Bournemouth
will reach the Carabao Cup semi-finals for the first time in their history
if they can get past Chelsea on Wednesday.
There will be an element of deja vu for both teams, who met at this stage of
the competition last season with Chelsea emerging winners, before losing 3-0
at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League little more than a month later.
But Bournemouth, who won only one of their first nine league games last
season, are a different prospect this term and are only three points off
sixth-placed Manchester United with almost half the season gone.
Chelsea assistant manager Gianfranco Zola added: "We know Bournemouth is a
dangerous team. They've gone far, even from last year. They keep improving.
"A very good coach [Eddie Howe] and a good team. We know the game will have
a lot of difficulties.
"With all respect we know our potential, we're getting better. We've had our
bad spell, but we're coming strong from that. We approach the game with a
lot of confidence."
Bournemouth will head to Stamford Bridge looking to reach the last four of
not just the Carabao Cup, but any major cup competition for the first time
if they can overcome their hosts.
"It's a great game for us, we're very excited to be in the competition and
trying to get to the semi-final," said Howe.
"It's well documented that we've never been in a major cup semi-final
before, so what greater incentive can we have? We're very excited to try and
make that happen. We have a massive hurdle to overcome, one I really want my
players and staff to relish and try to rise to."
Team news
Bournemouth will check on Callum Wilson, Tyrone Mings and Simon Francis
ahead of the match.
Wilson is carrying a hamstring problem, Mings has a hip injury and Francis
is nursing a groin niggle.
Dan Gosling, Lewis Cook and Adam Smith remain sidelined with knee injuries.
Opta stats
Chelsea have won all three of their League Cup meetings with Bournemouth,
including a 2-1 victory at this exact stage last season.
Bournemouth lost 1-2 against Chelsea at this exact stage last season - Dan
Gosling had equalized in the 90th minute for the Cherries but Alvaro Morata
scored Chelsea's winner just 75 seconds later.
Chelsea are looking to reach the League Cup semi-finals in consecutive
seasons for the first time since 2007-08.
Bournemouth are looking to reach the semi-finals of the League Cup for the
first time in their history.
Chelsea have won seven of their last eight home League Cup games (D1), since
a 0-2 defeat vs Swansea in the 2012-13 semi-final.
Bournemouth have won two of their last five League Cup games against
top-flight opponents (L3), as many as they had in their previous 22 in the
competition (W2 D5 L15).
Chelsea have benefitted from two own goals in the League Cup this season,
more than any other side and accounting for 40 per cent of their total goals
scored (2/5).
Junior Stanislas has scored in his last two League Cup games for
Bournemouth.
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