Dan Petrescu is backing Bradford City to beat his old club Chelsea in their first home Premiership match tonight.

The proud Romanian midfield player, who joined City just over three weeks ago in a £1m deal, said: "I hope I play well but I would be happy not to play well and the team win. The most important thing tonight is not me but the team.

"If you win you don't mind how you play because taking three points is the most important thing. If we don't win we will begin to lose confidence. If we have confidence we can play better.

"It is a big game for me and the club. I had five fantastic years at Chelsea and the club will always have a place in my heart.

"I gave them a lot and I received a lot in return, but Bradford City have given me the opportunity to continue playing in the Premiership and all I am thinking about is winning, not playing against Chelsea. Chelsea are a very good team, but we can beat them."

City have a tough start with matches against four potential championship contenders, Liverpool, Chelsea, Manche-ster United and Arsenal in their first five matches.

They lost the first 1-0 at Anfield on Saturday, but manager Chris Hutchings, himself a former Chelsea player, is relishing a crack at another of the top clubs.

Hutchings, who will choose from an unchanged squad, said: "It's a great match for us against one of the quality sides in the Premiership. They are going to be in the top four or five at the end of the season and it will be a big test for us just as it was against Liverpool.

"I think Chelsea are so good it wouldn't surprise me if they won the title. In fact, I would like to see them do it. Over the years they have become bigger and bigger and they have got more quality as the years have gone on. If you can pay £15m for a centre forward that puts things into perspective.

"Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has got pace and for someone whose team were relegated in Spain last season he did well to score 20 goals.

"He did very well at Leeds United and we have got our work cut out to keep him quiet, but the team is full of world class players and it is great to play against them.

"We have got to work hard and put our passes together. We can't afford to stand off them too much. Nor can we afford to give world class players too much time on the ball.

"We are better prepared as a club to play in the Premiership than we were last season, but that doesn't guarantee you results. It's what you do on the field that matters and I am sure the crowd will get behind and will us to win."