Romeu: "Football fans won't be disappointed by Chelsea vs. Valencia CF"

Oriol Romeu is one of a select group of players to have turned out for both Valencia CF and Chelsea, and the midfielder -currently at Premier League side Southampton- spoke to VCF Media this week to preview the Champions League game between his two former clubs.

"This is a fixture that we've seen a fair amount of times in the Champions League. It's a nice duel and I'm sure that football fans won't be disappointed," he said.

"Valencia CF will definitely have a chance of a positive result at Stamford Bridge. They have very talented players and have been working very well over the past couple of seasons. They have been a solid team, and that's not something that they will lose. I have no doubt about that, and hopefully Albert Celades can start off well and get some good games out of them, getting the team playing how he wants," Romeu continued.

"Valencia CF are more accustomed to bringing through academy players than Chelsea, who have had to look at their youth ranks now that they aren't able to sign. Good players always come through for Valencia CF, and that's been the case for years."

Looking at Group H as a whole, Romeu is optimistic but cautious about the task ahead for Valencia CF.

"We'll see how thing develop, but there won't be any easy game. Ajax won't be as strong as last year, but they have very good players and won't make things easy for Chelsea and Valencia CF -who in theory are the favourites to go through. It isn't an easy competition; you have to pick up points and win against strong sides."

Asked about Celades' potential to succeed as coach, he noted his work with the Spanish Under-16s, Under-17s and Under-21s as something that could be positive at Valencia CF, saying that "He's been working at youth level for Spain and has a style of football that could work well at the club. They have to maintain the defensive solidity that they had under Marcelino, which gave a lot of security, and the attack that always did damage to the opposition."

"We will see how he makes the players understand what the best way to play is, but I'm sure that he will manage to, with the players he has."