contract for a mere £135,000 a week, what did you make of this and what do you think of the Frank Lampard situation?
To be honest the thought of paying that much money appals me! The game, in general, has gone money mad and moved away from the working classes like me.
As for Lampard, I've no doubt he'll stay but it would have been nice to wrap his contract up, now we'll get the same crap form the media all next summer.

5. Two wins from two games is a great start to the season for you guys, but you have been conceding goals and had to come from behind on both occasions, what have you made of your performances so far?
The media have heralded it as a new and adventurous style for Chelsea. The fact that we've gone a goal behind in both games and still won shows there is heart in the side. At Reading, in the second half, we played four up front and killed off the home side with some attacking play. Incidentally, last season we only won after falling a goal behind once all season, we've doubled that already this season. Whether we'll be so adventurous on Sunday is doubtful, it could be a grinding performance.

6. Liverpool's squad is a lot stronger then last time, do you think we will make a serious challenge for the title this season?
My heart tells me no! But my head tells me yes! I think you need to get off to a good start, there is no time to play catch up anymore. The Champions League qualifiers tend to complicate matters but I believe there will not be such a big gap between the top three this year.

7. There's been a few injuries in your squad but I've lost track of who's in and who's out, can you give us an update?
Definitely out are Ballack and Bridge, doubtful are Carvalho and Essien but Terry definitely returns.

8. Although it's still very early in the season, how important is it to get a result in Sunday's game?
I'd say it's more important for the home side. It'd be no disgrace to lose to Liverpool but if we were to win you'd be six points behind us and playing that dreaded catch up again.

9. Given a choice, which three of our players would you rather not see in our starting eleven at Anfield?
Easy this one - Gerrard, Torres and Reina!

10. How do you see the game going and what will be the result?
I'm going to be brave and predict a Chelsea win 2-1. It'll be a tight affair with a few crunching tackles, you'll probably take the lead but we'll come back to win it.

11. I normally just ask 10 questions in these interviews but I hope you'll indulge me with just one more, because I've asked this question to some of my Chelsea supporting mates and I'm curious to know your answer. We all know the order of priority our clubs place on the various trophies on offer this season. However, as a lifelong Blue and from a purely personal point of view, if you could only choose one, which of these would give you the greatest satisfaction at the end of the season, reclaiming your title from the mancs or having the experience of witnessing Chelsea win the Champions League for the first time?
Normally, I'd plump for the Premier League. It's 38 games and to win it shows you're the best in the land. However, the sentimental side of me yearns for a Champions League, especially this year. The final is in Moscow and what a delight for Abramovich if we could win it in his homeland.