Chelsea v Queens Park Rangers
The FA Cup sponsored by E.ON
Third Round Proper
3pm, Saturday 5 January 2008
Winning clubs receive £40,000
The FA Live TV fee is £150,000 per club.
Click here for fixtures
Queens Park Rangers playmaker Akos Buzsaky is preparing himself for something of a reunion this weekend, as the Championship side make the short trip to face FA Cup holders Chelsea in the Third Round.
The Hungarian midfielder has a number of links with the Stamford Bridge outfit, having started his career under Chelsea’s First Team Coach Henk ten Cate at MTK Hungaria, before playing alongside the likes of Ricardo Carvalho and Paulo Ferreira following a move to FC Porto, then managed by former Blues chief Jose Mourinho.
Buzsaky only signed a permanent deal with Rangers this week, after enjoying a successful loan spell from Plymouth Argyle and quickly becoming a crowd favourite at Loftus Road thanks to his skilful displays and six goals, which have made him the Hoops’ top scorer.
The 25-year-old is now relishing the chance to be reunited with his old boss ten Cate (pictured above), who gave him his first professional contract, and line up against both Ferreira and Carvalho on Saturday.
“Henk brought me up and gave me my first professional contract when I was 17,” revealed Buzsaky.
“We know each other well and I worked with him for many years.
“I also used to play with Ricardo Carvalho and Paulo Ferreira, so I know people at Chelsea and I’m looking forward to seeing them.
“I wasn’t surprised that Ricardo and Paulo made it to Chelsea. When we were at Porto, they weren’t big players – it was the year they won the UEFA Cup.
“But they improved a lot and in two years they went on to become some of the best players in Europe.”
With Rangers currently in the lower reaches of the Championship and Chelsea riding high in the top flight, many will see the result as a foregone conclusion, but with the feel-good factor that is seemingly in place at Loftus Road due to a recent takeover and investment and subsequent improvement in form, Buzsaky is bullish about their chances.
“We’re going there to relax and to try and play good football, and anything can happen,” he added.
“We don’t have anything to lose. Chelsea are one of the best clubs in the world and if you have the opportunity to play against them, it’s unbelievable.
“Chelsea have a big squad with a lot of great international players and young talent, so they can put a strong team out even without their big stars.
“Everyone knows Chelsea are the favourites but anyone can have a bad day.
“It would be nice to score a few goals and win the game – we are going there to win the game.”
Source: Nothing to lose
