Reading FC goalkeeper Federici ready for Chelsea test
Sportsdesk • Published 20 Aug 2012 17:00
2 Comments
READING FC goalkeeper Adam Federici is determined to bounce back from his 'embarrassing' opening day blunder by stopping Chelsea striker Fernando Torres scoring at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night (7.45pm ko).
The Australian international was left red faced at the weekend after letting a tame shot from Stoke City's Michael Kightly squirm through his gloves at the near post.
And although Adam Le Fondre spared some of his blushes with a late penalty, Federici could not hide his disappointment at the final whistle.
"I'm very hard on myself, I don't make those mistakes in training let alone games so I'm a bit embarrassed. I've been dreaming about playing in the Premier League for a long time so I'm taking it hard," he said.
"It wasn't a great way to start, it's been a long journey to get here and it was a bit disappointing on my behalf. It just stuck to my shirt and spun off my wet top and I just lost it. But the boys worked very hard to get a point and they deserve to be happy."
Both Federici and Reading will need to put the drama and excitement of the opening day behind them when they travel to take on European champions Chelsea at Stamford Bridge this Wednesday.
Roberto di Matteo's men started their Premier League campaign with a 2-0 win at Wigan, both goals coming in the opening five minutes through Branislav Ivanovic and Frank Lampard.
New signing Eden Hazard impressed on his debut with a couple of assists while Torres looked lively leading the Blues' line.
The Spain striker has had mixed success against Reading shot-stopper Federici in the past, scoring a hat-trick against him in the League Cup five years ago with Liverpool but then failing to find the net as Royals dumped the Merseysiders out of the FA Cup in 2009/10.
And Federici insists he will do his utmost to stop the striker adding to his tally against Reading on Wednesday.
"I'm looking forward to the challenge and I am sure all the other boys will be," he said. "I've played against Torres before in a cup game and he scored a hat-trick, it will be a good test for us.
"The boys worked extremely hard against Stoke, they are a big strong team and we matched them in every department. We got the deserved point and looking back we were a bit unlucky not to get all three.
"I was a bit nervous today, the boys were to start with but it's just another game, it's the same sort of environment but the boys played extremely well."
This article appeared in Local Berkshire 20 Aug 12
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Royaleee
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Aug 20, 17:21
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Bitsloppy
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Aug 20, 23:48
Report commentEr, Wednesday night as it says at top - not tonight as it says elsewhere.
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