Manager preparing for Capital One Cup test
Manager Micky Mellon wants Shrewsbury Town to remain focused heading into their monumental Capital One Cup tie against Premier League leaders Chelsea on Tuesday night.Town take on Jose Mourinho's men at Greenhous Meadow live on Sky Sports (7.45pm kick-off) looking to cause one of the biggest upsets in the club's history and reach the quarter-finals of the competition.
The Shrews came from a goal down to win at home to Portsmouth over the weekend and make it four wins on the spin, but Micky knows form will mean nothing when his side face the three-time winners of the League Cup on Tuesday night.
“We have to be very prepared, they're different to any of the threats that we have had before and everybody knows that," said Micky.
“We are going to have to make sure we don’t go the other way and make sure we don’t lose focus and control by running around and doing things in a different to the way we normally do.
“We know we're going to have to be at the absolute top of our game and probably go beyond that to get anything from it."
Chelsea head into the match following a 1-1 draw at Manchester United in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon.
And Micky accepted it will be tough to even work out who will even be in the starting 11 for the Blues.
“I think they have twenty-five world class footballers playing for them so regardless who they send they will be world class, have played for their country and probably moved for millions of pounds," said Micky.
“They are the squad who are leading the Premier League with the most decorated manager of current times standing in the opposite technical area."
When asked about Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, Micky only had respect and admiration for his opposite number.
“He gives them the extra bit of quality that’s needed to go and win the big games that Chelsea have won recently," said Micky.
“He has been at that level and been unbelievably successful and knows what it takes to do it with those kind of players at that kind of level.
“You have to admire him and you have to respect him. He has pretty much done everything and he still has that hunger and desire to want to do more.
“Make no mistake about it, he is not just coming here to take part, he is coming here to beat us and beat us well and then he’ll go onto his next challenge."
And Micky believes it will be an occasion that remains with him personally for the rest of his life.
“When I first came here I always hoped we’d fill the stadium one day and didn’t honestly think we’d fill it so quickly," said Micky.
“I wanted to be involved in a game the Shrewsbury public want to come see and fill this wonderful ground, so coming here and seeing not one empty seat in the house will be a picture that I have put in my head forever."