Cudicini fired up without Le Saux's pun

Adrian Curtis13 April 2012

Graeme Le Saux, who misses tonight's game through a one-match suspension, said his team-mates do not want to be part of the first Chelsea side to lose to Tottenham since 1990.

He said: "Every Chelsea player is thinking he doesn't want to be part of the team which lets that record go.

"It is an incentive for us but Spurs also use it as a spur - if you'll forgive the pun. They are excited at every opportunity to break it."

Chelsea, who are again likely to include John Terry despite the England Under-21 defender's appearance in court on an assault charge alongside club-mate Jody Morris, will make at least one change from their goalless FA Cup tie at Norwich. Icelandic striker Eidur Gudjohnsen looks certain to partner Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink in attack after being rested on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Carlo Cudicini believes he still has a chance to become one of the world's top goalkeepers. The 28-year-old Italian will keep his place against Spurs despite Ed De Goey and Mark Bosnich both being fit.

"My father, Fabio's career really took off when he moved to Milan at the age of 32, but then he won everything," Cuducuni said. "He played in the European Cup Final in 1969 at the age of 34, so there is still hope for me that I can win trophies as well.

"It has taken a long time to get to this stage but I have always been confident in myself. I still believe I have the ability to get to the topand win things."

Cudicini signed on as a professional at Milan in 1992 but did not make a single appearance for them. Then, after one game for Lazio and 14 for Serie B side Castel Di Sangro, he spent a year in Chelsea's reserves before making the breakthrough.

"It has been a long road but I feel I am reaching the top," he said. "After the game against Liverpool, the Stamford Bridge fans chanted my name for the first time and that was a real thrill."

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