Jack Wilshere has urged his Luton Town players to embrace tonight’s Carabao Cup clash at Chelsea, insisting they must believe they can compete against the Premier League giants.
The Hatters head to Stamford Bridge for a second-round tie against Xabi Alonso’s side, with more than 4,000 Luton supporters expected to make the trip to west London.
Town have not beaten the Blues in 35 years and while Wilshere accepts Chelsea are strong favourites, he wants his players to approach the occasion without fear.
“The message to the players this week is embrace it,” Wilshere said.
“You grow up trying to be a footballer, to play in these type of games. Of course, you get a good team, it’s going to be difficult. They’re favourites to win, but if we don’t have courage and belief that we can go there and compete and make it difficult for them, then we’re in the wrong sport because it’s all about that.
“We have to go with believe, with courage. I understand it’s going to be difficult.”
The game will provide Luton with an opportunity to test themselves against Premier League opposition just weeks after beginning life back in League One.
Wilshere expects Chelsea’s dominance of possession to provide a different challenge from the one his side normally faces and believes that could prove valuable to the development of his players.
“They [Chelsea] want to look after the ball, they want to dominate the ball, which means it’ll be a different game for us,” he said.
“And when you have those types of games, you learn things that you wouldn’t be able to learn against League One opposition.
“Definitely we’ll learn a lot about the team, how we cope with difficult moments, and I learned some stuff about myself as well.”
For Wilshere, however, the occasion also has a personal resonance after a playing career that included some of English football’s biggest nights.
“These are the nights that, when you was a kid, growing up wanting to be a footballer, you want to play in these nights at these stadiums against these teams,” he said. “So it’s going to be difficult, but I need to look forward to it.”
The Luton boss also expects the travelling support to play a significant role, particularly if Chelsea control the ball for long periods.
“These games are big for the club, big for the fans. We’re going to need them,” Wilshere said. “It’s going to be a different game for us where we have to show a different side of us.
“I know from my experience as a player, playing games like that where you don’t have the ball as much as you usually do and you have to do different things, to hear your fans behind you, make a massive difference.”
More than 4,000 Hatters supporters will be inside Stamford Bridge, something Wilshere admitted came as little surprise.
“[I’m] looking forward to seeing them all there. I know we sold over 4,000 tickets, which is amazing,” he said.
“I had no doubt when this game came up that we would sell it out straight away. Hopefully we can give them something to cheer about, but hopefully they can also help us get through it.”
The winner of the tie will host Leeds United in the third round of the cup and Wilshere would naturally prefer Chelsea to make changes to their starting XI after they beat Fulham 3-2 in their Premier League opener on Monday night. Although he was quick to acknowledge the quality that could still be on display even if Alonso rotates his squad, with the Blues boss hinting that Danny Welbeck and Emmanuel Emegha could make their Chelsea debuts against the Hatters.
“Of course, I want them to make changes and of course, they still have good players,” he said.
The Luton boss singled out Chelsea’s attacking trio of from Monday night’s west London derby, Joao Pedro, Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers for particular praise.
“I think Joao Pedro is a top number nine. I think this would be a big season for him. Same probably with Cole Palmer,” Wilshere said. “In my opinion, [he] should have gone to the World Cup, didn’t. It looks like he’s got something to prove and he definitely played like that.
“And then, of course, Morgan Rogers, someone they spent a lot of money on for a good reason. He’s going to be good this season.
“Hopefully they don’t all play against us.”
Wilshere also has considerable admiration for Alonso, who is taking charge of his first competitive home match as Chelsea boss.
He said: “Xavi Alonso was a player that I love, but he’s also a coach that I love and someone I watched quite closely over the last few years and with his Leverkusen team and then obviously got his opportunity to go to [Real] Madrid].
“It didn’t quite work out for him, but no doubt he’ll be a success of Chelsea and I really enjoy watching his teams.”
The Chelsea test could also provide opportunities for some of Luton’s younger players following Jordan Clark’s injury, as he suffered a broken jaw in Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Notts County.
Wilshere confirmed Gideon Kodua and Jake Richards are both candidates to fill the attacking position, while the could be opportunties for Sverre Sandal and Geroge Saville, who have yet to feature for Luton so far this term.
“In times when there’s injuries, that always presents an opportunity for someone to stake a claim for that place,” Wilshere said of the vacant space in midfield left by Clark.
“We’re open to both,” he said, adding: “I always said it about Gids, in my opinion, that’s his best position, inside. I know he had to play on the left a few times last year. I know I had to go on the left in pre-season but, long-term, that is where we see him. And it’s the same with Jake. I think Jake has developed really nicely on the right wing.
“I think always when you have a young player that young coming into the team last season. I think that is quite a nice thing to do.
“I think about when I first got in into the [Arsenal] first team, I played off the right.
“I was always going to end up inside. I think it’s similar with Jake. I think giving Jake time to gain time, which is important for his development and to develop as a as a first team player.
“I think we’ve had a really nice balance of playing him on the right wing a few times last year when we played a different structure.
“He played a little bit more inside and I think you probably saw his position, long-term, there.
“In times when there’s injuries, that always presents an opportunity for someone to stake a claim for that place. Gids, Jake, they both want an opportunity.”
Wilshere must also balance the Chelsea challenge with Sunday’s League One trip to Mansfield. The Carabao Cup allows more substitutes than a normal league fixture, so that could open the door for defender Teden Mengi, who has been linked with a move away from Luton ahead of Tuesday’s transfer window deadline day, but does have a squad number.
“He’s been training with the group. He’s been training for a while now,” said Wilshere.
“He obviously had an injury last season, so we had to build him up during this pre-season, but he’s always been training with a group.
“We have to pick a squad – obviously, we can have more on the bench as well, in the Carabao Cup – but pick a team that, number one, can compete in this game. But also understanding that there is a game Sunday as well.”
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