Maradona primes Chelsea for clash with Reading

0 Comments | AFP, January, 2008

LONDON (AFP) — Diego Maradona has fired up Chelsea going into Wednesday's clash with Reading at Stamford Bridge -- the Hand of God intervening to make the visitors' trip even more daunting.

Maradona, who knows Chelsea manager Avram Grant of old, stunned the Blues players by turning up to watch training at the west London club's Cobham complex on Monday.

And though the 47-year-old did not take part, the former Argentina striker who has been troubled by drugs misuse and other health problems, buoyed the English Premier League title chasers as they prepared to tackle the Royals.

"He is a legend, a hero for everyone, and a fantastic player," Blues striker Andriy Shevchenko told the club's website, after he and midfielder Michael Ballack returned to training....