Ian Holloway says his Blackpool side will not be afraid to attack Chelsea when the two sides meet in the Premier League on Sunday (Blackpool 28/1 to beat Chelsea).
The Blues have looked in awesome form in the early part of the season and are the only top-flight team to have secured maximum points from their opening four matches.
The Stamford Bridge outfit began the defence of their title with back-to-back 6-0 victories over West Brom and Wigan before a 2-0 success over Stoke and a 3-1 win against West Ham United, conceding their first Premiership goal of the season at Upton Park.
They are many pundits’ favourites to win the Premier League again this term while an assault on the Champions League is also high on the agenda for Carlo Ancelotti.
Holloway will take his men to west London after an excellent and somewhat surprising start to their life in the Premiership.
The north west side currently sit in fourth place in the league after beginning the season with an amazing 4-0 victory over Wigan.
Disappointment followed with a 6-0 thumping at Arsenal but they bounced back to draw with Fulham and took all three points from Newcastle last time out.
Holloway is realistic about his side’s chances against Chelsea this weekend but is determined to try and play some attacking football and not just sit back for 90 minutes in an attempt to come away with a point.
“Obviously you have got to show respect and their home record is pretty awesome,” he said. “But if you step into the ring with a champion, which is what we are going to do, somewhere you have to throw a punch. You should never be afraid to attack.
“I watched Glasgow Rangers with great interest against Manchester United and with their 5-4-1 formation, they did really well – defensively, they were fantastic. But I still think you need to throw the odd punch.”
The Seasiders boss knows his main aim this season is to keep Blackpool in the Premiership and he wants to make sure that his players are not too afraid to express themselves when they take on the best that English football has to offer.
“I want them to enjoy the game – away at Chelsea, Stamford Bridge, the champions who are unbeaten for who knows how many matches at home,” he added. “It is a fantastic club we’re taking on. I’m respectful of everyone, but fearful of no-one.”
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German champions Bayern Munich lock horns with their Italian counterparts Inter in the first UEFA Champions League final to be played on a Saturday and both sides are eagerly anticipating the biggest game of the season excluding the World Cup.