As Chelsea prepare to take on the Turks on their home soil, club historian Rick Glanvill and club statistician Paul Dutton get in the Champions League mood.

Rick detects a distinct Brazilian influence on the Bosphorus.


Artur Antunes Coimbra - Zico - is already a legend in Brazilian football; Fenerbahce's head coach could claim that status in Turkey if he takes the country's best-supported side to the semi-finals of the Champions League by overcoming Chelsea.

Zico made his name - a derivative of Arturzico, or 'Little Arthur' - as Brazil's finest number 10 of the late Seventies and early Eighties. Brazil hailed him as the natural heir to Pele, blessed with similar skills: brilliant technique, thrilling trickery, leadership and awareness, stunning finishes, especially on free kicks, all delivered with grace and energy.

He played for Flamengo between 1971 and 1983 and is the club's leading all-time scorer with 508 goals.

The attacking midfielder later said that the comparisons to such an icon 'hurt me a lot at the beginning of my career', but the fact that the 'White Pele' is now rarely mentioned in the same breath as the 'Black Pearl' is largely because although he often lit up the tournament, he never won a World Cup.

The 1978 Brazil played with the handbrake on, cramping the flair of the Zico and others, and the great 1982 team, also boasting Eder, Falcao and Socrates, is remembered as one of Brazil's greatest ever, but was knocked out by a more workmanlike Italy.

From 1983 Zico enjoyed a successful two-year spell at Udinese, then fell foul of Italian currency laws and rejoined Flamengo before Mexico '86. Part of an ageing Brazil squad, he played mostly from the bench, and famously missed a crucial penalty against France. The lessons of those failures have informed his managerial career.

Not having won the Jules Rimet trophy since 1970, the soul-searching in Brazilian football was thorough, and fitness technology helped rejuvenate the nation's approach to the professional game. When Brazil's 24-year wait for the ultimate global honour ended in 1994, it was on the back of a hi-tech physical regime implemented by Moraci Vasconcelos Sant'anna - the man Zico currently employs at Fenerbahce Sükrü Saracoglu stadium. Sant'anna had worked for Tele Santana in '82 and '86 but his work blossomed under Carlos Alberto Parreira first with United Arab Emirates in 1990, then the stellar Brazil '94 team.

Thereafter, wherever Parreira laid his hat, Sant'anna came with him as assistant and conditioning coach. In between a brief and unsuccessful spell at Valencia in 1994/5 and several Brazilian clubs, Sant'anna had his first taste of Fenerbahçe in 1995/6, winning the league and cup double that season.

His fellow assistant manager is Edu, Zico's brother and another former ornament of the national team.

Sant'anna's expert preparation proved its worth again recently when Fenerbahçe unexpectedly saw off the challenge of Seville to make the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time in their history.

The first leg had finished 3-2 to the Turks, and favourites Seville raced into a 2-0 lead in the decisive match in Andalucia even before the visitors had settled. Zico's resilient team rallied to finish the 90 minutes 2-3 down after a late second strike from Deivid de Souza, and looked the stronger unit in extra time.

Goalkeeper Volkan, who sounds like a 1950s b-movie alien and played like one when making hashes of Seville's two long-range strikes, but recovered to save three of the Spaniards' penalties in the decisive shoot-off.

While many regarded that result as a shock, for Zico it was vindication of his philosophy that 'There are no surprises in the world of football. If you work hard, you will achieve everything you want.'

Zico is actually the third of his countrymen to manager Fenerbahçe, so they obviously like some samba flair to accompany the Turkish graft.

There's Roberto Carlos, now 34, one of the best-known left wing-backs in the world thanks to a remarkable free kick scored in a friendly against France in 1997. A preoccupation with pulling his socks up in the World Cup nine years later against the same team, allowing Thierry Henry to sneak in and score from a set-piece, meant he was blamed unfairly with the country's disappointing exit. Carlos has been injured recently and the first leg may come too soon for him.

Seville slayer Deivid, the chunky right-winger from Nova Iguaçu known as 'the Hulk', has a habit of notching vital European goals.

The Canaries' key playmaker, Alex, is another Brazilian. The slim left-footed midfielder sets the tempo of the team and takes most set pieces. Zico may even see something of himself in the 30-year-old, who was the architect of Fenerbahçe's highly impressive 2-1 win across the Bosporus at Besiktas last weekend. They became only the second side to win at the ?nönü Stadium in 2007/8.

It proved again that this team's nerve is good in big games: Fenerbahçe have not dropped a point against either Galatasaray or Besiktas this campaign.

Zico is a tactical manager who makes switches during games and has his side well drilled. In the win over their city rivals last weekend the manager switched to defensive mode after the opening goal, with his normally attacking full-backs reined in and the midfield, notably holding players Mehmet Aurélio (formerly Marco, born in Brazil) and Chilean Claudio Maldonado, working over time. With their pace on the break, Zico looked for counter-attacks and brought on Semih Sentürk, a winger known for influencing games off the bench. Sentürk duly set up Deivid's decisive second goal.

Another player known to some Chelsea fans will be Colin Kazim-Richards, an Arsenal fan from Walthamstow who sports Kazim Kazim on his passport. The tall 21-year-old forward, once famously bought by a Brighton fan who triumphed in a 'win a player' competition, qualifies to play for Turkey through his mother's Cypriot background.

No one will be more desperate to score against the Blues, though, than our rejected striker Mateja Kezman, who has already claimed that 'Chelsea players are not happy about facing Fenerbahçe in Istanbul'. Well, considering Nicolas Anelka is a former hero of Sükrü Saracoglu ultras, at least one Chelsea player will be relaxed facing the powerfully orchestrated 50,000 crowd there.

In fact this trip is the sort of different cultural experience that makes the Champions League such a fantastic competition. Fenerbahçe's stadium is in the Kadikoy region, on the Asian side of the fascinating and historic Turkish capital, overlooking the beautiful Marmara Sea. Their average gate in the last six years is over 30,000, a third more than nearest rivals Besiktas, who we played in the group stage of this competition back in 2003. Those matches finished 2-0 to the away side on each occasion, but security fears meant the away leg was played in Germany, not Istanbul.

The last time Chelsea played in Turkey was against Galatasaray in 1999. The players were greeted with banners saying 'Welcome to the hell' at the airport (this was long before Heathrow's Terminal 5, by the way), but ran out easy winners to warm applause from the home fans. That 5-0 victory has never been bettered by any away club in the Champions League, but Fenerbahçe are a different matter. They beat Moscow, PSV and Inter at home in this season's Group G.

It's also worth remembering that having won 6-2 at Old Trafford a weakened Manchester United side was taken apart 3-0 in Istanbul in 2004, with the hat-trick scored by Tuncay Sanli, now of Middlesbrough.

And for anyone who was wondering on Sunday, that's why there was a small band of fans in the Shed End away section with a Turkish flag and Fenerbahçe tops.


FENERBAHCE V CHELSEA - Paul Dutton lists all the facts and figures needed for a big night of European football.

Fenerbahçe have not lost at home in European competition since November 2005 when a certain Andriy Shevchenko scored all of AC Milan's goals in a 4-0 drubbing. Nicolas Anelka played up front for the Turkish side. They have won eight, including all five this season, and drawn three since. Fenerbahçe have lost once in 21 home games in all competitions this season.

Chelsea have conceded the fewest goals in this year's competition with two and have gone just under 11 Champions League hours (657 minutes) since last conceding a goal, to David Villa in Valencia on October 3rd on Matchday Two.

If selected, Frank Lampard will make his 50th Champions League appearance for Chelsea (excluding qualifying rounds).

The referee is Denmark's Claus Larsen. He last officiated a Chelsea match back in 2003/4 when we drew 0-0 at home to Sparta Prague in the same group as Besiktas - en route to the semi-finals.

Gokhan Gonul is suspended for Fenerbahçe. Deivid, Mateja Kezman, Lugano, Selcuk Sahin and for Chelsea, Michael Essien, have been booked twice and are one yellow card away from a one-match European ban.

Chelsea and Fenerbahçe meet for the first time although it is the third occasion we have played a Turkish side in Europe. Our record 5-0 Champions League victory came in our first campaign in 1999/2000 in Istanbul against Galatasaray in the first group stage. Recently retired Tore André Flo scored either side of half time with Gianfranco Zola, Dennis Wise and Gabriele Ambrosetti completing the scoring to silence the 'Stadium of Hell'.

We avoided another Champions League trip to Istanbul when our game against Besiktas in 2003 was switched to Schalke's ground in Gelsenkirchen following attacks on British targets in Turkey. We won the game with two late goals from Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Wayne Bridge.

Fenerbahçe's home record against English clubs is:
1968/69 European Cup 1st round - Man City W 2-1
1977/78 UEFA Cup 1st round - Aston Villa L 0-2
1979/80 Cup Winners' Cup 1st round - Arsenal D 0-0
1996/97 Champions League group - Man Utd L 0-2
2004/05 Champions League group - Man Utd W 3-0

Fenerbahçe's last five years in Europe
2002/03 UEFA Cup - 2nd round (having transferred from the Champions League 3rd qualifying round
2003/04 Did not compete
2004/05 UEFA Cup - round of 32 - (having transferred from the Champions League group stage)
2005/06 Champions League - group stage
2006/07 UEFA Cup - round of 32 - (having transferred from the Champions League 3rd qualifying round)

They made their Champions League debut in the 1996/97 group stage and are competing in their fifth campaign where this quarter final is the furthest they have achieved in this competition.

No Turkish club has ever won the European Cup. Previous champions have come from: Spain 11, England 10, Italy 10, Germany 6, Holland 6, Portugal 3, France 1, Romania 1, Scotland 1 and Serbia 1.

Fenerbahçe's European Cup record is played 77, won 25, drawn 11, lost 41.

They reclaimed the Turkish championship last season ahead of Besiktas and Galatasaray. Since their formation 101 years ago they have won 16 league titles, four national cups, eight League Cups and seven Super Cups.

The capacity of their Sükrü Saracoglu stadium is 50,530 (all seated). Their four home Champions League gates were 44,212 (Inter), 46,229 (PSV), 45,745 (CSKA Moscow) and 46,210 (Sevilla).

Fenerbahçe's last six domestic games
Feb 27 Galatasaray (Cup a) L 1-2
Mar 1 Ankaragucu (a) D 0-0
Mar 9 Manisaspor (h) W 4-1
Mar 16 Konyaspor (a) W 4-1
Mar 21 Kasimpasaspor (h) W 3-0
Mar 29 Besiktas (a) W 2-1

Fenerbahçe maintained top position of the Turkish Super League on Saturday beating fourth placed Besiktas 2-1. Midfielder Alex scored both goals, the second with 10 minutes to go after the home side equalised on 74 minutes. Team: Volkan Demirel, Ugur Boral (Semih Senturk 65), Lugano, Vedersen, Gokhan Gonul, Aurelio, Edu, Alex, Maldonado, Kezman (Bilgin 82), Kazim-Richards. Five players were booked.

Fenerbahçe entered this seasons Champions League at the third qualifying round. They finished second in Group G with 11 points, four behind Inter Milan.

Third qualifying round
Aug 15 Anderlecht (h) W 1-0
Aug 29 Anderlecht (a) W 2-0

Group G results
Sep 19 Inter (h) W 1-0
Oct 2 CSKA Moscow (a) D 2-2
Oct 23 PSV Eindhoven (a) D 0-0
Nov 7 PSV Eindhoven (h) W 2-0
Nov 27 Inter (a) L 0-3
Dec 12 CSKA Moscow (h) W 3-1

Round of 16
Feb 20 Sevilla (h) W 3-2
Mar 4 Sevilla (a) L 2-3 (won 3-2 on pens)

Appearances (excluding qualifying games)
Alex 8, Aurelio 8, Edu 8, Volkan Demirel 8, Deivid 7, Lugano 7, Roberto Carlos 7, Gokcek Vederson 6+2, Gokhan Gonul 6+1, Semih Senturk 4+3, Kezman 4+1, Deniz Baris 4, Selcuk Sahin 4, Ugur Boral 3, Onder Turaci 2+1, Kazim-Richards 1+6, Yasin Cakmak 1+1, Bilgin 0+3, Appiah 0+2, Tumer Metin 0+1.

Goals
Deivid 4, Alex 2, Ugur Boral 2, Semih Senturk 2, Kezman 1, Lugano 1, own goal 1.

Fenerbahçe have played 44 games in all competitions winning 27, losing six and drawing 11. They have scored 90 goals, conceded 46, have kept 14 clean sheets and failed to score eight times.

Chelsea's overall record in European competition is played 138, won 74, drawn 36, lost 28. This is our 11th season in succession in Europe.

The Blues are unbeaten in five since our defeat at Barnsley.

We have been beaten four times (Man Utd away, Arsenal away, Tottenham at Wembley and Barnsley away) in 43 games in all competitions under Avram Grant in a run that has seen 30 wins and 26 clean sheets.

Chelsea's overall record in European competition is played 138, won 74, drawn 36, lost 28. This is our eleventh season in succession in Europe.

In our sixth appearance in the Champions League, we maintained our record of always qualifying for the knockout rounds and for the fifth time in six attempts finished as group winners. We were semi-finalists in 2003/04, 2004/05 and 2006/07, quarter-finalists in 1999/2000 and reached the last 16 in 2005/06.

Our Champions League results are as follows:
Sep 18 Rosenborg (h) D 1-1
Oct 3 Valencia (a) W 2-1
Oct 24 Schalke (h) W 2-0
Nov 6 Schalke (a) D 0-0
Nov 28 Rosenborg (a) W 4-0
Dec 11 Valencia (h) D 0-0
Feb 19 Olympiacos (Rd of 16 a) D 0-0
Mar 5 Olympiacos (Rd of 16 h) W 3-0

Appearances J Cole 7+1, Essien 7+1, Makelele 7+1, Cech 6, Drogba 6, Alex 5+1, Lampard 5+1, Malouda 5+1, Carvalho 5, A Cole 5, Terry 5, Belletti 4+1, Ferreira 4, Kalou 3+4, Bridge 3, Wright-Phillips 2+3, Shevchenko 2+2, Cudicini 2+1, Ballack 2, Mikel 1+2, Ben-Haim 1+1, Pizarro 1+1, Anelka 0+1, Sidwell 0+1.

Goals Drogba 4, J Cole 2, Alex 1, Ballack 1, Kalou 1, Lampard 1, Malouda 1, Shevchenko 1.

Chelsea have played 51 games in all competitions winning 33, drawing 13 and losing five. We have scored 89 goals, conceded 35 and have kept 28 clean sheets. We have failed to score on 10 occasions.

Chelsea have won four (Levski Sofia, Valencia twice and Rosenborg) and lost two (Werder Bremen and Liverpool) of our last 10 away Champions League games. The draws were against Barcelona, Porto, Schalke and Olympiacos.

Chelsea have played 66 games in the Champions League proper (excluding qualifying games). We have won 33, drawn 19 and lost 14.

It is the first time ever that four English teams have reached the Champions League quarter-finals.

Nicolas Anelka will be returning to his old club where he won the Turkish league title in his 18-month spell between January 2005 and the summer of 2006.

Mateja Kezman spent one season with us winning a Premier League and League Cup medal in 2004/05 before moving onto Atlético Madrid.
He has scored 17 goals this term in all competitions.

UEFA club competition all time top scorers: Filippo Inzaghi (Parma, Juventus, AC Milan) 63, Raul (Real Madrid) 63, Gerd Muller (Bayern Munich) 62, Andriy Shevchenko (Dynamo Kiev, AC Milan, Chelsea) 60, Ruud van Nistelrooy (PSV, Man Utd, Real Madrid) 57, Eusebio (Benfica) 56.

European Cup / UEFA Champions League all time top scorers: Raul (Real Madrid) 61, Ruud van Nistelrooy (PSV, Man Utd, Real Madrid) 57, Andriy Shevchenko (Dynamo Kiev, AC Milan, Chelsea) 56, Alfredo Di Stefano (Real Madrid) 49, Eusebio (Benfica) 47.

 

Send statistical questions to statman@chelseafc.com and Paul Dutton will attempt to answer them on this website.