Youth cup preview: Winning mentality

As Chelsea Under 18s manager Adi Viveash prepares his side for an FA Youth Cup final against Blackburn Rovers tonight, he has warned his players that our opponents possess the perfect mix of style and substance and should certainly not be underestimated. The Blues welcome Blackburn to Stamford Bridge for the first leg of the final, a game which can be seen live and exclusive on Chelsea TV, and having successfully overcome last season's winners, Manchester United, in the semi-finals, Viveash insists his side will head into the game confident of securing a result that will stand us in good stead for the return leg at Ewood Park on 9 May. 'We've worked on a few things to do with Blackburn as we have done before every game, but the main focus over the last few days has been about us,' he tells the official Chelsea website. 'The players have played at Stamford Bridge now, so that aspect of it has passed, and I'm expecting us to have a right good go. You're in finals to win them, nobody remembers the losers. We're at home and we'll be looking to be positive by getting our players who can win us the game on the ball, that will be important.' Terry McPhillips' side are a powerful, imposing unit, but don't be fooled into thinking they lack creative ability. Viveash has seen them play on a number of occasions this season and admits a side which have already eliminated the likes of Coventry, Stoke and Newcastle en-route to the final have more than enough ability to hurt us if we are not completely focused. 'Physically, when you've got eight second years compared to three in the starting 11, that's a big difference,' he says. 'Yes, they have some physical players, but they have some very good technical players in midfield as well. 'They're a better side than the one we beat two years ago, they've got more pace up front and I think they're a better all-round team. It's a big challenge, but one the boys are looking forward to. Obviously I watched their semi-final, like I always do, and they're a confident group, but so are we. I'm just going to do what I've done every round by focusing on what we can do.' The Blues secured a place in the final a week ago at a packed Stamford Bridge with a 1-1 draw against Manchester United, a result which saw us progress courtesy of our 2-1 victory at Old Trafford in the first leg last month. It was a nervy night for Viveash and his young side which wasn't helped when United took the lead and levelled the tie during a first half in which they looked the more dangerous side. Lucas Piazon, however, equalised midway through the second half to send us through, and the manager was delighted with the way his players reacted having suffered a setback. 'Sometimes games pan out in a different way to how you expect, we didn't set out to play a patient and cagey game, that wasn't the plan,' he insists. 'But these are young players, and it's hard for them to get away from the fact that we were 1-0 up. 'I was pleased in the first half with how we used the ball, we gave it away a few times but we still kept it for long periods and had some good opportunities. United defended very well and were sharp in attack. 'In the second half, we grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck, there were no thoughts of just getting a draw, we concentrated on scoring the next goal, I was proud of what the boys did in the second half and they should be as well.' Ultimately, home advantage in the second leg of the semi-final proved telling, as the Blues, backed by a passionate home following, responded positively to falling behind and scored the all-important leveller. However, the final sees us heading to Ewood Park for the deciding leg of the tie, making it all the more imperative we turn in a mature performance this evening in order to travel north in the ascendancy. Viveash, though, draws strength from our impressive form away from home in the competition thus far, a run which has seen us emerge from Norwich, Nottingham Forest and United with victories. 'For people around the club it would have been nice to have the second leg at home, but for me, I think we'll find out more about the young players,' he admits. 'We have to make sure the second leg matters, if you don't do the job in the first game it becomes immaterial. 'I'm confident about what we can do away from home, we do tend to do things a bit differently, we dictate games away from home because our ability to retain possession is one of our big strengths. 'I'm genuinely excited about the prospect of the second leg away from home, it doesn't faze me and I'm sure it won't faze the players. I'm sure it will be intimidating at Ewood Park but that's our job, to develop young players and see how they react to tough situations. They deserve enormous credit for getting to the final and I hope it works out well for them.'