Galatasaray midfielder Felipe Melo: Chelsea are not unbeatable

Galatasaray midfielder Felipe Melo believes that his side have more than enough talent in their ranks to knock Chelsea out of the Champions League ahead of their last-16 clash at the Turk Telekom Arena.

The 30-year-old Brazilian rates Galatasaray’s chances of progression as equal to the west Londoners, despite his manager Roberto Mancini’s insistence that Chelsea are huge favourites to qualify for the quarter-finals.

“I think we have a 50% chance of winning. Chelsea are the leaders in the Premier League but we have analysed some of their games and they are not unbeatable.

“The pressure will be on Chelsea to win and progress so hopefully that will allow us to raise our game to a new level.

“Didier Drogba has talked to us about Chelsea but we have a good squad full of international players,” he told Sky Sports.

Although the former Juventus midfielder is adamant that his team can cause an upset against Jose Mourinho’s side they will need to make home advantage count in the first leg if they are to reach the next round.

The Turk Telekom Arena boasts an intimidating atmosphere and Mancini’s men have to put Chelsea under pressure from the outset and take a lead to defend at Stamford Bridge for the second leg.

Several familiar faces aside from Drogba play for the Turks, such as Wesley Sneijder, Emmanuel Eboue and Albert Riera, but the pedigree within the Blues’ squad should see them emerge victorious.

Felipe Melo has made an average of seven defensive actions per game for Galatasaray in the Champions League, including 21 interceptions.