Premier League Preview: Tottenham Hotspur vs Chelsea

Expect the unexpected in football: just three days after crashing out of the FA Cup against relegated Portsmouth after extra time, Tottenham Hotspur were in action once again, entertaining their bitterest of rivals Arsenal at White Hart Lane and winning 2-1 thanks to a thunderous volley from 19-year-old Premier League debutant Danny Rose and a cool Gareth Bale finish.

From a promising season that looked to be in disarray after defeats to Sunderland and Portsmouth, Spurs are back on track in their charge at fourth place. The North Londoners are just a point behind frontrunners for the position Manchester City after effectively ending the Gunners' title hopes.

It gets no easier for Spurs, though, as they face league leaders Chelsea. The Blues have been playing like a team scorned and with a point to prove since their Champions League defeat to Jose Mourinho's Inter. A draw with Blackburn Rovers has been followed by five consecutive victories, the latest coming against Bolton Wanderers in midweek.

Chelsea are moving closer to winning their first league championship since Mourinho's departure, but know that, despite having a four-point lead over Manchester United, they must not slip up against Spurs, as their experienced title rivals will be ready to pounce.

The Blues were convincing 3-0 victors over Spurs at Stamford Bridge earlier this season, but Tottenham got the better of their fellow Londoners in N17 during the last campaign, thanks to a solitary Luka Modric goal.

FORM GUIDE

Tottenham

Tottenham 2-1 Arsenal (Premier League)
Tottenham 0-2 Portsmouth AET (FA Cup)
Sunderland 3-1 Tottenham (Premier League)
Tottenham 2-0 Portsmouth (Premier League)
Tottenham 3-1 Fulham (FA Cup)

Chelsea

Chelsea 1-0 Bolton (Premier League)
Aston Villa 0-3 Chelsea (FA Cup)
Man Utd 1-2 Chelsea (Premier League)
Chelsea 7-1 Aston Villa (Premier League)
Portsmouth 0-5 Chelsea (Premier League)

TEAM NEWS

Tottenham

Niko Krancjar will play no further part in Tottenham's season after picking up an ankle injury against Portsmouth at Wembley.

Reports suggesting Aaron Lennon would be fit to face Chelsea could prove to be wide of the mark, while Jermaine Jenas and Jonathan Woodgate (both groin) are out.

Wednesday night's hero, Danny Rose is a doubt and Wilson Palacios serves the last of his two-match suspension.

Possible Starting XI: Gomes; Corluka, Dawson, King, Assou-Ekotto; Bentley, Huddlestone, Modric, Bale; Defoe, Crouch.

Chelsea

Ashley Cole is fully fit and will be in the squad to face Spurs, but is set to start on the bench.

Deco, Joe Cole and Florent Malouda will all return to the starting XI for the Blues, possibly at the expense of Nicolas Anelka, Salomon Kalou and Michael Ballack.

There are no new injury worries for Ancelotti, but Jose Bosingwa, Michael Essien (both knee) and Ricardo Carvalho are still unavailable. Branislav Ivanovic is a doubt.

Possible Starting XI: Cech; Ferreira, Alex, Terry, Zhirkov; Cole, Mikel, Lampard, Deco, Malouda; Drogba.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Tottenham

Several of Redknapp's charges dug deep to produce hallmark performances on Wednesday night, but the continued improvement of Gareth Bale is one of the stories of Spurs' season. Not an automatic choice before an injury to Benoit Assou-Ekotto offered him a chance, the Welshman has been rampant on the left wing, terrorising some of the league's finest defenders. Bale could get the better of an ageing Paulo Ferreira on Saturday.

Chelsea

Rested for the majority of Chelsea's victory over Bolton, Florent Malouda will be restored to the starting line-up on Saturday and ready to continue his hot streak. The French winger has made his greatest contribution to the club since he first arrived at Stamford Bridge, and his importance was underlined by Ancelotti's decision to bench him before the meeting with Spurs.

Ancelotti Not Interested In Double Talk

Chelsea coach Carlo Ancelotti has told his players to forget about double glory as they prepare for Saturday's crucial Barclays Premier League showdown with London rivals Tottenham.

Ancelotti is boosted by the return of England left-back Ashley Cole for the clash at White Hart Lane as Chelsea continue their quest for League and FA Cup triumphs.

Cole broke his ankle against Everton on February 10 but has recovered sufficiently to be included in the squad. However, Ancelotti confirmed the former Arsenal defender will start among the substitutes.

Chelsea are four points clear of Manchester United, who face rivals City at Eastlands, and the Blues have already sealed an FA Cup final against Portsmouth on May 15.

But even with the spotlight firmly on Chelsea's double dreams, Ancelotti does not want his players losing focus.

"It's very easy to keep the players focused," said Ancelotti. "I don't have to work on their focus and motivation any more.

"My work is very easy, because they know what they need to do. We never speak about the double. That's not the right way to prepare at all.

"It is not a formality we will win the title. We have to play very important and difficult games and we have to pay attention.

"We have to fight again, above all Saturday. I was very impressed with Tottenham's performance against Arsenal on Wednesday and we have to pay attention.

"They played very well. They will be the same tomorrow. It's a derby again and they are involved in the race for fourth place, so we have to pay attention.

"We have prepared very well for this game. We are focused and concentrated. We want to maintain the same gap from Manchester United. But we have to be ready. It will be a tough game on Saturday.

"Now, the title is not so sure for us. We have to fight again. We are working to win both the league and the FA Cup. We are involved in both and in a very good position, but nothing is decided.

"I've been working in football for 30 years and it's never sure until you have won. For now, we've not won."

Chelsea's hopes will be boosted by the return of Cole for the run-in.

The 29-year-old had been primed for a return against Stoke on April 25 but he has returned to full fitness even quicker than planned.

"Ashley Cole is in the squad on Saturday," said Ancelotti. "He's ready, he's fit. He'll start on the bench. I'm not surprised how quickly he's come back.

"The medical staff has worked very well on him, and he has worked hard. It's good for us to have him fit, and it's good for England as well."

German midfielder Michael Ballack believes Chelsea's fighting spirit helped them shake off the disappointment of going out of the Champions League to Inter Milan.

The Blues are now on the brink of becoming only the seventh club in history to do the double of league and FA Cup, and Ballack, 33, revealed how the players rallied after their exit to the Italians.

"We showed our spirit over the last season, otherwise we wouldn't be in this situation," said Ballack.

"To go out of the Champions League against a good opponent can always happen, and of course we have big expectations at this club, we showed in the last years we are a team that can reach the final.

"Going out early was a big disappointment and we sat together, spoke, rebuilt ourselves and bundled our strengths together again.

"It is important you don't drop your head and if you beat a team like Man United away it gives a lot of confidence - apart from Inter we have beaten all the big teams this year. We showed again we are still good enough and that's important for the mind.

"Of course it is a long season and it is important we have the mental strength, we are on top of the league and have a big target, a big chance to win two titles and that keeps us fresh in mind as well."

Joe Cole Warns Chelsea Team-Mates Against Complacency In Premier League Title Race

Joe Cole has insisted that the Premier League title race is not over, despite Chelsea being four points clear of Manchester United at the top of the table.

With just four games to go, the Blues are in a commanding position at the summit and after Arsenal's defeat to Tottenham on Wednesday, they remain overwhelming favourites to clinch a third title in six years.

Cole has, however, warned his team-mates that they cannot lose focus, starting with the clash against Spurs this weekend.

"The title race isn't over," Cole said, as quoted by the Press Association.

"The good thing is that we have our future in our own hands now and we have to keep winning and winning and that will only edge us closer and closer. We have had a cracking season and it would be great to finish with a couple of trophies.

"We went into four trophies at the start of the season. If we were to come out of it at the end with two then it would be an amazing achievement.

"There's a lot of hard work to be done but we must stay focused and be humble and stay together as a team and work hard for the title."

The England International also shrugged off speculation surrounding his own future after being linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge this summer.

"It's so exciting for a footballer to be blessed to be able to play in such a special team as Chelsea and to have the opportunity to do something so special," he added.

"I just want every game to be played tomorrow. I'm just trying to keep on playing as well as I can and help the team and play as many games as I can."

Drogba Reveals Hernia Struggle

Didier Drogba admits he is struggling with a hernia problem and may require surgery in the near future.

The Chelsea striker claims he has been nursing the problem for some time, having taken a knock prior to linking up with the Ivory Coast for the African Cup of Nations in January.

The Africa ace has been hampered by a similar problem in the past, and he required an operation to resolve the issue on that occasion.

He will be okay to lead Chelsea's Premier League title charge over the coming weeks, but is uncertain as to whether he will then need to go under the knife.

Ideally, with the World Cup fast approaching, Drogba would be able to hold on until later in the summer, but the 32-year-old admits that may not be possible.

"I underwent surgery for a hernia problem six years ago, and today it is bothering me again," Drogba told L'Equipe.

"Just before the African Cup of Nations I got a knee to my kidney and the pain returned.

"I have felt pain ever since then and we can't go on like this for long.

"Do I need surgery? I don't know yet, but we have to do something. Before the World Cup? That is a good question and I don't have an answer."

Agent Plays Down Ivanovic Talk

Branislav Ivanovic's agent has played down suggestions that he is interesting AC Milan, Inter and Real Madrid.

The Serbian star has impressed for Chelsea this term, mainly featuring at right-back in the absence of Jose Bosingwa.

His form has seen the likes of both Milan clubs and Real linked with a move.

But his agent Vlado Borozan has dismissed claims that there have been talks about a move.

"It's something that is highly unlikely," Borozan told Calciomercato.

"Ivanovic still has two years of contract and has no intention of leaving London.

"This seems to me to be invented news, I and my partner, [Dejan] Joksimovic have not been contacted by anyone."

Mancienne Talks Remain On Hold

Wolves manager Mick McCarthy has reiterated that he is not planning to discuss Michael Mancienne's future until the end of the season.

Mancienne has impressed during a season-long loan at Molineux from Chelsea and he has made 30 appearances in all competitions.

He has played at centre-half and as a holding midfielder for Wolves, and has been tipped to spend next season with McCarthy's side.

However, McCarthy wants to wait until the campaign is over before holding talks with Chelsea and Mancienne regarding a possible deal.

McCarthy said: "Have there been talks to extend Mancienne's loan? No, and the reason is if someone asks me about a player I've loaned out, I'd say 'leave it until the end of the season and we'll talk to you then'.

"No-one will make any decisions on players until then.

"They (Chelsea) will want to have a look at all the reports on him from all the games like I do with mine. So I don't ask because I know the answer I'll get.

"Will Mancienne benefit from another year away from Chelsea? I've no idea. There's no point me speaking about it until the end of the season."

Mancienne, who is enjoying his second spell at Wolves, has impressed McCarthy with his ability to adapt into his position just in front of the back four.

He said: "We knew he wasn't just a big head-it-and-kick-it centre-half. He went and performed that midfield role he's currently in, shoring it up for us at Tottenham to start with.

"But he's just got better and better at it. He's only just started at it, but things have developed from how we were at the start of the season.

"We recognised we had to change it and he's found himself a slot there and it will be hard to move him out. He's doing it very well for me and he's doing a terrific job."

Ballack: Strong Minds

Never short of confidence, Michael Ballack has been discussing how the side has kept itself going over the last few weeks.

Having been eliminated from the Champions League a month ago, we have bounced back strongly to go four points clear at the top of the Premier League, a demonstration of the mental strength and physical fitness within the Chelsea squad.

'We showed our spirit over the last season, otherwise we wouldn't be in this situation like we are now,' maintained the 33-year-old. 'To go out of the Champions League against a good opponent can always happen, and of course we have big expectations at this club, we showed in the last years we are a team that can reach the Final.

'Going out early was a big disappointment and we sat together, spoke, rebuilt ourselves and bundled our strengths together again.

'It is important you don't drop your head and if you beat a team like Man United away it gives a lot of confidence - apart from Inter we have beaten all the big teams this year. We showed again we are still good enough and that's important for the mind.

'Of course it is a long season and it is important we have the mental strength, we are on top of the league and have a big target, a big chance to win two titles and that keeps us fresh in mind as well.'

A Premier League and FA Cup Double is a real possibility, but we will need to take points from Spurs at White Hart Lane tomorrow to maintain our momentum.

Ballack believes this should be no problem physically, despite it being our 52nd game of the season.

'We did the base level training in summer, the fundamentals you always do in the summer, you train well and have a good pre-season which sets you for the season,' he explained.

'We are coming to the end of the season now, you can't do a lot of fitness work, it is more like recovery, keeping your level, training perhaps a little shorter but more intense, that's what we do and we hope not to get injuries.'

With just five games to go in our campaign, recent form suggests there is plenty left in the tank for the final push.

Chelsea Launch Action Against Barcelona President Laporta Over Bung Claims

According to the Spanish media this morning, Chelsea have begun legal action against the claims of outgoing Barcelona president Joan Laporta that the Blues offered himself and current presidential candidate Sandro Rosell a cut in a deal for Ronaldinho .

The claims emerged a couple of weeks ago as part of Barcelona’s typically political presidential election campaign. Outgoing president Joan Laporta fell out with leading candidate Sandro Rosell when the latter was his vice-president and apparently is now campaigning against his former deputy.

Laporta claims in a new book recording his presidency that Chelsea were desperate to sign Brazilian star Ronaldinho in 2004, when the former World Player of the Year was regarded as the best footballer on the planet. Rosell apparently encouraged the deal as Chelsea had offered that the pair share a £7m kick-back as part of the deal.

In his book, Laporta says, "I told him to get it out of his head, that Ronnie was not for sale and I didn't want to talk about it any more but he added: 'Joan, they are giving us a commission of 10 per cent.'

"Sandro kept insisting about the offer of Chelsea pretending he didn't want it to happen.

"He reminded me that if we accepted they were giving us 10m euros to share between us. That attitude made me profoundly indignant."

For his part, Rosell vehemently denied the accusations, threatening legal action against Laporta.

However, Laporta has repeated his claims against Rosell, telling Spanish station RAC1 this week, "I told him directly, twice, once in Madrid and once in Paris" that he was not interested in the proposed cut, after which point, "I started to think badly of him."

Chelsea responded angrily to the claims at the time and a club spokesman said a couple of weeks ago, “It's total nonsense. We never made such an offer."

Now, both Spanish dailies ‘Sport’ and Mundo Deportivo report that Chelsea have enlisted a Barcelona law firm to take action, requesting that Laporta’s book be withdrawn due to the allegations.

Ronaldinho is currently enjoying an excellent season at AC Milan and is pushing for a recall to Brazil’s squad in time for this summer’s World Cup.

Salomon Kalou On Hunting Silverware, Winning Ugly And Why He Will Make An Impact At World Cup 2010

The Premier League title is so close that Chelsea can smell it. Higher stakes, higher tension - you could have cut it with a knife at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday against Bolton Wanderers. Every near miss was greeted with a more anxious gasp from the crowd than the last. The morning after the night before Salomon Kalou cuts a relaxed figure, reclined in a chair at Chelsea's Surrey training ground.

Stakes are higher for the Ivorian than most. He arrived at Stamford Bridge in the summer of 2006, signed by Jose Mourinho, in the wake of the Blues’ title celebrations. Manchester United have won the Premier League in each of the three seasons since. “This would be my first Premier League,” acknowledges Kalou, speaking exclusively to Goal.com UK. He is hungry to complete the domestic set. “We’ve won the FA Cup, the Carling Cup, since I’ve been here, and this is the only (domestic) title that I haven’t won with Chelsea.”

Not that the rest of the dressing room isn’t champing at the bit. “For players who’ve won it or players just looking to win it (for the first time), it could be something amazing for everybody here.”

Reflecting on the clash with Owen Coyle’s side, Kalou smiles wryly at mention of Sir Alex Ferguson’s “easy game” comments. “We knew it was going to be hard. It’s always a difficult game against Bolton.”

He is rightly unapologetic about the unspectacular nature of his team’s win. “Right now, it’s not about playing well, it’s about getting points to get us closer to the title. We’re doing well, we’re winning games so we have to be happy with that. Every game now is going to be difficult, because most teams are fighting to get in the Champions League, or into Europe or stay up. So they’re all like finals.”

Chelsea’s recovery from their Champions League exit to Inter, and Mourinho, has been painful but ultimately galvanising. Kalou, who scored what at the time looked to be a vital away goal in Milan, is beginning to put into perspective that most deflating of losses.

“I think we were good at the San Siro,” he says. “We played very well and we dominated. I think our mistake was not to play as we did in the San Siro when we played at home. We let Inter have the ball too much. But it’s part of the game. When you play in the Champions League, you are punished for the little mistakes you make.”

Closer examination can wait until the end of the season, one senses. “We have to try not to think about it now as we have two trophies still to go for, so we have to concentrate on them and go for the Champions League next year.”

Kalou has had to deal with more than club matters recently. The Ivory Coast’s national side have endured an uncertain period, with coach Vahid Halilhodzic fired in the wake of the Africa Cup of Nations (CAF) quarter-final exit to Algeria. Sven Goran Eriksson was recently appointed to replace Halilhodzic, but not before the Ivorian Federation (FIF) declared an interest in Guus Hiddink. Was Kalou disappointed not to be reunited with the former Chelsea boss at international level?

“I never spoke to Guus about it,” he says, and admits he never believed it was a genuine probability.

“He was already too involved with other national teams, so it was always going to be difficult to get him.”

Kalou is effusive in his praise of the man who had such an impact in his short spell at the Bridge. “He is a great manager, and brought a lot of great things to Chelsea when we really needed it, and I think he would have done the same with the Ivory Coast national team,” concedes Kalou.

Still, he is positive about Eriksson’s appointment, and hopes the Swede can bring order to the ranks after a difficult few months. “Now we have Eriksson, who is also a great manager. I’m really happy to work with him and I think he’ll bring what we need.”

Praise for the new Ivorian manager has been fulsome from the England players among Kalou’s team-mates. “When I speak with JT [John Terry], Lampsy [Frank Lampard] and Joe Cole they all say good things about him so I look forward to working with him.”

So why did Halilhodzic’s side fall short in the CAF? Kalou rubs his chin and considers, briefly looking as confused as the rest of the football-supporting world.

“We have great players,” he begins, “and players with a lot of experience. I think what we miss is a team. We’ve never got enough of a team together to win the cup (CAN).”

The squad now hope Eriksson’s World Cup pedigree can give them an extra edge. “I think the manager, with the experience he has, can help us during the World Cup.”

The CAN tournament in Angola was an unusual and humbling experience for all the participants, including the Ivory Coast, following the attack on the Togo team bus in Cabinda just before the competition began. For once Kalou’s gentle smile disappears. He exhales. “It was hard for all the teams,” he says.

“Mixing football with politics is not something you want to be involved with. It was something we were all scared about, as well as feeling sorry for the Togo team. Football is something to get people together and to enjoy, so this story affected all of us.”

A far more positive celebration of the game is to come, and Kalou can barely contain his excitement at the prospect of the first World Cup to take place in Africa. He’s not alone in this, he says. The smile is back. “It’s amazing for African players, who never imagined playing a WC in Africa. It’s something we all dreamed about,” he enthuses.

Kalou hopes all African sides will be able to make their presence felt. “It’s a great opportunity for African players to show the level of our game. Football in Africa is improving and African players are playing at some big clubs, so it’s going to be a good tournament to play in.”

The Ivory Coast themselves have perhaps the toughest task of any of the African nations, drawn in a group with the favourites and the 2006 semi-finalists. “Brazil and Portugal have so many great players who can make the difference, and that’s something we have to be aware of,” warns Kalou.

“They play similar styles. Players like [Cristiano] Ronaldo and Deco are great players, and can always create something. You can’t single out anyone in the Brazilian side because they have so much quality.”

He believes the Portugal game will define the Ivorians’ destiny, and needs no reminding of their quality, as it is quite close to home. “Of course I know many of the Portuguese players from here, and I think that will be the most important game – the first one,” he says.

“If we play a good game in that, we can have the confidence to go on and do well against Brazil, and in the competition.”

Finally, are there any players in the Ivory Coast side we should keep an eye out for? “Me!” he grins, but he clearly feels that at 24, this tournament has come at just the right time for him.

“I feel good, and it will be my first World Cup, though I hope to bring my team this far again. I hope to do my best to be on great form and in great shape. I want to bring my team to the second round, at least. With the group that we’re playing in, it would be a tremendous result to do that.”

By the look of the current Premier League table, Kalou will at least be going into the finals on the crest of a wave of confidence.

Roman Abramovich Falls To 4th In Russia's Rich List

Chelsea Football Club owner Roman Abramovich has slipped to fourth in Russia's rich list as the number of billionaires in the country doubled to 62, Forbes magazine said.

Vladimir Lisin, chairman and majority owner of Novolipetsk Steel, took the top spot on the annual Forbes list, with a fortune of $15.8bn – up from $5.2bn in 2009.

Mikhail Prokhorov, head of Onexin investment fund group, who topped last year's list, dropped to second with $13.4bn, ahead of telecoms, retail and oil billionaire Mikhail Fridman, with $12.7bn.

Mr. Abramovich slipped to fourth place despite seeing his net worth increase from $8.5bn to $11.2bn.

He pipped Oleg Deripaska, of Rusal, by $500,000 to remain the wealthiest Russian oligarch in Britain.

Mr. Deripaska, who topped the 2008 Russia list with $28.6bn, fought his way back from 10th place last year to round out the top five after cleaning up his companies' debt and putting aluminum maker UC Rusal on the road to an eventual Hong Kong listing.

The number of Russian billionaires almost doubled last year, hitting 62 from 32 in the previous year, as the country rebounded from its first recession in a decade, Forbes magazine said.