Ray Wilkins believes Chelsea can bounce back from Roma defeat when they take on Blackburn on Sunday.
Assistant boss expects response to Roma defeat
Ray Wilkins believes Chelsea can bounce back from their midweek European disappointment when they take on Blackburn on Sunday.
The Blues outplayed Roma until the 34th minute of their UEFA Champions League clash on Tuesday but then conceded a soft goal which galvanised their Italian opponents to a deserved 3-1 victory.
This European defeat comes after Chelsea lost their 86-match unbeaten home record to Liverpool in the Premier League last month.
Since the Liverpool defeat, the Blues have scored eight goals in two league victories against Hull and Sunderland and assistant boss Wilkins expects the side to again bounce back from this latest loss when they take on Rovers at Ewood Park, in a game being show live on
Sky Sports 1 at 1.30pm.
He said: "We spoke about what went wrong in Rome, and the lads know what went wrong.
Forgotten
"It has got to be forgotten, as the Liverpool game was. Someone will beat every team every now and then, and it is how you react to it.
"As far as the ambience goes, though, it has been spot on - and we are ready.
"We know how Blackburn have been playing. But they have a couple of injuries, as every team has at the moment, and it will be difficult to know how they are going to play.
"They have some good footballers - we don't know if Roque Santa Cruz is going to be fit and we don't know if they will play two in attack - so we just have to look after what we are going to do.
"If we do that well, it will be a difficult afternoon for Blackburn. We'll prime the players on everything that we think can happen - and then when they cross the white line, it is up to them."
Mineiro ready
John Obi Mikel was at fault for two of the goals in Rome and may be replaced by Brazilian veteran Mineiro against Rovers.
While Mineiro says he is not looking to push other players out of the side, he will be ready if called upon.
"Other players are my allies, not my opponents. I'm not trying to fight against them for a place," he said.
"We are a group; it's all about the team and doing the best for the team.
"I first heard about Chelsea's interest two months ago. I was very happy because I wasn't playing at the time, and it was a great opportunity for me to come here and show my work. I'm really happy I'm here and have this opportunity now.
"I want to be in the best form I can - because that's what the manager expects of us, to be always ready when he needs us for the team."
