• Europa League

Chelsea are too slow, claims Steau owner

ESPN staff
March 7, 2013
Gigi Becali believes Alexandru Chipciu will be "dynamite" against Chelsea's Frank Lampard © PA Photos
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Outspoken Steaua Bucharest owner Gigi Becali has taunted Chelsea ahead of their clash in the last-16 of the Europa League, claiming they are too slow and don't have the desire to win the competition.

Thursday night's clash - live on ESPN UK - will be the first time the Romanian league leaders and the European Champions have met.

Steaua are on a high after knocking out Dutch giants Ajax in the previous round and Becali has laid down the challenge to his players for their next task.

"I think we can win this and I'm sure we will, you will see," Becali was quoted as saying in the Sun. "Chelsea are a very good team but they are slow and we also want to win more. Alexandru Chipciu is going to be dynamite in midfield against Frank Lampard. You'll see, he will fly past him.

"This Steaua team is a group that cannot be beaten. I think we will score very early in the game, then score again on the counter-attack. Bang, bang, bang."

Becali, who is never short of telling the press exactly what he thinks, made his millions in real estate but claims he is not bothered by the prospect of coming up against Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich.

"To be honest, I'm not that interested in him," he added. "He's rich, he's a powerful man but I'm not desperate to meet him."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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