Chelsea Fights Back Again to Move Atop English Premier League

Source: Dan Baynes (Bloomberg)

Aug. 19 (Bloomberg) -- Chelsea came back from a goal down to win for the second time in four days and move atop English soccer’s Premier League.

Second-half goals from Michael Ballack, Frank Lampard and Deco last night canceled out Darren Bent’s 18th-minute strike for Sunderland as the Blues won 3-1 at the Stadium of Light.

Chelsea, seeking its first Premier League title since 2006, also fought back to defeat Hull City 2-1 on the opening day and came from behind to beat Manchester United on penalties in the Community Shield, the annual season curtain-raiser.

“You have to maintain control of the game and we have done that in those three matches,” Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti said in an interview with the BBC. “Even when we were behind, we were in control.”

Ballack started the latest rally seven minutes after halftime when he converted Lampard’s corner from close range. Bent had earlier put the home side ahead when he beat Petr Cech after Kenwyne Jones’s shot had been blocked.

Lampard added Chelsea’s second from the penalty spot in the 61st minute after Didier Drogba was tripped, lifting his tally to 132 goals for Chelsea to tie Jimmy Greaves in fifth place on the all-time list.

Deco sealed the win with 20 minutes remaining with a right- foot shot from the edge of the penalty area that went in off the inside of the goalpost.

“We tried our utmost, gave everything we could give, but in the end we just couldn’t cope with Chelsea,” Sunderland manager Steve Bruce told the BBC. “That is what we aspire to.”

In last night’s other Premier League match, newly promoted Wolverhampton Wanderers won 1-0 at Wigan to rebound from an opening-day home loss to West Ham. Wigan began the campaign with a 2-0 win at Aston Villa, which finished sixth last season.

Andy Keogh’s sixth-minute header sealed the victory for Wolves, who failed to win a single match away from home when they last competed in the top flight in 2003-04.

Manchester United continues its title defense tonight at Burnley, while last season’s runner-up Liverpool hosts Stoke City. Portsmouth visits Birmingham and Hull hosts Tottenham.

Chelsea given 24 hours to come up with £50m for Aguero

Source: Andrew Slevison (Tribalfootball.Co.Uk)

Chelsea have been given 24 hours to meet the £50million get-out clause for Atletico Madrid’s Sergio Aguero.

The Spanish club are preparing for a Champions League qualifier against Panathinaikos on Wednesday and if no deal is done, Aguero will play meaning he will be ineligible to play for the Blues in Europe, suggesting a deal would be extremely unlikely.

Atletico will be loathe to lose the Argentine striker but Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti would hate to miss out on another potential target.

Michael Ballack Happy With Chelsea's Diamond Formation

SOURCE: Stephen Darwin, Goal.com

Chelsea midfielder Michael Ballack has offered his backing to the diamond formation installed at the club under newly appointed boss Carlo Ancelotti.
The Blues utilised the system in their Premier League opener against Hull City on Saturday and struggled to a 2-1 victory. The new-look formation abandons the use of wingers, using four central midfielders in a diamond shape behind two advanced strikers.

Germany captain Ballack was replaced by John Obi Mikel at half-time against Hull, but despite a less than convincing start, the former Bayern Munich star is confident that the diamond system can work.
"Everybody is a little bit expectant about what we can achieve this year," Ballack told The Press Association.

"We have a new manager and we play a new system. We played it under Jose Mourinho when I arrived, and it feels different not to play with wingers and to play with two strikers.
"So tactically things will be different for us, but it depends how you implement it, by which I mean you can play any system with good players and they have to show their ability."
The 32-year-old went on to play down the significance of the formation, claiming that individual performances are the most important aspect in dictating whether a setup will work.

"It is not about the system, it is about how individuals perform on the pitch and whether they do the right things, so it is not as simple as just picking a system," added Ballack.
"You gain a small advantage through the centre but there's more hard work for the four midfielders because they have a lot of work to do on and off the ball in this system."
Chelsea travel to the Stadium of Light on Tuesday to take on Sunderland in the Premier League.

Didier Drogba: Chelsea Were Lucky, But We Earned It

SOURCE: David Kifford, Goal.com

Chelsea striker Didier Drogba has admitted his winning goal against Hull was intended as a cross, but believes getting the win was all that matter.Drogba scored twice after Stephen Hunt's early strike had given Hull City the lead in opening fixture of the Premier League.

The Ivory Coast international snatched all three points for the resilient Blues with a stroke of fortune in the dying minutes of the game.After dribbling to the byline Drogba lofted a ball towards the back post which looped over goalkeeper Boaz Myhill and into the net.Drogba told Chelsea's official website, "To be honest it was a cross for Salomon Kalou, but the intention was there and I had so many chances that I think it was a gift."You have to create your own luck, and although I wanted to cross for Salomon, the ball went into the goal, so I was lucky and it is always good to win the first game."

We had a difficult second half because we could have scored a lot of goals but we were unlucky. I could have scored two or three goals before the last one, but we won and that's the most important thing."The 31-year-old secured an opening day win with his late strike and he praised the spirit of the squad to respond so well to falling behind."They came here last year and created a lot of problems," he added. "So we knew it was going to be difficult, especially when they scored, but the spirit we showed today was good."Drogba wasted a good chance after just two minutes of the match and admitted he was pleased to right that wrong with his brace."I was frustrated because I could have scored before," he revealed.

"That was a great chance, and when City scored I was upset with myself, but the reaction was good with the free kick."The striker reserved praise for the fans at Stamford Bridge and promised to do all he could to help bring the Premier League trophy back to Fulham Road."The crowd was fantastic, they have been good with me for a while now and I'm loving it, it is important for me," he asserted."With Chelsea the aims are simple, difficult, but simple. Win the titles, all the competitions we are going to be involved in. It will not be easy, but we are going to try and win the Premier League again."

Chelsea to offer Bosingwa in Ribery swap deal

Source: (Rory Finnegan) FIRST POSTED.CO.UK

Chelsea are still in the hunt for Bayern Munich's wantaway winger Franck Ribery and the latest deal to be touted involves £25m in cash plus full-back Jose Bosingwa, according to the Sunday Express.
Former Arsenal target Marouane Chamakh of Bordeaux is interesting West Ham. The London club are in financial trouble and may offload £10m rated defender Matthew Upson to Manchester City to ease their situation. If that deal goes through, Gianfranco Zola hopes to have enough spare cash to bid for the Moroccan striker.

Tottenham misfit David Bentley could be on his way out of White Hart Lane. The winger may be haeding for Manchester City according to the Sunday Express but they face competition from Everton - both clubs are ready to pay £9m for the winger.

Hull, who are still looking for a striker, could break the bank with a £12m move for Real Madrid forward Alvaro Negredo. Their previous record signing was Jimmy Bullard, who coast £5m from Fulham.
Down in League two Notts County director of football Sven-Goran Eriksson is busy trying to persuade Pavel Nedved and Luis Figo to come out of retirement according to the Mail on Sunday. The former England boss is also hoping to sign Inter Milan's Patrick Vieira

Chelsea striker Didier Drogba admits he copied Ronaldo's free-kick technique

Source: Martin Lipton (Mirrorfootball.Co.Uk)

Didier Drogba pulled Carlo Ancelotti out of the sticky stuff to extend the longest opening day winning streak in Premier League history - and revealed the debt he owed to Cristiano Ronaldo.

While Drogba was the first to admit his injury-time match-winner that left Ancelotti gasping for a fag and Phil Brown spewing was a fluke, the African ace had already scored one of the goals of the season.

Drogba’s stunning first half free-kick to draw Ancelotti’s Blues level after a solar plexus blow from Stamford Bridge hate-figure Stephen Hunt was a replica of the Ronaldo stunner against Portsmouth two seasons ago.

And the Chelsea hit-man conceded he had been more than happy to steal from the Portuguese star’s bag of tricks.

Drogba said: “I guess it was a bit like the one Ronaldo scored and it was deliberate. I tried to do it like that and lined it up to hit the valve.
“Everybody is aware of this technique now after Ronaldo and it’s true that when you hit the valve the ball comes down more.
“But it is just technique - and I think his free-kick was bit better than mine."
Drogba and his Chelsea team-mates were all smiles after ensuring their bombardment of Boaz Myhill’s goal was rewarded with the three points that should have been sewn up before the break.

For all Chelsea’s incessant pressure, Ancelotti’s diamond once again lacked natural width as Hull flooded the midfield and as the striker reflected: “It was relief at the end, not celebration.
“We created so many chances that I hadn’t scored. So the manager’s reaction was simple - ’Phew!’“

Ancelotti, who punished John Obi Mikel for a shocking first half by replacing him with Michael Ballack at the break, was equally willing to admit the pressure of his first taste of the Premier League had got to him, especially when he was not able to lean on his preferred emotional crutch, nicotine.

“I’ve given it up - before the match,” said the Italian. “Finito.
“But I start again as soon as I can afterwards. Before the match, finished. After the match, start again! But seriously it’s not difficult for me. In Italy you cannot smoke on the bench. It is the same as here. It is not a problem.”
What might have been a problem would have been two points tossed away, with Drogba’s lucky strike - after a string of chances had come and gone either side of Hunt’s opportunist tap-in - coming in the second minute of stoppage time to make it eight successive opening weekend wins for Chelsea.

Brown, who had theatrically punched the air in mock delight when fourth official Phil Dowd indicted the additional time, joked: “We’re not allowed to bet as managers but my money would have been on five.

“When six went up I was expecting Michael Turner to come off as a substitute. I’d made three so maybe Ancelotti was bringing him off.”
Drogba needed just two to win the game, further evidence of his value and Ancelotti added: “Didier has good motivation right now. He is a very important player but he is more than that because he has a very good personality, too.

“We are happy that he has started the season with two goals. He is training very well, and we want that to continue. He says he still feels young and when he does things like that for me, so do I.

“What was important is that we maintained the idea of how we want to play, and we deserved to win. It is why I celebrated with passion.
“Whoever works in this environment has passion - passionate players, passionate fans, a passionate coach, passionate journalists. Because this is nice work for us, and for the players.
“I know it’s impossible to win every game, but what is important is to believe we can win every game. This is my philosophy.”

Ancelotti’s players know they have to share that philosophy to wrest back the title, and Drogba agreed: “We needed to show that spirit to win it because it is in times like that the strength of the team comes out.

“To win the league you need to win all your home games and try to make some good result away. You need to beat teams like Hull here and if not, that is how you lose the league.
“I don’t think you lose the league against Manchester United or Liverpool; you lose the league because you are not consistent and you drop some points.”
Hull’s ambitions are understandably very different, and Brown moaned that all the hard work - including brilliant last-gasp tackles by the excellent Michael Turner and Andy Dawson and a stoic display from new midfielder Seyi Olofinjana - had been undone so cruelly.
“I thought we defended valiantly as a team,” said Brown. “We were unhinged by a cross but you’ve got to deal with it.

“Now we have to get up to speed in next three or four games. It’s important that we get points in those matches to go into the next international break.”

Chelsea Owner Roman Abramovich To Offer €46.5m For Bayern Munich's Franck Ribery

Source: Adithya Ananth, Goal.com


The top boss of Chelsea is reportedly going to meet the representative of the Bavarian club to offer €46.5 million for the Frenchman.


Roman Abramovich appears to be keen to flash his wallet after convincing John Terry to remain with Chelsea. Franck Ribery is the primary target, and the Blues’ owner is reportedly going to fly to Germany and meet Uli Hoeness, the general manager of Bayern Munich.According to The Sun, Abramovich is willing to break the British transfer record by tabling a bid of €46.5 million in order to bring the Frenchman to Stamford Bridge."Uli was taken by surprise by the phone call but was very honest and courteous with Mr. Abramovich," a senior Bayern source is quoted in the tabloid as saying."We are still resolved to keep Ribery but Hoeness agreed to meet with Abramovich in Germany to discuss any offer.

"The Blues have a lot of competition to sign Ribery. The Frenchman is reportedly on the radars of Manchester United, Real Madrid, Inter and Barcelona.Die Roten have declared in the past that the diminutive player is not for sale. But rumours continue to abound that the 26-year-old may have signed a pre-contract deal with los Blancos. The tabloid believes that this will anger FC Hollywood enough to sell their player to the Pensioners instead.Adithya Ananth, Goal.com

Blues Back In For Pato

Source: Goal.Com

Tabloid reports from England suggest that Chelsea are readying a unique, mega-money offer to Milan for Alexandre Pato. Apparently, the Pensioners will bid to buy the Brazilian striker outright for €52.5m - and loan him straight back to the Rossoneri for the 2009-10 campaign.

John Terry set to join top earners after Chelsea reward captain’s loyalty

Source: Matt Hughes (Timesonline.Co.Uk)


Chelsea have offered John Terry a new four-year contract worth £151,000 a week, which he is expected to sign before the start of the Barclays Premier League season in nine days’ time.

The Chelsea captain publicly committed his future to the club last week by rejecting the opportunity to move to Manchester City and will be rewarded with an improved deal with an additional year, tying him to Stamford Bridge until 2013.

Terry’s new deal will re-establish him as the highest-paid player at the club alongside Frank Lampard, who received a significant pay rise when he turned down the chance to join Inter Milan by signing a five-year contract with Chelsea 12 months ago.

Although structured slightly differently, the contracts of the England internationals have effectively been synchronised, with Chelsea delighted to have secured their two most influential players for the rest of their careers. The club have been given verbal assurances that they do not wish to play for anyone else.

Robinho is the only Premier League player to earn more than Terry and Lampard, by about £9,000 a week, but such a status for the pair has been hard earned despite the riches at the disposal of Roman Abramovich, the owner, with Andriy Shevchenko and Michael Ballack top of the payroll until recently. Terry has expressed an interest in staying at Chelsea at the end of his playing career and will begin studying for his coaching badge when time permits during this season.

He signed his previous deal only after lengthy negotiations two years ago and, in ordinary circumstances, would not even begin talks on an extension until next summer, but after his decision to snub an offer of £200,000 a week for five years from City, Chelsea were happy to break from protocol. This latest deal has come together far quicker, with Terry speaking to Abramovich on the club’s pre-season tour to the United States and thrashing out the details with Peter Kenyon, the chief executive, since returning to London.

Terry’s decision to commit to Chelsea is a huge boost for Carlo Ancelotti, the new manager, but the club’s willingness to give the captain an extra year also represents vindication for the player himself. The 28-year-old has been hit by a series of back problems in recent years and there were fears that he would struggle to play on into his thirties. However, his fitness record improved last season as he started 51 matches.

Terry has been given a thorough physical evaluation by Chelsea’s medical staff this summer, which he passed with flying colours. Indeed, given the success of the holistic methods used by Bruno Di Micheli, the sports scientist who accompanied the manager from Milan, Ancelotti is confident of extending Terry’s career. Di Micheli worked in the famous Milanello lab for 25 years and played an integral part in helping players such as Paolo Maldini and Alessandro Costacurta to play until they were approaching their forties.

Chelsea continued the process of consolidating their squad yesterday when Didier Drogba signed a two-year extension, ensuring that he is contracted to the club until 2012. Florent Malouda has also signed a similar extension this summer, while talks are taking place with Ashley Cole and are about to start with Joe Cole and Salomon Kalou.

Drogba, who has scored 94 goals in 216 games for Chelsea, cited winning the Champions League as his remaining big ambition, even if he will miss the first three games of this European campaign through suspension.

“I have decided to extend my contract with Chelsea for two extra years and I am very happy and proud to continue to wear the blue of Chelsea until then,” Drogba said. “I stay because I am ambitious to pick up lots more trophies, regain the Premier League title, win cups. It’s for this that I have extended my time at Chelsea. But my No 1 objective is to win the Champions League. I am convinced that this year we can go to the end and finally lift this trophy.”

Money talkers

Barclays Premier League’s top earners (a week):

Robinho (Man City)£160,000

F Lampard (Chelsea) £151,000

J Terry (Chelsea) £151,000

E Adebayor (Man City) £140,000

C Tévez (Man City) £140,000

Drogba renews contract with Chelsea

Source: Reuters International

Chelsea's Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba [ Images ] has signed a new three-year contract, the Premier League club said on Wednesday.

"I have decided to extend my contract with Chelsea for two extra years and I am very happy and proud to continue to wear the blue of Chelsea until then,' said Drogba, who had a year to run on his previous deal.

The 31-year-old, whose new contract with the FA Cup holders runs until 2012, joined Chelsea from Ligue One side Olympique Marseille in 2004 when Portuguese coach Jose Mourinho paid over 20 million pounds ($33.95 million) for him.

The Ivorian had previously been linked with a move to Serie A champions Inter Milan where Mourinho now manages.

"I stay because I am ambitious to pick up lots more trophies, regain the Premier League title, win cups, it's for this that I have extended my time at Chelsea," Drogba told the club website (www.chelseafc.com).

In his five seasons at the west London [ Images ] club Drogba has scored 94 goals in 216 appearances winning two Premier League titles, two FA Cups and two League cups.

"But my number one objective is to win the Champions League [ Images ]. I am convinced that this year we can go to the end and finally lift this trophy," he said.

Drogba is likely to figure for Chelsea against Manchester United [ Images ] in the Community shield at Wembley stadium on Sunday.

The traditional curtain raiser to the start of the Premier League season will be Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti's [ Images ] first competitive game in charge of the Londoners.

Chelsea To Lodge Bid Of £38m Plus Deco For Atletico Madrid's Sergio Aguero

Source: Alan Dawson, Goal.com

Atletico Madrid may face a laborious battle in keeping star asset Sergio Aguero at Vicente Calderon as a bid for the player from Chelsea edges closer to the Spanish club's £50 million valuation.

The Stamford Bridge side, under the new management of Carlo Ancelotti, are readying an offer of £38m plus a player - Deco, according to The Daily Mail. It is believed the inclusion of the Portuguese playmaker is to compensate for the £12m difference.

Aguero, affectionately nicknamed 'El Kun' due to his likeness to a Japanese cartoon character - Kum Kum - is just one prong of a trident being targeted by Chelsea for summer recruitment.

The club have been relatively inactive in the market thus far, having signed Ross Turnbull, Daniel Sturridge and Yuri Zhirkov; yet Aguero, along with Bayern Munich attacker Franck Ribery and AC Milan midfielder Andrea Pirlo, have also been sounded out for potential switches.

Prior to captain John Terry's decision to declare his desire to remain at Stamford Bridge, he requested assurances that the club's ambitions matched his own, to which owner Roman Abramovich implied that Chelsea had been operating in the market, only for their estimations of the players to fall just short of the selling club's valuation. A £100m budget is reportedly the amount that Ancelotti has to play with.

The Blues will face competition for Aguero should negotiations for the highly-rated forward reach an advanced stage, as Manchester United are also keen.


Deco will favour a return to Spain, where he helped sustain the name he made for himself at FC Porto with Catalan outfit Barcelona, as he has struggled to establish himself in Chelsea's line-up.

Report: Chelsea Plan £100m Raid For Ribery, Pirlo & Aguero

Source: Owen Watson, Goal.com

Chelsea are planning to submit bids for Bayern Munich's Frank Ribery and Athletico Madrid's Sergio Aguero, according to a report in The Daily Mail.




Roman Abramovich is set to make a signal of the club's intent following club captain John Terry seeking assurances from the Chelsea hierarchy that the club would seek to bolster their ranks.




The report states that manager Carlo Ancelotti wants Milan's Andrea Pirlo to play in the holding midfield role in his diamond formation, with a fee of £12m plus Claudio Pizarro being mooted as possibly enough to persuade the Italian giants to do business.




Chelsea are then set to battle it out with Manchester United for the signature of Aguero, who is rated at £45m by his current club, Athletico Madrid. It is claimed Aguero was seeking wages of £200k a week to move to the Premier League, and this had initially cooled Chelsea's interest.




Meanwhile, the club are also planning to offer more than £40m to tempt Ribery to Stamford Bridge, and believe Bayern Munich will be tempted into selling as the transfer deadline approaches. Bayern had previously insisted Ribery would see his contract out at the club.

Carlo Ancelotti is Chelsea's new Special One, according to Blues midfielder Frank Lampard

Source: Sportsmail Reporter (Dailymail.Co.Uk)

Frank Lampard has heaped praise on new Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti, revealing that the Italian has already forged a close relationship with the players and changed the way they are approaching the new season.
The former AC Milan coach has a proven track record when it comes to winning major trophies and Lampard feels the players are desperate to win major silverware once again.

Lampard said: 'Carlo Ancelotti has been very impressive. He has many strengths but, for me, being very close with his players and being very organised are the main ones.
'Recently we have been working very much with the organisation of the team. We know ourselves that we need to have organisation in the team, from the start, front and back.
'Once we have that base and that quality, we can score goals and create goals all the time. It [training] has changed this year.

We did quite a lot of running without the ball last year, this year there is a lot more run­ning with the ball and a lot more football-based stuff.
That’s something players always want to do, especially if they can bring something new into their game.
'From the first day I came back we were playing small-sided games, keeping posses­sion and working with the ball, so there has been a nice mix of working hard and playing football.

Chelsea still in the hunt for Franck Ribery despite Bayern Munich's £80million price tag

Source: Jeremy Wilson (Telegraph.Co.Uk)

A bid in excess of £40 million from Chelsea has already been turned down and, while the FA Cup holders may be prepared to table a fresh offer, few in football would regard Munich's latest price-tag as realistic.

"Should Bayern just give Ribery away?" said Franz Beckenbauer, the Bayern president. "We naturally want what the market demands and if a Cristiano Ronaldo is worth 94 million euros [£80 million] then Ribery is worth a similar amount. If this is not being offered then he will just have to stay with us as he has a contract until 2011."

Werder Bremen, meanwhile, still hope to sign Claudio Pizarro from Chelsea, despite the Peruvian recently stating he wants to fight for his place at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea have also made an inquiry for Portsmouth goalkeeper Asmir Begovic as they seek to find further cover for Petr Cech following the January sale of Carlo Cudicini to Tottenham.
Begovic, though, is extremely highly regarded at Portsmouth, who see him as their long-term replacement to David James. They intend to send Begovic on loan next season so that he can play regular first-team football.

That is the reason behind this week's move for former Southampton and Fulham goalkeeper Antti Niemi, who retired last year because of a wrist injury. Niemi, who has worked previously with James's goalkeeping coach David Coles, would be happy to simply provide experienced backup for the England international.

After shoulder surgery, the reports are positive regarding James's recovery and he is confident of being available for forthcoming England duty.
Portsmouth are also close to agreeing a loan deal for Amr Zaki, as well as adding former Liverpool defender Steve Finnan and Croatia striker Nikola Kalinic.

I Want Chelsea To Win The Premier League Again - Frank Lampard

Source: Adithya Ananth, Goal.com

Frank Lampard has marked his target as winning the Premier League this season.Although the Chelsea midfielder admitted that the Champions League is still a substantial presence on his to-do list, he remained resolute as he said that there was no contest when it came to choosing which of the two honours he would rather have.“For me, it is the [Premier] League,” the 31-year-old declared on the club’s official website.“I grew up watching the Premiership, and the League before that, and it's a lovely feeling to be the best team in your country, and I want to get that back.“The Champions League is definitely something I want to win at least once in my career, but for me the League is where we need to get to the consistency levels we had a few years ago.”The England international went on to elaborate on the days of glory under Jose Mourinho, before explaining that the Pensioners’ team spirit is presently on a high.“We now need to get back to winning ways in terms of the League, we were dominant for two years and now Manchester United have been playing fantastically for three years,” he reminisced.“But now there's a real feeling between the players that, although winning the FA Cup was great this year, we want to go that one step further and get consistency in the League back and then push for the Champions League.”The Blues have had a promising pre-season, winning every game they have played, scoring eight goals and conceding only one in the process. They return to England after triumphinh in the World Football Challenge in America

Ancelotti's diamond won't be Joe Cole's best friend at Chelsea

Source: Matt Barlow (Dailymail.Co.Uk)

Carlo Ancelotti's midfield diamond seems to be here to stay but it leaves a big question mark over Joe Cole's future at Chelsea.

Manager Ancelotti insists Cole is a player he admires and someone capable of slotting into his preferred formation on either the left or right, or behind the strikers

But the England midfielder has been out injured since January, missed the intensive pre-season work on the new system and, not for the first time since joining from West Ham, faces a fight for his place.

Ancelotti said: 'I like football, so I know everything about Joe Cole. He is perfect to play behind the strikers, the same position as Frank Lampard, for example.

'He can also play on the left or the right and, when he's well, I want to try this. He is very good at playing in a small space and is a good dribbler. I will wait until he's recovered from injury and then try him.'
Cole is still three weeks away from action after more knee surgery last month. His contract runs out next year and talks on a new one have been delayed by Chelsea's US tour. Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp, who nurtured Cole at West Ham, will watch events unfold with interest.


Cole, 27, insists he has no desire to leave Chelsea and is keen to sign a new deal. He has faced similar situations before and forced his way back into the reckoning, most notably when he converted himself into a hard-working left winger to win a place in Jose Mourinho's line-up.

Realistically though, he is not going to oust Lampard from the tip of the diamond, the natural place for his undoubted talents.

Ancelotti has decided this is the best place to use Lampard's tireless running and goal touch and has given him considerably more game time in pre-season than others to get used to the role.

'Lampard is very good behind the strikers,' said Ancelotti. 'He moves well without the ball and works hard defensively.'

Michael Essien, John Mikel Obi and Michael Ballack, when he resumes training after a toe injury, will compete for the positions at the diamond's base and on the right, and rumours are rife in Milan that Chelsea are moving for Andrea Pirlo. Milan coach Leonardo last night denied knowledge of any mooted deal involving £8.6million, plus Claudio Pizarro and Michael Mancienne on a year's loan.

Franck Ribery remains another big-money Chelsea target, which cannot help Cole's prospects, while on the left, a position he once made his own for club and country, the England man faces stiff competition from £18m new boy Yuri Zhirkov and the reborn Florent Malouda.

Nicolas Anelka backing Chelsea to take advantage of Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez leaving Manchester United

Source: Sportsmail Reporter (DailyMail.Co.UK)

Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka is hopeful his side will have the measure of Manchester United this season now Cristiano Ronaldo is no longer at Old Trafford.

The Blues have had to play second fiddle to United in recent seasons, with Sir Alex Ferguson's men winning three successive Barclays Premier League titles


Chelsea are aiming to halt that run this campaign, and claim their first league trophy since 2005/06.

And Anelka believes the transfer of Ronaldo to Real Madrid, plus the departure of Carlos Tevez to Manchester City, could be just the boost United's rivals need.

'United are still a strong team and Ferguson is a good manager who knows what to do, but I don't think they'll be as strong this season,' said the Frenchman.

'Ronaldo has gone, Tevez has gone, and maybe that will give us more of a chance to win this title and to be stronger than United.


'We have a strong squad this year and everyone is together, so we'll have a better chance.

'It will be a tough title race. All the teams at the top are very strong, and even Manchester City have some good players.

'Because United have lost two big names, it gives everyone else - including ourselves - a big chance to win it. We will fight until the end and see.'

Mourinho: Chelsea have won nothing since I left

Source: Tribalfootball.Com

Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho has taken a pop at former club Chelsea.

Mourinho told the Daily Mail: "I had many conversations before Chelsea and I decided on a divorce. It was difficult because we loved each other but the relationship went in one direction and it was best for everyone.

"Since I left I became champion again but they have not been champions again. I keep winning and they don't."

Mourinho led Inter to another Serie A title last season and wants to bring the Champions League to the club 54 years after their last European Cup success.

He said: "I have a project in hand and I am very excited. When I went to Chelsea the big obsession was to win the Premier League after half a century. At Inter winning the Italian League is very important but we have something else on our minds."

Nicolas Anelka: Chelsea are a threat to Manchester United

Source: Jason Burt in Arlington (Telegraph.Co.Uk)


Having completed their pre-season tour to the United States on Sunday night, attention for Chelsea switches to domestic matters with Nicolas Anelka claiming they can mount a more serious challenge to Manchester United who, he believes, have been weakened by the summer's events.

"I don't think Manchester United will be as strong this season because (Cristiano) Ronaldo has gone, (Carlos) Tevez has gone and maybe that will give us more chance to win this title and to be stronger than United," Anelka said. "United are still a strong team, (Sir Alex) Ferguson is a good manager who knows how to do it and they will be like they are every season – very strong. But maybe this season because we have a strong squad and everyone is together we have a better chance."

Travelling across five different time zones, and criss-crossing the United States, may not appear to be ideal preparation and the Chelsea players have admitted to tiredness from their exertions over the past 11 days. But victories against Seattle Sounders and, more impressively, Inter Milan and AC Milan, before Sunday's fixture here against Club America, have helped to breed confidence under the new manager Carlo Ancelotti. The John Terry transfer saga has overshadowed events somewhat but there is a sense of cohesion and of capitalising on the belief that interim manager Guus Hiddink instilled during the second-half of the last campaign.

"We finished last season strongly and got better as the season went on," Anelka said. "Now we just have to keep going like we did and I think that will give us a great chance of winning the league. I think we are stronger going into the season. We have a more settled squad and a manager who believes in us. We haven't changed many players this summer which means we are settled."

There is also a new system to adapt to – and with two strikers, ahead of a diamond in midfield – it is one that Anelka, naturally, welcomes especially as it appears that, in the absence of any more signings, he will be first-choice to partner Didier Drogba in attack. "I think we can be the best partnership in England because we are strong together as a pair," Anelka, who finished last season as the Premier League's top scorer although he, at times, failed to convince especially in the big games, stated.

"I always want him to score, he wants me to score and we like to play together and we will get chances to score. What is possible is to win the Premier League because if I play with Didier we will both get chances to score from each other. We have a good understanding."

That hasn't always been apparent. Luiz Felipe Scolari struggled to make the pairing a success while Hiddink preferred to play Anelka in a wide position as part of a front three. It helped that Drogba, struggling with injury and disillusioned under Scolari, was finally fully fit. "When I signed for Chelsea I always thought I would play with Didier and I wanted to play with Didier. He wanted to play with me as well and overall last season I think we did well as a partnership," Anelka argued. "Now we have the chance to start the season together up front to score goals and play well together."

Like several other Chelsea players, Anelka believes that big-spending Manchester City – one of his former clubs – will provide an intriguing threat to the traditional top four. Indeed Anelka is in the fairly unique position of having played for three of the current top four, having started his career in England at Arsenal and spent time on loan at Liverpool. "I think it is going to be a tough title race," he said. "They are all very strong, even Manchester City have some good players. I think they will be competitive and it will be hard to beat them. It will be hard for them to win the title but they have big players.

"I was surprised Ade (Emmanuel Adebayor) went to Man City. Maybe he wanted something more from his career. I played for them and I know it is a good club. In the last three or four seasons Arsenal have been challenging for the title, so maybe Adebayor thinks with City and their big money and buying a lot of players he has more chances of winning the title."

With Daniel Sturridge signing from City, and scoring on his debut while also fitting in well, Ancelotti will now attempt to move on some of his other strikers. Both Andrei Shevchenko and Claudio Pizarro can leave while the manager will consider whether to send Franco Di Santo out on loan – he is wanted by Blackburn Rovers. Another player who may be surplus is Salomon Kalou who has featured little on this tour.

Chelsea Two Good For Club America

Source: Mike Maguire, Goal.com

Chelsea claimed a 2-0 win over Club America in Arlington, Texas, thus sealing their place atop the standings in the World Football Challenge.

It was the English who had the first clear chance of the game, and early on too. A dangerous cross from Salomon Kalou gave young Daniel Sturridge a glorious opportunity in the ninth minute - but the new boy's touch let him down and the effort looped over.

It didn't take America long to get into the game, however, and they gradually won the ascendancy as Enrique Esqueda, in particular, gave the Blues' back line a headache or several.

The young Mexican attacker was ubiquitous as America began to slice through the Londoners, especially down the flanks, and could have put his side ahead in the 22nd minute. His side-foot shot, though, bent agonizingly wide.

Chelsea picked up their intensity as the half progressed, however, and were clearly the dominant side as the whistle neared. Kalou hammered a Florent Malouda set-piece into the woodwork in the 35th minute, and Ricardo Carvalho did the same just moments later.

Still, it was goalless as the interval arrived. Carlo Ancelotti made a number of changes for the start of the second 45, with Andriy Shevchenko replacing Daniel Sturridge, Franco di Santo on for Scott Sinclair, and Hilario making way for Ross Turnbull.

The two sides traded some promising, but ultimately fruitless, attacks after the restart - Shevchenko getting involved for the Pensioners, CA sub Joaquin Marquez threatening to open things up at the other end.

Chelsea, who had thus far been untroubled by set-pieces, were lucky not to concede from such a play just after the hour. Salvador Cabanas couldn't quite get his head on a looping free kick, which proceeded to ricochet off the upright.

And yet it was Ancelotti's men who, on 75 minutes, got the breakthrough. Ashley Cole - only just introduced - fed Malouda, who then found Di Santo streaming through the America defence to poke home from close range.

Three minutes later, it was 2-0, as the assistant and scorer of the first goal exchanged roles. The young Argentine cut back towards Claudio Pizarro, who left it for Malouda stroke into an unguarded net.

Their spirits shattered, the Mexicans could not find an answer as Chelsea maintained their advantage to claim top spot in the World Football Challenge.