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Meet Chelsea's players

Updated: 2012-05-18 07:48
(China Daily)

Meet Chelsea's players

Goalkeeper

Meet Chelsea's players

After spells at Sparta Prague and Rennes, he joined Chelsea for 7 million pounds ($11.23 million) in 2004. Wears a distinctive rugby-style scrum cap following a head injury against Reading in October 2006. After a shaky start to this season, has largely been back to his best. Turns 30 on the day of the final.

Defenders

Widely regarded as one of the best leftbacks in the world. Became the first man to win seven FA Cup winners medals when Chelsea beat Liverpool in the final on May 5, and England's most capped fullback with 93 appearances. His late goal-line clearance against Napoli in the first leg of the round of 16 in February effectively kept Chelsea in the competition.

Meet Chelsea's players

4-DAVID LUIZ, 25

The curly-haired Brazilian has been out of the side for the past month after injuring his hamstring against Tottenham Hotspur in the FA Cup semifinal on April 15, but is optimistic about being fit for Saturday. Has settled down this season following an erratic opening spell at Stamford Bridge after joining from Benfica in 2011.

Joined Chelsea from Bolton Wanderers in January and has a chance of winning a Champions League medal, while his old club has just been relegated. Like Luiz, he has not played since last month after injuring a hamstring in the second leg of the semifinal against Barcelona, but said after training on Tuesday he was fit enough to play in the final.

Meet Chelsea's players

17-JOSE BOSINGWA, 29

Was an unused substitute when Porto won the Champions League in 2004, and joined Chelsea just after it lost the 2008 final. Could miss out again as he is not a regular starter for Chelsea, although he did play as a substitute in both semifinal legs against Barcelona.

19-PAULO FERREIRA, 33

Could be in the squad for defensive cover. Has rarely featured this season but played in every minute of Porto's successful Champions League campaign in 2004 before joining Chelsea.

Midfielders

Meet Chelsea's players

Terry may be missing, but the other pillar of Chelsea's success over the past decade should be present as he tries to add another winner's medal to the glittering array he has collected since joining the club from West Ham United in 2001. One winner's medal that has eluded him is a Champions League one.

12-JOHN OBI MIKEL, 25

Born in Nigeria, and played there, South Africa and Norway before joining Chelsea in 2006 - a move that provoked a legal wrangle with Manchester United. A powerful influence in midfield, has played a major role in Chelsea's advance to the final.

15-FLORENT MALOUDA, 31

Chelsea manager Roberto di Matteo said this week that Malouda was "touch and go" for the final, nursing a hamstring injury suffered in the first half of the last match of the Premier League campaign against Blackburn Rovers.

Forwards

9-FERNANDO TORRES, 28

The Spaniard suffered a well-documented goal drought after moving from Liverpool for a record fee between British clubs in January, 2011. Could hardly stop scoring at either Atletico Madrid or Liverpool, but, following his move to Stamford Bridge, the goals dried up until recently.

10-JUAN MATA, 24

Has enjoyed a fine first season at Chelsea following his move from Valencia last summer and was voted Chelsea's Player of the Year last week. Intelligent, gifted player who sits in the hole behind the front men and provides them with plenty of opportunities.

Meet Chelsea's players

Became the first man to score in four FA Cup finals when he found the net against Liverpool on May 5 and also possesses the astonishing record of scoring in all eight competitive matches he has played at Wembley. The powerfully-built Cote d'Ivoire international has led the Chelsea line for the past eight years, but there is widespread speculation Saturday's match could be his last for the club.

China Daily

(China Daily 05/18/2012 page22)

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