The Opposition View: FA Cup Final

Last updated : 13 May 2010 By Jim Bonner

Toyah Ford, a life long Chelsea fan (not one of these nouveau fans you see nowadays) answers the questions I put to her ahead of the FA Cup Final.

So, it's the Premier League's top dogs vs the Premier League's bottom feeders. Has the thought of defeat next Saturday even crossed your mind?

The great thing about the FA Cup is that anything can happen, as we have seen throughout the years. But I can't see us not winning it. Pompey have pride to play for and will certainly not roll over by any means but I think it's the double for Chelsea this season.

What do
Chelsea fans think of Carlo Ancelotti? Is he viewed in the same respect as Jose Mourinho?

Carlo is a genius, not as charismatic as Jose but that's good in my opinion. Media are now focusing on how we are playing rather than mind games between rival managers. Carlo has done fantastic in his first season and has done well to bring some more youth into the first team.

Avram Grant has become a cult hero down at Pompey but there seems to be mixed feelings amongst
Chelsea fans regarding his time at the Stamford Bridge. What's your opinion of him?

I have a soft spot for Avram, he did well under tough conditions at Chelsea and I respect him for that, but I don't think he was ever going to be a long term option.

Everyone knows how dangerous Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard have been this season, but who have your other star performers been during the campaign?

For me, Kalou has improved a great deal and has really come into his own. He's scored some important goals this season and is improving at a steady rate. I also think that Ballack has been consistent in the holding role, even though his goalscoring hasn't been as good as previous seasons.

On the face of it
Chelsea are an unstoppable machine but they must have some weaknesses. What are these weaknesses?

At the moment I don't think we have any. We are scoring lots, keeping clean sheets and seem to have a great team spirit. I think someone like Lampard or Drogba picking up an injury might go against us, apart from that this is one of the best and in form Chelsea teams that I have seen of late.

What do you make of the extraordinary situation at
Portsmouth this season?

It's shocking isn't it. But it shows how easy it is to try and keep up with the spending of the big four. Hopefully other teams will learn from this, including the bigger teams.

Are there any Pompey players that
Chelsea fans are concerned about on Saturday?

Jamie O' Hara is a quality player and a threat in my opinion.

Given the sheer gulf in class between the two sides, is there any chance that the
Chelsea players may be complacent?

There is every chance of that but I don't think they will. The FA cup is the one we all want to win.

Predict the outcome of the game.

3-0 Chelsea. I can't see Pompey scoring. I think it will be a clean game and a great atmosphere.