Match Report: Chelsea 2 - 0 Stoke City

It did not rain goals at Stamford Bridge for a change but Florent Malouda and Didier Drogba still came up with two vital strikes to keep Chelsea's 100% record intact at the top of the Premier League.

Malouda expertly converted a first-half opportunity with his right foot against a Stoke side made of much sterner stuff than the Tony Pulis team who surrendered seven at the Bridge back in April.

And Drogba supplied the coup de grace with a second-half penalty after Thomas Sorensen had brought down Nicolas Anelka.

Chelsea even had the luxury of seeing Frank Lampard miss the tamest of first-half penalties.

Roman Abramovich certainly cannot complain with the entertainment on show at Stamford Bridge these days.

Nor with the battling qualities of a Chelsea side who dug out this win as opposed to destroying the opposition as they had done in previous weeks.

Chelsea's starting line-up showed just one change with Paulo Ferreira coming in for fullback Branislav Ivanovic. who was suffering from a back injury.

For Stoke, goalkeeper Asmir Begovic, linked with Chelsea and reported to have refused to play against Shrewsbury in the Carling Cup in midweek, was on the bench with Thomas Sorensen starting.

But while it was not the goal rout of recent weeks, Chelsea were by far the classier side, giving warning of what was to come within five minutes when Michael Essien split the Stoke defence with a pass into the path of Ashley Cole to set up a chance the England fullback pulled wide.

Stoke also had their chances early on, Dean Whitehead bringing a sharp save from Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech with a snap shot following a neat one-two with Kenwyne Jones and Jonathan Walters lifting a lob on to the top of the Chelsea net.

It would have made it even easier for Chelsea, of course, if Lampard had not missed that penalty on 10 minutes after Ryan Shawcross brought down Drogba.

It was a poor spot kick, side-footed to Sorensen's left-hand side and the Stoke goalkeeper had no problem falling on the ball.

Sorensen also punched away a savagely-struck free-kick from Drogba in a first-half which could easily have turned into another goal landslide.

Much of that was to do with Essien and Lampard who ran the midfield with precision passing and fluent movement. It was no surprise when the breakthrough came in the 32nd minute.

This time captain John Terry provided the killer pass, threading a ball through for Malouda to run on to and smash a right-foot shot past Sorensen for his fourth goal of the season.

When this Chelsea side get ahead they are difficult to catch. Carlo Ancelotti does not apply the brakes like Jose Mourinho, who was content to shut up shop from a winning position.

They surge forward looking for more goals, none more so than Cole who met a ball floated into the box acrobatically on the volley only to see his shot rattle the Stoke bar and rebound to safety.

Sorensen was required again in the second-half, most notably to save a point-blank header from Drogba following a floated cross from Anelka.

To Stoke's credit they did not capitulate. They dug in with substitute Glenn Whelan giving them more bite and direction.

Indeed, he provided the shot of the second-half, giving Chelsea something of a fright when he stepped forward and cracked a 25-yard shot against Cech's crossbar only to see the ball bounce down and away to safety.

But the game was sealed for Chelsea when Sorensen was bedazzled by Anelka's pace and Drogba slotted home from the penalty spot.

There was just time for Daniel Sturridge, on his 21st birthday, to come on for Anelka and Brazilian midfielder Ramires to make his debut from the bench.

So Chelsea march on. Fourteen league goals scored. None conceded. They look unstoppable.

Stoke City Want £10 Million For Chelsea Target Asmir Begovic

Stoke City reportedly want £10 million if they are to let go of goalkeeper Asmir Begovic.

The 23-year-old shot-stopper has been heavily linked with a move to Premier League champions Chelsea, and the 'keeper is believed to have refused to play in a League Cup fixture against Shrewsbury Town in the hope of making a switch to Stamford Bridge.

The Potters boss Tony Pulis had previously maintained that it was the player's decision not to take to the pitch, while the former Portsmouth custodian has since contacted the PFA to indicate that he felt mentally unfit to play.

Now the Daily Mail claims that the Staffordshire club have placed a £10m asking price if the promising 'keeper is to walk away from the Britannia Stadium.

Manchester City have also been linked with a move for Begovic.

Anelka Defended By Paclet

Former France team doctor Jean-Pierre Paclet has insisted Nicolas Anelka was not the problem at the World Cup.

Les Bleus endured a disastrous campaign on and off the pitch as they not only failed to advance past the group phase but were also beset by dressing-room disharmony.

Anelka was sent home following a bust-up with then manager Raymond Domenech, and the rest of the squad later refused to train.

But Paclet, in extracts from his book L'Implosion reproduced in the Sunday Times, has played down the player's perceived disruptive influence and insisted Domenech was aware of the 31-year-old's feelings on his lone striker role, which appears to have been the root cause of the dispute.

"When Domenech went to see Anelka at Chelsealast season, Anelka warned him, let him know that there was no point taking him to South Africa if it was to play him in a position he didn't like," he wrote.

"The problem with the French team wasn't Anelka. You have to understand he is loved within the squad, immensely popular, even if he's introverted."

One French player not to make the World Cup squad was Samir Nasri but Paclet has criticised the Arsenal midfielder for his attitude.

Paclet alleges that the 23-year-old was a source of a disquiet which dates back further than June after upsetting captain Patrice Evra and senior professionals Thierry Henry, William Gallas and former Marseille team-mate Franck Ribery.

"Here was a kid with a dozen caps looking down on players with a hundred. Scarcely believable," Paclet claimed.

"His behaviour gets on the nerves of almost everybody and he has the gift of really annoying Henry, Gallas and Patrice Evra.

"Most of all, the relationship between Nasri and Ribery was very tense, from the time they were together at Marseille. They were more like kids in a playground rather than professionals on a pitch.

"Ribery would cause general laughter if, say, he put salt in my coffee. If he did it to Nasri, there would be no sense of humour from him."

Drogba Rested Again By Ivory Coast

Didier Drogba will sit out a second successive international for the Ivory Coast, who have left him out of the squad for next Saturday's African Nations Cup qualifier against Rwanda.

The same privilege has not be accorded to any other of the team's big-name players such as Emmanuel Eboue, Kolo Toure, his brother Yaya and Salomon Kalou, who are all in the 20-man squad for the Group H game in Abidjan.

Drogba's place is taken again by Monaco's Yannick Sagbo, who won his first cap earlier this month when the Ivorians beat Italy 1-0 in London earlier this month without the Chelsea forward.

Sagbo is one of only three squad members who did not go to the World Cup in South Africa as new coach Francois Zahoui, only last week confirmed as the replacement for Sven Goran Eriksson, kept faith with his predecessor's choices.

The midfield pair of Kafoumba Coulibaly and Emerse Fae from French club Nice have both returned to the squad after being overlooked for South Africa.

Chelsea Confirm Frank Lampard Out Of England's Euro 2012 Qualifiers Against Bulgaria And Switzerland

England will be forced to make do without the services of midfielder Frank Lampard for their forthcoming Euro 2012 qualifiers after Chelsea confirmed the midfielder will undergo surgery in midweek.

Fabio Capello’s men open their campaign against Bulgaria on Friday night at Wembley before heading to Switzerland the following Tuesday with the Italian set to name his squad on Sunday night.

Lampard started Chelsea’s 2-0 victory over Stoke City today, missing a first half penalty and was substituted in the second half with Saloman Kalou the man to replace him.

The club has subsequently confirmed to the BBC that Lampard will have hernia surgery in midweek and will therefore miss England’s next two matches, although they club haven’t revealed exactly how long the 32-year-old is expected to be out for.

However, manager Carlo Ancelotti told the club's official website: "He [Lampard] has a problem on his groin.

"He had the surgery ten years ago and this week was not very good. He also didn't feel well in the game.

"So the only solution is to have surgery this week, maybe he will do this Tuesday or Wednesday. It means he is not able to play for the national team.

"He'll be ready in one week or two weeks. We have experience because it is the same surgery as [Didier] Drogba and Drogba took one week before he was able to train.

"It is not a big problem. It is very easy surgery but he needs it because he started to feel pain."

The news will be a blow to manager Capello who is already under pressure to get the Three Lions off to a good start following their dismal showing at this summer’s World Cup.

John Terry Out Of England's Euro 2012 Qualifiers Against Bulgaria And Switzerland With Hamstring Injury

Chelsea captain John Terry will miss England’s Euro 2012 qualifiers against Bulgaria and Switzerland, the club has confirmed.

Terry played for the Premier League champions in their 2-0 win against Stoke on Saturday but has picked up a hamstring injury that has hampered him since the start of pre-season.

After the defender spoke to Chelsea and England doctors it was decided that Terry’s injury would benefit from a period of rest and rehabilitation.

This will come as a blow to England manager Fabio Capello ahead of the qualifiers next week, having already lost midfielder Frank Lampard who needs a hernia operation and with doubts surrounding Bobby Zamora who was injured in Fulham’s draw with Blackpool.

Capello Didn't Know How To Talk To Players

Fabio Capello was grumpy, hard to talk to and unwilling to discuss tactics with his players.

Carlo Ancelotti is not talking about the World Cup in South Africa.

In his new autobiography, the Chelsea manager admits he learned much from Capello when his fellow Italian took charge of AC Milan in 1991 for what turned out to be Ancelotti's last season as a player.

But the England stars gathering for Euro 2012 qualifiers may also recognize the character flaws Ancelotti spotted almost 20 years ago.

Ancelotti said: "Capello was a very serious manager. He demanded discipline and understood intuitively how to shape his team to disrupt his opponents' play.

"He was a master at reading a match, that was his strongest skill. From that point of view, I had to tip my hat to him. But as a human being - well, that's another matter. He was a grouch, he didn't know how to talk to players and, most importantly, he didn't like discussing technical matters with us.

"An exchange of views on strategy was alien to him and so it never happened.

"Maybe that's why there were so many verbal clashes with the players.

"Maybe that's why one day Ruud Gullit hung him up on the wall in the locker room. Once again I had to tip my hat. The Italian for hat is 'cappello' and Capello was dangling from a hat rack - it almost seemed predestined - with his shoes a few inches from the floor.

"Capello, reading the newspaper: 'Ruud, you said things here that weren't true. You're a liar.'

"Gullit, without reading the newspaper: 'Now I'm going to set you straight.' Brawl. I'm pretty sure that a lot of the players were rooting for Gullit, but we all pitched in and separated them.

"But to Capello's credit, after anything of the sort happened he just cancelled it from his memory. As if nothing had happened. He started over from nothing. He pretended not to remember, for the good of the team and for his own good."

There is clearly no love lost between Capello and Ancelotti and the Chelsea boss recalls that in 2006 he signed a pre-contract with Real Madrid, but AC Milan Vice-President Adriano Galliani refused to release him.

Only then, says Ancelotti, did Real move for Capello.

"I called up Real Madrid and told them about my conversation with Galliani," said Ancelotti.

I told them: 'Galliani told me that I can't accept your offer. But I thank you; it has been an honour to negotiate with you.' At home, I still have that pre-contract in a box with all my most important things. It's a souvenir of a nice, adrenaline-charged period. At that point, they focused their attention on Capello, who had already worked for them once.

"The Spanish press began pairing his name with mine in articles. The way they told it, it had turned into a battle between him and me, an all-Italian derby.

"In reality, I had signed a pre-contract but I had also already rejected their offer. At a certain point, Capello issued a statement: 'You think Real Madrid wants Ancelotti? Excuse me, but whom did they call first?' He thought he was the only candidate. Often my friends make jokes about that famous phrase. Whenever I invite them for dinner, they say: 'Sure, Carletto, we will be there. But whom did you invite first?'"

But Chelsea fans will not be laughing if Real president Florentino Perez one day gets his man. Ancelotti said: "There have been numerous contacts between Florentino Perez and me.

"He is a person I respect. He knows what he's doing and what he wants.

"He's a romantic, like me. We see eye-to-eye on many points. The last time we talked, he told me: 'Carlo, someday you will be my coach.'

Youths Draw On Wednesday

Chelsea's youths ground out a hard-earned goalless draw at Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday.

Dermot Drummy's side was up against a more experienced and bigger Owls side, but battled well to earn a point on a difficult away day.

In the first half, Jamal Blackman pulled off a fantastic save to keep the scores level, palming a long-range effort up and over the bar.

Chelsea's best chance fell to Bobby Devyne, who saw his close-range effort cleared off the line. Philipp Prosenik also had a couple of chances, and towards the end of the game Milan Lalkovic almost converted a fine individual run but shot just wide.

'We had three or four good chances but the best thing was, they were very physical but we matched them mentally, and didn't pull out of any tackles,' said coach Dermot Drummy.

'They were really good the boys, they had to stay switched on. Sheffield Wednesday was very physical and we had to match them for that with a really good team ethic, and that's what we did.'

Chelsea team: Jamal Blackman, Toddy Kane, Archange Nkumu, Aziz Deen-Conteh, Ben Sampayo, Anton Rodgers, George Saville, Danny Stenning, Milan Lalkovic, Bobby Devyne, Philipp Prosenik.

Schoolboy Nathaniel Chalobah has represented England Under 17s twice in the last week, first as a 72nd minute substitute in the 2-2 draw with Turkey on Wednesday, and then as a starter in the 4-0 win over Australia on Friday, when he was replaced just before half-time.

Premier League Preview: Chelsea vs. Stoke

After two 6-0 wins to start the season, how about a third for Chelsea? It's certainly not out of the question for the Premier League champions, especially as they romped to a 7-0 hammering last time they played host to Saturday's visitors, Stoke City.

On that occasion it was Salomon Kalou that was the hero, with a hat-trick that was nicely complimented by a brace from Frank Lampard and one apiece for Florent Malouda and Daniel Sturridge.

There is little to suggest similar proficiency in front of goal couldn't be the order of the day again on Saturday. Malouda, Nicolas Anelka and Didier Drogba have already accounted for eight of the 12 league goals the Blues have notched so far this season, and all are likely to be deployed at the weekend.

Indeed, perhaps the only choice Ancelotti has to face is whether he rotates his starting eleven ahead of challenges to come. The likes of Kalou, Ferreira and even new signing Ramires could all be slotted into the lineup to rest other first-choice performers, but will the former AC Milan manager want to risk a change to the chemistry that has delivered such an impressive start to the campaign?

After a slow start to the season, Stamford Bridge is perhaps the absolute last place Tony Pulis would want to bring his side as they look to get off the mark.

Successive 2-1 defeats to Wolverhampton Wanderers and Tottenham have left the Potters stuck on zero this season, and now the head to west London on the back of two defeats last season (one in the FA Cup) where they shipped nine goals without scoring.

Pulis has worked hard to reinforce his attacking options over the summer, with the expensive acquisitions of Jon Walters and Kenwyne Jones, but that is likely to be of little aid at Stamford Bridge.

The former Gillingham manager will likely set out his side's stall to defend, and hope they can hold on for as long as possible against a force that is quickly beginning to look irresistible.

TEAM NEWS

Chelsea

fter a full week of training new signing Ramires might be ready to be included in his first matchday squad, although he is unlikely to start.

Jose Bosingwa remains the club's sole long-term injury concern, with Ancelotti free to choose from the rest of his options. Some mild rotation — perhaps seeing Kalou start — may be the Italian's only deviation from the norm.

Possible Starting XI: Cech; Ivanovic, Alex, Terry, Cole; Mikel, Essien, Lampard; Malouda, Kalou, Drogba.

Stoke City

Recent signings Jon Walters and Kenwyne Jones are both available; although Pulis might be more relieved to know that he has a full compliment of defenders to choose from.

Asmir Begovic's current dispute with the club is unlikely to lift him from the substitutes' bench, while Mamady Sidibe is a long-term concern.

Possible Starting XI: Sorensen; Collins, Huth, Shawcross, Higginbotham; Etherington, Whitehead, Wheland, Delap, Walters; Jones.

Carlo Ancelotti: We Are Not Going To Sign Any More Players This Summer

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti has declared that the Blues are not going to make any more signings before the close of the summer transfer window.

The London outfit secured the services of Yossi Benayoun and Ramires from Liverpool and Benfica respectively and also let go of Joe Cole, Michael Ballack, Juliano Belletti, Deco, Ricardo Carvalho, Scott Sinclair and Miroslav Stoch.

However, the Premier League champions failed to land Brazilian starlet Neymar from Santos and now Ancelotti has revealed that they have no plans to make any more purchases.

"The transfer window is closed for us already," the Italian told Chelsea's official website.

Ancelotti went on to speak about the match against Stoke this weekend.

"We know Stoke very well. They are a difficult team because they use a lot of power and long balls to create difficulty, and we have to pay attention to set-pieces and maintain the same ability to play in this moment.

"I think we have to play quickly. They defend well and we don't have a lot of space to play in front, so it is important to move without the ball and to play quickly in the midfield. We have to play football with intensity and stay concentrated on the set-pieces."

Ancelotti also gave his thoughts on the Champions League group draw that saw Chelsea placed alongside against French champions Marseille, Spartak Moscow and MSK Zilina in Group F.

"We want to start the Champions League well, it is not so important who is the opposition. Every team could create difficulties for us but I think it was a good draw.

"We don't know so much, maybe we could have a problem with Zilina for the first game but the other games we can control everything about the opponent and Marseille we know very well."

Chelsea Distance Themselves From Surprise £8m Bid For Monaco Striker Park Chu-Young

Chelsea have dismissed reports they are about to land £8 million rated Monaco striker Park Chu-Young, according to The Sun.

Chu-Young, 25, has impressed in the principality and for South Korea at World Cup 2010. After scoring 13 goals in 58 Ligue 1 appearances, the Premier League champions had been rumoured to be interested.

Speaking to the newspaper, a Blues source rubbished claims they were about to add the player to their squad.

The source said: "We did receive some correspondence with regard to Park but that is as far it went.

"It is wrong to think we want to sign him or suggest there have been any meetings with his agents. He is not about to become a Chelsea player."

Stoke Want To Keep Begovic

Stoke chairman Peter Coates has warned Chelsea against making a fresh offer for goalkeeper Asmir Begovic.

Begovic, 23, joined Stoke from Portsmouth in February this year but, amid interest from Chelsea, he missed the League Cup clash against Shrewsbury as he apparently claimed he was not in the correct psychological state.

Begovic was criticized by manager Tony Pulis for his "totally disrespectful" actions, but Coates insists Stoke still want to keep the Bosnia-Herzegovina international and have told the Blues not to make a fresh bid.

"This is an internal matter and we will decide on what action to take," Coates told Sky Sports News. "Asmir Begovic remains our player. He is regarded as one of the best young goalkeepers in the Premier League and we are not interested in any new offers from Chelsea.

"We are not interested in what Chelsea do and we have already rejected an offer, from them, for Begovic. We wouldn't welcome another bid from Chelsea and, as far as I am aware, we have not received a new offer from Chelsea for him."

Arnesen Confirms Ramos' Chelsea Approach

Chelsea sporting director Frank Arnesen has dismissed suggestions that the Blues have bid for Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos but revealed that a representative of the Spanish international did make contact with the Stamford Bridge hierarchy about a possible deal.

Carlo Ancelotti was last week tipped to make a £35 million bid for 24-year-old Ramos despite appearing, on paper, to be well covered defensively.

Speaking about the rumours Arnesen is quoted by Sky Sports clarifying the situation:

"It is absolutely false," confirmed Arnesen. ''We haven't made any bid for Ramos.

"What did surprise us is that a person called us on behalf of the player to see if we were interested in signing him."

Chelsea and Real Madrid have already done one deal this week with former coach Jose Mourinho snapping up compatriot Ricardo Carvalho to bolster his defence at the Bernabeu.

Chelsea's Ramires Unfazed By England's Tough-Tackling Reputation

Chelsea's most significant signing of the summer, the £18.2m Brazilian Ramires, believes he has the resilience and aggression to flourish in the Premier League with the former Benfica midfielder expected to be involved at some stage against Stoke this afternoon.

The 23-year-old is slender of frame and was nicknamed the "Blue Kenyan" while at Cruzeiro, where his energy and ability to dominate midfield caught the eyes of scouts from the Portuguese club and prompted his £5m move to Lisbon a year ago. Ramires is most likely to be utilised at the base of Chelsea's midfield, in a role currently held by Mikel John Obi, but he can be employed across the middle with the physical reputation of the Premier League clearly holding few fears.

"I understand what this league is all about," said Ramires. "I've watched it on the television and I know that physical strength is the main part of the English game. But I'm hard, too. I'm tough. I hope I can build up my strength to be on the same level as everyone else, but it's already hard to put me down. I've been away from Brazil for over a year now, playing in Europe. I know the football in Portugal isn't as physical as it is over here, sure, but it's still tough.

"I know tackles will be flying in, and it'll be aggressive, but I can do that too. I know what to expect. It won't be a surprise for me. I'm looking forward to getting stuck in, too. I like that side to the game and I can stand up for myself. People called me the 'Blue Kenyan' [Cruzeiro played in blue] because I put so much hard work on the pitch and never stop running. But I'm a tackler, too. It's been a characteristic of my style in the past, so I'm relishing that side of the game over here."

Ramires hails from Barra do Pirai in Rio de Janeiro and his rise to prominence was relatively swift. As a 16-year-old he was combining football training as a youngster at Joinville, a small club in Santa Catarina, with work on a building site to earn extra money for his family.

"I'd work Tuesday and Thursdays from 7am to 4pm, then go to football practice afterwards, and then 7 to 11am on Saturday," he said. "I was earning between 80 and 100 reals (£30-35) every 15 days. I'm not ashamed of that. That experience made me the man I am today, giving me the character I am now. When I look back at that time, it helps me keep my feet on the ground. Everything I do is about helping my family back home, and that hasn't changed. All those experiences, working hard as I did, made me what I am today. For now, I just want to make my mark here at Chelsea. The team has been playing wonderful football, and I want to be a part of that."

Carlo Ancelotti, who will be without Branislav Ivanovic with a back complaint this afternoon, does not anticipate making any more signings before the end of the month and is content with the strength of his squad after 6-0 victories home and away at the start of the new campaign. "For us, the transfer window is closed already," he said.

Loan Interest

After Chelsea's flying start to the Premier League season, we catch up on how the club's players out on loan are progressing with their respective clubs.

Jack Cork has returned on loan to Burnley for the 2010/11 season, following his successful stint at the Clarets for the second half of last season. The 21-year-old has made two early appearances for the Turf Moor-based club, coming off the bench in the 3-0 home victory over Leicester City, before playing the full 90 minutes in their League Cup win away at League Two outfit Morecambe.

Fellow Championship side Nottingham Forest have made a disappointing start to their new campaign, with the club failing to win any of their three opening league games, as well as suffering a shock exit to Bradford City in the League Cup. Young left-back Ryan Bertrand is on loan at the City Ground this season following previous spells in the second tier with Norwich and Reading.

He's impressed ex-Forest player and current England Under 21 boss Stuart Pearce in his three league games, and has been called up to the Under 21 squad for the upcoming European Qualifiers. Ryan has already made five appearances for the England Under 21 side since making his debut in 2008, and will be hoping for further caps when they face Lichtenstein and Portugal next month.

Young goalkeeper Rhys Taylor has been in impressive form in League Two, appearing for Crewe Alexandra in all five games this season. Taylor has kept two clean sheets for the Railwaymen, playing in their 7-0 thrashing of Barnet, while manager Dario Gradi praised Rhys' performance following their surprise 1-0 League Cup win over Derby County.

Also out on loan in League Two is 19-year-old Daniel Philliskirk, who is at newly promoted Oxford United. The young striker's first team opportunities at the Kassam Stadium have been somewhat limited, with his only appearance coming as a substitute in a goalless draw with Burton Albion on the opening day of the season.

North of the border, Ben Gordon has started both league games whilst at SPL outfit Kilmarnock. The young left-back played a part in the Killie's only league goal so far, as it was from his cross against Rangers at Ibrox that James Dayton was fouled for a penalty, which was converted by Jamie Hamill. Ben is likely to be next in action on Saturday, when Kilmarnock host early league leaders Aberdeen.

Finally in Holland, two of Chelsea's youngsters have gone out on loan to Vitesse Arnhem. Serbian's Nemanja Matic and Slobodan Rajkovic will both spend the season at the Eredivisie outfit, in a bid to gain experience playing regular first team football. The Dutch side are currently 13th in the Eredivisie at this early stage, having won one of their opening three games. They are next in action on Sunday at the De Kuip Stadion, as they face Feyenoord.

Michael Mancienne has also gone out on loan, with the defender re-joining Wolverhampton Wanderers on a season-long loan. He will possibly make his return debut later this afternoon, when the club host Newcastle United.

Blues 'Happy' With Draw

Chelsea club secretary David Barnard admits the club has to be 'happy' with their UEFA Champions League draw.

The Carlo Ancelotti's Blues were treated relatively kindly in Thursday's group stage draw, as they were able to avoid Europe's big guns.

They will face reigning French champions Marseille in Group F, who they last met back in 1999/00, but will fancy their chances against a side managed by former Stamford Bridge star Didier Deschamps.

Chelsea also face a couple of lengthy trips to Eastern Europe, to face Russian outfit Spartak Moscow and Slovakian minnows MSK Zilina, but overall they have no complaints with their passage to the last 16.

Barnard told Sky Sports News: "We've got to be fairly happy with that."

He also hopes that having the final on English soil will act as an added incentive for Chelsea to do well in the competition.

Wembley is set to play host to the biggest game in European club football on 28th May, and the Blues have every intention of being there.

"Since Wembley opened we've been there eight times now," said Barnard.

"You like to play a final on foreign soil, obviously for our supporters and the occasion, but you never know, Wembley is a lucky omen for us and may well be this year."

Chelsea, who reached the final in 2008 before losing to Manchester United on penalties, are looking to land the Champions League crown for the first time in their history.

Malouda - We Want CL Glory

Chelsea winger Florent Malouda has spoken of the club's burning desire to win the UEFA Champions League this season.

The West London club has been in stunning form so far this season, scoring 12 goals in two games, with Malouda netting three, to demonstrate their destructive ability.

In what has been an immensely successful period for the Blues since Roman Abramovich took over in 2003, Europe's premier competition has been the only prize to have eluded them.

They have a relatively easy challenge to get through the group stage after being drawn in Group F, but the Premier League title holders have often come unstuck in the latter stages.

Claudio Ranieri, Jose Mourinho, Avram Grant,Guus Hiddink and Carlo Ancelotti have all tried and failed to deliver, with Grant coming closest in 2008 after defeat on penalties in the final against Manchester United.

Malouda, who has been in the best form of his Chelsea career over the past season, feels, however, that this year will be different and that they are more than equipped to win the trophy.

"I am 30 now and I know a career is short. I really want to enjoy my career more," Malouda told Chelsea TV.

"There is no better side than Chelsea in Europe and right now the aim is to win the Champions League.

"It was a wonderful experience to win the Premier League last season and I want to keep it.

"When you're at a club like this, you have to win.

"I want it every year, to be on top and there is no second place. I always want to be first."

Olympique De Marseille President Looking Forward To Reunion With Chelsea’s Didier Drogba

Drawn in Group F in the Champions League along with Chelsea, Olympique de Marseille are looking forward to the return of hero Didier Drogba to Stade Velodrome, president Jean-Claude Dassier has confirmed.

The Ivoirian was linked with a summer move back to France by some reports in the media, and though they unsurprisingly proved far-fetched, the 32-year-old hitman will be travelling to Provence this season with the English champions. It is an event Dassier is greatly anticipating.

“It will be both very pleasant and satisfying to see Didier Drogba again at the Velodrome, but he won't be alone,” the president warned, according to UEFA’s official website.

“Chelsea are the benchmark. Those are two huge games. We have our chance to go through with our strengthened squad but there must be no complacency. The Champions League is never easy.”

Spartak Moscow and Zilina are also involved in the pool, while Dassier may be slightly heartened to know that Drogba, who thrilled the Velodrome crowd during the 2003-04 season, won’t be involved in the Chelsea squad to face OM at Stamford Bridge on Matchday 2, as he will be serving a suspension carried over from last term.

Chelsea Deny €40m Move For Real Madrid Defender Sergio Ramos

Chelsea sporting director Frank Arnesen has personally assured Real Madrid president Florentino Perez they have made no move for Sergio Ramos.

The Blues were linked with a mammoth £33 million swoop for the Spain World Cup 2010 winner earlier this week after new contract talks stalled. The reports are understood to have been dismissed out of hand by the Chelsea hierarchy.

According to AS, Arnesen stated to Perez that he had been offered the player by an agent rather than making a move himself.

"It is absolutely false," the Dane is believed to have said.

"We haven’t made any bid for Ramos.

"What did surprise us is that a person called us on behalf of the player to see if we were interested in signing him."

Ramos himself quashed the rumour by declaring he wanted to finish his career at the Bernabeu.

Speaking to Marca, he said: "There’s no truth in it. I had a dream of winning the World Cup and I achieved it. Now I have another: to retire playing at Madrid."

You're All Running Scared Of Us Again, Insists John Terry

John Terry believes every club in the country fear Chelsea again now that the Premier League trophy is back at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea scored a record 103 goals on their way to winning the title last season and has begun their defence in similar attacking fashion by netting 12 times in wins over West Brom and Wigan.

They are strongly tipped to maintain their 100 per cent record tomorrow when they face Stoke, who they beat 7-0 at Stamford Bridge in April.

Skipper Terry admits that Chelsea lost their ability to intimidate opponents during Manchester United's hat-trick of championships between 2007 and 2009 but is confident they have their aura back now.

He said: “When [owner] Roman Abramovich first came in to Chelsea, we bought a lot of players and went on to win a lot of things.

“Speaking with the other players in the England camp, they were saying we were going to run away with the title for five, six, seven years. You're going to do all sorts, win this and win that.

“You could sense it in them that they were scared of Chelsea but in the last couple of years that had gone. I don't know why. Obviously we've not been as good as we could have been and not bought too many players but the way we played last season everyone should have respect for us again and that little bit of fear.

“Watching Manchester United win it for three years killed me and I was frustrated and hurt. If everyone felt like I did for three years, we should now realize how important it is to keep it here. I love lifting the trophy and winning things with this football club. I want to continue to do that.

“It is a lovely trophy and this season we go again. We have to retain the title and the FA Cup again. At the same time, I want to win the League and the Champions League in the same year.”

Terry is adamant coach Carlo Ancelotti deserves all the credit for turning Chelsea from a team labelled by some critics as boring' to the entertainers they are now.

He added: “It starts with the manager at the training ground and then on the pitch. In times before, we went two or three goals up and me and the other players in the backline would just keep the ball.

“The manager has come in and whether we are losing or drawing games, he just wants us to move the ball forward much more quickly.”

Chelsea have added only 23-year-old Brazilian Ramires, who will be officially unveiled at a press conference today, and 30-year-old Yossi Benayoun to the squad that was criticized for being too old following their early Champions League exit at the last 16 stage in February.

But Terry insists that the best is still to come from his side and added on Chelsea TV: “We're far from being too old. [Frank] Lampard is in his prime as is Didier [Drogba] and me. I'm 29 turning 30 this season. I feel great and the last couple of seasons I have played 120 games.

“I just hope to be able to continue to do that and to keep myself fit and sharp.

“It's just an excuse from outside the club to bring us down but that's where it's important that the club and the players stay together, stay friends and make sure that everything is okay here.”

John Obi Mikel Feels Pre-Season Effort Is Paying Off For Chelsea

John Obi Mikel feels his hard work on the training pitch is paying off after helping Chelsea open the defence of their Barclays Premier League title in blistering form.

The Blues have recorded successive 6-0 victories, over West Brom and at Wigan.

Next up are Stoke at Stamford Bridge - who were hammered 7-0 there in April as the Blues stormed towards the championship.

Mikel is now fully fit after a knee injury forced him to miss Nigeria's World Cup campaign and the midfielder is relishing the challenges ahead.

"Towards the end of last season before I was injured I was in good shape and playing almost every week. Then I got injured, had surgery and did my rehab," Mikel said on the club's official website, www.chelseafc.com.

"I just put my head down and knew I had to work twice as hard as the other players to get myself ready for the start of the season.

"I feel like it is paying off and I don't want to stop, I want to keep going and working hard in training.

"If you speak to the guys they will tell you I work as hard as anyone else on the training pitch, maybe harder and I just want to keep going like this."

Chelsea are expected to put Stoke to the sword again tomorrow, with confidence flowing in the dressing room.

Mikel added: "We all have a good understanding at the moment, they all know when to go and when to come in. I think it's pretty much working out as we want it to all the time.

"We know we are not going to score six every game, if you manage one and get three points it is all we need, but at the moment it is enjoyable to be a part of it and playing, and I hope it keeps going like this."

Chelsea Continues Supporting Tickets For Troops

Chelsea continues our pledge to support our Armed Forces this season by donating thousands of seats to the charity Tickets For Troops.

Tickets For Troops, which also has the support of the FA and the Football League, is a charity dedicated to providing top cultural, musical and sporting tickets to our soldiers, sailors and airmen.

Since launching last year it has provided over 200,000 top tickets to events nationwide and over 60,000 members of the Armed Forces have registered with the scheme.

Thousands of tickets have been made available to all serving military personnel and to veterans who have been discharged through injury since 2001, at the new Tickets for Troops website.

Tickets have been donated for top football and cricket matches, boxing contests, snooker, horse-racing events, theatre, and both classic and rock music concerts around the country.

Chelsea was the first football club to support the initiative, with chairman Bruce Buck being a patron for the charity. Last year the club donated more than 150 tickets for the Remembrance Sunday clash against Manchester United, a move that was organized through the British Legion.

'Chelsea Football Club, its staff, players and fans proudly supports our boys and the brave work they do,' said Buck.

'Tickets for Troops is a politically neutral and independent organization, it is purely in the interests of supporting our Armed Forces, which we are always more than happy to do.'

The charity boasts other patrons from the world of entertainment and sports, including singers Joss Stone and James Blunt, actress Joanna Lumley, ex-England rugby captain Lawrence Dallaglio and former England footballer Gary Lineker.

Tickets For Troops chairman, Lord Marland said: 'Tickets For Troops has benefited from a great wave of generosity from our ticket donors who have wanted to demonstrate their support and show their appreciation for the dedication and commitment of the marvellous men and women of our Armed Forces.

'I would like to thank Chelsea for their generous support of our troops during these difficult times.'

Chelsea Out To Maintain Perfect Start

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti will be hoping his side can continue their blazing start to the new Premier League season this weekend when they take on Stoke City at Stamford Bridge.

The champions have scored 12 goals in their first two matches - identical 6-0 scorelines - and the Italian has been hugely satisfied with his side's start.

"We have started well this season, scoring a lot of goals, playing good football," Ancelotti said.

But though they will be big favourites to beat Stoke and maintain their record as the only side in the Premier League with a 100 percent record, Ancelotti knows that sooner or later, it will come to an end.

"It is impossible to think we have to score six goals in a game all the time because this is not real football, this is PlayStation football," he said.

Manchester United, second to Chelsea last year and again looking the most likely contenders, will be out to bounce back from a disappointing 2-2 draw at Fulham last time out.

Sir Alex Ferguson's side is at home to West Ham United on Saturday evening and the Scot knows that dropping points, even so early on in the season, could be costly.

Chelsea Set To Renew Interest In Neymar

Chelsea, in a remarkable twist, are considering reviving their interest in Neymar less than a week after their second bid for the Brazilian striker was rejected and he signed a five-year contract at his club, Santos.

However, since then Chelsea has been given fresh encouragement that a deal for the 18 year-old could still be struck before the end of the transfer window on Aug 31.

A summit meeting was held at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday evening involving the agent, Pini Zahavi, who has been trying to broker a deal to bring Neymar to the Premier League all summer.

Zahavi was in the United States two weeks ago, along with Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck, to meet with Neymar's father, who acts as his son's adviser. He is understood to be unsure whether his son should stay in Brazil despite quadrupling his salary.

This led to claims from Santos that Buck had 'tapped up' Neymar and claims that the club would complain to Fifa. Buck and Chelsea emphatically refute the allegations and no complaint has been made.

Zahavi was in Brazil last week to try to persuade Neymar to sign for Chelsea but, under severe pressure from senior figures in the country's football establishment, including Pele and the new coach Mano Menezes, he agreed to stay.

This also involved an increase in the buy-out clause in his contract from £29 million to £37 million but despite all this Chelsea are considering returning to the negotiating table with a new bid.

An offer of £17 million was flatly rejected in June and Chelsea last week offered £23 million.

Whether they are now prepared to increase that offer remains to be seen but the fact that Zahavi is still negotiating with the Chelsea hierarchy and in a dialogue with Neymar's father and Santos suggests that the deal is not dead.

It may well be that Chelsea are pushing to sign the player for the January transfer window which may appease critics and the public in Brazil. Indeed Neymar's decision to remain at Santos was even praised by the country's prime minister.

Chelsea have been trying to secure a so-called marquee signing all summer with efforts to buy Liverpool striker Fernando Torres floundering despite the Spanish international's advisers indicating he may be ready to quit Anfield.

Neymar is regarded as the hottest young talent in Brazil and despite his age and lack of experience there was an outcry when he was excluded from the World Cup squad.

He scored 14 goals in 19 league games last season and a further 11 in just eight Copa Brasil ties.

He is still quite slight and there are concerns he may struggle to cope with the demands of English football but Chelsea are confident he is a player who can make a big difference to them.

Neymar Will Join Chelsea 'Eventually' Claims Agent

Santos starlet Neymar is likely to join Chelsea at some point in his career, according to the player's international agent.

Chelsea had been keen to sign Brazil international Neymar, 18, this summer, but a bid said to be worth £23 million failed to convince his club to sell and the player has since committed to a new five-year deal.

Neymar, though, has appointed Pini Zahavi to represent him internationally on a two-year deal, and the agent has revived the prospect of a move to Stamford Bridge.

"Neymar will stay with Santos but I'm sure he will become a Chelsea player eventually," he told The Sun. "He loves Santos and wants to win the Copa Libertadores, but Neymar also knows that for his career he needs to move to a big club."

Santos president Luis Alvaro de Oliveira Ribeiro, meanwhile, is eager to tie Paulo Henrique - also known as Ganso - down to a similar deal.

"We'll put together a plan for Ganso before the offers come from abroad, as they did with Chelsea for Neymar," he told Terra. "Paulo Henrique, like Neymar, is a precious gem with great potential. Hopefully he will stay."

Chelsea Consider £8m Move For Monaco Striker Park Chu-Young

Chelsea is considering a move for Monaco striker Park Chu-Young after he impressed for South Korea at the 2010 World Cup, according to The Sun.

The striker's representatives reportedly held talks with Blues boss Carlo Ancelotti ahead of their 6-0 win over West Bromwich Albion on the opening day of the new Premier League season.

Ancelotti is set to decide in the next 48 hours whether to meet Monaco's £8 million asking price for the 25-year-old, and the deal could help Chelsea make a commercial impact in the Far East.

Along with Manchester United midfielder Ji-Sung Park, Park Chu-Young is among the best known sportsmen in the Far East and could prove lucrative in shirt sales and other marketing ventures.

Chelsea Bid £10m For Martin Demichelis, But He Prefers Sevilla

Bayern Munich centre-back Martin Demichelis wants to snub Chelsea for Sevilla.

Chelsea has made a £10million bid for the 29-year-old Argentine, but according to the Mail, he has expressed his preference for the La Liga side.

Demichelis was on the bench in Bayern's 2-1 win against VfL Wolfsburg on Friday, and is said to be eying a move away.

Bayern Munich CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has said he wants keep the player, but Demichelis' agent, Jorge Cyterszpiller, says he could be on his way out.

Football Ferns Skipper Joins Chelsea

New Zealand women's football captain Hayley Moorwood has signed a one-year deal with English giants Chelsea and will play in next year's Super League championship.

The new Football Association-backed Super League launches in March as an eight-team professional league, superseding the FA Women's Premier League as the top women's competition in England.

Chelsea finished third to Arsenal and Everton in the final two seasons of the Premier League, missing out on a place in the 2011 UEFA Women's Champions League by a solitary point in the 2009/10 domestic season.

Moorwood opted for Chelsea despite interest from London rivals Arsenal and now hopes to help the Blues break into the top two.

"Joining a club like Chelsea is an exciting move at an exciting time for women's football in England and back home," Moorwood said.

"The concentration of top English and international talent will make the new Super League a tough competition but hopefully we can mount a challenge for the title and qualify for the 2012 Champions League."

The 51-cap midfielder takes the number of Football Ferns playing professionally overseas to four with German-based VfL Wolfsburg defender Rebecca Smith joined by Ali Riley (FC Gold Prise, USA) and Kirsty Yallop (Kristianstads DFF, Sweden) this year.

"Over the last few years the Ferns have been to a World Cup, the Olympics and other international tournaments and our age group teams are also on the world stage so overseas clubs are seeing our players mixing it with the best players in the world and recognising what we are capable of," Moorwood said.

Football Ferns coach John Herdman expected the number of his players signing professional contacts to increase in line with the rise in number and sustainability of women's professional leagues around the World.

"There are more and more opportunities for our talented players," he said.

"The chances for university scholarships in the USA and international travel are still there and our New Zealand-based players are Sparc-carded athletes but now aspiring young female footballers can look to the likes of Riley, Smith, Yallop and Moorwood being paid to play the game they love as examples of the possibilities."

Moorwood has already begun training with her new team at Chelsea's Cobham-based training grounds - the same facility used by the men's team - but is expected to return to New Zealand in late September to lead the Football Ferns as they attempt to qualify for the 2011 women's World Cup in Germany via the eight-nation OFC women's Nations Cup at North Harbour Stadium from September 29 to October 8.

Mancienne Returns To Wolves

Wolves have signed Michael Mancienne for a third time after the Chelsea defender moved to Molineux on a season-long loan.

Mancienne has enjoyed loan spells with Mick McCarthy's side for the past two seasons, making 10 appearances during the club's 2008/09 Championship winning campaign.

He returned to the club following their promotion to the Premier League last term and proved a versatile performer in making 33 appearances in all competitions.

The 22-year-old, who can also play in midfield, reportedly handed in a transfer request at Stamford Bridge over the summer and that led to speculation of a permanent move to Wolves.

However, McCarthy had stressed that Mancienne would be out of his club's price range and he would only be interested in a loan deal.

McCarthy has now managed to secure a deal for Mancienne and he could go straight into the squad for Saturday's game at home to Newcastle United.

The former England Under-21 international has made just six appearances during his Chelsea career and has not been involved in the 18-man squad for the champions' opening two league matches.