tagged w/ Chelsea FC
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In one sense it was little short of a miracle that he found himself at Stamford Bridge on Thursday providing some calm reflections on his autobiography, so frequent have been his machinations for a move. This complex striker, always a bundle of contradictions, instead insisted he wanted to see out his career at the club.
In the context of Drogba's career this was an extraordinary volte face. There was, for example, the turmoil created in his life by the departure of Jose Mourinho – an event he likens in the book to being "punched in the face". His murmurs of discontent even brought an official rebuke from his employers. Then there was his ill-starred turn in last season's Champions League final, when his sending-off deprived Chelsea of a crucial penalty-taker for the shoot-out they ultimately lost and appeared sure to precipitate his exit.
Drogba, on the surface, is sanguine about such embarrassments, claiming that he could equally have missed a penalty just as John Terry did. Still, that does not square with the tone of the many other interviews he has given in the four months since, in which he did not mention – let alone apologise for – the dismissal once. "There is a lot of regret, when you get to the final and you lose it," he said here. "I have more regrets about that than about being sent off. The most important thing was the team."
The Ivorian remained a marginalised figure yesterday, but this time as a result of his latest knee injury, sustained during Chelsea's Champions League draw two weeks ago against CFR Cluj. "I was very frustrated," he said, describing the moment he had to be taken off a stretcher, but added he was relieved to be assured the cruciate ligaments were not damaged. Recovering from the setback was, he argued, his "top priority", although he also indulged in a glance further into the future, to a time when he might emerge from his awkward mould as a lone striker to become an effective strike partner for Nicolas Anelka.
"I would love that, because I know what Nico is capable of bringing to a game," he said, although knowing the egocentric characters of both players few Chelsea supporters will be holding their breath about a double act.
Drogba has endured an ambivalent relationship with his fans. He is perhaps fortunate to have retained their loyalty at all given his persistent agitating to leave, not to mention the unease he has caused by his penchant for diving. But he rejected the notion: "Both parties understand each other. When I first arrived I perhaps didn't know what they wanted from me.
"I have had problems with supporters, but those have been more to do with my English and the way I understand things. This is why I needed to write this book, to understand exactly who I am. It made me think a lot about what I have to do change."
One idea might be for him to accept the ways Chelsea have changed under the influence of Luiz Felipe Scolari. Drogba is effusive about how the Brazilian has led the club to the top of the table despite an injury crisis that has accounted for such crucial players as himself, Michael Essien and Ricardo Carvalho: "This is why we have this type of manager, to deal with these types of situations."
But he could not hide his nostalgia for Mourinho: "He was fantastic, the kind of person you have to meet at least once in your life."
In one sense it was little short of a miracle that he found himself at Stamford Bridge... more
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Mineiro joins the West London side on a free transfer, and Blues boss Luiz Felipe Scolari has already acknowledged that the 32-year-old has been brought in to lend support to John Obi Mikel, in light of the long-term absence of Michael Essien.
"Chelsea Football Club can confirm the signing of Mineiro who was released by Hertha Berlin as a free agent at the end of last season," read a statement on the club's website.
"The deal, the details of which will remain confidential, will see him remain at the club until the end of the season.
"We are delighted to welcome him to Stamford Bridge, and wish him well in his time here."
The ex Hertha Berlin player's arrival is especially timely since Deco injured himself during the warmup ahead of the 1-1 draw against Manchester United, thought the extent of his injury is still unsure.
Mineiro was released by his previous club, Bundesliga side, Hertha Berlin. He joined Berlin in 2007 having previously spent virtually his entire career in Brazil playing for Sao Paulo, Sao Caetano and Ponte Preta.
The Brazilian has 25 international caps but despite interesting Arsenal, as well as Chelsea, Arsene Wenger reportedly decided against signing him despite being short of numbers in midfield following the departures of Matthieu Flamini and Gilberto SilvaMineiro joins the West London side on a free transfer, and Blues boss Luiz Felipe... more
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Luiz Felipe Scolari sent a powerful message to the Chelsea dressing room by publicly criticising his team despite their 4-0 Champions League win against Bordeaux.
“We didn’t play very well,” he said. “They made many mistakes when they had the ball. When you’re 2-0 up at half-time in the Champions League, you have to work harder.
“You need to control the game more and we didn’t control it very well in the second half. We know that we made many mistakes between 55 minutes and near the end.”
Scolari had a lengthy discussion with Joe Cole when he was substituted after 74 minutes and looked agitated and animated on the touchline throughout the match.
Having conceded after just 14 minutes, Bordeaux offered a limited threat and, with Manchester United looming on Sunday, Scolari warned his team that they could have been punished against superior opposition.
“We tried to attack every time with not good connections,” he said. “We received one punishment because we lost many balls in the middle. Other teams, arriving in front of goal, might have hurt us quicker. If they’d had more quality, it would have been dangerous for us.”
Despite Scolari’s concerns, the contrast with last season could hardly have been greater. On the corresponding day, Chelsea began their Champions League campaign with a drab 1-1 draw against Rosenberg and, barely 24 hours’ later, Jose Mourinho had departed as Chelsea manager.
Scolari, though, could hardly have enjoyed a better start to his tenure at Stamford Bridge and, following the disappointments of the past five years, the squad looks better equipped than any previous European campaign in the club’s history.
“The most important thing for us is the result,” said Scolari. “You never know what might happen. Cluj won in Roma and, if that gives us any advice, we’ll have to remember that in the next game. It’s important to win and to play well makes it better.”
Scolari was pleased last night with the width that Jose Bosingwa provided from right-back, while Frank Lampard also continued his outstanding start to the season with a goal and two assists. “For the last three or four years, Lampard has been the best scoring midfielder in the Premier League,” said Scolari. “He’s a midfielder but he gets in front of goal and scores many times. He loves football. He trains hard every day. When you have that, I think God helps you because, if you don’t like playing or don’t work in training, you don’t do different in the game.”
Scolari was also delighted and shocked at the FA’s decision to rescind John Terry’s red card and ensure that the captain will be available to face Manchester United. “I am surprised, but satisfied,” he said. “It’s the first time that I’m coach and they’ve changed the resolution from the referee. That would only happen in England. Anywhere else, it’s finished. But the referee saw the video and admitted he’d made a mistake. It’s a surprise, but a positive surprise.
“The Football Association have their men who understand that the referee is not God. They make mistakes sometimes, like I do and the players.”
Luiz Felipe Scolari sent a powerful message to the Chelsea dressing room by publicly... more
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Chelsea captain Terry was sent off with 13 minutes remaining on Saturday
Chelsea captain John Terry has been cleared to play against Manchester United on Sunday after his appeal against a red card proved successful.
Terry was sent off for a foul on Manchester City striker Jo, but a Football Association hearing upheld Chelsea's claim of wrongful dismissal. He received a straight red from Mark Halsey, with the referee deeming the incident to be serious foul play.
The England skipper had been set to miss three games.
Had the ban been enforced, Terry would have missed Sunday's crucial Premier League clash with champions United, as well as the Carling Cup tie against Portsmouth on 24 September and the league encounter with Stoke three days later.
The foul on Jo occurred inside the centre circle, with Terry's centre-back partner Ricardo Carvalho covering the play and full-back Jose Bosingwa also sprinting back to defend.
But Halsey's decision to issue a red card for serious foul play rather than a professional foul meant the position on the pitch and the presence of other players were not relevant. Serious foul play is classed as when a player "uses excessive force or brutality against an opponent when challenging for the ball when it is play".
Chelsea captain Terry was sent off with 13 minutes remaining on Saturday
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Luiz Felipe Scolari last night admitted he was over-ruled by the Chelsea money men over the club's decision to let Manchester City buy Robinho - but insisted he had no gripe with Roman Abramovich.
Scolari had identified Robinho as the final piece in his jigsaw for the season and was left helpless when his club refused to match City and meet Real Madrid's £32million asking price.
But as he told Eastlands boss Mark Hughes he had turned down the City job in the summer before it was offered to the Welshman, the Stamford Bridge boss conceded he would have landed the 24-year-old if it was down to him.
Scolari said: "Robinho is a very good player but the club offered what they thought was correct and they didn't pay what they thought wasn't correct for the club, the agent, the player. I do not think City paid too much. Robinho is a very good player.
"If I have the money to buy a fantastic house I will buy it.
"When it comes to players, which players we should try to sign is a technical issue.
"But the board makes the decisions about money. It is the board alone."
Hinting at the seeds for future conflict, Scolari added: "The coach needs to say 'If I want this player, this is why.' If that didn't happen, the club would just go out and buy this or that player.
"I am the coach and manager, but I have zero influence on money. It's a job for Peter Kenyon, not me. My job is on the pitch. I say this player is good, this player is well. That's the way I've worked for 27 years as a coach. But this is the correct philosophy for Chelsea. We have one project and we follow that."
Scolari was walking a delicate path just two months into his tenure, although he did his best to point the blame at Robinho's entourage, led by agent Wagner Ribeiro, rather than the Blues board.
What is clear is, despite having a 90-minute window of opportunity to equal City's offer and land the player, Abramovich ordered chief executive Kenyon to withdraw - the first time since the Russian's takeover Chelsea have been beaten to a player they wanted by an English club.
And Scolari, seeking to deflect attention from the conflict between his wishes and the new financial imperatives at the club, suggested City might have beaten Chelsea to him as well if they had timed their approach better.
Scolari revealed: "City offered me a good situation and I listened before I came to Chelsea about the big projects they had.
Luiz Felipe Scolari last night admitted he was over-ruled by the Chelsea money men... more
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Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari insists he doesn't need to win the Champions League to satisfy Roman Abramovich.
Scolari's predecessors, Claudio Ranieri, Jose Mourinho and Avram Grant, failed to deliver Europe's top club prize to Chelsea's demanding owner and eventually paid the price as Abramovich wielded the axe.
Ranieri and Mourinho were unable to get past the semi-finals in three attempts and Grant took the Blues to last year's final, where they were beaten on penalties by Manchester United.
Now it is Scolari who puts his head on the block as he gets a first taste of Europe's elite club competition in Tuesday's clash against Bordeaux at Stamford Bridge.
For the moment at least the Brazilian shows no signs of feeling the pressure.
He has spoken to Abramovich about Chelsea's targets this season and is adamant that the Russian billionaire did not link success in the Champions League with his job security.
"You don't know the history. I know why the others were sacked. I could say it in Portuguese because in English it is impossible to say," Scolari said.
"I don't talk with Roman Abramovich about the Champions League. I talk to him about Chelsea and about all competitions. Particularly competition A, B or C?, never.
"We have to win all competitions, not only this competition. If you say this competition is more important than another I say no.
"This game is important and so is the League Cup and FA Cup. If you ask the players they want to win all of them.
"I won't say to my players only play for your life in the Champions League. They need to do their best in all competitions, all games and all the training sessions."
Scolari knows the bitter memory of that shoot-out defeat to United in Moscow is a huge motivating factor for his team, but he refuses to dwell on the past.
"I spoke to the players about starting this competition but I don't speak about losing the final or the penalties. I spoke only positive words," he said.
"I know Chelsea have tried for many years to win the Champions League. Last season they reached the final and that was fantastic. It is not easy, not just for Chelsea, but for many clubs to reach the final.
"We start to try again but it is a long way and we need to respect the other clubs."
Although Scolari has never experienced European action before, he knows how to succeed in continental competition after twice winning the Copa Libertadores - the South American version of the Champions League.
"I was a coach in many countries but I think the Champions League is one of the most important competitions of my life," Scolari said.
"In South America we have the Libertadores Cup. But in Europe we have more clubs and it is stronger than South America because there are more countries that have strong teams."
With Sunday's crucial Premier League clash against Manchester United looming large, Scolari could have been forgiven for resting players against Bordeaux but he will send out a strong team, minus the suspended Didier Drogba, with Michael Ballack likely to return after injury.
"I must think about Bordeaux," he added. "I can't worry about Sunday, I could be dead!"
John Obi Mikel is confident Chelsea can make amends for last season's final defeat as long as Portugal playmaker Deco stays fit and in form.
"It has been a long time since the Champions League final," the Nigerian said. "We all felt really bad after the game and we know what we lost. But this season we have a very good chance of winning it.
"Deco brings a lot to the team. He is the kind of player that always want to express himself.
"When you have guys like that you are going to have more possession. That is what the manager wants, he wants us to keep the ball and pass it."
Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari insists he doesn't need to win the Champions... more
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Terry will have little chance of his sending-off being overturned as referee Mark Halsey deemed the defender's holding block on Brazilian striker Jo as serious foul play as opposed to a professional foul.
In such an instance a failed appeal could result in The Football Association (FA) imposing a longer ban of up to three matches.
Chelsea's appeal is expected to unsuccessful with FA unable to downgrade red cards to yellow, unless the club can somehow demonstrate that Terry should not have been cautioned in their faint hopes to get the decision rescinded.
Speaking in Terry's defence, teammate Frank Lampard, convinced that Terry was not the last man and therefore should not have been sent-off since Ricardo Carvalho was in a recovery position behind him, criticised Halsey, arguing that rash dismissals could endanger the future of the game.
"If you start giving out red cards like that you'll have four or five in a game. Hopefully they'll look at it again and make it a yellow card. It's not a red card when there's two men behind the ball," said Lampard.
But despite Lampards's calls that Terry should earn a reprieve, the Chelsea skipper is now almost certain to miss Sunday's game against Manchester United.
And should a three-match suspension be imposed, Terry will also be unavailable for Luiz Felipe Scolari's side for the games against Stoke and Aston Villa.
Terry will have little chance of his sending-off being overturned as referee Mark... more
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Chelsea and West Ham have reportedly reached an agreement over compensation for assistant coach Steve Clarke's move to the east London club. The deal is set to be announced later today.
Clarke, 45, had two years left on his contract as assistant manager at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea reportedly wanted £5m to allow him to move, but West Ham were unwilling to pay the fee. An agreement is said to have been reached at £1m compensation.
West Ham named Gianfranco Zola's as their new manager on Thursday. Clarke is being lined up as Zola's assistant manager - the pair know each other from their time at Chelsea together - Zola played for the club from 1996-2003.
Clarke joined Chelsea as a player in 1987 and retired in 1998. He was Rudd Gullit's assistant at Newcastle before returning to Chelsea becoming Jose Mourinho's assistant manager. He remained in the job during the reign of Mourinho, and his successor Avram Grant. Clarke's role was said to have diminished since Luiz Felipe Scolari took over at Stamford Bridge and he attempted to resign on Thursday, hoping to set up his West Ham move.
Chelsea and West Ham have reportedly reached an agreement over compensation for... more
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Robinho, Britain’s most expensive footballer, made an instant impact on his Premier League debut for Manchester City yesterday, even though his side lost 3-1 to Chelsea. The Brazilian, who had flown 16,000 miles in the last week to play two World Cup qualifiers for his country in South America, only arrived back in England late on Thursday night. But he showed no signs of jet lag, scoring from a direct free kick just 12 minutes into the game in front of a record City of Manchester stadium crowd of 47,331.
In an irony that would not have been lost on the visitors, it was Chelsea who had first courted Robinho until City’s £32.4m bid at the close of the summer transfer window tempted Real Madrid. The goal prompted a furious row between Chelsea keeper Petr Cech and captain John Terry about the positioning of the defensive wall. However, Chelsea struck back within five minutes through Ricardo Carvalho.
Shortly after the interval, Frank Lampard added a second and Nicolas Anelka scored his second of the season with 20 minutes left. Chelsea are top of the Premier League but the win was overshadowed by the dismissal of Terry for bringing down Jo. He will be suspended from the game against Manchester United a week today. Lampard queried the sending-off, saying: “I’ve never seen a player get sent off for a professional foul with two players behind him,” and Chelsea are expected to appeal.
Robinho, Britain’s most expensive footballer, made an instant impact on his... more
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Chelsea Football Club is committed to stamping out Anti-Semitism. For Sundays game against Tottenham Hotspurs (Yid Army) there will increased police surveillance inside Stamford Bridge
More at http://www.chelseafc.com/page/LatestNews/0,,10268~1379314,00.htmlChelsea Football Club is committed to stamping out Anti-Semitism. For Sundays game... more
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