Cech tormented by Chelsea defeat
http://www.fansfc.com/frontpage/frontpagenews.asp?newsid=185465
Petr Cech remains tormented by Chelsea Football Club’s UEFA Champions League final defeat.
The Blues lost the premier club competition in European football to Manchester United in a dramatic penalty shoot-out, and it will take their Czech Republic international goalkeeper some time to get over. "To lose in the Champions League final cannot be forgotten," Cech told his personal website. "The only way we can forget about it at some point is to get to the Champions League final again as soon as possible and win it."It is a massive disappointment for me. If we were the worst team and lost clearly 3-0, then it would not make me feel as sorry as it does this way. It is really very difficult to cope with the loss. "We were unbelievably unlucky in the game."
Nicolas Anelka criticises under-fire Avram Grant - Force To Take Pen when he didn't want to
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/chelsea/article3991647.ece
With Avram Grant waiting to discover his fate, Nicolas Anelka has added to the mood of despondency at Stamford Bridge by openly criticising his under-fire manager.
With the Israeli already fearing the worst, despite leading Chelsea to within one penalty kick of winning the biggest prize in European club football for the first time in their history, Anelka has added his weight to the debate. The France forward, know as "Le Sulk" says he is fed up of being played out of position, and also claims he was introduced into Wednesday's Champions League final without being given the chance to warm-up.
Anelka has failed to make a significant impact since he joined Chelsea from Bolton Wanderers in January. He has often had to settle for a place on the bench, behind Didier Drogba, or has been deployed in wide positions. However his season reached a low-point in Moscow when, after coming on for the final ten minutes of extra time, Anelka's decisive penalty was saved by Edwin van der Sar.
"I didn't come here to play on the left or right," he said. "When I came here, people told me I would play in a 4-4-2. In England, I no longer need to prove that I am better through the middle. Since I arrived, I haven't played in my position. Never as a number nine, always on the left or the right.
"Until now, I haven't said anything. I was a newcomer, I haven't wanted to make a story out of it because I still didn't know the club. But from next season, I insist I will no longer be the little newcomer."
Anelka was also critical of Grant's decision to throw him on for the final few minutes of the final.
"At no point did I think I was going to come on," he added. "I was on the bench for 110 minutes and suddenly I am asked to play, not even a minute after I was sent out to warm up. I don't know if that has ever happened in a Champions League final, in a match of that intensity, that a player has gone on to the pitch without having warmed up. When you go on, you have to be ready to run!"
"I was asked to take one of the first five kicks. But I said: 'That is out of the question, I have come on basically as a right-back and you want me to take a penalty.' So I had to go in seventh but Van der Sar pushed away my shot. All the better for him, that is the game."
Lampard to resume Chelsea talks
http://www.soccerway.com/news/2008/5/23/lampard-to-resume-chelsea-talks
Frank Lampard is to open fresh talks with Chelsea over a new contract after England's friendly internationals. Fabio Capello's side take on USA at Wembley and then travel to play Trinidad and Tobago on 1st June.England midfielder Lampard revealed he will discuss a new deal to keep him at Stamford Bridge on his return. Lampard's current contract expires next summer and talks over a long-term extension were put on hold for the duration of last season.But following Chelsea's dramatic penalty shoot-out heartbreak against Manchester United in the Champions League final on Wednesday night, Lampard is confident a deal can be agreed."I have got to talk to the club," said Lampard. "My contract has obviously been the last thing on my mind in the last six weeks, but I will sit down and talk with them after the England games.
Terry spitting mad over Tevez row
http://www.teamtalk.com/football/story/0,16368,1778_3600321,00.html
Chelsea captain John Terry has denied spitting at Manchester United striker Carlos Tevez in Wednesday's Champions League final.
Tempers flared in extra-time in Moscow when Tevez opted against giving the ball to Petr Cech by kicking the ball out for a throw-in after they had intentionally kicked the ball out of play.
Despite Chelsea using the same tactic twice themselves during the game a handful of players, including Terry, confronted the Argentina international about his behaviour.
A confrontation occurred that resulted in Didier Drogba slapping Nemanja Vidic in the face, which saw the Ivory Coast striker sent from the field.
Terry admits to some brief argy-bargy, but he strenuously denies any untoward behaviour towards Tevez.
"There was some pushing and shoving, I admit that," he told The Sun. "But no spitting, that is not my style.
"No way would I spit at another player."
Man Utd's Evra defends "gentleman" Drogba tribalfootball.com - May 23, 2008
Manchester United fullback Patrice Evra has jumped to the defence of Chelsea striker Didier Drogba after his Champions League final dismissal.
Evra reflected: "I did not understand it, I have not seen anything. I was told that he had given a slap on Vidic. Even when he walked off, I felt for him ... Didier did not deserve it because he is a great player and outside the ground, he is a gentleman.
"It's a shame for him."
Kenyon ready to splash the cash
http://www.teamtalk.com/football/story/0,16368,1773_3600713,00.html
Peter Kenyon has declared Chelsea are set for a summer shopping spree in order to bridge the gap to all-conquering Manchester United.
Chelsea narrowly missed out to United by two points in the Premier League title race and the Blues also suffered penalty shoot-out heartbreak against the same opponents in Wednesday's Champions League final.
The failure to land a trophy this season has heaped pressure on manager Avram Grant and chief executive Kenyon has admitted his disappointment at finishing behind United.
Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is now expected to make available a £100million transfer kitty and Kenyon has revealed the club are only looking to bring in big names, with the likes of Milan playmaker Kaka and Real Madrid ace Robinho thought to be prime targets.
"We will be bringing in a couple of players," Kenyon said in the Daily Express.
"But we are looking at a very thin market from a quality point of view, and it's realistic to say we're only looking at a small number of players.
"We're looking at players who have the potential to be star names. When you look at what we've already got, are they better than that?
"Manchester United set the benchmark for transfer fees last year. I didn't expect them to go out and spend that much.
"But what this season has proved is that we have a squad of real depth. It's more about tweaking than a rebuild.
"Three months ago, we were involved in four competitions, six weeks ago we were still in two and we got knocked out of the last one.
"It's disappointing from that point of view, but we're going to regroup from that and come back better next season.
"It's been an interesting season, but you don't like finishing second and as runners-up. Given the standards we've set at the club, that's not something we've settled for."
Kenyon is also confident Chelsea will be able to keep hold of their top players this summer, despite speculation that Didier Drogba is heading for Milan and that Internazionale have set their sights on Frank Lampard.
"We're pretty confident that the players we want to keep, we'll keep," Kenyon concluded.
Chelsea offer Terry counselling tribalfooball.com - May 23, 2008
Chelsea may offer counselling to skipper John Terry after his reaction to missing a penalty in this week's Champions League final.
The Telegraph says Terry was devastated after the match and Chelsea sources say the club are even prepared to offer counselling. There is, however, huge confidence that Terry will overcome the disappointment
Inter Milan president Moratti feels for Chelsea captain Terry tribalfooball.com - May 23, 2008
Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti had great sympathy for Chelsea skipper John Terry after his spotkick nightmare in Moscow on Wednesday.
Moratti was in the stands for the Champions League final and reflected: "Of course, I saw Frank Lampard, Cristiano Ronaldo and other great champions, including Terry, who missed that penalty. I am sorry for him, he has a big heart, but life sometimes is really cruel."
Mourinho - Blues should have won
Last Updated: Fri, 23 May 2008 12:35
Former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho feels the Blues deserved to win the Champions League final against Manchester United.
The Portuguese tactician began the season as Chelsea boss but quit after his relationship with owner Roman Abramovich appeared to break down.He was replaced by Avram Grant, who guided his charges to the brink of Premiership success as well as the final of Europe's elite club competition, only to be pipped by United in both competitions.Mourinho, himself a Champions League winner with Porto, suffered heartache in the competition at the semi-final stage on two occasions with the Stamford Bridge side and he felt that it should have been third time lucky for his former side in Moscow on Wednesday night."I'm sad about it," he told sports daily O Jogo. "I think that for the 'Blues family', losing a semi-final of the Champions League to a phantom goal, losing another semi-final on penalties and losing a final on penalties is too tough and unfair."Especially when Chelsea were the team that was closer to winning it. There are marvellous players there and they did not deserve the defeat, but football is like that and life goes on."But the self-appointed 'Special One' did pay tribute to his former rival in the United dug-out."Congratulations to Manchester United, to a great manager who is Alex Ferguson and to all their players, but especially to Cristiano and Nani," he added. "Given that Portuguese teams only win European competitions very occasionally with lots of years in between, it's important that Portuguese players manage to lift these trophies."
Abramovich sticking with Chelsea - and wants Kaka tribalfootball.com - May 23, 2008
Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich will stick with the London club - and intends to prise Kaka away from AC Milan, it has been revealed.
DiarioSport says Abramovich has told close friends he will continue to pump his millions into Chelsea, despite Wednesday's glorious Champions League failure. And he sees Kaka as the man to deliver the changes he wants to bring to the Blues next season.
Roberto Mancini, Inter Milan's coach, is the man Abramovich wants to take charge next season. However, football chief Frank Arnesen is under pressure, according to sources.
Chelsea chief Kenyon set for crunch talks with Ten Cate, Clarke tribalfootball.com - May 26, 2008
Chelsea chief Peter Kenyon will hold crunch talks with coaches Henk ten Cate and Steve Clarke this week.
Both men are expected to leave Stamford Bridge following the sacking of Avram Grant on Saturday. Ten Cate and Clarke are due to meet Kenyon on Wednesday, says The Times.
Chelsea to bid £50M for Liverpool's Torres tribalfootball.com - May 25, 2008
Chelsea are ready to offer Liverpool a staggering £50 MILLION for striker Fernando Torres.
The Mail on Sunday says Stamford Bridge owner Roman Abramovich is ready to smash the world transfer record to land the 24-year-old Spaniard.
Abramovich was prepared to pay that much for Thierry Henry when he first took over at Chelsea and he has given chief executive Peter Kenyon permission to offer the same amount for a brilliant marksman who scored 33 goals in his debut season at Anfield.
"There is a desire among certain people at Liverpool to sell at the right price," said an insider last night. "It's just a case of whether they have the nerve to incur the wrath of the Liverpool fans."
Disruption reigns at Anfield, with the ownership of the club as well as the future of manager Rafa Benitez and chief executive Rick Parry uncertain.
Tom Hicks says he is desperate to raise funds to take sole control and the sale of Torres only a year after he arrived from Atletico Madrid for £23m could be good business.
Chelsea teammates fear losing Drogba "leadership" tribalfooball.com - May 26, 2008
Chelsea teammates fear losing the influence of Didier Drogba should the Ivorian be sold in the summer.
A senior Chelsea insider told the Sunday Mirror: "Drogba is a real leader in the dressing-room."
That may come as a shock to those who see him as a moody prima donna.
"Not true," said the source. "If he is that bad, how come the club want £24million for him?
And if there's one person who wants to buy him that's Jose Mourinho when he lands his next job.
"When Jose had money available, Drogba was first on his list. That must tell you something. Didier keeps the French-speaking players as a unit in the dressing-room. A real leader. He would be very hard to replace."
John Terry Is A Courageous Man - Capello
England boss Fabio Capello has paid tribute to Chelsea captain John Terry following his miss in the penalty shootout against Manchester United in the Champions League final last Wednesday...
The Blues skipper stepped up to take the final penalty of the shootout, and following Cristiano Ronaldo's surprise miss for Manchester United, had Terry converted, Chelsea would have won their first ever Champions League title, in their first ever final.However, having slipped as he struck the penalty, he saw it clip the post and go wide, and United now famously went on to win the shootout in sudden death after Nicolas Anelka's effort was saved by Edwin van der Sar.Added to this allegations that the battling defender spat at Carlos Tevez during the course of the game and rumours he would lose the captaincy permanently to Manchester United's Rio Ferdinand - who, as if to add insult to injury, captained the Red Devils in Moscow - it has been a miserable week for John Terry.He has issued an open letter via the club website to the fans, apologising to all those he felt he let down with his miss. But Capello, crucially for Terry's captaincy hopes, had nothing but good things to say about the 27-year-old."It takes courage to take a penalty in those circumstances and once you have the courage to take a penalty then of course you can make a mistake. That's the lottery of penalties," Capello told the Daily Mirror.“There's nothing dramatic with that, but John Terry is a courageous man."Capello, appointed as a Sven-like foreign saviour to bring success to English football, is confident that he can lead the side to the final of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, of course being unable to compete in Euro 2008 due to his predecessor, Steve McClaren's failure to qualify.With the Italian's record for almost instant success being second to none at every club he has coached, he has every right to be confident.He continued: “I think I can take England further than Bobby Robson in 1990 [the semi-finals of the World Cup], why not? I have always worked to arrive at the top, why should I think differently? “I have been with Roma, Juventus, Milan, Real Madrid and always wanted to go to the very top. I don’t understand why people feel differently. We need to be ambitious.“We have good material here and have been competitive against every team. My ambition is to arrive at the top. You have to work to change the mentality.“I believe we can do that but the players must also believe. By September I will have the full picture.”Chet Winter, Goal.com
Chelsea chiefs push three big names to Abramovich tribalfootball.com - May 27, 2008
Three big-name coaches are being pushed by Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich's closest allies as they consider their options after the dismissal of Avram Grant.
The Times says Eugene Tenenbaum has told the owner that Chelsea need a strong manager to regain control of the dressing-room, leading him to champion the cause of Guus Hiddink, the Dutch coach of Russia. As well as an impeccable CV, Hiddink has a reputation as a disciplinarian and enjoys a good relationship with Abramovich.
Eugene Shvidler, another of Abramovich's key aides, has mentioned Dick Advocaat, another Dutchman, whose stock is high after leading Zenit St Petersburg to victory in the Uefa Cup final.
Blues chief executive Peter Kenyon is talking up the credentials of Mark Hughes. As well as being impressed with Hughes's work at Blackburn Rovers, the chief executive is also acutely aware of the need to appease the fans and Hughes was a popular player during his three-year stay at the club in the 1990s.
Chelsea No2 Ten Cate: I know I'm safe tribalfooball.com - May 27, 2008
Henk ten Cate is convinced he is safe from the sack at Chelsea as he prepares to meet with chief executive Peter Kenyon tomorrow.
"A half hour before the message about Chelsea dismissing Grant was officially known, I was called by the chief executive, Peter Kenyon," Ten Cate told Voetbal International. "He informed me that the departure of Grant would have no impact on me. So I'd rather go by that than all those newspaper reports."
On the scheduled meeting with Kenyon, Ten Cate shrugged: "I have already had one such evaluation in January and when we spoke, we said we would do it again after the season. For me it is simple. I have a contract until 2010 and I am at Chelsea as their No1 assistant manager."
Monday, May 26, 2008
Latest Chelsea News
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Champions League Final : Chelsea FC The Blues Vs Manchester United The Red Devils
Champions League final: Provisional teams and analysis for Manchester United and ChelseaBy Alan Smith
Last Updated: 2:46am BST 21/05/2008
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2008/05/21/nosplit/sfnzon121.xml
Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow
Petr Cech Injury wise, the past 18 months have proved a nightmare, leading to some uncharacteristic errors. Still a class act though and a potential matchwinner.£70,000 (Wages per week)£10m (Transfer value)
Michael Essien It is a testament to his all-round ability that Avram Grant feels compelled to find his midfielder a place. Can provide the extra man pushing up on that side.£80,000 (Wages per week)£20m (Transfer value)
Ricardo Carvalho Defends like a musketeer, sweeping in and out of challenges with swashbuckling panache. His mobility will enable him to keep tabs on United's fluid attack.£80,000 (Wages per week)£19m (Transfer value)
John Terry After a dislocated elbow threatened his inclusion, just seeing their captain in his kit will give Chelsea a lift. Leaders do not come much more inspirational.£150,000 (Wages per week)£25m (Transfer value)
Ashley Cole Has never quite reached his old Arsenal standards in a system that discourages so much adventure. Still hard to beat though, as Cristiano Ronaldo will vouch.£100,000 (Wages per week)£19m (Transfer value)
Claude Makelele Still no one better at sniffing out danger before it appears - handy when Rooney and Ronaldo drift deep. Now 35, this could be his last hurrah.£70,000 (Wages per week)£6m (Transfer value)
Frank Lampard He and Ballack look more compatible having worked out who goes and who hangs back. Worked all his career for an occasion like this. Unlikely to disappoint.£90,000 (Wages per week)£25m (Transfer value)
Michael Ballack Enjoying himself now, this beautifully balanced, two-footed player arrives in the box with consummate timing. The German is made for games like this.£120,000 (Wages per week)£20m (Transfer value)
Joe Cole After a terrific season he should step out tonight brimming with confidence to keep Evra's hands full when Chelsea take possession. Due a goal, too.£85,000 (Wages per week)£18m (Transfer value)
Florent Malouda Sneaks in ahead of Kalou thanks to his greater reliability and big-match experience. Has endured an up-and-down season interrupted by injury.£60,000 (Wages per week)£12m (Transfer value)
Didier Drogba Chelsea's talisman can terrorise with his power and pace. If suitably motivated, which should be a given, even Ferdinand and Vidic will find the going tough.£90,000 (Wages per week)£24m (Transfer value)
On the bench
Carlo Cudicini
Second-best to Cech, but shouldn't be fazed by the challenge if called upon.£50,000 (Wages per week)£5m (Transfer value)
Juliano Belletti
Has previous in this final, having scored the winner for Barcelona two years ago.£65,000 (Wages per week)£12m (Transfer value)
Alex
Big and strong, he has done pretty well in his first season in London.£70,000 (Wages per week)£15m (Transfer value)
Salomon Kalou
Flits in and out with his dribbling, but can do some damage if given the space.£60,000 (Wages per week)£12m (Transfer value)
John Obi Mikel
A possible replacement if Makelele tires, though not so cute in shielding the defence.£65,000 (Wages per week)£14m (Transfer value)
Nicolas Anelka
About time he showed what he can do. What better occasion than this?£90,000 (Wages per week)£15m (Transfer value)
Andrei Shevchenko
Might the scene be set for a glorious intervention after two disappointing years?£100,000 (Wages per week)£12m (Transfer value)
Manchester United
Edwin van der Sar
At 37, still a very good goalkeeper. Though weak at kicking, his natural authority and confidence make the Dutchman a safe pair of hands in this context.
£80,000 (Wages per week)£3m (Transfer value)
Wes Brown
A great way to finish the busiest season of his United career to date. Often derided, but, as Gary Neville's deputy, the defender has made very few mistakes.
£55,000 (Wages per week)£6m (Transfer value)
In the form of his life, this elegant defender has added grit and consistency to his game to become the complete package. Loves responsibility as captain.
£120,000 (Wages per week)£40m (Transfer value)
Nemanja Vidic
The perfect partner for Ferdinand. Combative and aggressive, he will not shy away from a battle with Drogba. Always a danger from corners as well.
£70,000 (Wages per week)£18m (Transfer value)
Patrice Evra
As an attacking left-back, few come close to the Frenchman. Will not hesitate to bomb forward, partly with the intention of pushing back Joe Cole.
£30,000 (Wages per week)£12m (Transfer value)
Owen Hargreaves
Bought for European jaunts, yet hasn't been used as much as expected. Gets the nod here for his dogged resolve to counter the threat of Lampard and Ballack.
£80,000 (Wages per week)£18m (Transfer value)
Michael Carrick
Increasingly influential, this understated Geordie can make United tick. Might push further forward here to make the most of his wonderful passing range.
£80,000 (Wages per week)£18m (Transfer value)
Paul Scholes
Must pick his moments more carefully but remains a threat to Chelsea's rearguard. Missed the 1999 final, so Moscow amounts to his biggest club game.
£90,000 (Wages per week)£6m (Transfer value)
Cristiano Ronaldo
Cometh the hour. His prodigious talent deserves such a stage. And if he starts quickly, Ashley Cole and Co will be asked all sorts of questions.
£125,000 (Wages per week)£75m (Transfer value)
Ji-Sung Park
A willing workhorse lacking the subtlety of many team-mates but a player on whom Sir Alex Ferguson can depend. Unlikely to last the full 90 minutes.
£40,000 (Wages per week)£6m (Transfer value)
Wayne Rooney
Even more pivotal than Ronaldo to United's game-plan, his vision and energy shape the team's fortunes. Must guard against frustration if progress is slow.
£115,000 (Wages per week)£40m (Transfer value)
On the bench
Tomasz Kuszczak
Ryan Giggs
Darren Fletche
John O'Shea
Anderson
Carlos Tevez
Mikael Silvestre
Pitch verdict
The news is not as bad as first feared; certainly not as pessimistic as reported yesterday when it sounded like the pitch at Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium wasn't fit for a pub team, never mind the Champions League final. But after walking along the side of this newly-relayed surface I can confirm that it should hold up OK. Yes, there are one or two patches that haven't bedded in properly and some dry patches are visible from up in the stand. The grass, admittedly, was a bit long as well but I'd say the English groundsman, Matthew Frost, was only protecting his patch for last night's training sessions. A closer cut today should have it in good shape.
Ref watch
Lubos Michel has taken charge of 73 Uefa games; this will be his 49th game in the Champions League. He speak five languages: Slovakian, English, Russian, German and Polish. He was the first Slovakian referee since independence to officiate at a World Cup.
Latest Champions League News
By Richard Morgan
Last Updated: 1:26pm BST 21/05/2008
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2008/05/21/ufncash121.xml
This evening's Champions League final between Manchester United and Chelsea will be the richest match in the history of football.
The contest at the Luzhniki Stadium between the Premier League champions and runners-up is reported to be generating in excess of £200 million in prize-money, spending and TV income.
Meanwhile, the two sides will share a minimum of £115m between them says Professor Simon Chadwick, director of Coventry University's Centre for the International Business of Sport.
The victors tonight will receive £85m in prize-money and commercial spin-offs, with the losers taking home £30m.
However, it is not just the two competing teams who will benefit financially, but many different aspects of sporting life in the United Kingdom as well, including the betting industry, bars and restaurants, supermarkets, travel and consumer goods such as the sale of TVs.
"This is not only the greatest prize in European football, but it is expected to be the biggest yet in economic terms, with a total cumulative impact that could be upwards of £210m
"Quite apart from the qualifying, group and knock-out stages of the tournament, this places the final itself on a par with the world's leading regular, one-off sporting events, such as the National Football League's Super Bowl in the USA."
Chadwick has also estimated that the Moscow economy will benefit by upwards of £35m of extra income being spent in the Russian capital on hotel rooms, food and drink.
Meanwhile, either London or Manchester, depending upon who will be cheering loudest come the full-time whistle in the Luzhniki, will be boosted in the region of £10m by victory tonight via increased tourism and the confidence of having Europe's premier club team as their own.
ITV, who will be broadcasting the final on terrestrial television, have increased their advertising rates for slots around the game by 50 per cent, with an actual 30-second slot during the final itself costing upwards of £200,000.
Drogba: Grant not behind Chelsea success
http://www.metro.co.uk/sport/football/article.html?in_article_id=148633&in_page_id=43
Chelsea striker Didier Drogba has launched an astonishing outburst against boss Avram Grant on the eve of his club's Champions League final against Manchester United.
Drogba has claimed that Grant, who took over from Jose Mourinho last year, has played virtually no part in the team's success this season and achievement in reaching their first Champions League final.
Drogba told France Football: 'What do you want me to say about him?
Chelsea senior players know Grant will leave coaching job tribalfootball.com - May 20, 2008
Chelsea's senior players have been informed that coach Avram Grant will be kicked upstairs immediately after tomorrow's Champions League final, it has been revealed.
The Daily Star says Frank Lampard and John Terry have already been informed that Grant will not remain in charge but will return to his old job of director of football.
Russia coach Guus Hiddink is the latest big-name to be linked with Grant's post.
Chelsea and United players told to expect a pitch battle in Moscow
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-567294/Chelsea-United-players-told-expect-pitch-battle-Moscow.html
Chelsea and Manchester United have been warned that the pitch at the Luzhniki Stadium is dangerous and not fit to stage the Champions League Final
The stadium groundsmen are in a race against time to improve the surface which has several bare patches and is very bumpy just two days before the match.
It is the same ground where England played their Euro 2008 qualifier on an artificial pitch against Russia last year, but it has now been relaid with turf shipped in from Slovakia.
The blocks of grass had been frozen for several days and they are now struggling to bed in to form an even surface.
English head groundsman Matthew Frost said: ?It's not like one of the better Premier League pitches, far from it. Unfortunately things didn't work out. The ball may not travel perfectly like on a pitch that has been in situ for some time. There might be a bit of a bobble.?
Former Liverpool midfielder Steve McMahon was far more critical and fears for the players' safety.
He told Sky Sports News: ?It's awful and embarrassing. There are undulations and, to be frank, it's very dangerous for the players if it stays the way it is. The players won't be happy.?
Meanwhile, the referee who awarded a controversial ?goal from the moon? against Chelsea will take charge of the final.
Slovakian Lubos Michel was heavily criticised by then Blues boss Jose Mourinho after ruling that Luis Garcia's effort had crossed the line at Anfield in the second leg of the European semi-final against Liverpool in 2005.
Groundsman work to get the playing surface ready
And the linesman who signalled to Michel that it was a goal, fellow countryman Roman Slysko, is again one of his assistant referees along with Martin Balko.
Mourinho moaned it was ?a goal from the moon? and said ?the linesman scored?.
He also added: ?Football sometimes is cruel. We have to accept the result. They scored a goal, if you can say they scored it.?
Michel has officiated in a Chelsea match since, taking charge of the group match with Werder Bremen last season, and Mourinho's team lost that game 1-0 as well.
The referee, who was 40 last Friday, is regarded as one of the top officials in Europe.
The former teacher speaks English, Russian, German and Polish and was ranked the world's third best referee in 2005, second best in 2006 and third best again last year.
But he also drew criticism from Martin O'Neill after he took charge of the 2003 UEFA Cup Final between Porto and Celtic and sent off defender Bobo Balde during the Scots' 3-2 defeat in Seville.
The Celtic manager also felt the official allowed too much time-wasting by Porto who, ironically, were then managed by Mourinho.
Manchester United are running scared after we pushed them so close in the league, claims Chelsea's Cole
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-567228/Manchester-United-running-scared-pushed-close-league-claims-Chelseas-Cole.html
Joe Cole says Manchester United are scared of Chelsea because they did not win the Barclays Premier League by a greater margin
United only clinched the title by two points on the final day of the season, despite Chelsea's squad being ravaged with injuries to key players for most of the campaign.
Cole said: "They will be going into the game as champions and are very happy, but they will look at Chelsea this year and worry because we only finished two points behind them.
"They know we missed players like Lampard, Terry, Ballack, Essien, Drogba, Kalou and Cech for massive parts of the season and they will be concerned because, despite that, we still nearly won the championship.
"The two teams know each other inside out and it's a case of who can play their game best.
"We both know how to win big matches."
Chelsea Boosted With News Ashley Cole Is Fit For Champions League Final v Man Utd
Chelsea have been boosted by the news that experienced left-back Ashley Cole will be fit for tonight's Champions League Final against Manchester United at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow.
Cole suffered a slight injury during training at the stadium last night when a tackle from Claude Makelele incurred a knock to Cole’s right ankle.
The 27-year-old England international was attended to by Chelsea physios before Cole tried returning to training, but he was clearly in distress and Chelsea boss Avram Grant decided to rest him for the rest of the training session.
After a nights rest, Chelsea now believe that he will have recovered in time, but Grant has put Wayne Bridge on standby to play in case of a recurrence.
Ronaldo and Didier Drogba to wear new go-faster boots
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/2008/05/21/ronaldo-and-didier-drogba-to-wear-new-go-faster-boots-89520-20424635/
Cristiano Ronaldo has kept banging in the goals this season whether he has been wearing tangerine boots, red ones or something slightly more discreet.
But at Luzhniki stadium tonight he will be running out in a new Nike style - black with a PINK swoosh.
Chelsea hitman Didier Drogba will also be giving a debut to the super-light Mercurial SL boot, which weighs just 180g. He said: "It is like nothing I have ever seen before."
Made almost entirely of carbon fibre, which is lightweight but very strong, it has taken three years to develop.
And Ronaldo hopes it will make him go even faster, saying: "Speed and acceleration are essential to my game - one second can be the difference between winning or losing the Champions League Final. This Mercurial SL boot is designed to provide the next level of speed."
Setenta UCL News
Cech hoping to dazzle in Moscowby JP Lonergan, 19 May 2008
Petr Cech is hoping his new orange shirt can help Chelsea in their bid for a first ever Champions League title on Wednesday.John Terry may not be a fan of the alarmingly bright ensemble that he saw heading straight for him before his arm injury in the draw with Bolton Wanderers a week ago, the game in which the shirt made its debut.But Cech thinks it can give The Blues an extra advantage in the bid to deny Messrs Ronaldo, Rooney, Tevez and friends when The Blues face Manchester United in Moscow this week.The Czech Republic international goalkeeper’s shirt has been developed by Russian scientists with Cech believing it will act as a distraction to the opposition.“It’s been scientifically proven that you shoot at targets when you see one,” Cech said in Tuesday’s edition of The Times.“Even when a player wants to shoot into the bottom corner, they see the orange shirt and they can’t ignore the colour because it’s attractive to their eyes. It happens quickly and subconsciously, but eyes cannot ignore such a bright colour.” “The studies say the colour is like an alarm or alert which spreads and is very difficult to avoid. I found this out from a Russian guy working at Sparta Prague when I was there four years ago. He showed me all his studies and I was very impressed."
JT looking to outgun Rio in Moscowby Tom Kell, 20 May 2008
John Terry has his fingers crossed that Fabio Capello has got his hands on a ticket for Wednesday’s night’s Champions League final as the Chelsea man is eyeing the match as a perfect chance to impress his England manager enough to wrestle back the international captaincy from Rio Ferdinand.
Capello’s captaincy merry-go-round has been in full swing since the Italian took charge, but Terry has thus far been denied the chance to pull on the armband he wore throughout Steve McClaren’s doomed tenure.
The Chelsea skipper has so far kept quiet on the issue but, as he prepares to go head to head with his Manchester United counterpart in the Luzhniki Stadium, he concedes that thoughts other than European glory are occupying his mind.
“I am disappointed with what has happened,” he said in The Sun. “I want the armband and my England place back. Maybe a performance in this final would go a long way to getting those things back.
"But Rio has been different class this year and particularly since he was made captain against France.
“We have seen a world-class player at the top of his game and, as a centre-half looking on, I would say he has been awesome.
“But I want to get out there and prove I am the right man for the England job.”
Having led The Blues to within touching distance of European victory in recent seasons, Terry feels it is impossible to overestimate the significance of their date in Moscow.
“I’ve seen the changes over the years and I don’t think people realise how important this is for Chelsea,” he added.
“It means the world to me to be in the final, it is an achievement in itself. But beyond that I want to get my hands on the trophy. I’m desperate to do it.”
Grant has a taste for moreby Tom Kell, 20 May 2008
Avram Grant insists that neither he nor his Chelsea team are about to rest on their laurels having reached their first ever Champions League final.
Despite struggling to endear himself to The Blues’ support since succeeding Jose Mourinho, Grant has already gone one better than his Portuguese predecessor by guiding the club to the final stage of the competition.
Grant’s surprise progress has helped to silence some of his critics, even if doubts about his future at Stamford Bridge continue to linger.
However, the Israeli is certainly not contemplating signing off in Moscow on Wednesday.
“I said the main target is to be in the final of the Champions League because this is a step for a big club,” said the Israeli.
“I cannot describe it but the fact is we are in the final of the Champions League. We want more.
“If I win ten titles in ten years I will feel always that I need to prove myself – this is what football’s about.
“That’s what I said to the players. The minute you think you have nothing to prove you have a problem.”
Anelka: We've got the big playersby Mairianne Reardon, 19 May 2008
Striker Nicolas Anelka has promised that Chelsea’s big game players will offer a ‘different’ game to nail the all-England Champions League final in Moscow on Wednesday.
The former Bolton player, who won the European Cup eight years ago with Real Madrid, believes his side face a difficult challenge in Premier League winners Manchester United, but in pushing for an open, exciting game, they will return to the Bridge victorious.
“It is going to be a different game,” said the 29-year-old France international.
“We play Manchester United and we know them and they know us and it is going to be very hard but I think we can do it because we have big players who are used to this type of game.
“Chelsea is one of the biggest clubs in the world and when you look at the names of the players you can see that.
“From what I see outside, it was a big club and now that I am here inside I can see that.
“We have here players who have been in finals every year but they have not been in the Champions League final before so it is going to be very hard but hopefully we will come back with the title.”
Chelsea beat The Red Devils 2-1 in their last Premier League meeting back in April, but were pipped to the title post by their rivals, finishing the season in second place.
Anelka refused to admit revenge was running through the veins of Chelsea in pursuit of the European title, but is adamant that The Blues must claim some silverware this season.
“We don’t think like that, because Manchester United deserved to win the league.
“If you look at the quality of the squad, of course we have to win a trophy. That is why we are here.
“You can look at the team and see one that tries to do our best on the pitch and we try to win games. Now we are in the final we still have to win one more game.”
Tevez 'to retire' in four yearsby Laurent Picard, 21 May 2008
Manchester United attacker Carlos Tevez plans to retire at the age of 28 having won every honour in the game, starting with the Champions League on Wednesday.
The 24-year-old will play four more seasons of professional football before hanging up his boots, and he has said that winning all the titles in the world is his number one objective.
When asked if he still plans to retire at the age of 28, Tevez said: “Yes, I still have this idea of retiring early and well.
“It would be perfect. We never know and it might be difficult to stop. I will do it when I feel happy on the pitch.
“I am very good, relaxed,” he said about the game with Chelsea.
“I am trying to rest as much I can, thinking 100% of the final.
“I want to play. I never dreamt of being there. But with the time I understand what a Champions League (final) is.
“For that reason I want it so much. But I am not putting more pressure on myself.
“I never imagined what could happen in my first year with Manchester. For real, but I knew the atmosphere and I knew this club would fight at the top.
“I have not changed my style of football. Maybe I added a few things, like moving away (from the attack) to help the team, being able to know when I have to accelerate (…).
“I play relaxed because I am only thinking about the next game. For me it is fundamental to have this liberty and you can see that I am good and happy.”
The Argentina international was asked if the game with Chelsea will be the most important of his career.
He added: “I do not know. I have been lucky to play important games. As far as I can remember, the most important was during the (2006) World Cup (with Argentina) against Germany (in the quarter finals).
“I always want to carry on winning great things.
“I have recently turned 24 and if I think of what I have won, I would have to retire. And it is not like this. There are always new aims, and mine if to be champion of everything.
“And this makes me feel very confident in myself.
“I have been through very bad moments at West Ham. Ugly ones.
“When the manager (Alan Pardew) did not count on me, I told myself: “I am fed up with football”.
“Today I am in Moscow. Everything changed in less than a year, most of all because I battled and proved myself on the pitch.
Rooney looking for 'payback'by Joseph Caron Dawe, 21 May 2008
Wayne Rooney says Wednesday evening’s Champions League final against Chelsea in Moscow will provide him with the chance for ‘payback’ on The Blues.
The United forward has a bank of negative experience stored up in his mind when it comes to contests with the West Londoners, and he is determined to wipe that clear with victory over Avram Grant’s side in the European Cup final.
Rooney has previous personal form with Chelsea centre back Ricardo Carvalho from England’s doomed World Cup quarter-final in 2006, and has also experienced his fair share of misfortune against Chelsea.
“I’ve not had great memories against Chelsea, and it is the same thing with Portugal,” said Rooney in the Daily Express. “I’ve had a few ups and a few downs against them.
“I broke my foot on the day we lost The Premier League to them a couple of years ago and they beat us at Wembley last season, so I’ve had some bad times. But hopefully this will be a good one and it will be payback time.
“The incident with Carvalho was a turning point in my career. I’ve spoken to him a couple of times since then; he’s a nice guy, and I’ve got no problem with him.
“He’s the hardest defender I’ve ever played against. He’s strong and he’s quick and he reads the game very well. And obviously John Terry’s a big, strong defender who will never give in, so they complement each other well and they are a difficult pair to play against, as Chelsea are as a team. The games are always close.”
Wenger: This man will decide Euro Cupby Ben Blackmore, 20 May 2008
Arsene Wenger had a chilling warning for Sir Alex Ferguson and Avram Grant, predicting Wednesday’s Champions League final will be decided by a refereeing decision.
Lubos Michel, the referee that awarded Luis Garcia’s ‘ghost goal’ in 2005, will officiate in Moscow, but Wenger has clearly lost faith in football’s top officials this season - claiming ‘every big game has been decided by refereeing decisions’.
The Arsenal boss was memorably left fuming after his side exited this season’s Champions League at Anfield, labelling the decision to award Ryan Babel a late penalty ‘dodgy’.
Liverpool then found themselves on the wrong end of two decisions in the semi-finals with a suspect offside decision leading to Didier Drogba’s opening goal in the second leg, while Sami Hyypia was denied a possible late penalty.
In the league, Arsenal lost at Old Trafford after a penalty decision against William Gallas, while Chelsea recently beat Manchester United thanks to a late handball decision against Michael Carrick.
"Every match is being decided on a referee's decision and I wouldn't put my house on a ref's decision,” said Wenger.
“You saw in the semi-finals that every decision of the referee can influence the result.
"It's that fraction of a second, too difficult to decide if it's off-side or not. Is it a penalty or not?
“It is so tight between teams at the top in England. For me every big game has been decided by refereeing decisions.”
Meanwhile, Wenger paid tribute to Avram Grant, insisting it is time the Chelsea boss was given respect rather than compared to Jose Mourinho.
“He has a completely different style to Mourinho but that doesn't mean he's not good.
"He doesn't say all day 'it's only me'. Everybody thinks because he doesn't say that that he's bad. That's not right.
“You look at what people do and what they say, does it make sense, how they act. I like his style."
Chelsea Will Win It - Carragher
http://www.goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=705036
Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher believes Chelsea will win this evening's Champions League final against Manchester United in Moscow.
The Reds were eliminated in the semi-finals by the Blues - this, after having beaten them in both of their previous meetings at this stage in the competition in the previous three years.It is Chelsea's first final and Carragher, true to his Liverpudlian genes, is backing anyone but United to win club football's most prestigious trophy, and in this case, that is Chelsea.The battling stopper believes it will not be a classic game - more edgy and tentative - with defensive stability playing a large part in the eventual outcome of the game.“I don’t see it being a classic game but I think Chelsea will just edge it,” Carragher told the club's official website.“It won’t be open and so I think whichever side defends the best on the night will win the match.”
Vieira expects tight contest
Inter midfielder admits European final is too close to call
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11095_3591927,00.html
Internazionale midfielder Patrick Vieira believes the UEFA Champions League final between Manchester United and Chelsea is too close to call.
Premier League duo United and Chelsea go head-to-head at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow on Wednesday, live on Sky Sports 1 and HD1, with both sides chasing European glory.
The Red Devils edged the domestic battle between the pair after final day drama saw Sir Alex Ferguson's men lift the League title by a margin of two points.
And Vieira, whose club departed this season's competition at the last 16 stage, is expecting a tense and edgy fixture as two contrasting playing styles lock horns.
Talent
"Chelsea and United fully deserve to be in the final," Vieira said at an event run by Ford's Feel Football debate website www.feelfootball.com.
"It is really difficult to predict. I believe Manchester United play more attractive football. They have some really good individual talent.
"On the other side, Chelsea are a really tough team to play against. They are really experienced and really strong, and look fresher than Manchester United.
"When Jose Mourinho left there was a big question mark about Chelsea. But I think they have been working really hard and you can see the quality of the players and the mental strengths of the team."
Frisk Back Chelsea to Win !
Fired up
However, former World Cup referee Anders Frisk, also speaking on behalf of Ford's Feel Football programme, believes Chelsea's thirst for revenge tips the scales in their favour.
"I predict that Chelsea will beat United because they will be fired up after losing out in the league," Frisk exclusively told skysports.com.
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson believes his team have the skill to match Chelsea's strength and lift the European Cup.
Although his side went on to retain the Barclays Premier League title, Ferguson is still hurting by the defeat at Stamford Bridge.
He intends to put the record straight when England's top two go head to head tonight in Russia in the Champions League final.
'Chelsea are physically stronger than most of the Premier League teams but we do not need to match that.
'We have to play with our main strength, our movement and our passing, our ability to create openings in the game.
'We are in good shape and I do not want us to change too much.
'Maybe we don't have the overall experience like Chelsea in terms of age but we have courage.'
Certainly United have a variety of strong attacking options with the likes of 41-goal Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez to call on.
Tevez's loan spell is up next summer and United are hoping to tie him up on a long-term deal.
Ferguson said: 'Part of the plan is to have Carlos at the club in the long term. There is no question we want him to stay.
'I think David Gill (chief executive) is progressing on that as best he can.
'One of the reasons we are here in Moscow and won the title is because of Carlos.
'He has that ability to score important goals for us, just like Eric Cantona used to do.
'Carlos has been a revelation for us and is a fantastic professional.'
Ferguson insists, however, they are not a one-man band.
'The final is a big challenge for every one of my players,' he said. 'I depend on them all to be at the top of their game. That way we have a massive chance.'
Latest Chelsea News
Makelele confirms quit dateEuro 2008 will be end for midfielder
By Patrick Haond Last updated: 20th May 2008
Claude Makelele has confirmed he intends to quit international football after Euro 2008.
The 35-year-old Chelsea midfielder previously announced his retirement from France after the World Cup in 2006.
But coach Raymond Domenech refused to accept his decision and called him up and so Makelele went back on his decision to play in the Euro 2008 qualifiers.
Now ahead of the tournament in Austria & Switzerland, Makelele insists he will not change his mind again.
"Will I stop French team after Euro 2008? This time you have to believe me, I believe I will stop," he told L'Equipe.
"What I have experienced with Les Bleus is fantastic. But at a certain time, a player has to stop. Today it is my turn.
"I want to stay in my club and not join again with national team."
20/05/2008 23:55
Alcides To Return To Chelsea
Chelsea's out-on-loan defender Alcides will return to Stamford Bridge from link club PSV Eindhoven this summer.
http://www.goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=704041
The Dutch side, who have an ongoing partnership with Chelsea, have decided not to renew an option to extend his loan deal, which means that the player's future now lies in the hands of manager Avram Grant. Alcides had played an important role this season, featuring in 30 games for PSV in all competitions, scoring two goals. It had been widely expected that the player would remain in the Netherlands for at least one more season. The 23-year-old, who is eligible to play international football for both Portugal and Brazil, was at the Philips Stadium in a similar agreement to that which saw Alex spend an additional season with PSV after signing in London, before beginning his Chelsea career this season. Alcides had played with the reigning Eredivisie champions for over a year, but will now report for pre-season training at Stamford Bridge in early July. After initially joining Chelsea in 2004, Alcides was sent out on loan straight away, enjoying two impressive years at Benfica before moving to Holland. Alcides had played for Vitoria and Santos in Brazil before signing for Chelsea, but with Branislav Ivanovic signed in January for £9 million, future prospects of first-team football at the Bridge look bleak at the present time.
Chris Myson
The Frenchman joined the Londoners last summer for £13.5million, and has made just 13 starts this season.
He said: "My lack of games is not down to me. It's the coach's choice. All I can do is keep trying hard to be ready if selected.
"I've never doubted my ability or whether I could make my mark in this league.
"I've been a starter more regularly in Europe and I'd look back at this year as a success if I ended up winning the European Cup with this team.
"I came here to win trophies and on Wednesday I have the chance to do that."
Pictured here are the MRI scans ? published for the first time ? which were taken before Cech underwent emergency brain surgery following the sickening collision with the Reading midfielder on October 14, 2006.
The Chelsea keeper, interviewed by Des Kelly on the BBC's Inside Sport programme, revealed: "It's the first time anyone has seen these.
"The pictures are pretty impressive because you can see the skull in detail as if you are holding it in your hand. You can see the metal plates hold the big part of the fracture in place.
"Two holes were made in the skull by the surgeon to lift the major piece of bone back into place as it was depressed inside from the impact.
"The little pieces around it were just broken so they put them back together and this will all fuse back together over the years. On the scan you can see where the bone ends. And either side of that there are just tissue fibres. They are strong enough to hold off some impact, but you never know. And that is why I wear the helmet to make sure it's not going to split again.
"When you hear that someone has a depressed skull you imagine a lot of things. But when you see it, it looks very different to how you might expect. It's still healing so I can feel how the muscles around the fracture are protecting the area and the whole area is stiff.
"When you touch it you can feel the metal plates. I still have things to do and they try to release the pressure on the side of the skull a little but it's fine."
Cech, who celebrates his 26th birthday on Tuesday, recently returned to the team after a training-ground accident with Tal Ben Haim that left him needing 50 stitches in an open facial wound.
The goalkeeper was told by medical staff he would be out for the season, but he made a magnificent recovery. Cech added: "I keep collecting scars. The clash in training tore my face open and when I saw the reaction of the other players, I knew it was serious.
"When I looked in the mirror, I was shocked. The bottom half of my face had come away. But the surgeon did a good job and it shows I haven't changed my style of play.
"When I need to dive in at people's feet, I only have one goal, to save the ball whatever it takes. The downside of football is injuries, but you cannot control that."
Friday, May 16, 2008
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Joe Cole Chelsea Player Of The Year
'If I'm doing something they like I am well happy, and I've been on the other side as well, watching Chelsea and I voted for Player of the Year myself years ago, so it's a special thing for me. I can't say how happy I am at the club.' As well as his colleagues, Cole's name will now be engraved alongside some of his own boyhood heroes. Perusing the list of winners going back to 1967, he said: 'One of my heroes, Dennis Wise, and Gianfranco Zola are both on there. I can't believe it really to think I'm on the same trophy with their names on, I used to have posters of them when I was a kid - it's crazy.' At 26, he also believes there is more to come from him in a Chelsea shirt. 'At the start of the season I still had the hangover from the injuries I had, so to win this award is a great achievement, because there were doubts in my mind that I would ever get back to playing at the top level.
'I was playing with a lot of pain, but now I'm back. I've never started a season with Chelsea, having played the first few games and started. I know it is a bit premature to be talking about next year but if I can start the season and go from there I think I could take another step up. 'It's always been great here, and I still strive to get better and become a better player for Chelsea and Chelsea fans. I'm delighted to be here and hopefully I can stay for the rest of my career.' There was also a family connection for Joe at the evening, joined by his father George, a keen follower of his son's career. Speaking about his dad's presence at the event, the Chelsea man said: 'Everything I do with my football is for my family, they come to watch me everywhere. I wouldn't be a footballer if it wasn't for my dad and my mum, and brother and sister, we're a close family. I'm very happy and hopefully there'll be a few more of these.' This is a wish that is shared by Cole Snr, who is hoping for even more from his son. 'It's a great achievement for him. He loves it,' said George. 'I think all players can improve, they have to keep learning, every day is a learning curve and hopefully he'll keep learning. 'I think Chelsea have the best to come out of him yet. He's coming into his prime, his peak, and I am sure he would love to see it out at Chelsea.' There is little doubt that Chelsea fans would love the same.
Chelsea winger Joe Cole wants to be Blue for life
Winger Joe Cole has claimed he would like to play for Chelsea for the rest of his career if the club are willing to keep him.The in-form star, who signed for the Stamford Bridge outfit from West Ham United for a fee of £6.6 million in 2003, is still only 26 and approaching the peak of his professional career.However, he has expressed his desire to stay at the club until he retires as he says he is enjoying life in west London."If I was to finish my career at Chelsea, I'd be delighted," he said."I have played well this season and it will be my best for the club if we win something."The Blues' hopes of regaining the Premier League title they won in 2005 and 2006 have all but evaporated this week after their disappointing 1-1 draw at home to Wigan Athletic on Monday night.It was Cole's introduction as a half-time substitute that sparked Chelsea into life in that game, after a drab first period ended goalless.The England international injected pace into the home side, who took the lead through Michael Essien's 20-yard strike but surrendered their advantage in injury time when Emile Heskey converted Jason Koumas' cross.Despite being in excellent form at the moment, Cole claims he can still improve as a player and he hopes to continue his progression at Chelsea."The next five to six years will see the best of me," he stated."Hopefully, I will play for a long time because I am not someone who relies on pace."I am someone who always puts his heart and soul into every game. I have a great relationship with the fans and it is great to be playing under a manager who really believes in me."He continued: "I think we have to set our sights high. The way the club is at the moment, anything is possible and we shouldn't just be looking to win a league title here and a league title there and maybe one Champions League."With the players we have, we should be looking to win the Champions League on a regular basis and many championships."
Chelsea Road To Champions League
Chelsea route to Moscow
www.skysports.com
The Blues kicked off their UEFA Champions League campaign back in September. We look at how they made it through to the final
GROUP B
CHELSEA 1 ROSENBORG 1
Jose Mourinho's last European game as Chelsea manager ended in a drab draw in front of a half-empty Stamford Bridge as striker Andriy Shevchenko equalised Miika Koppinen's opening goal in their opening match in Group B.
VALENCIA 1 CHELSEA 2
Avram Grant's first game in the Champions League as Chelsea boss ended with victory at the Mestalla after Joe Cole and Didier Drogba helped the Blues fight back from David Villa's early strike.
CHELSEA 2 SCHALKE 0
Florent Malouda scored his first competitive goal in a Chelsea shirt and Drogba also found the net as the Blues cruised to a comfortable home victory over the Bundesliga outfit.
SCHALKE 0 CHELSEA 0
The German side proved more stubborn opponents away as Chelsea hung on for a goalless draw in Gelsenkirchen after goalkeeper Peter Cech had departed the field with a calf injury at half-time and was replaced by Carlo Cudicini.
ROSENBORG 0 CHELSEA 4
A brace from Drogba and a goal apiece from Joe Cole and Alex saw Chelsea secure their place in the knockout stage of the competition as winners of Group B with a comprehensive victory.
CHELSEA 0 VALENCIA 0
Grant rested a number of players as Chelsea missed several chances to end the group stage on a high as they qualified for the second round with three wins and three draws, scoring nine goal and conceding two.
LAST 16
OLYMPIACOS 0 CHELSEA 0
Grant started the match with John Terry and Frank Lampard on the bench and only the latter was called into action six minutes from the end as Chelsea battled to a goalless draw in Greece.
CHELSEA 3 OLYMPIACOS 0
The Blues barely broke sweat as goals from Michael Ballack, Lampard and Salomon Kalou helped them stroll to victory in the second leg at Stamford Bridge and book the west Londoners' place in the quarter-finals.
QUARTER-FINALS
FENERBAHCE 2 CHELSEA 1
Fenerbahce mounted a stunning comeback to shock Chelsea in front of a partisan crowd in Istanbul. Deivid put through his own net early in the match but London-born Colin Kazim-Richards equalised in spectacular fashion before Deivid found the net at the right end nine minutes from time.
CHELSEA 2 FENERBAHCE 0
Ballack eased Chelsea's nerves with a goal in the fourth minute of the second leg and Lampard made it safe with a goal three minutes from time although the Blues were forced to call upon third-choice goalkeeper Hilario after an injury to Cudicini.
SEMI-FINALS
LIVERPOOL 1 CHELSEA 1
The first leg of Chelsea's third Champions League semi-final with Rafael Benitez's side seemed to be going to form after Dirk Kuyt's goal before half-time in front of noisy Anfield. But John Arne Riise's bizarre injury-time own goal silenced the Kop and handed the Blues a crucial away goal.
CHELSEA 3 LIVERPOOL 2
Fernando Torres equalised Drogba's opening goal to take the match to extra time. But a Lampard penalty, and a second goal from Drogba gave Chelsea the initiative despite Ryan Babel's late strike as Riise's own-goal in the first leg proved the difference between the two sides.
Play me up front with Anelka and we'll win Euro final, Drogba tells Grant
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/sport/article-23485075-details/article.do?ito=newsnow
Didier Drogba has told Avram Grant he must play him up front with Nicolas Anelka if Chelsea are to beat Manchester United in Moscow next week. The Blues boss favours the 4-3-3 formation used by Jose Mourinho with Drogba playing up front on his own. But Drogba believes he should be paired with Anelka in Wednesday's Champions League Final.
He said: “I have a lot of admiration and respect for Nicolas. "He came to England very young and had to prove himself in a very demanding League. "I'm a bit disappointed we've not been able to play together all that often since he arrived from Bolton in January. "But given the chance we can do a lot of damage. Hopefully that will be the case against United.” The striker also admitted he cannot bear the thought of ending the season without a trophy for the first time since he moved to Stamford Bridge. He added: “The game, as ever against United, will be tough. But if we do not win, this season will be a huge black mark on my career. "It will be the first time I've not won a single trophy with Chelsea." The 30-year-old, who is expected to quit the club this summer, has also revealed how he came close to walking out on Chelsea at Christmas. He has admitted in a new book that he confronted Chelsea chief Peter Kenyon to confirm that he wanted out following the sacking of Jose Mourinho and would not play in the Blues' crunch Champions League group game in Valencia. He said: “It was a terrible dilemma. But I was ready not to play — I was feeling stubborn.” Drogba sought advice from both his agent and from his former Marseille club president Pape Diouf — and went on to hit the winner in Valencia. Now he hopes to shrug off the knee injury sustained in the final league clash against Bolton to lead the attack against United in Russia.
Cole out to avoid Paris repeatBlues defender wants to be a winner
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11668_3570050,00.htmlBy Chris Burton Last updated: 15th May 2008
Ashley Cole is determined to avoid UEFA Champions League heartache for a second time. The Chelsea full-back was part of the Arsenal squad which fell at the final hurdle during a disappointing 2-1 defeat to Barcelona in Paris back in 2006. The England international admits that the pain of missing out again would be hard to take, and is constantly reminded of his first failure as the winning goal two years ago was scored by Juliano Belletti, now a team-mate of Cole at Stamford Bridge. Lucky"Before the game, nobody expected (Arsenal) to win," Cole said. "We had so many young players, we had a man sent off (Jens Lehmann), went 1-0 up, should have been 2-0 up, but then Belletti comes along and scores - which I hear about all the time! "Hopefully, he'll get another one of those 'lucky' goals." RepeatCole insists that the disappointment of that night in Stade de France has made him even more determined to ensure that victory is achieved over Manchester United in Moscow on 21st May. "I don't want to be in the same situation as last time and lose," he said. "I try not to think about (Paris) too much - but now I have got the chance to wipe all that out by getting a winners' medal this year."
Anelka: We Can 'Do The Business'
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Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka thinks that the Blues have what it takes to bring the Champions League trophy back to London, but doesn't know if he'll get on the pitch.
Ahead of the Champions League final, Chelsea fringe man Nicolas Anelka has said that the Blues can 'do the business' against Premier League champs Manchester United.
He's under no illusions as to how tough the Moscow showpiece will be, but is unsure of what his role will be, if any, on the night.
"It is going to be difficult,” Anelka told Setanta Sports. “Man United is a big team with big players, but in one game anything is possible.
“We are confident, like I said it will be a difficult game but we can do the business.”
Asked if he expects to start, the Frenchman responded: “I don’t know, you will have to ask the manager, but even if I am on the bench and I get a chance to play I will do my best.”
Duncan Robertson, Goal.com
Gullit backs Chelsea for final glory
Ruud Gullit has backed Chelsea to bounce back from their Premier League title disappointment and win the Champions League final
Gullit, who was in charge at Stamford Bridge from 1996 to 1998 and led Chelsea to their first major trophy in 27 years when he won the FA Cup in 1997, is confident Avram Grant's side can deliver the prize craved by owner Roman Abramovich.
And the former Dutch international, now in charge of Major League Soccer outfit Los Angeles Galaxy, believes United will not have wanted to face Chelsea in Moscow.
He told Ford's Feel Football debate programme: "I see Chelsea taking revenge, so it is going to be a very interesting Champions League final and I think Chelsea will win.
"I have a feeling that Man United would rather have played Liverpool than Chelsea, that's for sure.
"But is this the right final? Well, I think the best four teams were there in the semis, so that was good, but those games again made it very obvious how much importance is put on the away goals rule.
"It is so vital who plays first away and then at home. Liverpool, in the previous season's matches played away and then at home and they managed to win.
"This time it was the other way around and they didn't - so that says something."
The match marks Chelsea's first appearance in the European Cup final and their first chance to lift the most prestigious trophy in Europe.
Gullit, 49, also admitted that Chelsea boss Grant deserved credit for his part in helping the west London club reach the final and that striker Didier Drogba had a key role to play at the Luzhniki Stadium.
"Jose Mourinho had a hand in this but really it is Grant's hand - he has done what he had to do, to make the best out of it," he added.
"Jose had a good team in his hands and the question was what could Grant do with it? Well, until now he has done very, very well with it.
He continued: "Drogba is very, very important for Chelsea in this match.
"From Manchester United's point of view I think it will be who will play against Drogba, Ferdinand or Vidic, that will be key - and I also think Paul Scholes will be very important from a tactical point of view."
Ten Cate believes Chelsea's winners give them the edge
By Martyn Herman
LONDON, May 15 (Reuters) - Assistant manager Henk ten Cate believes past experience could give Chelsea the edge over Manchester United in next week's Champions League final.
Chelsea's storming late surge in the Premier League just failed to overhaul United but the abrasive Dutchman thinks the London side may hold a slight advantage in a one-off final in the cauldron of Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium.
"The teams are even in quality and strength, although there is a big difference in the way they play and the way we play," the 53-year-old told reporters at Chelsea's training ground.
"A final is always on its own but we have about six players in our squad who have won the Champions League at one time and maybe that can be an advantage.
"We also have two or three players that played a final so they know what it is to play a final at that level. But it's going to be close."
Champions League winners now playing for Chelsea include Nicolas Anelka, Claude Makelele, Paulo Ferreira, Ricardo Carvalho, Andrei Shevchenko and Juliano Belletti, who scored the winner for Barcelona against Arsenal in 2006 when Ten Cate was assistant to Frank Rijkaard at the Nou Camp.
Michael Ballack and Ashley Cole have tasted defeat at the final hurdle with Bayer Leverkusen and Arsenal respectively.
While United may start as favourites they do not boast as quite as many Champions League winners and Ten Cate says the mood in the Chelsea camp is quietly confident before the journey to Russia.
"Manchester have played good football this year but we are getting better and better and we have momentum which will help us," he said. "The spirit in the team is good, losing the league title was not such a big disappointment.
"It's important not to try and over-analyse things. I think it's important that your players walk on to the pitch with a lot of confidence. They have much confidence because the last part of the season we were very strong."
Ten Cate also thinks high stakes in Moscow will not produce the kind of tepid match witnessed in last season's FA Cup final.
"It won't be a typical Premier League game because there are so many foreign influences," he said. "I think it will be entertaining because we both play well away." (Reporting by Martyn Herman, editing by Rex Gowar)
Big security force for Champions League
STEVE GUTTERMAN, Associated Press Writer
May 15, 2008 10:33 AM
MOSCOW (AP) - Russian police will use an unusually large force to provide security at Wednesday night's Champions League final between Manchester United and Chelsea.
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Six thousand police and Interior Troops on foot, in vehicles and on horseback will be on duty in and around Luzhniki Stadium, Interior Ministry spokesman Valery Gribakin said Thursday.
That is 15 to 20 percent more police and servicemen than are normally on hand for major sports events in Moscow, Gribakin said at a news conference that included a video link from London with representatives of fan clubs of the two teams.
Tens of thousands of English fans are expected in Moscow for the match.
Asked for an assurance that police would not treat fans with unnecessary roughness, Gribakin said police will enforce the law but will not go overboard.
''Everything will be done according to the highest international standards,'' he said.
Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko said Russia would attempt to prevent violence and ''ensure that there are no acts of revenge'' following the stabbing of a Russian fan ahead of Wednesday's UEFA Cup final in Manchester between Zenit St. Petersburg and Glasgow Rangers.
''Yesterday in Manchester I saw what seemed like 100,000 (Rangers) fans, standing on all the central streets, running, drinking. Frankly speaking, I would not like to see this in Moscow in this way,'' Mutko said. ''I want it to be a celebration.''
Gribakin said that Russia, through Interpol, had requested information about violence-prone English fans who might travel to Moscow for the match, and would watch them closely.
''Naturally, special control will be established over these individuals, but not in a way that seriously infringes ... their rights and freedoms,'' he said.
More than 15 British law enforcement officials will be on hand to help organize security, Mutko said.
Russia has waived visa requirements for fans with tickets. They can stay in Russia between May 17-25 provided they show their ticket when entering and leaving the country, Foreign Ministry consular department chief Vyacheslav Pavlovsky said.
English-speaking operators will be on hand to answer emergency calls on match day, and information will be available in English in subway stations, officials said.
While police-escorted buses will be provided to take fans from airports to the stadium and back, Mutko said their use is not mandatory and there would be no unusual restrictions on the movement of the visitors.
''We are a free country,'' he said. ''You can go wherever you want.''
Desailly : Blues Have The Advantage
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'Psychologically we have something on top of them because we beat them at our ground,' he said.
'Even though [Cristiano] Ronaldo was not there, [Carlos] Tevez was not there and they had some injury at the start of the game to [Nemanja] Vidic, psychologically Manchester United will say, oh we have lost a game against them and we will have to be careful.
'When you are careful, you don't express yourself. You don't give 100 per cent, you may only give 90 per cent. Then, if Chelsea play well, we can win.
'But as a specialist of football I will tell you that it is going to be very hard,' he cautions, 'because the creativity of Manchester is higher than our own creativity, especially with the likes of Ronaldo.
'But it is football so we don't know really,' he added.
The former Blue also feels reaching the final stage of the competition gives a true portrayal of Chelsea's recent accomplishments.
'We feel as though we have achieved something extra from the past years. We are in the Final, finally. The image that Chelsea had in respect to what we had achieved was not enough.
'Now that we have the potential of winning the Champions League, it is something to close the gap between the image and the achievements.
'Also, even if we don't win, next year we know we went one step further and can work on it again.'
John Terry : Moscow Do Or Die
John Terry said all eyes are now on the Champions League after the penultimate day of the season saw Manchester United secure the title.
The Chelsea captain, who was carried off during yesterday's 1-1 draw with an arm injury, feels Manchester United earned first place in the Barclays Premier League, but was keen to stress the European competition is another story all together.
'We respect them [Manchester United], they have been fantastic. They are top of the league and they deserve to be there, but Moscow is a different story and now we are aiming for that,' explained Terry.
'That is the one that has been missing for me and the players here and the Chelsea fans
'That is the big trophy I want.
'But I am disappointed we have not won the league, obviously.
'We have dropped a few points late on in games, as we did against Bolton, and I think that has cost us over the course of the year.
'But I take nothing away from Manchester United, they have been very good,' added the number 26.
John Mikel Obi reiterated Terry's sentiments as he began to focus all of his attention on May 21 and Moscow.
'It is going to be a do-or-die, we have to win. There can be nothing short of winning the Champions League, we have to win it,' said Mikel.
Yesterday's game did not start as Terry would have wished, clashing with Petr Cech inside the Blues' box meant he led the side for less than 10 minutes before Frank Lampard took up the captain role and medical staff carried off the defender, whose arm was strapped to his side.
But the Blues skipper returned to the stadium before the final whistle to show support for his team and he also addressed the crowd after the game, quelling any fears he might miss Moscow.
'The arm is okay, just a dislocation, but it managed to pop back in before I got to hospital and there is no break so I am happy about that,' clarified the captain.
'Three or four days rest and it is going to be okay. I should be okay for Moscow.
'I followed everything in the dressing room.
'I got back just before the start of the second half so I was flicking between the two games and when the second one went in for Man United, I thought that was it.'
As Terry spoke of watching both games, it seemed clear the team were aware of Manchester United's score at Wigan as the second half commenced, but Mikel did not think it influenced anyone's performance.
'Going to the game we didn't know what was going to happen, but we went into the game with one goal, to win,' said the Nigerian.
'At the end of the first half and second half we knew the results, but I don't think it affected anything.
'We went in there to win, but it didn't come our way and at the end of the day Manchester United won and they won the title.
'Fair play to them and fair play to Chelsea as well, I think we did a very good job.'
All the Blues were keen to congratulate Manchester United for securing the title, and Florent Malouda, who spoke about the northwest side as he completed a lap of appreciation around the pitch, captured the team's feelings well.
'Now everybody will start to think back to where we dropped points and Manchester United would do the same if they were second,' said the Frenchman.
'But I think it was a fantastic season. Congratulations to Manchester United, I think they deserved to win as much as we would have deserved it,' he added.
