Chelsea FC // Current

Abramovich's cash saves Russian Football

Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich may have saved the hopes of a footballing nation. The Russia National Team have feared that... more

GeoffNI
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Hajduk Split may sign Avram Grant

A little Chelsea FC may soon exist in Croatia. Mate Peros, the president of Croatian football club Hajduk Split, confirmed on... more

newsfreak
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Roma destroy Boring Chelsea 3-1

Premier League leaders Chelsea suffered a humiliating 3-1 defeat to AS Roma who revived their Champions League qualifying hopes... more

GeoffNI
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CSKA Moscow Youngster interested in move to Chelsea

CSKA Moscow youngster Alan Dzagoev has played down speculation linking him with a move to Real Madrid, claiming he would be more... more

GeoffNI
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Michael Ballack apologises to Jogi Low for outburst

Chelsea star Michael Ballack backs down in Germany row "I'm sorry Low... I made a mistake"

Germany captain Michael Ballack has sensationally backed down in his war of words with manager Joachim Low after being threatened with being thrown out of the national team.

The row started after Chelsea star Ballack (32) criticised the coach about his handling of Germany star Torsten Frings in a interview with the 'Frankfurter Allgemeine' newspaper. Ballack slammed Low by saying: “If someone doesn’t want someone anymore, they should be honest about it”.

The public feud continued after the German manager retorted to BILD: “It disappoints me that he is playing people politics in this manner.”

In a bid to calm the situation and rescue his place in the side, Ballack made a full apology. But whether it will be enough to save his captain’s armband, remains to be seen.

Here is Michael Ballack's apology in full:

“I spoke to Jogi Low on the phone today and told him that it was never my aim to criticise his work as manager, but that I just wanted to protect and support my fellow players in any difficult situations they may find themselves in.

I hold Jogi Low in high regard both personally as a human being and as a manager.

My interview was based on situations and not on people. I didn’t want to attack anyone personally, but just openly and critically discuss things that are in my heart as captain. I don’t want to further discuss the content of the interview.

I consciously chose this point in time to give the interview because the team is playing well and winning and the manager is, in my opinion, in a strong and untouchable position. It would have been a weak move to give the interview if we had successively lost two games.

I did think that I would come under criticism for discussing my views, but I never thought that it would be to such an extent. Therefore I must admit that it was a failure to have done it in the manner I chose.

I will sit down with Joachim Low as soon as my health allows, and apologise for my conduct. One thing is clear: my absolute priority is the success of the team." Chelsea star Michael Ballack backs down in Germany row "I'm sorry Low... I made a mistake" Germany captain... more

theolond
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1 month ago

Perfection is Luiz Felipe Scolari’s next goal with Chelsea

Luiz Felipe Scolari sounded an ominous warning to Chelsea’s Barclays Premier League rivals yesterday by claiming that his... more

DonkeyPong
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1 month ago

Will Ballack be given the boot?

Coach Jogi Low threatens to ban Chelsea star Will Michael Ballack be booted off Germany team? Michael Ballack’s... more

theolond
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1 month ago

United Kingdom Talk Video Thursday 23rd October 2008

Thursday's edition of my three times a week talk show.Watch the show here on CURRENT TV on Tues, Thurs & Sats. In... more

ChrisReardon
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1 month ago

Didier Drogba: I want to see out my career at Chelsea: Football - Telegraph

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 on Thursday providing some calm reflections... more

GeoffNI
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1 month ago

Official: Mineiro Signs For Chelsea

Mineiro joins the West London side on a free transfer, and Blues boss Luiz Felipe Scolari has already acknowledged that the... more

GeoffNI
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2 months ago

Chelsea didn't play very well, says Luiz Felipe Scolari

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 criticising his team despite their 4-0... more