David Wagner says playing Chelsea will be like a cup tie for Huddersfield
Monday 11 December 2017 16:53, UK
Huddersfield head coach David Wagner says Tuesday's match with Chelsea will be like a cup tie and is confident the crowd at the John Smith's Stadium will make it uncomfortable for the visitors.
Wagner's team go into the game with renewed confidence after a 2-0 win over Brighton and he wants his players and supporters to make life difficult for Chelsea.
"If you can score first it puts a lot pressure on the opponent. We have experience and with our supporters backing us it is a totally different game. It's like a cup tie," said Wagner.
The win over Chris Hughton's side moved Huddersfield up to 12th in the Premier League, five points clear of the bottom three, and Wagner says the key to survival is taking more points from the 'top six' teams.
"It is important that if you like to stay up you collect points from the 'top six'. In the other games against those sides we performed but we have a lot of defeats," he said.
Trending
- Papers: Gravenberch set to stay at Liverpool amid Real Madrid links
- Transfer Centre LIVE! 'Saudi could offer Rashford way out of Man Utd'
- Gabriel Jesus is back! Hat-trick for Arsenal striker sinks Palace
- Nunez and Elliott strike as Liverpool battle past Southampton
- Hits and misses: Jesus, Elliott and Tonali all shine in Carabao Cup
- Man Utd latest: Rashford has not travelled for Carabao Cup tie - reports
- Italian job! Tonali brace inspires Newcastle past Brentford
- Vasseur: Convincing Hamilton to join Ferrari not difficult at all
- Usyk vs Fury 2: Start time, ring walks, undercard and odds
- World Darts Championship schedule: Smith in action on Thursday
Huddersfield have only beaten Manchester United from that group and failed to score a single goal against Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham. Wagner knows Chelsea are the favourites to win but believes the home crowd will help his team.
"We have to produce our top performance. We must be focused and concentrate every single second. We cannot give one easy chance away," he said.
"What we can expect is we make it as uncomfortable as possible, as we have done at all the home games with our supporters, and then we will see what happens."
There are no new injury concerns for Wagner and Rajiv van La Parra is available for the visit of the champions after completing a three-game ban for a red card against Manchester City. It came after the final whistle of the 2-1 defeat and Wagner hopes the winger has learnt from the experience.
Wagner said: "He has played at a high level and has to show he still has his rhythm. He will for sure be in our squad. He has something to prove after what happened."
