Edu backs beleaguered Betis

Realistic chance
Betis currently languish in third place in Group G, four points behind Chelsea, and must avoid defeat to keep alive any realistic hope of qualifying for the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League. However, Edu believes that three points are well within the Seville side's grasp.

Edu bullish
"I think we can beat Chelsea," the Brazilian midfielder told uefa.com. "They are physically strong and are one of the best sides around, but I still think we can win. If we didn't think like this, there would be no point going out on to the pitch. No one is unbeatable.

Spain's finest
"Just because we have had two or three bad results recently in the Primera División and the UEFA Champions League, it does not mean Chelsea are facing a bad Betis team," he added. "Two months ago we had one of the best teams in Spain, and it hasn't changed."

Attacking ammunition
The 26-year-old believes that Betis have the attacking ammunition to worry José Mourinho's side, and said: "Our plan for this game is to start with a very attacking style. We have talented attackers who can unsettle Chelsea in Ricardo Oliveira and Joaquín [Sánchez]. Those two can change the game in one instant.

Clinical finishing
"Defensively we have to avoid any mistakes, while in attack we must take our chances," he added. "We simply cannot throw away the rare opportunities we are going to have. The main lesson from the last game is pretty clear - against Chelsea you pay the price for every single mistake you make."

Chelsea buoyant
While Betis come into the game fourth from bottom in the Primera División after a 2-0 defeat against Real Madrid CF, Chelsea arrived in Seville in buoyant mood after consolidating their nine-point lead at the top of the Premiership table with an entertaining 4-2 victory against Blackburn Rovers FC on Saturday.

Lampard amazing
Midfielder Frank Lampard scored twice in that game and further impressed Edu. "Lampard is definitely the man who amazes me most of all the Chelsea players," he said. "He is absolutely fantastic for them. He is a player I really admire. He can not only build attacks, but he organises everything in the midfield too."

Squad cohesion
However, while Edu was awed by the sheer quality of Chelsea's squad, it is their cohesion as a team that has really impressed him. "Lots of big players can sometimes form a bad squad but Chelsea are not like that," he said. "They are a fantastic side, they are united, and they are formed by quality players."

Betis injuries
Betis's squad has been significantly weakened by injuries to some of their best players. Holding midfielder Miguel Ángel Lozano is out with a serious injury while free-kick specialist Marcos Assunção is likely to miss the Chelsea game through injury too.

Covering players
Edu, himself only recently returned from injury, said: "Betis are not Chelsea, and we don't have two or three great players for every position. It is difficult for a team like us to cope - especially a team that is not used to playing such a tough competition as the UEFA Champions League."