Chelsea Forum (Stamford Bridge) [Archive]

Ultimate10002000

23-01-2005, 04:17 PM

Chelsea Vs Portsmouth FT 3-0
Arjen Robben inspired Chelsea to a 3-0 home victory against Portsmouth well before half-time at Stamford Bridge as the Blues extended their lead at the top of the table to 11 points.

Damien Duff runs past Portsmouth's Patrick Berger (BenRadford/GettyImages)
Having resisted the temptation to go down after being fouled, he crossed for Didier Drogba to score Chelsea's first before hitting the target himself shortly afterwards.

Drogba scored his second goal of the game before half-time, converting a free-kick won by Robben, and the Dutchman was deservedly given a standing ovation when he was substituted late on.

# Clarke warns: We won't ease up

By that stage, Portsmouth were well out of it, with Aiyegbeni Yakubu having wasted their only real chance at 2-0 down.

With next week's FA Cup opponents Southampton having earlier beaten Liverpool, this was hardly a good day for the visiting fans.

Chelsea, however, simply go from strength to strength. While Arsenal could yet reduce the gap back to 10 points by defeating Newcastle on Sunday, it is now almost impossible to see the Blues self-destructing with just 14 games left.

Portsmouth may have made the early inroads, with Matthew Taylor's cross-shot saved by Petr Cech, but Chelsea were untroubled and simply waited for their moment to pounce.

That took just 14 minutes, although they were indebted to some excellent refereeing by Mike Riley, who ignored his assistant's well-intended flag for a foul on Robben as he sped past Gary O'Neil.

The Dutchman, who was accused of diving at Tottenham last weekend, rode the mistimed tackle and cut the ball back invitingly for Drogba to sidefoot home from close range.

Six minutes later, Chelsea already had victory in their grasp as Robben turned goalscorer himself.

Frank Lampard played a skilfully-weighted ball through for the Dutchman to chase onto and, with recalled goalkeeper Jamie Ashdown rather slow off his line, Robben skipped around him via a deflection.

Even though the ball almost reached the byline, the Chelsea winger maintained the poise to clip the ball inside the post from a tight angle.

Given that Chelsea had conceded just eight goals in their previous 23 league games this season, the chances of a Portsmouth comeback were slim, to put it mildly.

Indeed, the visitors squandered their only chance of a route back into the game after Lampard's careless pass left John Terry under pressure from Yakubu.

The Nigeria international, who is linked with a potential move away from Fratton Park, clipped the ball past Terry and bore down on goal, beating Cech but seeing the ball roll inches past the post.

Woe betide any side that fails to take such a golden chance against Chelsea. That was as near as Portsmouth came to making a game of it.

Just two minutes later, Robben was up-ended in full flight on the edge of the penalty area by David Unsworth and Drogba struck a fierce free-kick past Ashdown to make it 3-0. That was game over.

The second half was something of a procession, with Jose Mourinho removing Drogba, Damien Duff and Robben from the fray, but showing his strength in depth as Eidur Gudjohnsen, Mateja Kezman and Tiago came on.

O'Neil did strike a 20-yard free-kick that Cech tipped over the bar, but it was Chelsea who came closer to extending their lead.

Joe Cole shot straight at Ashdown as he stretched to reach Duff's cross, while Kezman shot just past the far post and Lampard also threatened.

Chelsea won at a canter and that should be as worrying for Arsenal and Manchester United as it was for Portsmouth.

Ultimate10002000

23-01-2005, 04:18 PM

Clarke warns: We won't ease up

Chelsea assistant boss Steve Clarke insisted he could not see any imminent dangers to his side's title chances after going 11 points clear today.

The Blues were inspired by Arjen Robben as they ran out 3-0 winners over Portsmouth at Stamford Bridge.

And Clarke warned Arsenal and Manchester United they would not get complacent as they moved closer to their first title in 50 years.

Clarke said: 'It doesn't seem to be strange to be in this position. It seems to be what we deserve for the hard work we've put in this season.

'Obviously, after a game like that, you think we didn't look like losing that match but there will be difficult matches along the way. We're under no illusions.

'It's hard to see a danger at the moment. But we won't become complacent, we look to win every match. We need to win 11 matches now.'

Chelsea, who have now won seven consecutive league games without conceding, were 2-0 up after just 21 minutes at Stamford Bridge, with Robben setting up Didier Drogba before scoring himself.

Robben also won the free-kick from which Drogba struck his second goal before half-time and the Dutch winger was the star performer.

Clarke added: 'You've seen a young man with an exceptional talent. He's got the ability to beat defenders at pace with the ball under control, which is a gift.

'He scores goals and makes goals, and his first-half performance was electric. He's very difficult to stop.

'You get quick players and those who are good on the ball. He's quick while he's on the ball and can play on either flank.'

While Chelsea now face two cup ties, their next eight league opponents are Blackburn, Manchester City, Everton, West Brom, Norwich, Crystal Palace, Southampton and Birmingham.

'We've said it for a long time now, and it might be boring, but we just have to concentrate on what we do in every game,' stressed Clarke.

'If we pick up three points every week, we will keep on getting closer and closer. There will be nothing the opposition can do.'

Portsmouth offered little resistance, with assistant boss Joe Jordan admitting that speculation over the futures of Yakubu and Amdy Faye was unsettling.

Both players have been linked with a potential move to Newcastle and chairman Milan Mandaric is set to address the issue before the FA Cup tie at Southampton next weekend.

Jordan revealed: 'You don't want the squad to be reduced. The chairman has said that he would have a chat with the players next week.

'Unfortunately, there has been a lot of speculation around the club about players leaving, which is not good and can be unsettling.

'So the chairman will next week clarify where we stand for the benefit of the players.'

Yakubu wasted his side's only clear chance at 2-0 down, although the visitors were not helped by the withdrawal of captain Arjan de Zeeuw shortly before kick-off due to illness.

'He came down this morning and felt sick. He wanted to play but got off the bus and had to be sick again, so we had to make a change. That's not taking anything away from Chelsea though,' concluded Jordan.

Ultimate10002000

23-01-2005, 04:19 PM

Prem wrap: Chelsea 11 points clear
Chelsea did the damage in the first half as a 3-0 win over Portsmouth stretched their lead to 11 points at the top of the Barclays Premiership.

Two goals from Didier Drogba and one for Arjen Robben left Pompey with no capital gains, and turned the heat up on title rivals Manchester United and Arsenal.

Jose Mourinho's side have now conceded just eight goals in their opening 24 league games, and they require 11 wins from their remaining 14 matches to clinch the club's first league title since 1955.

Drogba repaid another slice of his hefty transfer fee by firing Chelsea ahead in the 15th minute, the Ivory Coast striker turning in a Robben cross from close range.

Robben stretched their lead to 2-0 after 21 minutes when he latched on to a Frank Lampard pass and coolly sidestepped goalkeeper Jamie Ashdown before slotting home.

With Lomana LuaLua and Amdy Faye suspended, Portsmouth began well before fading fast, although Aiyegbeni Yakubu ought to have grabbed one back, only to miss from close range.

It became 3-0 after 39 minutes when Drogba struck again, this time from long range with a terrific free-kick.

Manchester United had to fend off a determined Aston Villa at Old Trafford before eventually running out comfortable 3-1 winners, a result which lifted them above Arsenal who face Newcastle at Highbury tomorrow.

The in-form Cristiano Ronaldo fired home after eight minutes, his second goal in four days after calming nerves with the opener in the FA Cup win at Exeter.

Louis Saha took Roy Keane's pass from midfield, beat two Villa defenders, and then slipped a superb ball inside Olof Mellberg to Ronaldo, who beat Thomas Sorensen with a low finish from 15 yards.

But Gareth Barry levelled up for Villa after 53 minutes after a neat move involving Nolberto Solano.

Then came United's revival, with Saha restoring their lead after 69 minutes and Paul Scholes heading a third a minute later after Ronaldo's shot had been only parried by Sorensen.

Southampton's prospects of survival grew after their 2-0 victory over Liverpool in the lunchtime kick-off, with Harry Redknapp finally able to celebrate his first league win since taking charge.

Liverpool's defence was exposed as David Prutton and Peter Crouch struck to decisive effect in the opening 22 minutes at St Mary's.

Prutton profited from a mistake by newcomer Mauricio Pellegrino to put Saints in front after just five minutes.

Terrible marking allowed Crouch to add a second, his third in consecutive games, with a sharp header from Prutton's cross.

For Liverpool, who had Steven Gerrard unusually muted in midfield and Fernando Morientes scarcely involved in attack, it was a third defeat in eight days, after painful losses to Manchester United and FA Cup opponents Burnley.

Saints remained in the bottom three, but Crystal Palace headed them on goal difference alone, with the possibility remaining that the two sides might switch places by full-time.

Everton, with James Beattie making his home debut, were beaten 1-0 by Charlton at Goodison, with Matt Holland firing the Addicks ahead from long range just before the break.

Beattie hit the post in the second half, and that was as close as the Toffees came.

Birmingham thrust new loan signing Salif Diao straight into action at St Andrews, but they succumbed to a 2-1 defeat against Fulham, whose improvement continued.

Moritz Volz's messy own goal after 51 minutes gave Birmingham the lead, but Andy Cole's penalty put the Cottagers level and Papa Bouba Diop headed his second matchwinner in a week to give the visitors a valuable victory, repeating the trick after doing similar damage to West Brom.

Crystal Palace upped the tempo in the second half and crushed Martin Jol's Tottenham 3-0 at Selhurst Park.

Eagles went in front after 66 minutes when Mikele Leigertwood turned a left-wing cross from Tom Soares past Paul Robinson.

Danny Granville then added a second for Palace after 70 minutes and an Andy Johnson penalty seven minutes later, after he had been brought down, put the finishing touches to the welcome win.

Struggling Norwich looked dead and buried against Middlesbrough going into the closing stages, but they clawed back three goals to secure a 4-4 draw.

Damien Francis gave the Canaries an 18th-minute lead, only for Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink to bring Middlesbrough back onto level terms soon after the half-hour mark.

Boro were revitalised for the second half and a quickfire double from Franck Queudrue, who headed home a Stewart Downing corner after 49 minutes and then tapped home his second six minutes later, looked to have put the game beyond Norwich.

Hasselbaink's second of the game, a curling free-kick after 78 minutes, made it miserable for Norwich, but they had some cause for cheer two minutes later when £3million man Dean Ashton scored his first goal since joining from Crewe.

A Leon McKenzie header in the 90th minute made for a tense finish, and incredibly Norwich then pinched an equaliser in injury-time through Adam Drury - the sort of finish which could change their season.

Their delight may, however, be tempered by news of the wins for Palace and Southampton.

Ultimate10002000

25-01-2005, 04:06 PM

No Reds regrets - Robben

Chelsea winger Arjen Robben insists he has no regrets about not joining Manchester United as he prepares to tackle the Reds in the Carling Cup.

With every decisive impact that Robben makes in the title race, Sir Alex Ferguson must regret the moment that United failed to meet the winger's asking price.

Indeed, Ferguson can only hope that in Wednesday's Carling Cup semi-final second leg, Robben is not given the chance to show the Old Trafford fans what they missed out on.

After inspiring Chelsea against Portsmouth, Robben again proved that the £12m which Chelsea agreed to pay PSV Eindhoven is looking one of the bargains of the past season.

The Dutchman, who turns 21 on Sunday, observed: "I don't know what I can expect at Old Trafford.

"All I can say is I made the decision to go to Chelsea and I don't have any bad feelings about Manchester United.

"It's a great club. I went to Manchester to look at them but they didn't come to a deal and that's it. Chelsea then got in contact and gave me a great feeling. The decision was easy.

"But I think it can go wrong if you want to show someone what they're missing. I play for Chelsea and that's it, I want to win with Chelsea."

Jose Mourinho's side have seven consecutive league victories now behind them without conceding a goal after Robben scored one and helped set up the other two for Didier Drogba against Portsmouth.

"To other people, it seems like we're unbeatable but that's just the great attitude we play with and we keep on winning," he added.

"I wouldn't say we actually feel unbeatable - nobody is unbeatable - but at the moment we are playing with a lot of confidence and we're not afraid to lose."

Ultimate10002000

25-01-2005, 04:08 PM

Mourinho denies Beckam blast

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has denied criticising England captain David Beckham and has spoken of his "respect" for the Real Madrid star.

Mourinho has been linked with a renewed move for the Real Madrid star in the light of a possible kit deal with adidas but it is now believed that Beckham does not figure in the club's transfer plans for next season.

The Chelsea chief has been critical of Madrid's policy of buying up big names but insisted such comments did not refer to Beckham and insisted he remained a big admirer of the former Manchester United player.

Mourinho said: "David Beckham is someone I respect as a man and as a player. He is the captain of England and has been a European champion.

"I have never been critical of him and reports that imply that are totally incorrect as I have never made any comments directly about him."

Ultimate10002000

25-01-2005, 04:09 PM

Robben slams diving claims

Chelsea winger Arjen Robben has hit back at claims he is diver ahead of Wednesday's Carling Cup semi-final tie at Old Trafford.

Robben was accused of going to ground too easily by Tottenham defender Noe Pamarot following penalty claims during last weekend's derby at White Hart Lane.

However, the Dutchman insisted: "All I can say is that if you saw the two moments, they were two penalties and that's it - no diving."

It was certainly not the first time that Robben had been accused of diving but he argued, with some justification, that he had proved his point in Saturday's 3-0 win at home to Portsmouth.

Despite being fouled by Gary O'Neil in the build-up to Chelsea's opening goal, the winger kept going and reached the byline before crossing for Didier Drogba to side-foot home on 14 minutes.

He could then have gone down under keeper Jamie Ashdown's challenge six minutes later but again kept his feet before clipping the ball inside the post from a tight angle.

And there was little question that he was brought down in full flight to win the free-kick from which Drogba made it 3-0 before half-time.

Robben was later taken off with 15 minutes left to save him for Wednesday's semi-final second leg against Manchester United.

The Dutchman missed the first leg through suspension and, ironically enough, could have been plying his trade at Old Trafford this season if United had met PSV Eindhoven's £12m asking price.

"I don't know what I can expect at Old Trafford," he admitted.

"All I can say is that I made my decision to go to Chelsea and I don't have any bad feelings about Manchester United. It's a great club and we'll see.

"I don't want to speak much about it. I went to Manchester to look at them but they didn't come to a deal and that's it. Afterwards, Chelsea got in contact and they gave me a great feeling. The decision was easy.

"I think it can go wrong if you want to show someone what they're missing. I play for Chelsea and that's it. I want to win with Chelsea."

lil_kiddo

25-01-2005, 08:14 PM

Chelsea will definitely win the EPL this season, in my opinion. unless Chelsea really screw up big time in the second half of the season, Arsenal and Man Utd can just compete for the second spot.

blackevil_2000

25-01-2005, 08:22 PM

crap crap sfter tonight chelsea will have a big dip 4 sure

Ultimate10002000

26-01-2005, 08:33 AM

Preview: Mourinho ready for OT return

LONDON, Jan 25 (Reuters) - The last time Jose Mourinho visited Old Trafford he ended up tearing down the touchline like a demented teenager after his Porto side knocked Manchester United out of the Champions League with a late goal.
On Wednesday the Portuguese manager returns to the scene of that triumph last March with his seemingly unstoppable Chelsea side for the second leg of a League Cup semi-final that is delicately poised after the goalless first leg.

Unlike his team Mourinho will be bearing gifts. He and Alex Ferguson shared a bottle of distinctly average wine after the 0-0 draw at Stamford Bridge a fortnight ago and Mourinho has promised his United rival a 'beautiful bottle of Portuguese wine' for the return.

This apparent cordiality appears to be in marked contrast to Ferguson's bitter relationship with Arsenal rival Arsene Wenger.

The impression is misleading. Both Ferguson and Mourinho share a pragmatic obsession with winning above all else and Ferguson has not forgotten that the Portuguese accused him of trying to influence the referee in the first leg.

Nonetheless Chelsea's coach hopes to be celebrating more than just his 42nd birthday, which falls on Wednesday, at the post-match drinks and he has plenty of reasons to justify his optimism.

Ten points clear at the top of the Premier League, Chelsea are homing in on their first championship for 50 years.

The basis of their success this season is a defence marshalled by John Terry that has conceded only 10 goals in 29 domestic matches this season.

Over the past five weeks the collective strikers of Norwich, Aston Villa, Portsmouth (twice), Liverpool, Middlesbrough, United and Tottenham have all drawn a blank against Chelsea's rearguard. In fact the only goal they have conceded in their last nine games was against fourth division Scunthorpe.

Chelsea will almost certainly look to absorb United's in-form attack on Wednesday before releasing their electric Dutchman Arjen Robben on the counter.

'He's a young man with an exceptional talent,' said Chelsea assistant manager Steve Clarke. 'He has the ability to beat defenders at pace with the ball under control. It's a great gift.

'He scores goals, makes goals. He's very difficult to stop.'

Liverpool or Watford await the winners at the Millennium Stadium on February 27. If Chelsea make it they will be looking for their third League Cup triumph after 1965 and 1998.

Ferguson has never lost a domestic semi-final in his 18 years at the club but United's record in the League Cup final is relatively poor. They have won it only once, in 1992, and lost in the final four times, most recently to Liverpool in 2003.

Ferguson is still deprived of unfit Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy but has his own version of Robben in Portuguese winger Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Scot reckoned his team were showing 'championship form' after Saturday's 3-1 win over Villa, their 10th win in a run of 13 games unbeaten.

Like Chelsea their defence is miserly. They too have conceded only one goal in their last nine games.

Ferguson, who may recall Alan Smith up front alongside Wayne Rooney, cannot wait for a game that kick-starts an exciting month for his club.

'The games coming up are fantastic games for us,' he said. 'We've got a semi-final of the League Cup against Chelsea, an FA Cup tie with Middlesbrough and a forthcoming European tie with AC Milan.'

Ultimate10002000

26-01-2005, 08:35 AM

Stars will take centre stage - Fergie

Sir Alex Ferguson expects the stars on show in tomorrow's heavyweight Carling Cup tie between Manchester United and Chelsea to completely overshadow his personal duel with Jose Mourinho.
The Chelsea boss heads to Old Trafford for the first time since his Porto side dumped United out of the Champions League last March - and just a fortnight after his criticism of Ferguson for his attempt to influence referee Neale Barry in the first leg of this semi-final.

Ferguson insists he holds Mourinho in high esteem, claiming he can see some of his old self in the supremely confident Portuguese.

But the long-serving United manager is confident his own head-to-head with the man who has won two European trophies in as many years and guided Chelsea to the brink of their first title since 1955 will not deflect from a mouth-watering clash which will leave the victors as the sole English club capable of completing an unprecedented trophy four-timer this season.

'Jose Mourinho has done fantastically well at Chelsea,' said Ferguson.

'They have a system; they are very organised - and once they get a goal they are very good at protecting it.

'But this game is not about Jose Mourinho or Alex Ferguson. This game is about 22 great players.

'Both sides have match-winners, and working out which player will win the match is far more interesting that any talk about managers.'

One of those players will be Arjen Robben, the youngster Ferguson thought he had signed up only for Chelsea to swoop in and snatch the 21-year-old from his grasp.

Robben has already established himself as one of the Premier League's stellar talents - but having missed the league encounter between the sides through injury and the first Carling Cup meeting because of suspension, it will be the first time the former PSV Eindhoven man faces the team he snubbed.

'I am not surprised how Arjen Robben has adapted to the English game,' was Ferguson's assessment of the flying Dutchman.

'We knew all about him.'

In assessing the merits of the two sides, who remain deadlocked after the first 90 minutes of a tie which no-one would be surprised to see decided by extra-time and penalties, Ferguson managed to down-grade United's other London rivals Arsenal.

The Gunners, who tackle United in the Barclays Premiership at Highbury next week, jumped above the Red Devils into second spot with their win over Newcastle on Sunday. But for Ferguson, England's top two will be on show at Old Trafford tomorrow.

'It's the best two sides in the country; it's sudden death. The atmosphere should be wonderful, and it should be a fantastic game. Our record in semi-finals is terrific, and I hope we can maintain that.'

If anything Ferguson has under-played his past achievements in domestic semi-finals.

In 19 individual matches, the United boss has never finished on the losing side - a run which continued on the King's Road two weeks ago.

The Red Devils also head into tomorrow's game knowing they have not lost a home game in this cup competition since York recorded their staggering 3-0 win almost a decade ago - and they have not tasted defeat to Chelsea in knock-out combat since 1950.

Ferguson, however, is not placing too much faith in the statistics.

The Scot has seen enough of Mourinho's side this season to know they are just as lethal on their travels as they are on home soil - and he acknowledges the draw his team fought so hard for at Stamford Bridge does not equate to any kind of edge.

'You would normally think a 0-0 draw away from home would give you an advantage, but Chelsea's form away from home this season has been so good I don't think it matters,' he said.

'They have been to Liverpool and won and been to Arsenal and drawn. They are the kind of results you would want in major games like those.'

Ferguson is still debating his starting line-up, but Alan Smith is set to return after recovering from the minor ankle injury which kept him out of the last three games - while captain Roy Keane, suspended for Saturday's FA Cup tie with Middlesbrough, should also play.

'It is tempting to play a strong side,' admitted Ferguson, who until the first Chelsea encounter limited his selection in this competition to fringe players and youngsters.

'We need to spread the load with so many big games ahead - but we are giving it serious consideration.'

Although the word from the United camp is that victory is essential to halt Chelsea's title drive, Ferguson is not quite as convinced of the effect defeat would have on Mourinho and his team.

'It would take a lot of damage to allow us to claw back 11 points,' he said.

'That is a big lead at this time of year.'

Ultimate10002000

27-01-2005, 08:15 PM

Mourinho tops Ferguson again
PA
For the second time in nine months, Jose Mourinho sauntered into the Theatre of Dreams and created a nightmare for Manchester United.

Duff's free-kick bounces into the roof of the net (LaurenceGriffiths/GettyImages)
Sir Alex Ferguson still shudders at the memory of Porto's shock Champions League victory at his side's expense last season.

Now Mourinho has moved much closer to home and proceeded to wreck Ferguson's impeccable domestic semi-final record tonight as Damien Duff's late winner booked Chelsea a Carling Cup final date with Liverpool and kept them on target for an unlikely quadruple.

It was unfortunate for United goalkeeper Tim Howard that an absorbing contest which looked destined for extra-time should eventually be settled by his mistake.

A string of excellent Howard saves were largely responsible for the hosts still being in the contest when Duff drifted a touchline free-kick deep into a packed Red Devils' penalty area.

Howard failed to come and with the defence in front of him remaining static, the ball simply bounced in off the far post.

For Ryan Giggs at least it was a bitter blow as the Welshman had ignited the hosts with a sublime first-time finish midway through the second half that levelled Frank Lampard's opener.

Giggs will rarely score a better goal than the one he lofted over Petr Cech after he had run on to Gary Neville's return ball.

But while United might claim to be hard done by, it was Chelsea who produced the most incisive play and if any side deserved to win such a hard-fought contest, it was them.

While Ferguson could plausibly claim defeat for the visitors would have no discernible effect on their seemingly unstoppable march to the title, the Scot knew anything other than victory for his own side would render their chances of overhauling Chelsea's 11-point lead virtually impossible.

At the same time, it would also end the Red Devils hopes of lifting one of the three pieces of silverware they still have a realistic chance of winning - which is why Roy Keane, Rio Ferdinand, Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville were given a rare League Cup appearance.

Of the players available, only Wayne Rooney was omitted from what constituted United's strongest side, although even the strength of that team selection was trumped by Mourinho, whose team was the best he could choose.

Lampard gave the hosts a warning of what was to come early on when he spurned a virtual mirror image of the goal which eventually gave Chelsea the lead.

Duff was the provider on that first occasion, slipping a pass back to the England midfielder - who failed to realise how much time he had and scuffed a poor shot wide.

As actual chances went, it was the last clear cut one either side had until Lampard found the net just before the half-hour mark.

In between though, both sides attacked with zest, kept at bay by the best two defences in the top flight.

Frank Lampard celebrates his opener (LaurenceGriffiths/GettyImages)

Lampard's goal, from Didier Drogba's square pass, put a totally different complexion on the game, forcing United to try and break Chelsea down. If effort alone counted for anything, the hosts would have achieved their aim.

As it was, the best the best they could come up with was a loud, legitimate and unsuccessful penalty shout when Wayne Bridge felled Quinton Fortune.

A similar story began to unfold after half-time as United pushed forward and Chelsea looked more likely to score.

Had it not been for Howard's heroics, the Red Devils would have conceded a killer second long before Giggs' inspirational intervention.

The American keeper may now be a confirmed second choice behind Roy Carroll but his form recently has been excellent, which only made his late, crucial blunder all the more surprising.

Twice he kept United in the hunt, scrambling away a goalbound Lampard effort, before earning top marks for a feet-first stop which denied Robben.

In truth, the keeper shouldn't have been given much of a chance but Tiago opted for an ill-advised stepover when Drogba rolled across an inviting square pass, forcing Robben to shoot when he was far better placed.

Giggs' stunning effort ensured the error, such as it was, was severely punished - but if United thought their equaliser would unsettle their visitors, they were badly mistaken.

Chelsea responded by ignoring the frenzied atmosphere and clinically looking for a second. They got it too, although they benefited massively from Howard's major misjudgement.

Typically, United rallied and it needed a goalline clearance from Wayne Bridge to deny Mikael Silvestre and a brilliant Petr Cech save to deny Cristiano Ronaldo before Mourinho was able to celebrate yet another famous night at Old Trafford.

Ultimate10002000

27-01-2005, 08:16 PM

We've won nothing yet, warns Lampard
Chelsea goalscorer Frank Lampard said the players were trying to keep their feet on the ground despite moving a step closer to their first trophy under Jose Mourinho after beating Manchester United in the Carling Cup semi-final.

Frank Lampard (left) fires home the opener (MikeEgerton/Empics)
The England midfielder and Damien Duff scored either side of Ryan Giggs' equaliser to put the Blues into the Millennium Stadium final against Liverpool on February 27.

It means Chelsea are still in with a chance of winning an unprecedented four major trophies this season but Lampard was reluctant to get too over-excited.

'We haven't won anything yet but we are going the right way about it. Everyone is together and going in the same direction,' he told Sky Sports.

'It will give us a confidence boost and we will go after the others.'

Club and country team-mate John Terry agreed, saying: 'None of us have won anything and hopefully this is our year and we can start with this cup and build on it.

'We are taking each competition as it comes and so we'll concentrate on the FA Cup (against Birmingham) on Sunday but it means an awful lot to the lads - this is the first trophy [to be won] in the season. We are here to win it.'

Chelsea manager Mourinho was happier to look forward to success on four fronts but he too had a word of caution for those expecting a a clean sweep of silverware.

'We can win four, we can lose four, we can win one or two,' he said. 'To win the four is very, very difficult but it is still possible. There is a long way to do it but if you could give the Premiership [title] I would be very happy.'

Mourinho, who celebrated his 42nd birthday today, told Sky Sports: 'If you can finish your day with such an important victory it is the perfect day.

'The plan was just to win the game and be in the final but we knew, with the opponent and the atmosphere, that a semi-final is always difficult and we were ready for anything.'

The former Porto boss claimed the way his side performed would show their Premiership rivals who are waiting for the Stamford Bridge club to slip up that it will not be easy to catch them.

'It was important for us, not because we got into a final, but also the way we played, the mentality, the strength we showed here was a message we sent to the Premiership,' he said.

'It is still difficult, we still have to win 11 matches to be champions but we have left a message here that we are really strong and the boys are magnificent.

'I was ready to lose the game and leave Old Trafford with a smile just to pass a message of confidence. But my team would never lose their confidence or mentality just because of a defeat here.'

Drogba battles with Mikael Silvestre (MikeEgerton/Empics)

Sir Alex Ferguson lost his record of never losing a semi-final but he was more displeased about the defending for Duff's winning goal - an inswinging free-kick from long range.

'You would think it would happen some time but this is the lesser of the tournaments you would want to get knocked out of,' he said. 'We're not happy about the free-kick from 50 yards out - you can't expect to win losing goals like that.

'We played exceptionally well in the second half. It was a great game, you couldn't divide the teams today.

'They are a threat on the counter-attack but we coped with that quite well and I thought we had the far bigger momentum in the second half.

'Their goalkeeper made a fantastic save from Ronaldo and we had one cleared off the line.'

Ryan Giggs believed his side were unlucky to go out, telling MUTV: 'I think we created the best chances in the second half. The tempo we played at, Chelsea couldn't live with us so we're disappointed to go out.'

Giggs' equaliser had sparked United hopes of a place in the final but they were denied by Duff's late winner.

'I thought there was only going to be one winner then (after the equaliser),' he said. 'Even after the second goal we were creating chances.

'We got into plenty of good positions in the final third, maybe the crossing could have been better.

'It was a slow game and I think that suited them. We tried to close them down in the second half, tried to increase out tempo.'

Giggs pointed to mistakes at both Chelsea goals as the cause of United's downfall, saying: 'You can't make mistakes in semi-finals, especially against a quality team like Chelsea.'

Ultimate10002000

27-01-2005, 08:16 PM

Chelsea clinch £100m kit deal
Chelsea have clinched a kit deal with top sportswear firm adidas reportedly worth around £100million.

Details of the new deal are likely to be unveiled in the next 48 hours and the move comes just a week after the Barclays Premiership leaders paid £24.8million to sever their previous sponsorship contract with Umbro.

The new deal with the German company will begin in the summer of 2006 and last for 10 years. The huge contract is a vast improvement on their previous £2million-a-season agreement with Umbro but still some way below the £302.9million, 15-year deal that Peter Kenyon, now Chelsea chief executive, secured when he was at Manchester United.

United's deal with Nike remains the biggest sponsorship agreement in British football but the downside was the sale of all the merchandising rights in return for the massive payment.

Chelsea though have agreed a deal similar to those in existence with Real Madrid, Ajax and Bayern Munich and it is understood they were not interested in selling off their licensing and retailing rights. This stance has prevented them from matching United's deal.

Adidas already backs Newcastle in the Premiership but wanted to be associated with a club that has the capability of winning the title and the Champions League sooner rather than later.

The deal has been signed, according to reports in the London Evening Standard, but the finer points of the sponsorship programme have yet to be ironed out. They are likely to include Chelsea being heavily involved in new adidas products along with other top clubs.

kelpsh

27-01-2005, 10:18 PM

was thinking bout the shirt deal chelsea was negotiating & adidas came up to mind.. n true enough they signed with the same brand tied-up to big names like bayern, real, milan... so guess adidas have strongholds in each of the top european leagues... ;)

Ultimate10002000

28-01-2005, 08:36 AM

We had Chelsea rattled' - Giggs
Ryan Giggs and Roy Keane are convinced Manchester United have every reason to remain positive despite having Sir Alex Ferguson's proud domestic semi-final record wrecked by Chelsea.

Having seen last night's Carling Cup clash built up as the game which could pitch Jose Mourinho's side into the form slide they have yet to suffer on their march towards an unprecedented quadruple, defeat for the hosts at Old Trafford could leave United fans worrying about the hangover effect their own side will suffer.

The League Cup may never have been a particularly lucky competition for the Red Devils and it certainly ranks a miserable fourth on Ferguson's list of priorities.

But given the desire and hunger with which the Red Devils approached their task, an eventual 2-1 home loss to a side that already holds a massive 11 point advantage in the title race does not inspire any belief that it will eventually be clawed back.

Instead of looking on the negative side though, Giggs and Keane prefer to focus on the more pleasing aspects of their night's work.

For the Welshman it was the knowledge that Chelsea found themselves on the rack at times as they struggled to contain United's second-half surge, while his captain is experienced enough to see the signs that indicate an immediate return to winning ways in the FA Cup against Middlesbrough on Saturday.

'When we upped the tempo of our play in the second half, I didn't think Chelsea could live with us,' said Giggs, whose brilliant equaliser looked set to turn the contest United's way.

'We all recognise Chelsea are a quality side but I have not seen them rattled like that before. Once we scored, it looked like there would only be one winner.

'Even when they got the second we had a couple of chances to equalise. We definitely felt we did enough to get something out of the game but I suppose if you make mistakes in a semi-final against a team as good as they are, you will get punished.'

Keane's theme was remarkably similar and though the veteran Irishman will be suspended for the weekend visit of Steve McClaren's men, he has no doubt United will recover.

'We will be fine,' he said. 'We will bounce back from this.

'We feel hard done by because we were the better side after half-time. Although it looked like we were heading for extra-time, the momentum was with us.

'People can be quick to criticise but you have to give credit to Chelsea as well. We don't believe we got the rub of the green but in some senses you make your own luck and they have benefited from us giving them too soft goals.'

Neither man was prepared to blame Tim Howard for Damien Duff's late winner, following the lead of their manager who condemned the failure of his team's defence to clear the free-kick that floated over a sea of bodies before creeping in.

Though condemnation of Howard is harsh given the American produced two outstanding second half saves to keep United in the contest, coming just three weeks after Roy Carroll's blunder against Tottenham, it just highlighted the goalkeeping problems Ferguson has suffered since Peter Schmeichel quit in 1999.

In contrast, Chelsea have two players of immense talent at their disposal, with Mourinho so confident in his number two that Carlo Cudicini has already been installed as his final keeper even though Petr Cech's last-gasp stop to deny Cristiano Ronaldo prevented the game heading into extra-time.

With Arsenal to come next Tuesday, AC Milan limbering up for their forthcoming Champions League visit and no time to bring in a reinforcement, Ferguson must hope Carroll and Howard can cut out the mistakes otherwise his team will end the season empty-handed.

Howard is likely to keep his place for the Middlesbrough encounter but changes appear inevitable with Alan Smith and Wayne Rooney certainties to start following Louis Saha's below-par performance.

'After last night's disappointment another big game on Saturday is exactly what we need,' said Giggs.

'It's not as though we ended the game poorly or didn't play well. The first half could have been better but we can take a lot out of our performance and hopefully we will get back on the winning track against Middlesbrough.'

Ultimate10002000

28-01-2005, 08:36 AM

Alonso bears no Lampard grudge
Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso claims he has not given up hope of playing again this season and insists he does not bear any grudge against Chelsea's Frank Lampard for the tackle which broke his ankle.

Lampard was criticised for the New Year's Day challenge which will see the Spaniard miss the Carling Cup final between the two clubs next month.

Reds boss Rafael Benitez fears that his £10million signing will not play again this season but Alonso is not so sure.

He said: 'I have already started work in the gym and am fulfilling certain goals. I am an optimistic person and want to think that I'll return to play this season.

'It is frustrating to miss out on the Champions League games coming up but I hope we get through so that I have a chance of playing in later rounds.'

Alonso told the club's official website that he does not blame Lampard for his predicament. He added: 'Lampard apologised for the tackle and that is a nice gesture, but it has annoyed me to get this injury at the worst possible moment.'

Ultimate10002000

28-01-2005, 08:57 AM

All four one, none for all?
Steve Wilson
First he said it was impossible. Now he has admitted that it can be done; with the caveat that it will be 'very, very difficult'. Jose Mourinho was not the first to mention the possibility, surprisingly for a man of such unwavering conviction in his own talents, but he is starting to believe.

Jose Mourinho with last year's big prize (MatthewAshton/Empics)
Chelsea's inexorable march towards silverware is gathering pace and, whisper it around Old Trafford and Highbury, more and more people are starting to suggest that maybe, just maybe, they can sweep the board when the trophies are handed out, eclipsing Manchester United's treble of 1999 in the process.

The bookies, too, are coming round to the idea; parsimonious odds of just 11/1 being offered by some high street bookmakers on the Carling Cup, Premier League trophy, Champions League and FA Cup all residing in SW6 come May.

'We can win four, we can lose four, we can win one or two,' Mourinho said in the wake of Wednesday's 2-1 Carling Cup semi-final victory at Old Trafford. 'To win the four is very, very difficult but it is still possible. There is a long way to do it but if you could give the Premiership [title] I would be very happy.'

Not everyone, however, is getting quite so carried away. Sir Alex Ferguson, who led United to that famous treble of Champions League, Premiership and FA Cup in 1999, insists Chelsea will not better the achievement.

'There is no chance of a club doing a quadruple,' he said prior to the first leg of what proved to be an engaging encounter between the old money of Manchester and the nouveau rich Londoners.

'A treble is more feasible. But it is still very difficult to think that will be done again. When we did the treble, we had only Henning Berg injured. You need a hell of a good squad and your main players have to be fit all the time.'

And that, perhaps, is the key. Chelsea do have a 'hell of a good squad'. More than that, they have, crucially, a reliable understudy waiting in the wings should any of the starting line-up fall foul of injury or suspension.

Indeed, the distinction between first team and reserves at Stamford Bridge is a very blurred one, clouded by the unprecedented spending power available to the manager thanks to the injection of Roman Abromovich's millions.

Whereas Manchester United's replacements for key men struggle to live up to the standards of those in front of them, as proven by Ferguson's ill-judged team selection for the 0-0 draw against non-league Exeter City in the third round of the FA Cup, and Arsenal's bench is peppered with undoubtedly gifted but still inexperienced teenagers, when Chelsea rest players they never have the look of a side missing first-choice regulars.

And money, or more specifically its unequal distribution in the modern game, is at the root of why such an achievement can even be considered. With wealth concentrated, thanks largely to the effect of the Champions league and television deals (although from a very different source at Stamford Bridge), in the hands of an ever decreasing number of clubs, so the spread of trophy distribution narrows.

Ronaldinho: Standing in Chelsea's way. (DenisDoyle/GettyImages)

In the first 100 years of organised English football there were four league and cup doubles; since the formation of the Premiership there have been five.

And, of course, they have Mourinho, a man whose opinion of his own worth is matched only by his exceptional achievements in his short time as a football manager. A near impregnable lead in the Premiership; a Carling Cup final booked for next month against Liverpool; a fourth round meeting with Birmingham City in the FA Cup; and a mouth watering two-legged tie against Barcelona in the knock-out stages of the Champions League means it's still on.

Soccernet take a leaf out of John Terry's book and 'take each competition as it comes' as we assess their chances of an unprecedented quadruple.

BARCLAYS PREMIERSHIP:

As good as won with their only realistic challengers, Manchester United and Arsenal, both admitting that the title is now Chelsea's to lose. A commanding 10 point lead with just 14 games to go means that, even if Arsenal were to win every game from now until the end of the season, Chelsea would need to lose three and draw one. On current form that seems improbable.

The 'blip' that Ferguson insists every team goes through in a season - he said the same about Arsenal last season when they went unbeaten - doesn't look on the cards. Chelsea's only defeat of the season, at Manchester City back in October, was followed by four straight victories and in six of the next nine matches they scored four goals. Arsenal, by contrast, tasted victory just once in the five league games that followed their first defeat in 50 games at the infamous Old Trafford clash of the same month.

They have conceded just eight goals in 24 games, with a goal difference of plus 40, and look set to eclipse the record for goals against set by Liverpool in the 1978/79 season.

Only a catastrophic loss of form can deny them now. The one possible intrigue centres around a four day period in April where they face both Manchester United and Arsenal. Defeats against either or both are possible but would not be enough on their own. With games against Crystal Palace, Norwich, Southampton and West Brom scheduled to take place before that time, however, it is likely that they could afford to drop points in the two heavy weight match ups.

With Manchester United set to visit Highbury on the first of February, a draw would effectively hand Mourinho the crown he purports to value above all others.

Verdict: Champions with games to spare.

CARLING CUP

Unlike some of his Premiership contemporaries, Mourinho has shown every desire to go out and win the devalued League Cup from the outset. Arguably more to do with the Ambramovich-assisted depth of his squad than reverence for the trophy, he has fielded strong sides throughout.

Winning it would get a trophy in the cabinet less than a year into his reign and lift confidence for the late-season push in the more important competitions. Players such as Frank Lampard, John Terry and Wayne Bridge have yet to get their hands on any of the major trophies and the will to win instilled in them by their focused manager mean that they will be straining at the leash to right that in Cardiff next month.

Only a misfiring Liverpool side stand between them and the first silverware of the Mourinho era and, on current form, this should not represent too difficult a challenge. Wins against Norwich and Watford have proved the only rays of sunshine in a stormy 2005, three league defeats and an FA Cup exit at the hands of Championship side Burnley drawing the first mini-crisis in Rafa Benitez's rein.

One of those defeats was against Chelsea and, despite a creditable performance and some questionable refereeing decisions going against them, that completed the season double. Long-term injuries, notably to Djibril Cisse and Xabi Alonso (by the foot of Frank Lampard), have hampered the teams development and January signings have yet to convince.

A lot will depend up the performance of Steven Gerrard but even he would be hard pressed to win a midfield battle with player-of-the-year-elect Lampard and the indomitable Claude Makelele.

A one-off cup game it may be, but you can't imagine Chelsea fluffing their lines on the opening night of the quadruple quest.

Verdict: Chelsea claim the first of many.

Frank Lampard celebrates his opener as Chelsea booked their first final apperance under Mourinho. (LaurenceGriffiths/GettyImages)

FA CUP:

Still in its infancy in terms of Chelsea's involvement, the FA Cup still has a long way to run but considering their strutting, domestic dominance it is no surprise to find them short-priced favourites.

Premiership opposition in the form of Birmingham City provide the next hurdle but with Steve Bruce's team hovering nervously close to the relegation places, it would be a major shock were they to fall at this stage.

However, with five rounds remaining and the capacity for the old competition to throw up a few upsets, and the very real possibility of at least one meeting with one of the big boys at some stage, nothing should be taken for granted.

There is solace to be drawn for those faced with the daunting task of ending Chelsea's FA Cup run in Mourinho's solitary blemish in his managerial career at Porto. In his two seasons at the Estadio do Dragao, his team won all bar one of the competitions they entered. Two league titles, a UEFA Cup and Champions League success were adorned with just one domestic cup. A 2004 Portuguese Cup final defeat to Benfica denied Mourinho the clean sweep as Porto boss and the FA Cup may not prove to be the cake walk that many may predict.

Verdict: Deja vu for Mourinho and another runners-up medal.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE:

Four straight victories in which they scored nine and conceded just a solitary goal breezed Chelsea to the top of Goup H and qualification with something to spare. A nil-nil draw with Paris St German and a reversal at Porto were misleading results as nothing was riding on them.

Outstanding performances booked one of the biggest tests they are likely to face: a last 16 match-up with La Liga pace setters Barcelona.

The combined attacking verve of Ronaldinho, Samuel Eto'o, and Deco and the midfield promptings of Hernandez Xavi presents a major threat to Chelsea's participation in the competition and should prove a monumental contest.

Should they overcome this trickiest of hurdles then the prospects look good. They other main contenders for the prize, Italian giants AC Milan and Juventus, have been pitted against Manchester United and Real Madrid respectively. With Arsenal meeting Bayern Munich and holders Porto facing the third Italian representative, Inter Milan, the field is destined to be shorn of a number of the big guns, ensuring safer passage for those that remain. A kind draw could take Chelsea to the final comfortably.

But they have to overcome Barcelona, where Mourinho was assistant to both Bobby Robson and Louis Van Gaal, to take advantage of this. No easy feat.

Mourinho, of course, has been there and done it all before. In guiding Porto to two consecutive European crowns he has gleaned enough savvy and experience not to be overawed by the big occasions.

Verdict: Another European triumph for Mourinho only if they can avoid AC Milan.

Ultimate10002000

28-01-2005, 05:24 PM

Mourinho's Cudicini pledge

Jose Mourinho has promised to recall Carlo Cudicini for Chelsea's Carling Cup final appearance against Liverpool - despite having turned to Petr Cech for their semi-final win at Old Trafford.

Cudicini, who is also set to return for Sunday's FA Cup fourth-round tie at home to Birmingham, had played in each of the club's four previous games in the Carling Cup.

However, first-choice goalkeeper Cech was in goal in the semi-final second leg against Manchester United, making an important late save from Cristiano Ronaldo.

Mourinho declared: "It's a fantastic feeling and I feel sorry for the players that did not participate in the game. The promise I made to Carlo before the game was that he would play in the final.

"For the contribution he has made to the club in the past and in the present I think he deserves to play. We still face tough competition from a great team but we must have a trophy at the end of the season."

Ultimate10002000

28-01-2005, 05:25 PM

Roman gets into the mood

Roman Abramovich was soaked with champagne as Chelsea celebrated making it into their first final since the Russian billionaire's takeover 18 months ago.

Abramovich was greeted with a shower of bubbly after going into the Old Trafford visitors' dressing room to congratulate the players and manager Jose Mourinho following their 2-1 Carling Cup semi-final victory over Manchester United.

Mourinho, who was also celebrating his 42nd birthday, said: "I do not think Roman should go into the dressing rooms again - he did and he had a shower of champagne. Maybe next time he will think twice!

"The feeling is fantastic and everyone will say it is a birthday gift for me, but it is not mine, it is a gift for every player as they dreamed of being in the final, it is a gift for the supporters because for the last few years they have not been in a final.

"It is also a gift for Roman, because he has given a lot to the club and it is the first time he will get a real feeling of being in a final. I prefer to share it with them all."

Frank Lampard opened the scoring, starting and finishing off an incisive passing move, and the match looked to be heading Chelsea's way without a hiccup until Ryan Giggs sparked a vibrant United comeback with a fantastic lobbed volley.

Extra-time was beckoning but with five minutes left United's defence failed to deal with a curling 50-yard free-kick from Damien Duff and it bounced high into Tim Howard's net without another player touching it.

United had good claims for a penalty turned down when the score was 1-0 but Mourinho pinpointed a double save by Howard from Arjen Robben and Lampard as having kept Ferguson's side in the game.

"That was the crucial moment, we could have killed the game off with two chances to score but we did not and Giggs scored that amazing goal," said Mourinho.

"I have not seen a replay of the penalty incident but every time someone falls in this stadium the crowd wants a penalty and maybe the referee knows whether it is or not. We kept going and the players showed great strength and mentality."

The victory, Chelsea's first cup win over United since 1950, keeps the club in the hunt for four trophies but Mourinho had a word of caution for those expecting a clean sweep.

He added: "We can win four, we can lose four, it would be normal to win something. To win the four is very, very difficult but it is still possible. There is a long way to do it but if you could give the Premiership I would be very happy.

"This is just the final though, we have not won the competition and we have to now face another great team in Liverpool."

Mourinho insisted Chelsea's confidence would not have been dented even had they lost.

"The plan was just to win the game and be in the final but we knew, with the opponent and the atmosphere, that a semi-final is always difficult and we were ready for anything," he said.

"It was important for us, not because we got into a final, but also the way we played, the mentality, the strength we showed here was a message we sent to the Premiership.

"It is still difficult, we still have to win 11 matches to be champions but we have left a message here that we are really strong and the boys are magnificent.

"I was ready to lose the game and leave Old Trafford with a smile just to pass a message of confidence. But my team would never lose their confidence or mentality just because of a defeat here."

Ultimate10002000

28-01-2005, 10:19 PM

Wenger once failed to cash in on Cech

Arsene Wenger has revealed how he missed out on signing Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech despite closely tracking his early career.
Arsenal scouts had watched Cech in action at Sparta Prague but were unable to get a work permit as he had not yet played enough games for the Czech national side.

Arsenal nevertheless missed out when he moved to Rennes in 2002 and then when Chelsea swooped last January to tie up his signature ahead of a move to Stamford Bridge last summer.

Cech, now 22, has since gone from strength to strength, clearly emerging as the Premiership's best goalkeeper this season, conceding just eight goals in 24 league game.

Wenger, meanwhile, has been left to switch between Lehmann and Manuel Almunia, even if insists that he will still not be signing a new keeper during the transfer window.

The Arsenal boss told the Evening Standard: 'We wanted to take Petr Cech before he went to Rennes but we could not get a work permit. At the time, he had not played the necessary amount of games for his national team.

'Yes, we missed out, but these things happen. He is not the only player we have missed out on. When he moved to France, we still had David Seaman. Then, last year, Chelsea did well. They bought him very early.'

Wenger added: 'Cech is doing well and he is developing well. He has what you need to play in England. He has the size and that is vital. People don't realise how important that is.

'You get offered a goalkeeper of six feet-plus who is doing well in a Latin country. He comes here and he gets slaughtered. Therefore I feel Cech has the ingredients you need to be successful in England.'

Ultimate10002000

29-01-2005, 08:53 AM

Mourinho charged over 'cheat' jibe
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has been charged with improper conduct by the Football Association for his 'cheat, cheat, cheat' comment in a post-match interview after the Carling Cup semi-final first leg clash with Manchester United.

Mourinho, who has until February 14 to respond to the charge, made his comments in a Chelsea TV interview after the Stamford Bridge encounter on January 12.

Mourinho was angered when United boss Sir Alex Ferguson spoke to referee Neale Barry as the players left the field at half-time and by United's second-half tactics.

Mourinho said: 'Sir Alex was very clever, if you can say that, at half-time by putting some pressure on the ref. In the second half it was whistle and whistle, fault and fault, cheat and cheat.'

Chelsea skipper John Terry backed Mourinho's cheating claim after the match but the FA, having reviewed the content and context of his comments, decided not to take disciplinary action against him.

Ultimate10002000

29-01-2005, 08:53 AM

Title race far from over insists Wenger
Arsene Wenger warned Jose Mourinho that just one defeat could undermine Chelsea's entire season as he refused to give up on the title - or the FA Cup.

Wenger: 'There's always a weakness.' (BenRadford/GettyImages)
Wenger quoted three examples of clubs who had squandered leads in the Premiership - Newcastle in 1996, Manchester United in 1998 and Arsenal themselves in 2003.

He also cited Arsenal's own defeat at Old Trafford last October, when they dropped four points in their next two league games, as proof of how quickly fortunes can change.

The Arsenal boss may seem to be rather clutching at straws, given that Chelsea have a 10-point lead and show no signs of vulnerability.

Indeed, he even joked that he could not rely on the power of prayer as 'I can stay up all night and pray 'please God, make Chelsea lose' but it won't make them lose'.

However, without revealing any specifics, he claimed to have spotted flaws in the Blues' game which could yet prove their undoing.

Wenger said: 'Chelsea have got everything in their hands but I am still not as definite as everybody else is right now.

'There are signs that can give us hope. First of all, the quality of our own game. Secondly, other signs that are very interesting to analyse.

'What are they? I will keep that for myself. But at the moment you cannot ask me to give up on any pretension to fight or to come back.'

Chelsea may have lost just once in the league all season, recovering immediately after that setback at Manchester City.

However, Wenger noted that 'John Terry and William Gallas are great players but in previous seasons they have conceded goals'.

He added: 'It takes time to recover when you lose. People don't realise, for instance, what it feels like to be 49 games unbeaten.

'It is the same for everybody - you forget how to lose, so it takes you time to come back.

'At the moment, Chelsea do not look vulnerable but if you lose one or maybe two games, then you can look super-vulnerable. There is always a weakness, no matter how you play football.'

Arsenal can, however, only look to their own performances and even though they face United next Tuesday, Wenger will not rest his key players against Wolves in tomorrow's FA Cup fourth round tie.

While Dennis Bergkamp may given a breather, Thierry Henry and Patrick Vieira will both start against the Coca-Cola Championship side as Wenger aims for the confidence boost of a healthy victory.

He continued: 'I take the FA Cup seriously. Every season, we go for three trophies and we do not yet have to choose between them.

'We have not played in midweek and it is good to achieve and win games. What you have gained from resting and not winning is difficult to measure.'

Wenger also vowed to ensure that Arsenal do not compromise on their attacking style in a thinly-veiled contrast to Chelsea.

'We have scored 49 league goals from open play this season and the second team behind us is Middlesbrough with 29,' he said.

'We just have to keep going as we have a vision of the game, where we do not have to consider anybody else.

'I don't go along with those who say the only realistic chance of Arsenal winning something this season is in the FA Cup.

'I feel the pride and the professionalism of everybody here as a winner will make us fight even when things look desperate.

'If we play a game of quality, we will win matches. And if Chelsea drop points, then we've still got a chance.'

Ultimate10002000

29-01-2005, 08:54 AM

Mourinho lauds 'respectful' Ferguson
Jose Mourinho revealed today that Sir Alex Ferguson taught him a lesson in humility after Chelsea's epic Carling Cup semi-final victory over Manchester United.

Mourinho: Still learning (AdamDavy/Empics)
However, the lesson came too late to prevent him from being charged with improper conduct by the Football Association for calling United's players 'cheats' on Chelsea TV after the goalless first leg at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea ended Ferguson's proud record of never having lost a domestic semi-final as goals from Frank Lampard and Damien Duff sent Chelsea into a Carling Cup final showdown with Liverpool at Cardiff's Millennium stadium next month.

But Mourinho, who openly admits to being a bad loser, saw the other side of Ferguson the manager when he called the Chelsea boss into his office to share a bottle of wine after the game.

Mourinho, celebrating his 42nd birthday on the day, learned that sometimes, even in defeat, you have to be humble.

It is not a feeling that Mourinho has experienced often as he has yet to lose a cup round of any description as a coach.

His only cup defeat was in the final of the Portuguese competition last season.

Now Mourinho says he was taught a lot by Ferguson's humble reaction after United's semi-final exit on Wednesday.

Mourinho admitted: 'I am learning a lot with him to the point where I need to improve myself. He is helping me to improve because I am a bad loser.

'When I lose I am not very keen to be with other people. He showed me a lot respect and quality in that sense. He was in his office waiting for me and my staff with a bottle wine I gave him before the game.

'He lost a semi-final and that feeling is not good but he was there completely open and respectful. When I have this kind of teacher then one day when I lose, I must open my doors for the winner.

'He is a football man and he likes to share opinions. There was Spanish football on his television after the game so we spoke about it and the Champions League.

'It was very nice for me to start learning that you must be the same when you win or lose. Maybe one day he will beat me and I have to behave the same way.

'In our culture, when you lose a game, you don't want to share the next half-an-hour with the manager who beats you.

'I think it is great when you can have that kind of relationship before and after the game, respect and communication. I started in England because of your culture. Sir Alex's way is a fantastic way to be. He knows everything about football.'

Mourinho has until February 14 to respond to his FA charge.

cheapos

29-01-2005, 01:47 PM

something interesting.
i was looking through the news and features section on chelsea tv online yesterday and saw an interview with... BRYAN ADAMS! haha..
he's a season ticket holder since 1985.. Jose was asked to sing summer of 69 but he laughingly declined.. wish i could save and link it up somewhere if not of the stupid m$ drm thing..

Ultimate10002000

29-01-2005, 11:32 PM

Chelsea confirm new Adidas kit deal

Chelsea have confirmed details of a major kit sponsorship deal with Adidas worth approximately £12million per year until 2014.
A week after the club paid £24.8million to cut short their arrangement with Umbro, the Premiership leaders have linked up with the German sportswear firm in a deal which starts in July 2006.

The new agreement is for an eight-year term and will be worth almost £100million in all.

The club have retained the merchandising and retail rights which Manchester United relinquished when they signed their £302.9million deal with Nike.

Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon said: 'This partnership is great news for Chelsea and we look forward to working with adidas, whose vision we share.

'We believe a global partnership with adidas will be a huge step in helping the club achieve its long term strategic goals. Together we can become a formidable team.'

Chelsea's retail and merchandising rights are thought to bring in around £6million annually.

Ultimate10002000

31-01-2005, 07:40 PM

Mourinho laughs off Cole allegations
Jose Mourinho tonight scoffed at suggestions he has held secret transfer talks with Arsenal's Ashley Cole.

Jose Mourinho: Denying Cole rumour (NealSimpson/GettyImages)
It has been reported the Chelsea manager was spotted talking to the England left-back in a London hotel along with the player's agent last week.

But after watching his side reach the FA Cup fifth round with a 2-0 home win over Birmingham, Mourinho made light of the claims.

Mourinho, who saw goals from defenders Robert Huth and John Terry help his team through a tricky tie against City, had no truck with questions about Cole.

'I was in Milan with Adriano,' he joked, mischievously suggesting he had instead had an unlikely meeting with the Inter and Brazil striker.

'On Thursday I flew to Milan, so I couldn't be with Ashley Cole.'

In case anyone was in any doubt, the Chelsea boss quickly made it clear his claims of talks with the likes of Adriano were in jest.

'Steven Gerrard, Adriano, Ashley Cole - and next week it will be another one,' he said.

'I have a perfect and wonderful squad and I don't need any more players this season. Next season I will need one or two.

'It is names after names with us, because it is Chelsea. Everybody wants to come and everybody wants to connect players with us. But I have no time to meet players. I am concentrating on my job with the club, and that is to get some silverware.'

Mourinho's remarks were backed up by a Chelsea spokesman, who added: 'We get linked with all the players. We have never commented before and we are not going to comment now or in the future, regardless what the circumstances may or may not be.'

Ultimate10002000

31-01-2005, 07:40 PM

Chelsea 2-0 Birmingham: FT Report
PA
A goal in each half from central defenders Robert Huth and John Terry kept Chelsea in the hunt to win four trophies in this season.

Chelsea's Robert Huth (c) scores the opening goal against Birmingham City . (MikeEgerton/Empics)
Huth, missing from the first team squad for two months after damaging his ankle on international duty, put Chelsea in command in the fifth minute when he rose unchallenged to plant Damien Duff's corner into the net.

The crossbar denied Huth a second goal before Terry finished off poor Birmingham with a powerful header from substitute's Frank Lampard's cross in the 79th minute.

Chelsea were quickly into their normal fluent mode against Birmingham and twice in the early minutes they caused City some jittery defensive moments.

# Terry: We deserved it

Birmingham were expecting an onslaught as they opted to leave striker Emile Heskey on his own in attack and Jose Mourinho's Carling Cup finalists did not disappoint.

The Blues demonstrated a desire to cover themselves in more cup glory with a relentless drive on City's goal.

In the fourth minute Duff burst clear of the City defence and forced Maik Taylor into a diving save with a low drive.

But it was only a brief respite from the non-stop pressure and the opening goal duly arrived a mere sixty seconds later.

Defender Huth put Mourinho's men in control of the fourth round tie when he rose unmarked on the edge of the six-yard box to power a header beyond the helpless City 'keeper.

Birmingham were clearly rattled by the severity of Chelsea's opening salvo and it took them most of the opening quarter to readjust.

But with Heskey given a thankless task up against the formidable partnership of Terry and Huth at the heart of the home defence, City were predictably starved of openings.

It was the 19th minute before Steve Bruce's side found the confidence and the space to test Carlo Cudicini in the Chelsea goal.

City were further hampered by an enforced substitution in the 26th minute when the injured Martin Taylor was replaced by Olivier Tebily.

In the 32nd minute Duff should have made it two when Joe Cole put him clear of the City defence with a clever ball inside Tebily.

But the Republic of Ireland international, normally so deadly in such positions, squandered the opportunity by failing to hit the target.

Mourinho had made eight changes from the side which earned them a place in the Carling Cup final against Liverpool at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium next month but the disruption to normal service was minimal.

In the 41st minute it was left-back Wayne Bridge who turned master craftsman with a lovely through ball for Duff.

However, the Irishman's shot was deflected for another corner and when that arrived in the middle of the City penalty area moments later, Huth was denied a second goal by the width of the crossbar.

Chelsea swapped one rampaging winger for another during the interval with Mourinho deciding it was Arjen Robben's turn to terrorise the City defence instead of Duff.

But it was City who almost got on level terms in the 52nd minute when a cross from Julian Gray fell to former England midfielder Darren Anderton at the far post.

Anderton's volley was good enough to bring the best out of Cudicini and the Italian was forced to tip the ball over the crossbar.

Anderton was unlucky not to earn his side a penalty when his shot appeared to strike the upper arm of Terry inside the penalty area in the 56th minute.

Sixty seconds later City midfielder Robert Blake despatched a 20-yard shot that flashed narrowly wide of Cudicini's right-hand post as Bruce's side began to believe they could salvage something from this fourth round tie.

Chelsea should have put paid to any such thoughts in the 61st minute when Robben failed to make the most of a sweeping four-man move.

Glen Johnson sent Mateja Kezman free with a fabulous 40-yard pass and when the Serbian striker's cross was laid into Robben's path by Eidur Gudjohnsen, the Dutchman sent his shot a yard too high.

But it was Birmingham who were almost gifted an equaliser seconds later when Blake failed to capitalise on a dreadful back header from the normally reliable Terry.

In the 70th minute, only a brilliant reflex save by Taylor prevented Robben from scoring Chelsea's second.

The Dutchman's left-foot shot was destined for the bottom corner of the net until Taylor dived to tip the ball round the post.

Skipper Terry finished off Birmingham's FA Cup hopes in the 79th minute when he rose to head home Frank Lampard's cross.

# Terry: We deserved it

John Terry owned up to his dubious part in Chelsea's first goal as he helped the hosts to a 2-0 FA Cup fourth-round win at home to Birmingham.

Terry blocked the run of defender Martin Taylor at a first-half corner, allowing Robert Huth to charge in and score. Terry added the second, his seventh of the season.

'They started quite well; they were bright. (Emile) Heskey was winning a lot of headers, which was disappointing defensively,' the Chelsea captain told Sky Sports.

'But overall I think we deserved the win.'

Chelsea took an early lead when Huth made the most of Damien Duff's corner as he ran in unmarked after Terry had blocked Taylor off the ball to stop the defender tracking the German.

'It's not something we work on in training. Robert and I just said one will win it, and the other will do the block,' said Terry.

'I was pleased with my goal; it was good to get on the scoresheet. The lads were a little bit relieved after we went 2-0 up.'

The England defender added the Blues are not yet thinking about winning a `quadruple' of trophies, despite continuing their good form.

'There is still a long way to go, so many games still to go - so we will take each game as it comes.

'It was the FA Cup today, Blackburn away in the league in the week - and we will deal with each game as it comes.'

Mourinho was impressed with Birmingham's second-half performance.

'In the first half I think we played very, very, very well, we should have been two or three or four goals up, we played some fantastic football.

'In the second half, we didn't, it was our fault and they improved a bit,' the former Porto boss told Sky Sports.

'The most important thing is to be in the next round.'

Ultimate10002000

31-01-2005, 07:41 PM

Chelsea suffers record loss
Reuters
LONDON -- Chelsea made record English soccer losses of $166 million in 2003-04, the team's first season under the ownership of Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, the Premier League club said on Sunday.

Arjen Robben: Just one of many expensive recruits brought in by Chelsea. (Photography/Empics)
The pre-tax figures for the year to June 30, 2004 surpass Leeds United's previous record loss of $94.5 million in 2003.

Chelsea spokesman Simon Greenberg confirmed the losses for the club's parent company Chelsea Village, saying the accounts would be filed to British company registration centre Companies House on Monday.

Compared with Abramovich's vast fortune the loss is unlikely to worry Chelsea, who are 10 points clear at the top of the Premier League and on course to win their first title for 50 years.

"Two years ago we were seen as streets paved with gold. That is over. Chelsea is now being run properly. The club is being run as a business," chief executive Peter Kenyon told the BBC.

Abramovich, the main shareholder in Russian oil firm Sibneft, wiped out $152 million worth of debt after buying Chelsea for $114 million in July 2003. He has since spent around $380 million on players.

The Russian's investment has paid off with Chelsea well clear at the top of the Premier League and safely through to the lucrative Champions League knockout stages under the guidance of Portuguese coach Jose Mourinho.

Mourinho replaced Claudio Ranieri last year after the Italian was sacked despite leading the team to second in the Premier League and to the Champions League semi-finals.

SELF-SUFFICIENT

Abramovich spent $332 million on new players in his first season, with the annual payroll more than doubling to $218 million.

Kenyon, recruited from Manchester United after Abramovich's arrival, said the club was looking to become financially self-sufficient and that it had a five-year plan to reduce their dependency on the Russian.

Kenyon helped broker record sponsorship deals with Vodafone and Nike at United and has set about tying up lucrative sponsorship deals for Chelsea.

Chelsea have agreed an eight-year kit deal worth around $190 million with sportswear manufacturer Adidas after it was announced their contract with Umbro was being terminated five years early in 2006.

Shirt sponsors Emirates are to be ditched next season as Kenyon looks for more revenue, with mobile phone companies Siemens and Orange mooted as potential replacements.

Abramovich took Chelsea private after purchasing former chairman Ken Bates's controlling interest in Chelsea Village.

Ultimate10002000

31-01-2005, 07:41 PM

Chelsea don't fear 'tapping Cole' probe
Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon would have nothing to fear if Arsenal launched an investigation into allegations he had 'tapped' Gunners defender Ashley Cole.

Sol Campbell: Tuesday showdown (NealSimpson/Empics)
Kenyon and Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho are reported to have met Cole and his agent Pini Zahavi secretly at a London hotel on Thursday with a view to luring the left-back to Stamford Bridge.

But, asked if he was worried about the consequences if the Gunners choose to take the matter further - as Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood has suggested they will - Kenyon told Radio Four's Today programme: 'No, not at all.'

The former Manchester United chief executive would not be drawn into commenting directly on Chelsea's interest or otherwise in Cole but indicated that his club would only recruit players by the rules.

He added: 'There was supposed to be another secret meeting with another Premiership club about another Premiership player so it's where do you stop with these things.

'But the rules of the game are quite clear so we're just getting on with our business.'

However, Arsenal are already planning to question Cole, who has another two seasons to run on his Highbury contract.

Hill-Wood told The Sun: 'The Premier League rules are very clear on this matter. If the club is presented with evidence that those rules have been contravened I am sure we will take the matter further.

'These are very serious allegations and we will be investigating the matter as quickly as possible.

'It has been reported in a very definite manner and that makes you think something untoward has gone on. We cannot let this pass.

'Ashley Cole is under contract to Arsenal for another two seasons and I am sure the club will be talking to him about these reports in an effort to get this matter resolved.

'We know this sort of thing does go on in football and it would not be the first time another club has tried to speak to one of our contracted players.'

The Premier League must wait for any official complaint from Arsenal before launching an investigation.

But Mourinho has scoffed at suggestions he had met Cole.

'I have a perfect and wonderful squad and I don't need any more players this season. Next season I will need one or two.

'It is names after names with us, because it is Chelsea. Everybody wants to come and everybody wants to connect players with us. But I have no time to meet players. I am concentrating on my job with the club, and that is to get some silverware.'

Ultimate10002000

01-02-2005, 08:15 PM

Wenger wants Chelsea to come clean

Arsene Wenger angrily challenged Chelsea to issue a categorical denial of claims of an illegal move for Ashley Cole as he revealed his belief that a secret meeting may have taken place.

Sol Campbell: Tuesday showdown (NealSimpson/Empics)

Wenger voiced concerns over the destabilising timing of the reports, describing the 'coincidence' on the eve of Arsenal's clash against Manchester United at Highbury tomorrow as 'just a little troublesome'.

But while he has gained an assurance from Cole that he remains committed to Arsenal, Wenger has not asked the defender whether he did meet Jose Mourinho and Peter Kenyon in secret last week.

After all, the Arsenal boss concluded that 'it looks to me like, yes, it has happened, although I don't know [for sure]'.

And he does not want to do anything that might disrupt his own attempts to get Cole's agreement to a lucrative contract extension.

Wenger nevertheless insisted the onus is not on 24-year-old Cole to confirm or deny whether Chelsea illegally approached him without first gaining Arsenal's approval.

Instead, he tried to pile all the responsibility on Chelsea, while casting doubts on Mourinho's attempts to side-step the allegations.

'Ashley said he is fed up with that story, that he is completely committed to the club and he doesn't want to know about it,' declared Wenger.

'He wouldn't lie to me. But if you asked anybody who was in this meeting if it happened, nobody would say `yes I was there'.

'I don't want to speak to Mourinho because if I asked `were you in that meeting', I can guess the answer straight away.

'But I do know one thing, that if it happened, it was not on the initiative of Ashley because he wants to stay and I know that from him.

'What I don't want now is to shift that responsibility from Chelsea to Ashley Cole. If somebody has not respected the rules, it is not him - it is Chelsea.

'If they don't behave as they should, it's down to the Premier League to start an inquiry and to get them punished.'

The Premier League are awaiting any official complaint from Arsenal, although Wenger accepts he has no direct evidence, other than a newspaper report, which quoted alleged witnesses.

He added: 'Before we complain, we must have evidence the meeting has happened but I don't know how so much assertive evidence comes out in a newspaper [if it is] just being invented.'

Chelsea chief executive Kenyon, who held a secret meeting with Sven-Goran Eriksson last season, today insisted the Blues would have nothing to fear from any official inquiry over Cole.

'The rules of the game are quite clear so we're just getting on with our business,' he told BBC Radio Four.

Mourinho, meanwhile, claimed yesterday that he has 'no time to meet players' and has a 'perfect' squad that needs no additions this season.

However, Wenger fears that Chelsea may have broken the code of conduct between leading clubs, seeing similarities with Real Madrid's aggressive pursuit of Patrick Vieira over recent seasons.

'I feel like I am in a film I have seen already. The scenario of what is going on, I could have written it one year ago,' he added.

'Of course, this has happened before in England. But I feel there is a code of conduct between the big clubs in England.

'If Chelsea want Ashley Cole, they just have to find our number, and they have enough intelligent people to find it, and to call us to ask to speak to him.

'But I feel that this is tactically very bad. By doing this kind of behaviour, they only pay more.'

While Cole is seeking a huge pay rise from Arsenal, Wenger insists the England defender will stay put - even though Chelsea could offer him greater wages and possibly more chance of success.

'I am 100% that Ashley Cole will extend his contract as he is part of that bunch of players who are the core and heart of the team,' he declared.

'I feel he will even be under pressure from the other players to do it. We are not far away from a deal with him.'

Wenger seemed to intimate that Cole, who has two and a half years left on his Arsenal contract, may have been unwittingly lured into a meeting with Chelsea by so-called `super-agent' Pini Zahavi.

'Ashley is with an agent. Do you know the agent? I do not need to say more. This agent tells him I have organised a meeting when basically it's with people who he is not supposed to meet,' he said.

The biggest irony of all, however, is that rather than crossing swords with Sir Alex Ferguson ahead of tomorrow's clash at Highbury, Wenger has been distracted by Mourinho and Chelsea.

And that is concerning enough in itself to him.

'The timing is not welcome before a big game. I find that coincidence just a little bit troublesome,' he concluded.

Ultimate10002000

01-02-2005, 08:16 PM

High-flying Chelsea report record debts

LONDON, Jan 31 (Reuters) - The Beatles sang that it couldn't buy them love and it is said to be the root of all evil, but whatever its pitfalls or shortcomings there is little doubt that money will buy success in English soccer this season.
Roman Abramovich's billions have vaulted Chelsea to the top of the English Premier League where they are firmly on track for their first championship win since 1955.

Still gunning for silverware on four fronts, the Russian oligarch's team are in rude health on the pitch.

On the balance sheet, however, the club looks decidedly peeky, having posted on Monday annual figures which would bankrupt many a successful business.

The Blues are very much in the red.

Figures filed to British company registration centre Companies House show Chelsea having made record English soccer losses of £88 million ($166 million) in 2003-04, their first season under the ownership of Abramovich.

The sum easily outstrips the previous record loss of £49.5 million which Leeds returned in 2003.

But where Leeds's debt all but crippled the Yorkshire giants who were forced to sell off their training ground, Elland Road stadium and almost all the squad which had reached the Champions League semi-finals in 2001, Chelsea's figures barely register as a blip on the financial health or status of the club.

It is this which makes Chelsea unique in English soccer and which spells gloom for the chasing pack.

With Abramovich holding the purse, the west London slickers need never worry about an operating loss, however immense.

Indeed, as a privately owned company, they need not have revealed these figures at all but preferred to come clean before the inevitable leak of the report.

Certainly the figures will make uneasy reading for their rivals, who must compete with Chelsea but can only dream of matching their spending power.

A product of the telephone-figure sums bandied around in salaries and signing fees, the debt is sign of Abramovich's ambition for the club.

The main shareholder in Russian oil firm Sibneft, Abramovich wiped out £80 million of debt after buying Chelsea for £60 million in July 2003 and has since spent around £200 million on players.

He forked out £175 million on new players in his first season at the club, with the annual payroll more than doubling to £115 million.

It is enough to make grown men weep - especially if they are in the employ of Arsenal or Manchester United, Chelsea's main rivals for soccer glory and both run along traditional business lines.

Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon insists the first season of Abramovich's tenure was exceptional and that the Londoners are aiming to break even by 2010.

Though they have spent some £75 millions on six signings since Jose Mourinho took over as manager in June last year, they have offloaded more than a dozen including some of their biggest wage earners. Argentines Juan Sebastian Veron and Hernan Crespo, who failed to fire at Stamford Bridge, went to Italy and former France captain Marcel Desailly into retirement.

Romania stirker Adrian Mutu, who failed a drugs test, has also been dropped from the payroll and Mourinho says he is happy to stick to a tighter squad of 24 players from now on.

Part of Chelsea's plan is to increase commercial income and Chelsea announced at the weekend they had agreed an eight-year kit sponsorship deal with German sportswear manufacturer Adidas-Salomon.

The deal will begin on July 1, 2006 and will be worth around £12 million ($22.59 million) a year.

But whatever their commercial income, as long as Chelsea have an owner with pockets as deep as Abramovich, the Manchester Uniteds, Arsenals and Liverpools of the Premiership will have to get used to playing second fiddle.

Ultimate10002000

02-02-2005, 12:07 PM

Kenyon won't 'debate' Cole reports

Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon has again refused to deny making an illegal approach for Arsenal full-back Ashley Cole.

Peter Kenyon: No denial. (NealSimpson/Empics)

Recent reports claimed Blues manager Jose Mourinho, Kenyon, agent Pini Zahavi and Cole held secret transfer talks last week.

However, Kenyon insists it is club policy not to comment on 'speculation'.

He told BBC Radio Five Live: 'We're not going to add to the speculation, you'll never end it.

'We can't just knock back every story. We don't want to debate it any further because that is club policy.'

Kenyon was speaking after Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger had called on Chelsea 'to clarify' the situation.

'They can say yes or no, then it is up to the Premier League,' he said yesterday.

Kenyon also defended the role of agents, stating money from transfers to or from Chelsea is clearly accounted for.

'Football rules today,' Kenyon added. 'All the money we're involved with in a transfer is transparent, the Football Association know exactly where it is.

'The rules are quite clear and it is not as clouded or non-transparent as people would make out.

'They (agents) are a necessary evil at times but we are in an environment where people want representation, and they have a role to play.'

Ultimate10002000

02-02-2005, 12:07 PM

Chelsea could ditch shirt sponsor

Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon today confirmed the club are considering not having a shirt sponsor in their centenary season.
The Premiership leaders are in talks over a new sponsor just days after clinching a £12million-a-year deal with sportswear giants adidas.

Chelsea's contract with Emirates expires this summer and Kenyon already has his sights set on completing another massive new deal with a different sponsor by the end of this month.

However, one of the major issues surrounding any new agreement will be its start date. The deal with adidas is not set to begin until 2006 and Kenyon admitted today the club may decide not to carry a sponsor's logo on their shirts during the 2005/06 season.

Kenyon confirmed: 'We've been discussing that for a significant amount of time and we are in the latter stages with several big blue-chip international consumer brands. We have to be in a position to resolve it by the end of February.

'But one of things we are debating internally is whether the new sponsorship will start in 2005, when the deal with the Emirates finishes, or in 2006, when the adidas contract starts.

'That also means we are having a discussion as to whether our centenary year will carry a sponsor or not.

'So there are discussions over who the sponsor is, when it starts and a key component of that is really around our centenary celebrations.'

Chelsea have already revealed the club's famous blue shirt will sport a more traditional badge next term and deciding to go without a sponsor would be another radical step - but one they could probably afford.

It would also bring back memories of another famous Stamford Bridge side from the early 1970s, which included Peter Osgood, Ian Hutchison, Charlie Cooke, Alan Hudson and Ron Harris.

Chelsea continue their quest for title glory tomorrow night with a tricky visit to Blackburn.

Manager Jose Mourinho will revert to his normal first XI after resting most of his influential players in the 2-0 FA Cup fourth-round victory over Birmingham on Sunday.

Chelsea, currently embroiled in a row over their alleged `tapping up' of Arsenal left-back Ashley Cole at a secret meeting in a London hotel last week, are 10 points clear of the Gunners at the top of the Premiership.

But the most important week so far in the club's season will come at the end of this month when they play Newcastle in the fifth round of the FA Cup, travel to Barcelona in the last 16 of the Champions League and face Liverpool in the final of the Carling Cup at Cardiff's Millennium stadium.

Those seven days will be crucial for the club if they are to continue their amazing quest for an unprecedented quadruple.

The significance of the week is not lost on Czech goalkeeper Petr Cech, who will return in goal at Ewood Park on Wednesday night.

Cech said: 'We have to fly again to Newcastle, but we have beaten them already in the Carling Cup quarter-finals.

'If we want to win the FA Cup, we have to beat everyone. If that means we have to fly to Newcastle, it will be a tough game, of course, but we have to beat everyone.

'It's going to be tough but it could also be one of the greatest weeks in Chelsea's history. I'm really excited by this week and I hope we're going to go through.

'Each of these games is going to be really important for us so we have to take them in a row and try to win all of them.'

Mourinho will recall Didier Drogba to the attack in place of Eidur Gudjohnsen along with Arjen Robben tomorrow night.

The Chelsea boss was dissatisfied with Robben's second-half performance against Birmingham but will not risk starting the game at Ewood Park without him. Defenders Paulo Ferreira and William Gallas will also return as well as midfielders Tiago and Claude Makelele.

Raytan

03-02-2005, 02:55 AM

Chelsea lose Huth to knee injury

LONDON, Feb 2 (Reuters) - Chelsea's German defender Robert Huth will be out for six to eight weeks with knee ligament damage.
The centre back, who has four caps, had only just returned to action after an ankle injury and scored in the 2-0 win over Birmingham City in the FA Cup fourth round on Sunday.

'He was really unlucky because someone fell on him,' Chelsea physio Mike Banks told the club website. 'At least he won't need surgery.'

Chelsea visit Blackburn on Wednesday looking to stretch their lead at the top to 11 points after Manchester United beat Arsenal 4-2 at Highbury on Tuesday.

Assistant manager Steve Clarke expects the squad to be fresh after rotating players for the Birmingham game following last Wednesday's 2-1 win at Manchester United in the League Cup semi-final.

'We made eight changes at the weekend from the Manchester United game a week ago,' Clarke said.

'Those who played against Manchester United but not Birmingham had a couple of days off, and then a couple of days just ticking over, and they've only just stepped up training for the last two days.'

Raytan

03-02-2005, 03:00 AM

PATHATIC CHELSEA FORUM, ONLY CUT N PASTE NEWS . LOL ALSO ONLY 1 PATHATIC FAN Ultimate10002000. LOL

Raytan

03-02-2005, 03:02 AM

Sri Lanka pair hopeful of claiming tsunami baby after court drama, arrest
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AFP Photo

A Sri Lankan couple ordered to undergo DNA tests to prove their claim to a baby survivor of the December tsunamis said they were hopeful of winning custody of the child despite being arrested for trying to snatch him.

Junitha Jeyarajah and her husband Murugupillai broke down in court and threatened suicide when the DNA tests were ordered on Wednesday, and were then arrested for trying to take the little boy from the local hospital.

"It has been a difficult situation," Jeyarajah told AFP shortly after their release. "We respect the law and hope that the law will be good to us."

Two others were remanded for a week for allegedly trying to snatch the baby, a magistrate said.

Also arrested was Samithamby Sri Skandarajah, who found the four-month-old child under a heap of garbage and says the couple are the baby's parents.

The couple's release ended a dramatic day centred around "Baby 81", the 81st patient admitted to Kalmunai hospital on the day of the disaster, December 26.

They had earlier broken down in tears after magistrate M.P. Mohideen ordered the DNA tests, as relatives sought to calm them.

"There is no need for a DNA test, this is our son," Junitha Jeyarajah said as her husband held unidentified tablets in his hand, threatening to kill himself by swallowing them.

"This is not justice," said Jeyarajah, who claims the family were separated from their baby by the giant waves which smashed into Kalmunai on December 26.

She and her husband, accompanied by a large crowd of supporters and media, then marched to the hospital and demanded to see the child.

While the couple were cradling the baby, the noisy crowd obstructed normal activities in the wards, angering medical staff who left their posts and staged a protest outside before the arrests were made.

The United Nations' children's agency UNICEF said it was closely following the case and hoped the baby would not have to stay in hospital until April 20, the date of the next hearing.

"We feel enough evidence (of parentage) can be found locally by way of documents and statements from neighbours. It is in the best interest of everyone," UNICEF spokesman Geoffrey Keele told AFP.

"We welcome the efforts to ensure that the baby is reunited with its real parents. But we think it's best to resolve it locally rather than drive the baby and the couple all the way to Colombo for tests and put them through more stress and trauma."

The DNA test was ordered on the request of a lawyer representing the District Child Protection Committee.

"Tomorrow if we come to know that the present couple are not the real parents then what happens to the baby?" Shaul H. Moulavi Manarudeen asked the court.

"It is necessary that the tests be conducted considering the vast nature of tsunami disaster, with hundreds of parents reporting missing children and vice versa."

Judge M.P. Mohideen accepted his argument, ordering the hospital to take care of the baby until the case is settled.

On Thursday, the court will decide when to take the baby to Colombo, 380 kilometres (237 miles) from here by road, for a DNA test.

Raytan

03-02-2005, 03:02 AM

An earthquake measuring 9.0 on the Richter scale occurred on 26 Dec 2004, off the west coast of Sumatra. The massive quake, the worst in forty years, triggered tsunamis that devastated South and Southeast Asia, killing more than an estimated 150,000 people in at least nine countries and displacing up to five million people.

Families across South and Southeast Asia, stricken by disaster, need your help. The need for aid to house, clothe and feed the survivors will last for months to come. And after that, there is the large task of rebuilding homes, communities, towns and economies. The UN estimates that this phase may last a decade.

Support the organisations below providing assistance to those whose lives have been devastated by this terrible disaster

Raytan

03-02-2005, 03:03 AM

Nepal king unveils new cabinet amid international condemnation

Photo: AFP
KATHMANDU (AFP) - Nepal's King Gyanendra swore in a new cabinet dominated by royalists, a day after he fired the government and seized power in a move that sparked international condemnation.

India, the biggest regional power, announced in a show of disapproval it would not take part in next week's planned South Asian summit in Dhaka.

The decision torpedoed the February 6-7 event which Gyanendra had planned to attend. The charter of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation states leaders of all seven nations must attend summits.

India had voiced "grave concern" at the king's dismissal of the coalition government and imposition of emergency rule, calling it "a serious setback to the cause of democracy in Nepal."

Gyanendra said he fired the government of Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba for failing to hold elections or to bring peace to a country racked by an increasingly deadly Maoist revolt.

The monarch, vaulted to the throne four years ago by a palace massacre that wiped out most of the royal family, pledged to "restore democracy and law and order in the country in the next three years."

I AM :
A Man A Woman
I'M SEEKING :
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In Kathmandu security was tight on streets that were jammed as usual while shops, businesses and schools were open. But landlines and mobile phone networks and Internet links were still not working after being shut down Tuesday. The international airport was functioning.

Gyanendra's new 10-member new cabinet, mainly made up of pro-monarchists including Foreign Minister Ramesh Nath Pandey and Finance Minister Madhukar Shumsher Rana, was sworn in at the palace.

Gyanendra said the sacking of the coalition was necessary to crush a nine-year revolt in the scenic mountain kingdom that has claimed over 11,000 lives.

Maoist guerrilla leader Prachanda, meanwhile, urged "pro-people forces of the world" to oppose Gyanendra's power grab, denouncing him as a "national betrayer."

Prachanda said the Maoists, fighting to topple the monarchy and install a communist republic, were prepared to cooperate with other political forces by establishing "a broad front with all that are against feudal autocracy."

Political parties said security forces had detained political activists, trade union officials, students and their leaders but the full number was not known.

"About 100 people from different parties are in custody," said M.D. Adsikra, a member of a former partner in the ruling coalition, the Nepal Communist Party-United Marxist Leninist (NCP-UML).

Deuba was believed to be under house arrest. Security forces had taken away former deputy prime minister B.M. Adhikari from his home to an unknown location, NCP-UML officials said. They said half a dozen former ministers were also arrested.

Newspapers, operating under new state of emergency rules suspending press freedom, used neutral language to announce the news.

"His Majesty dissolves Deuba government," said the state-run Rising Nepal.

Witnesses in the capital saw only one rally under new laws banning free assembly. It was by several hundred pro-royalists near the palace, who shouted: "Long Live the king, peace will now prevail."

"People are trying secretly to organise meetings but some of the senior leaders have been arrested so they havem't been able to," said a 20-year-old student at Kathmandu's Tribhuvan University.

A Supreme Court lawyer, Mitilesh Kumar Singh, called the king's move a "political tsunami. He wants to bring about peace and security ... a good thing but I doubt he'll be successful and it's a violation of the constitution."

The United States, United Nations and Britain condemned Gyanendra's move.

India, along with the US and Britain, has been a key backer of Nepal in its drive to crush the insurgency. New Delhi fears Maoist violence could spill into parts of its own country where ultra-leftist groups are powerful.

The Indian military, which overnight reinforced borders with Nepal, held meetings Wednesday to review its "future course of action" in providing help to the Nepalese army.

"A section (in the military) believes that now it would be daft to arm Nepal which has shed its democratic fibre," a top commander said in New Delhi.

Human rights group Amnesty International expressed concern, noting that the last state of emergency in 2001-2002 led to an explosion of abuses, including killings, disappearances and arrests.

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Ultimate10002000

03-02-2005, 08:51 AM

Blackburn 0-1 Chelsea: FT Report

PA

Chelsea were made to fight all the way for their place in the record books after a 1-0 victory at Blackburn which owed everything to their Czech keeper Petr Cech.

Arjen Robben suffered a heavily brised foot (RossKinnaird/GettyImages)

Mourinho delighted with battling Blues

Arjen Robben may have scored the goal which saw Jose Mourinho's side stretch the gap at the top to 11 points but it was Cech, who brilliantly saved a Paul Dickov penalty, who emerged as Chelsea's key man.

This was Chelsea's eighth consecutive league win - all with clean sheets - and Cech has now gone 781 minutes without conceding a goal, surpassing Peter Schmeichel's 1997 mark of 694 minutes.

Not since Arsenal drew 2-2 on December 12 have their defence been breached in the Premiership - and not since then have an opposing side caused them so many problems.

Blackburn manager Mark Hughes has bought well in the transfer window and his side, allied to their combative approach, proved doughty competitors.

Rovers are, statistically at least, the dirtiest side in the Premiership with the most fouls, the most red cards (five) and the most yellow (48) of any club in the top flight and Chelsea were taken back by their physical approach.

Aaron Mokoena, playing in a holding role in midfield, ended Robben's match after 11 minutes - the Dutch winger limping off with a bruised foot after a clash with the South African.

Robben had done his work by then but without him and the injured Didier Drogba the visitors looked a touch lightweight, especially in attack.

During the brief time Robben was on the field Chelsea looked in control. Former Rovers winger Damien Duff left Dominic Matteo for dead in the first minute after an exquisite dummy and turn, but Mokoena stood tall for Blackburn and cleared the cross.

There was a flicker of hope for the home side when Dickov picked up possession 25 yards from goal but Claude Makelele's block took the sting out of his strike and Cech was able to gather - and claim that record from Schmeichel.

With less than five minutes gone Chelsea asserted their supremacy. Frank Lampard found Robben on the left flank and the Dutchman left Lucas Neill chasing his shadow before rifling a terrific shot low across Brad Friedel to make it 1-0.