There are some big names returning to Stamford Bridge this weekend as Chelsea Legends take on their Liverpool counterparts, and there are some big names in the matchday programme too.
Roberto Di Matteo and John Terry turn back the clock as they provide the head coach and captain’s notes for the special edition publication, while Eidur Gudjohnsen and Katie Chapman speak about their connection to the club in exclusive interviews.
‘It’s great to see the different generations come together,’ writes Di Matteo in his notes. ‘I said in the team meeting before the last Legends game in Liverpool that, although some of these guys haven't played together, we have something shared in our DNA at Chelsea where we've always been a very close team group. I think that’s one of the reasons the club has been so successful in the last 30 years, because we tend to be one unit, one group, one family.’
Meanwhile, JT is keen to stress the competitive edge remains!
‘There’s a big rivalry between us and Liverpool over recent years, and this group of players all understand that,’ he says in a return to his classic captain’s column. ‘So, yes, it's a friendly, but we want to win it, 100 per cent!’
Gudjohnsen is one of those players the Chelsea faithful will be looking forward to seeing once again, and he will be in nostalgic mood on matchday, as he explains in an interview for the programme.
‘I was lucky enough to play with nearly all of them!’ he says, although the likes of Eden Hazard and Diego Costa will give him the chance to play with a new generation too.
‘I signed when Luca was the manager, God bless his memory, and we all came together for the Bayern Munich game a couple of years ago because we wanted to embrace his memory for the club. It has just grown from there.
‘We still want to give a good account of ourselves, wear the shirt with pride and just give everyone a good day, make it something to remember.’
The Chelsea squad includes two legends of our hugely successful women’s team, in Katie Chapman and Gemma Davison, and the former tells the programme she can’t wait to run out at the Bridge again after enjoying the previous Legends game at Anfield earlier this year.
‘When I found out there was going to be another game against them at home, I was like, ‘Oh my God, yes please!’’ she says.
‘I’m not going to change my mentality, I’m always competitive. When you cross that white line, it all comes back.’
Aside from the interviews, we’ve delved deep into the Chelsea-Liverpool rivalry and looked at the players to have worn both shirts, plus we shine a light on the great work being done by Chelsea Foundation, who organised the game and will benefit from the funds raised by the day.
Make sure you pick up your copy from the programme sellers at Stamford Bridge as a souvenir of what promises to be a great day, or order online from our publications partner, Reach Sport.
Click on the image above to secure your place at another unforgettable Saturday at the Bridge!