Blackpool manager Ian Holloway admits Chelsea are a world-class outfit after he saw them firsthand on Sunday. The Seasiders were brushed aside 4-0 by the reigning champions and the performance of Carlo Ancelotti's players was applauded by Blackpool's Holloway.
"The plan was to keep it tight in the opening 10 minutes but that plan went out of the window," he said. "I am disappointed, obviously.
"Some teams have taken us for granted but the champions didn't. Some of their movement was a bit different, I had not seen that before and it caused my players problems.
"They have a fantastic team here. They are world class. Well done to Chelsea.
"I've seen some football in my life but the way they played was a real credit to Mr. Ancelotti and their players. Hairs that I thought I'd lost were standing up at some of their football.
"We have played two of the top teams and lost to Arsenal and Chelsea. My job is to make the gap closer. We are light years away from them but it is a great challenge.
"We've got to realise there is a league within a league. The rest of us are trying to hang on to their coat-tails and we cannot get even get a grip.
"Some of their players are as good as their reputations and we are finding that out.
"We almost had a bit of stage fright in the first half. We could not get close to them. But in the second half we did.
"To see their football at first-hand is brilliant. I cannot be upset because football is about what I saw today. It was phenomenal.
"They do earn some of their money, they do. We are smarting, it is not nice but it could have been a lot worse.
"My lads will learn what they got wrong today but anybody who beats this Chelsea team must be a fantastic team in my opinion."
