LONDON, Jan 29: Diego Maradona has fired up Chelsea going into Wednesday’s clash with Reading at Stamford Bridge — the Argentine champ 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.

Maradona watched on as Petr Cech lost a “crossbar challenge” game before the goalkeeper to return to the changing rooms in just his gloves and underpants as a forfeit.

The Blues are third in the Premier League table, four points behind leaders Manchester United and Arsenal. Reading, meanwhile, are 14th, two points above the relegation zone.—AFP