Former Chelsea and QPR defender Steve Wicks says this weekend’s west London derby will be a test of character for players on both sides.
Chelsea are in the finals of the Champions League and FA Cup but are also desperate to secure a top-four finish, making Sunday’s game hugely important for them.
Rangers, meanwhile, have been buoyed by recent victories against Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham and know they could take a massive step towards top-flight survival if they upset the Blues at Stamford Bridge.
“Chelsea-QPR is a great fixture. I know that from being at both clubs.”
And then there’s the small matter of the furore surrounding John Terry and Anton Ferdinand, which will add fuel to the fire.
“Rangers have got themselves in a position where they can stay up. Now it’s time for some of those guys to step up to the plate and really show what they’re made of,” Wicks told West London Sport.
“The club has invested a lot of money in players and it’s occasions like this when they need to deliver.
“The same applies to Chelsea, because it’s an important game for them too. It’s a great game and one in which men need to stand up and be counted.”
He added: “If you’d said to me at 2-0 down against Liverpool a few weeks back that by this stage Rangers would be in with a great chance of staying up, I’d have taken that and I think most QPR fans would feel the same.
“It looked bad at that stage. Rangers looked dead and buried to be honest. But here we are, with three games to go, and four points should be enough to stay in that division.
“I hope it happens, because Chelsea-QPR is a great fixture – I know from being at both clubs – and down the years has produced some memorable games.
“They were great games to be involved in for the players and now that fixture’s back I really hope Rangers stay up and it continues – and I think most Chelsea fans would feel they’d rather have games against QPR than the likes of Middlesbrough or Wigan.”
Rangers have struggled away from home but Wicks, who had two spells with both clubs, believes they will take heart from any tiredness Chelsea show following their Champions League exploits.
A number of players involved against Barcelona in midweek are likely to feature against the R’s – partly because injuries and suspensions have limited Chelsea’s options for the final few matches of the season.
Wicks, a former England Under-21 international, said: “This is a big one for both teams. Rangers need points and even though Chelsea are in those two finals, this is still a really important game for them.
“Chelsea will need to put a strong side out and in any case Terry, Ramires and Meireles are suspended for the Champions League final so there’s no need to rest them with that in mind.
“Obviously Chelsea will be favourites. But you never know, they might be tired after that Champions League game – matches like that can really take it out of you – and that could work in Rangers’ favour.”
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See also:
Premier League suggested QPR form guard of honour for Chelsea
Boss Hughes predicts exciting derby
Di Matteo: Terry is ready to face QPR
Problems for QPR ahead of derby clash
Bringing back memories
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This post was last modified on 29/04/2012