Chelsea return from warm-weather training in Spain for a sizzling clash with QPR in Saturday’s FA Cup fourth-round tie.
Hammersmith and Fulham police say they are working with both clubs to “deal appropriately with offensive or discriminatory behaviour” as the teams prepare to meet for the first time since a controversial clash in October.
Chelsea captain John Terry has been charged with racially abusing QPR defender Anton Ferdinand during that game and will appear in court next Wednesday. He has denied any wrongdoing.
The match has also been brought forward to a midday kick-off on the advice of police in a bid to minimise potential crowd problems, with both clubs keen to avoid any ill-feeling among fans.
Bruce Buck, chairman of Chelsea, and Tony Fernandes, his QPR counterpart, released a joint statement earlier this week, asking for the game to be a “celebration of football”.
Rangers, meanwhile, on Thursday warned again they would ban anybody found guilty of discriminatory abuse.
Chelsea have made good use of their time away, with new signing Gary Cahill believing the visit to Majorca was a good chance for the squad to bond.
Cahill completed a STG7 million ($A10.4 million) switch from Bolton on January 16 but was not included in the Chelsea squad for the Premier League goalless draw at Norwich.
The England defender, 26, said: “It has been a mad couple of weeks for me hasn’t it?
“I came in on the Tuesday, trained for just a few days before the game at Norwich and then we came straight over on a plane to Mallorca.
“Training has been really good and it has been enjoyable to get to know the lads – I know everyone a lot better now.”
Cahill told www.chelseafc.com: “The trip has definitely helped me.
“There are a lot of different characters here, definitely – most of all because of all the different nationalities. That’s the one thing that’s really different here and in that sense it’s really good – there are some entertaining characters and they’re great guys.”
Frank Lampard has been doing some rehabilitation work after suffering a torn calf muscle at Carrow Road last weekend but is not expected to be included against QPR.
Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas, meanwhile, looks to be closing in on Genk’s Belgian youngster Kevin De Bruyne, while Shakhtar Donetsk winger Willian has talked up his hopes of moving to London, a potential deal which the Blues boss had played down last week.
Defender Alex appears on the verge of joining Paris St-Germain after the Brazilian, now surplus to requirements at Stamford Bridge, failed to agree terms on a switch to QPR.
