Former Chelsea defender Nathan Ake returns to Stamford Bridge tonight insisting he has nothing to prove.
And the Dutchman said his focus is avoiding a repeat of their “worst” display of the season in the Sunday thrashing by Liverpool.
Ake joined Chelsea aged 16 but only made two Premier League starts around loan deals before Antonio Conte sanctioned his £20m sale to Bournemouth last summer.
“It will be good to be back,” said the Dutchman. “I had a good time there, but I have nothing to prove to be fair.
“It is not a big day for me personally. It’s just a game, a big game for us. We want to go to the semi-final and that’s what I want to think about, not about other things.”
Ake was ridiculously given man-of-the-match at the Vitality Stadium on Sunday after Philippe Coutinho and Mo Salah ran amok to leave Bournemouth just a point off the drop zone. “I felt I didn’t really play very well,” he admitted.
Eddie Howe’s side have now gone six games without a win and the Cherries defender added: “Against Liverpool I think was the worst we’ve played in the Premier League this season. Normally we’re compact.
“This season defensively we’ve been stronger than before but we were open, and conceded sloppy goals, it was just a bad performance.
“On the ball we were not good enough, no energy levels, we couldn’t get close to them, it was so easy for them.
“I am confident we can turn it around - we’ve done this before. We had bad games last season and the game after we turned it around so I think it’s good that we have a game already so we can turn it around quick. It will be difficult as Chelsea is not a small club but every game is difficult, so we’ll go there with a positive mind and to try to win the game.”
Howe has hit back at TV pundit Graeme Souness after the Liverpool legend branded Bournemouth ‘naïve’ for taking an attacking approach top the game with Liverpool.
Howe said: “I have always done it my way and while I am manager that is what I will continue to do. You cannot be swayed by other people’s comments.”