Rahman to start for Chelsea

Ghanaian defender Baba Rahman is set to feature in Chelsea’s starting line-up tomorrow in their Capital One Cup tie at Walsall.

Though Rahman has been described as ‘not ready for the Premier League’ by his coach, Jose Mourinho, he is expected to use such competitions as the Capital Cup and the Champions League to gradually warm himself up for Premiership action.

Mourinho all but confirmed that Baba will play against the League One Saddlers tomorrow, when he is likely to make wholesale changes and use fringe squad players, as the Blues begin their defence of the trophy they won in March.

Mourinho has meanwhile, warned his players not to let their standards drop as they prepare to begin their League Cup defence away to third-tier Walsall this week.

Another team looking for a League Cup flip are City, whose perfect start to the Premier League season was abruptly ended by last Saturday's loss to West Ham.

Manuel Pellegrini's side travel to Sunderland, the top flight's bottom club, this evening and record signing Kevin De Bruyne believes City will prevail if they attack the game in the same manner, provided they show a sharper cutting edge.

"We just have to play like we did in the second half, but the only thing we have to do is score goals and then obviously we can win that game," the Belgian winger told CityTV after scoring his first City goal.

Sunderland's 2-0 defeat at Bournemouth left them at the foot of the table and they face a trip to Manchester United at the weekend, but midfielder Jack Rodwell says they cannot afford to feel sorry for themselves.
— Reuters