Match Preview: Chelsea vs. West Ham United

Chelsea have been plunged into a goalkeeping crisis ahead of Tuesday night's Champions League return leg against Jose Mourinho's Inter Milan.

Chelsea lost first-choice goalkeeper Petr Cech with a calf strain in the 2-1 opening leg defeat at the San Siro and deputy Hilario collected an abductor injury during last Sunday's 2-0 FA Cup quarter-final victory over Stoke.

The injuries have left the Blues with just Ross Turnbull and Rhys Taylor available for the Barclays Premier League clash with West Ham.

The pair are likely to be on duty against Milan in their return last-16 tie as coach Carlo Ancelotti admits it is unlikely Hilario or Cech will have recovered in time to play.

The loss of Hilario is a real blow for Ancelotti as Turnbull has made just two appearances for the club this season.

Turnbull, who joined on a free transfer from Middlesbrough last summer, played in the 4-0 Carling Cup win over Bolton and Chelsea's 2-2 draw with APOEL in this season's Champions League group stage.

"We have a problem with the goalkeepers,'' admitted Ancelotti.”We don't know if Hilario or Petr are able to play on Tuesday.

"I want to put the best line-up out because it's an important game. We don't have to think about the Inter game.

"We need to win and go back to the top of the table, so I want to put the best players out. But we have problems. Michael Essien, Ashley Cole, and Jose Bosingwa are out. Also Ricardo Carvalho and Hilario is not able to play. So, in goal, Turnbull will play.

"Cech is doing physiotherapy. He did not train on the pitch, so it's very difficult for him to recover for Tuesday.

"Hilario had a problem against Stoke and has not been able to train this week. An Adductor muscle in his groin is the problem. On the bench will go Rhys Taylor, our young goalkeeper from the reserve team.

"I'm not worried. The performance of the team does not rely upon the goalkeeper. I don't want to say we can play without a goalkeeper, because that's an important player for the team, but I have confidence in Turnbull.

"He has not played a lot of games this season but, with the work with our goalkeeping coach, he has improved very well. I have no problem about playing Turnbull against Inter Milan.''

Meanwhile, West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola believes his team need 10 more points to beat the drop - and is challenging his players to upset the form book and pick three of them up at his former club.

The Hammers' disappointing 2-1 home defeat to Bolton last weekend leaves them on 27 points, three above the Barclays Premier League relegation zone with 10 matches remaining.

With their next two games coming away at title challengers Chelsea and Arsenal, many believe it will be West Ham's final eight fixtures which will determine whether they reach the 37-point mark demanded by Zola.

But the Italian sees no reason why the recovery following the loss to Bolton cannot start at Stamford Bridge, a ground where he served Chelsea with distinction between 1996 and 2003.

"Personally, I think 37 should make it for us,'' Zola said, when asked how many points his team will need to secure their top-flight status.

"Some people are saying less, but I want to be sure that 37 will be a good target for us.

"It will be fantastic for me to win at Stamford Bridge. The situation is that we need those points. For me and my team, I think it will be a big boost forward.

"I think we have enough quality here to do it. But we have to improve our consistency.''

Zola will make changes to his team, in terms of both preparation and personnel, for the Chelsea match.

Fit-again centre-back Danny Gabbidon is set to come into the line-up in place of James Tomkins, who was arguably at fault for both goals West Ham conceded against Bolton.

England striker Carlton Cole could start up front on his own, with Zola reverting to a 4-5-1 formation as he looks to improve his side's dreadful away record this season.

With Julien Faubert ruled out with a hamstring injury, Jonathan Spector could be switched from left-back to right-back, with Swiss youngster Fabio Daprela coming in as a replacement.

Ancelotti: Trust In Turnbull

Carlo Ancelotti has been talking injuries ahead of the West Ham game as he welcomes Yury Zhirkov back into his squad and prepares to give a Chelsea league debut to Ross Turnbull.

Hilario has a groin injury suffered in the match against Stoke last weekend and has not trained all week. He is a doubt to face Inter on Tuesday and will not play tomorrow (Saturday).

Ricardo Carvalho is also out of the West Ham match as he recovers from a hamstring niggle but injuries apart, Ancelotti will be fielding his strongest team.

'We need to come back to the top of the table and so I want to put the best line-up out,' confirmed the Chelsea manager after Friday's training.

'We have some problems because we have injuries to some players, but I am not worried. I have trust in Turnbull. He hasn't played a lot of games but with our goalkeeper coach, he has improved very well.'

The 25-year-old has made two Chelsea appearances since signing from Middlesbrough in the summer.One was a full 90 minutes in a 2-2 draw against APOEL at the Bridge in the Champions League. He also came on midway through the first half of the Carling Cup win at home to Bolton when Hilario was injured and kept a clean sheet.

He last played in the Barclays Premier League when Boro lost at the Bridge in January 2009.

The goalkeeper on the bench will be Rhys Taylor, a 19-year-old from the reserve squad who played in the FA Youth Cup Final two years ago and was an unused sub for three first-team games during the Christmas and New Year period 2007/08.

'Yury Zhirkov is fit,' Ancelotti reported. 'He trained very well this week and has recovered completely. He can play tomorrow and also Tuesday and I don't think Carvalho has a problem for Tuesday.

'Maybe we will have a problem with goalkeepers because we don't know about Hilario and Petr Cech is doing physio but he hasn't trained on the pitch, so it is very difficult for him to recover for Tuesday.'

Ancelotti also had news on more long-term injured Ashley Cole and Michael Essien. They return to Cobham today from their rehabilitation in France after surgery.

Essien after an initial complication that has put his recovery back three to four weeks is progressing well.

'We are sure that he will play before the end of this season if his recovery continues without roblem.Ashley Cole is doing very good recovery, very fast. We have to look at him but we hope to have him before the three months.'

That was the time period initially predicted for the left-back's recovery. While he is considering his own injured players, Ancelotti has empathy for his opposite number this weekend, Gianfranco Zola.

'It is not easy for him because he has had a lot of injuries. Now, after the recovery of Carlton Cole, they have the possibility to play well until the end of the season. I hope West Ham stay in the Premier League because I think Gianfranco did a very good job this season. It is a very difficult job but he didn't lose his focus.

'The last Italian manager we played against beat me, but I am happy to meet my ex-player.'

Chelsea And Man City Want Neymar

Chelsea and Manchester City lead the race to sign Santos forward Neymar, according to the Brazilian's agent.

The 18-year-old has long been linked with a move to the Premier League, with Manchester United also credited with an interest.

It has been reported that Robinho's loan move, and possible permanent deal, to Santos will give City the priority option for Neymar if he becomes available for transfer.

But the teenager's representative, Augusto Frederico Pena, has announced that Chelsea are rivals to the Eastlands outfit for a contract escape clause which is understood to stand at €35million (£32m).

Pena told calciomercato.it: "There is every likelihood that Neymar will leave Santos in the summer. I think there are more opportunities for English teams.

"In the Premier League, he is followed by Chelsea and Manchester City, although there is nothing concrete."

Terry Hopes To End Mourinho's Dream

Captain John Terry is convinced Chelsea can end Jose Mourinho's bid for Champions League glory when the former Blues boss returns to Stamford Bridge next week.

Mourinho's Inter Milan will arrive in London on Monday holding a 2-1 advantage from the first-leg of their last-16 tie at the San Siro.

It will be the first return to Stamford Bridge for Mourinho since September 2007, when he departed after leading the club to every domestic honour including successive Barclays Premier League triumphs in 2005 and 2006.

Terry, who scored in the FA Cup victory over Stoke last weekend, is confident Chelsea can overcome Inter's slender lead and reach the last eight of the tournament at the expense of the 'Special One'.

Terry said: "Returning to Stamford Bridge with a one-goal deficit and an away goal against the Italian champions is a starting point most sides would take and this side believes we can turn it around.

"We are going for three trophies right now and every game is crucial. Only winning will do."

Agent: Contract Talks For Borini

Chelsea striker Fabio Borini is in talks with the Blues over a new contract, according to his agent.

The talented teenager joined the London club as a trainee in July last year and has shown plenty of promise since then.

He has featured eight times in the first team squad, playing on the domestic scene and in Europe.

Having impressed on each occasion, Borini is now close to securing a new deal which will see him at the club for the foreseeable future.

"There will soon be a meeting with Chelsea for the renewing of the contract," Borini's agent Marco De Marchi told Calciomercato.it.

"In London, Fabio is very good," he added. "The management are very pleased with his performances and Carlo Ancelotti rates him highly."

Asked if Borini may be loaned out to his native Italy once a deal had been tied up, De Marchi said: "I don't think so.

"He wants to remain with the Blues but if there are other options we will evaluate them."

Carlo Ancelotti Keeps Joe Cole Guessing At Chelsea With Liverpool Waiting In Wings

Relations between Joe Cole and Chelsea have been affected by the news that the club are in active negotiations to extend the contracts of both Nicolas Anelka and Michael Ballack.

Cole, whose deal expires on June 30, and his advisers were under the impression that all contract talks were on hold until the summer. Not so, say Chelsea, who firmly dispute that claim. But it has not helped the 28 year-old's sense of being wanted at the club he joined seven years ago.

Cole had asked for a new, improved offer more than two years ago and was told to wait by the then chief executive Peter Kenyon. The priority was tying down Frank Lampard. A serious knee injury, with Cole out for nine months, caused a further delay while other Chelsea players have signed new deals in the meantime. Significantly the midfielder has failed to hold down a first-team place on a regular basis under Carlo Ancelotti.

The official position remains from both sides that player and club want a deal to happen – and one may well be concluded – but it's highly unusual for an international in his prime to be in the situation that Cole now finds himself in, especially going into a World Cup finals which he is danger of missing out on. Certainly part of his negotiations was to get himself into the "upper quartile" of earners at Stamford Bridge with an improvement on his £80,000-a-week salary to take him into six figures.

That has been balked at by Chelsea but although it's clear that money, and length of contract, is a factor the greater concern now appears to be Cole's inability to convince Ancelotti to play him. The recent failure to come on against Inter Milan in the Champions League – the manager preferred to use the pace of Daniel Sturridge – did not go unnoticed while, in fairness, Cole has not been playing convincingly.

Cole is now in a quandary. There will be no shortage of clubs interested in him this summer – and tentative offers are being made – with Liverpool understood to be keen followed by Tottenham Hotspur. Cole has, also, always hankered after the idea that he could play in Spain, having appeared as a La Liga pundit but with a baby on the way, does he want to go overseas?

Carlo Ancelotti '100% Sure' Joe Cole Will Stay At Chelsea

Despite rumours of a move away from the club, Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti believes out-of-contract midfielder Joe Cole will stay at Stamford Bridge next season.

The Englishman's contract runs out in the summer, and he has reportedly attracted interest from Manchester United, Manchester City and Tottenham after so far failing to agree a new deal with his current club.

But Ancelotti, who has used Cole only sparingly this season, is certain the 28-year-old will remain with the club he supported as a boy.

"He will stay at Chelsea next year - of that I am 100 per cent clear. He will be in the squad for next year," Ancelotti said ahead of Saturday's game against West Ham United.

"It’s my aim and the aim of the club to keep him in the squad because Joe Cole is an important player, a very professional player, and one who has a lot of quality.

"For these reasons, we want to keep him.”

Ancelotti's assistant Ray Wilkins echoed the sentiment, playing down reports that the club's board was reluctant to offer Cole a new deal.

“We are desperate to keep Joe. I know the club is and we as a management group feel the same. He is a valuable asset to us," he said.

“I have spoken to Joe on numerous occasions and he is upbeat about his future here.

"He loves Chelsea. He wants to stay at Chelsea and I’m sure the club and his people will sort the situation out.

"We sincerely hope he is here next season."

Drogba Is Africa's Number One

Didier Drogba has been named the African Player of the Year for the second time in his career.

The Chelsea striker previously won the honour in 2006 and has been in the top three places on four other occasions.

On Thursday evening of what is his 32nd birthday, Drogba beat the challenges from other nominees Michael Essien and Samuel Eto'o to receive the 2009 award.

The winner is voted by the national coaches from the 54 countries affiliated to the Confederation of African Football.

Unable to be at the ceremony in Ghana due to his Chelsea training commitments, it was collected on Drogba's behalf by an official of the Ivorian Football Federation.

Both Drogba and Essien were named in the African Best XI for 2009.

Essien was quick to congratulate his Chelsea team mate and friend. Speaking from his rehab camp in France he said:

'Congratulations to Didier for winning this superb award. He has worked hard over the last year for Chelsea and Ivory Coast and he deserves every award he wins.

'The winner is chosen by people who know and understand the game and all three of us in the running would have loved to have won it, but there can be only one winner and this time it is Didier - Well done mate.

'I hope this is a sign of things to come in the upcoming Chelsea versus Inter Champions League game. For a Chelsea player to beat an Inter player Eto'o for the award could be a good omen ahead of the game.'

Didier Drogba: We Need To Win All Remaining Premier League Games To Be Champions

Striker Didier Drogba has demanded a perfect finish to the Premier League season from Chelsea if they want to be champions.

The Blues currently lie two points behind leaders Manchester United, but have a game in hand on their rivals, and Drogba believes only 10 wins from their remaining 10 league games will do.

"I am thinking about the big games coming up. We need to win all our games now because the pressure is there from United," Drogba was quoted as saying by the Daily Mail.

"This is the time of the season where we have to be on the best form. If we want to be champions again, then we know what we have to do."

The Ivorian has been in fine form for his club this season, scoring 19 goals in his 23 league appearances to date.

Petr Cech Expected To Return For Chelsea Ahead Of Schedule

Petr Cech is confident of returning to the Chelsea first team ahead of schedule for their Premier League game against Blackburn Rovers in nine days' time, his rehabilitation from a calf injury progressing encouragingly, although Henrique Hilário will be in goal against Internazionale for the second leg of the Champions League last-16 tie next week.

The Czech tore a calf muscle having leapt unchallenged to claim a cross after an hour of the first leg at San Siro and departed in discomfort on a stretcher with his side trailing 2-1.

A scan confirmed the injury and Chelsea were expected to be without their first-choice goalkeeper for a month, potentially ruling him out of four Premier League matches as well as FA Cup and Champions League ties. That diagnosis may now be revised, with a return for the televised game against Blackburn on 21 March more realistic after the 27-year-old made steady progress in recovery.

His absence was keenly felt when Manchester City exploited Hilário's rustiness to win 4-2 at Stamford Bridge last month, the title challengers' first home defeat in 38 matches, but Chelsea will have to rely on their recently capped Portuguese goalkeeper as they seek to progress beyond Inter and into the Champions League quarter-finals.

The 34-year-old Hilário, a perennial understudy to Cech since moving to west London from Madeira's Nacional in 2006, made his international debut as a second-half substitute in a 2-0 friendly victory over China this month, though his opportunities to impress at club level have been limited.

He kept a somewhat unconvincing clean sheet in the FA Cup at home to Stoke City last Sunday and will play against West Ham United on Saturday before facing José Mourinho's Inter side.

Yuri Zhirkov, troubled by his own calf problems in recent weeks, returned to training with the first-team squad at Cobham today and may now be available for the visit of West Ham.

Danny Ready To Reignite £25m Chelsea Move As He Launches Zenit St Petersburg Comeback

Portugal playmaker Danny hopes to prove Chelsea he is still worth a £25million move after recovering from a career-threatening knee injury.

The 26-year-old insists he was on the verge of a mega-move to Stamford Bridge before rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee while training with Zenit St Petersburg 10 months ago.

Danny is set to play his first competitive match since returning to fitness when Zenit kick off their Russian Premier League season at Krylya Sovetov on Saturday, and expects Chelsea scouts to keep tabs on him.

'The injury made it a very difficult time for me,' he said recently. 'It prevented my transfer to Chelsea, for example, and even before the injury, I nearly went to Juventus.

'But I understand their position. They have to think twice before hiring a player who has an injury.'

Zenit will seek to recoup the huge fee of about £25m, which they paid for Danny when making him their replacement for Arsenal-bound Andrey Arshavin in August 2008.

Danny started well, scoring the winner against Manchester United in a man-of-the-match performance during Zenit's UEFA Super Cup win.

He now has the double aim of impressing foreign scouts and trying to win back a place in the Portugal team in time for the World Cup.

Blues Set For Atletico Swap Shop

Chelsea could be set to use Deco and Ricardo Carvalho as bait to sign Atletico Madrid striker Sergio Aguero in the summer.

Portugal international Deco, who still has another year remaining on his Blues contract, recently confirmed his desire to quit Stamford Bridge after struggling for first team action under Carlo Ancelotti.

And, while he is looking for a return to Brazil to be nearer his family, it is being reported that Chelsea will try and persuade him to move to Spain with Atletico on a free transfer in an effort to get the Primera Liga outfit to part with their £35million star man Aguero.

Meanwhile Portuguese defender Carvalho could also be thrown into the deal if Atletico agree to a player-plus-cash deal for the Argentinian, who has already scored 15 goals in all competitions this current season

Chelsea Striker Didier Drogba Hungry For More Glory

Chelsea striker Didier Drogba insists that he still possesses the desire to continue his hunt for glory, despite turning 32-years-old on Thursday.

In defiance of his advancing years, the hit-man has scored 32 goals in his last 52 appearances for the Blues.

"I still have the same passion for the game," Drogba told the club's official website.

"I still feel hungry and I am still chasing medals.

"I feel really good you know. As I have said in the past it depends on the injuries you get and this season I can say that I am lucky, or I can say that the few months that I took out last year to get my knee well are now paying off."

Blues boss Carlo Ancelotti had previously maintained that between 30 and 33, a player reaches the middle age in his career, claiming that advancements in training techniques and changes in lifestyle have helped prolong footballers' careers.

"But at the same time your lifestyle is only as important as your mental approach to the game," the Ivorian added.

"If you put in your head that you are 32 and you are old it is going to be difficult.

"I still feel like a kid when I am on the pitch so sometimes he [Ancelotti] has to pull me back."

Despite staying atop the Premier League for a majority of the season, the Ivory Coast international did not want to count chickens before they were hatched.

When quizzed as to what success in the league would mean, he said: "We are far from that."

"We have lot of games coming and big games too so I don't want to bring bad luck by talking about if we win, but this season so far has been really good for me."

Alex Nominated For FA Award

Alex has been nominated for the E.ON Player of the Round after his performance in Sunday's FA Cup quarter-final against Stoke at Stamford Bridge.

The defender didn't put a foot wrong all game, and is pictured making a superb saving tackle on Sanli Tuncay in the first half, the second key challenge he had made after an early block on Mamady Sidibe denied a likely goal.

Alex, 27, has earned rave reviews from John Terry for his performance against Stoke's physical forwards, which he discussed with the Chelsea website the day before the game.

Fans can vote for Alex until Wednesday March 24 by clicking here, and those who do so will be entered into a prize draw to receive a commemorative trophy and two VIP tickets to The FA Cup Final on May 15.

Chelsea & Ghana's Michael Essien Contests WAFU “Best of the Best” Award

Ghana midfield ace Michael Essien has been named in a 16-man list for the inaugural West Africa Football Union Award.

According to the organisers, the award, tagged “Best of the Best”, will be presented to any player from west Africa who performs exceptionally during the year under review.

Essien’s national team-mates Sulley Muntari of Inter and Andre Ayew of AC Arles have also been nominated.

The tall list will be pruned to four and the winner will be decided in May solely through phone or SMS voting by the public.

Also shortlisted are Ivorians Kader Keita, Yaya Toure and Didier Drogba, Nigeria duo Yakubu Ayiegbeni and John Obi Mikel, Jonathan Pitroipa and Moumouni Dagano of Burkina Faso and Malian duo Frederic Kanoute and Seydou Keita.

The rest are Stephane Sessegnon (Benin), Emmanuel Adebayor (Togo), Mamadou Niang (Senegal) and Pascal Feindouno (Guinea).

City Lead Race In Blues Ace Bids

Man City are reported to be putting together a contract offer for Chelsea's Joe Cole who looks set to be a free agent in the summer.

The former West Ham star is thought to be unhappy at the Blues' alleged offer of only a 12-month extension at £36,000 a week - a 40 per cent reduction on his current terms and nowhere near the likes of Chelsea's top earners - Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard, and John Terry who all trouser in excess of £100,000-a-week.

Cole's agent is understood to be testing the potential market for his client of he is available on a free transfer and City are ready to beat neighbours Man Utd with a package worth £80,000-a-week.

Tottenham are also interested but Cole is apparently keen to play Champions League football and relocate to the north west with wife Carly Zucker - who is expecting the couple's first child in the next few weeks.

Reserve Report: Chelsea 3 - 0 Stoke City

Daniel Sturridge struck twice for Chelsea reserves as we saw off a young Stoke City side at Cobham on Wednesday evening.

The summer signing was lively all evening, and could have had five on another night, but settled for a fortuitous brace, laying on another for Gael Kakuta who was also in fine form.

The Blues dominated from start to finish, taking advantage of the absence of many Stoke regulars due to their first team fixture away at Burnley on the same night, in turn recording a first win in four league games.

Steve Holland had Fabio Borini and Jeffrey Bruma available after illness, but Ross Turnbull, who had been touted to play in goal, missed out meaning a start for Rhys Taylor.

Other notable absentees were Josh McEachran, who is expected to be fit for next week's FA Youth Cup semi-final against Blackburn, and Sam Hutchinson, who will resume full training later this week. Long term injury victims Adam Phillip and Michael Woods remain sidelined.

Bruma began at right-back with Patrick van Aanholt back from a loan at Newcastle on the left, while Borini was joined in attack by Sturridge, an unused sub against Stoke's first team in the FA Cup on Sunday.

Sturridge was the first to get a sight of goal against a Stoke side consisting entirely of Academy scholars, the forward dragging his 20-yard drive wide of goal after creating space for himself four minutes in.

Moments later he forced visiting goalkeeper Dave Parton into a smart low save with a similar effort, as Chelsea were already beginning to assert themselves against younger opposition.

Sturridge was at the centre of everything going forwards, and should have put his side in front in the 12th minute after Gael Kakuta threaded him through. The shot went high, and though he could blame a bobble on the surface, he should still have hit the target.

The 20-year-old thought he had Stoke goalkeeper Dave Parton beaten when another powerful drive flew towards goal, but the stopper stuck out a foot and diverted the ball up and over.

It was to take 25 minutes in the end for Sturridge to finally make his mark, almost inadvertently after Kakuta had crossed from the left and Jacob Mellis had looped the ball onto the crossbar. Stoke could have cleared but instead the ball was kicked at the former Manchester City forward, who diverted it home with his back.

Stoke's best chance fell to forward Warwick Alexander, who could only guide Ryan Connor's free-kick wide from eight yards out, and the miss proved costly, as within minutes Chelsea's lead was doubled.

This time Kakuta finished off the move he started in his own half, releasing Sturridge with a brilliantly struck first-time pass, and finishing calmly after his team-mate's shot rebounded to him from Parton's palms. The Frenchman was left with plenty to do, but took a touch and fired low into the far corner. Question marks might have been raised in the visiting defence as to why Kakuta had so much time.

The same player almost made it three six minutes before the break, but blazed his shot over with his weaker right foot after dancing through half the Stoke defence, before Bruma fired into the side netting after a corner was only cleared to the edge of the area.

Injury to Danny Mills Pappoe meant one change at half-time, Nana Ofori-Twumasi coming on at right-back and Bruma, captain for the night, moving to centre-half.

Five minutes into the second half Borini had an effort chalked out for offside against Mellis, who was proving difficult to track for Stoke's central midfielders.

Sturridge's second goal of the evening arrived as he arced Van Aanholt's cross into the far corner with a controlled half-volley, and the result was settled.

Nemanja Matic, who had been tidy all evening, almost added a fourth but saw his drive turned away, while Sturridge twice shot wide as he pursued a hat-trick.

Liam Bridcutt was booked late on for dissent, but all in all it was a successful evening as the young Blues returned to winning ways.

Rewriting The Record Books

Chelsea Football Club is 105 years old today and to mark Founders' Day, the Official Chelsea Website is publishing the results of extensive research that correct statistical records for players from the first half-century of the club's existence.

One notable finding is a discrepancy in the goalscoring figures for George 'Gatling Gun' Hilsdon, our first star striker whose Chelsea career began in the second season (1906/07) and ended in 1912.

Until now Hilsdon is believed to have scored 107 goals during his Chelsea years. His record is corrected to 108 goals from his 164 games. He remains ninth in the club's all-time scorer list.

In total the records of 50 players are officially amended. That 50 includes George Mills, another of the top 10 scorers, whose changes were announced in January 2009.

Also changing are the numbers of games played by four pre-war players who have made more than 300 appearances for Chelsea.

Jack Harrow, first choice left-back for over a decade, played 334 games rather than the previously recorded 333. Tommy Law, who took over from Harrow at left-back, has his total reduced by one to 318.

Bob McNeil, part of the side that appeared in Chelsea's first FA Cup Final, also loses a game and is down to 306 games while Harold Miller, an inside-forward or wing-half up to the Second World War, gains two to 365 games.

Nils Middelboe, a Dane who was Chelsea's first overseas player, is now credited with one goal. He had not broken his duck in previous records.

The research was initiated by Derek Webster, a Chelsea supporter with a keen interest in the club's statistics, and was verified by club statistician Paul Dutton and club historian Rick Glanvill.

The previously accepted records were cross-referenced with matchday programmes and yearbooks as well as newspaper reports and other sources, including the Football League's records, to iron out discrepancies.

There is also a change to the spelling of William Morison (previously Morrison), who played for Chelsea between 1924 and 1927. This follows research by Glanvill following correspondence with Morison's relatives via the Ask Statman feature on the website.

Pat Nevin: Making Sacrifices

The potentially tricky tie against Stoke was safely dealt with and I suspect JT rather enjoyed the second goal considering the 'light-hearted' banter from a section of the travelling fans. Certainly in the newspapers that was the headline story, boy do they know how to stretch out a drama to breaking point…Get over it and get on with the job of reporting the football please, certainly that is what I want to read about.

Lecture over, there was another subplot I noticed beginning to rear its head in a number of journalistic outlets, why has Nicolas Anelka's influence on games became much less marked over the past little while, specifically since Didier Drogba returned back for the African Cup of Nations?

I suspect it is not because Nic is in a big huff at getting moved into wider areas from being the focal point of the Chelsea attack, though part of the answer is in there. Just consider Wayne Rooney for a while. The Man United and England striker has been, as they say in the trade, on fire this season.

He is scoring regularly, involved in everything and grabbing the headlines for the right reasons. Everyone is wondering whether it is the new found maturity of being a father, his building up for a World Cup or a hundred other things. Actually it is almost certainly little more than the fact that he has been moved into the centre of the pitch from the wide area this season.

From a career of painful knowledge I am aware that you can become a peripheral figure on the wing if nobody passes to you. You could be in the form of your life but if team mates can't get the ball out to you regularly, then the game can go along merrily without you.

I always preferred playing more centrally quite simply because you get the ball more and you also have more options in front of you. Even someone as talented as Rooney can be overlooked in the team, especially if the striker is as high profile as Ronaldo was last season. Now the Portuguese poser has flounced off to Real Madrid, Rooney is allowed to flourish. He hasn't improved immeasurably in just a few months, he was always that good. He is just more involved, more central to the play now.

And so Nicolas Anelka finds himself in a similar position and though it probably pains him to some extent that he has to play second fiddle to Didier now and again, like any other player he probably understands why this is happening. It was ever thus. In my time I wanted to play as second striker to Kerry Dixon and I sometimes did when David Speedie was injured or suspended, usually scoring in the process. But as soon as Speeds was fit again, there was I waiting out on the wings for the odd pass again.

I understood the manager's wisdom, he said I could create and score from wide anyway, but the real point was that sometimes there are personal sacrifices that have to be made for the team, and right now Anelka is doing that.

The very worst thing in this situation is when fans, journos and pundits suggest your form has gone as well or that you don't seem to be trying as hard. Then the stats come out that you aren't getting as many touches, dribbling as much or completing as many passes.Not only are you sacrificing yourself but you are then roundly abused in the meantime. So let me just say that I know you are doing a good job Nic and that some of us applaud you for doing it, no matter what the OPTA stats suggest. He will still have an impact and hopefully it will be appreciated when he does.

So last week was the tough old question of what I put on a sausage sandwich. Now let me underline that as a former athlete I very rarely eat a sausage sandwich, one has to keep an eye on one's waistline. The answer is that although I prefer brown sauce on just about everything else, I actually prefer red sauce on a sausage sandwich. What did shock me was that more than 80% of you plumped for the brown sauce option, some for nothing, a few for mustard, but only 3% thought that red sauce should be the right choice.

Because of this important information I am going to try a brown sauce, sausage sandwich next time…surely all of you must have a point!

There was a surprisingly large number who entered the competition this week, even if there were only a few correct but there can only be one winner and Sofia Yukhneva from Saint-Petersburg, Russia, was chosen by the flighty feline type of the family (my nickname for me daughter is The Cat).

On a much more sensible and intelligent note this week, for a chance to win a copy of the Chelsea Here, Chelsea There book, can you tell me which Chelsea player is most likely to say the phrase 'perfer et obdura; dolor hic tibi proderit olim' to John Terry. Answers as ever to pat.nevin@chelseafc.com and as ever the winner will be picked at random by someone who in no way looks like Peter Bonetti in case you were wondering.

Oh and if anyone wants to listen to me DJing in London, playing some obscure indie music in a scruffy and friendly little club on the 19th March, let me know and I will send you the details.

Shaun Wright-Phillips And Chelsea Face Questions Over Unlicensed Agent

The Football Association is considering whether Shaun Wright-Phillips and Chelsea could face charges for dealing with an unlicensed agent, Mitchell Thomas, when Wright-Phillips moved to Stamford Bridge from Manchester City in July 2005. The investigation by the FA follows the outcome of a case brought by the Law Society against a solicitor, Timothy Drukker, who signed off the paperwork in the Wright‑Phillips deal but paid Thomas part of the £1.2m fee which Chelsea paid him.

If the FA does find that Thomas, the former Tottenham Hotspur and Luton Town defender, was involved in negotiating the deal, they could bring charges against Wright-Phillips and Chelsea. Penalties range from warnings to fines and even points deductions.

The Wright-Phillips transfer is the 17th deal, previously unidentified, handed over to the FA by Quest, the investigators the Premier League hired to conduct the so-called "bungs inquiry" into transfers by its clubs between 1 January 2004 and 31 January 2006. Quest cleared all the other deals, but said more inquiries should be made into No17. At the time, the Wright-Phillips deal was not identified because the Law Society had begun proceedings.

They only reached their conclusion in January, with a finding by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal that Drukker was guilty of "conduct unbecoming a solicitor" during the transfer and in "misleading" Quest when they made inquiries. He was fined £15,000, the tribunal having decided there was no dishonesty on his part but that Drukker's actions "had resulted in the undermining of the Fifa regulations".

Drukker himself told the tribunal he had been asked by "parties close to Shaun Wright-Phillips" to act as his agent when the details of the move to Chelsea had been agreed. Drukker was paid a fee understood to be £1.2m, did not keep any of it and paid it to others including Thomas.

The FA has been taking a strong stance against unlicensed agents in recent years, because it sees licensing as crucial to its ability to regulate the multimillion-pound flows of money in transfers. Chelsea paid City £21m for Wright-Phillips, a huge sum that summer and vital for City who were struggling financially.

Any FA charges would be brought against Wright-Phillips and Chelsea, not Thomas, since the FA cannot take action against unlicensed agents because they are operating outside football's rules. An FA spokesman said: "We are aware of the outcome of these proceedings and are considering what action, if any, may be appropriate in relation to football rules."

Chelsea and Wright-Phillips both denied that Thomas had been involved in the transfer and said that Drukker himself had conducted the negotiations. "We believe we acted appropriately at all times," a Chelsea spokesman said.

Chelsea Offer Nicolas Anelka & Joe Cole One-Year Contract Extensions On Reduced Wages

Chelsea forwards Nicolas Anelka and Joe Cole look to set to learn about the new, more stringent economic policy at Stamford Bridge very soon, with a report from The Sun claiming that the pair will be offered only one-year extensions to their current contracts by the club hierarchy.

Those one-year extensions, with the option of another year only available if both club and player agree, will also be on substantially reduced wages, according to the report.

The new policy is apparently part of Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich's plan to cut costs at Stamford Bridge, after players such as Juan Veron and Andriy Shevchenko cost tens of millions of pounds in wages whilst on loan at other clubs.

The two Blues stars are said to have been somewhat surprised by the offer.

However, their pointing to the fact that Didier Drogba, John Terry and Frank Lampard, all older than Anelka, 30, and Cole, 28, have all recently inked new long-term deals, each worth more than £6 million a year, cut no ice with the Blues' hierarchy as football adjusts to a new economic climate.

Anelka is currently the fourth highest ranked Chelsea player in the Castrol Rankings, at No.27 overall, while Cole is 18th in the Chelsea team and No.1324 overall.

Chelsea Comment: Michael Ballack Ushers In New Era Of Sense And Responsibility

They say you learn more about a man in adversity than you ever can in success.

The jury might still be out on how John Terry has responded to his recent publicity but it cannot be doubted that the general public have a better idea of his character now than they ever did when he was lifting trophies with Chelsea.

In contrast, team-mate Michael Ballack has been offered a new contract extension that will keep him at the club until the summer of 2011, with an option for both club and player to agree to extend that by another year.

Interestingly, and perhaps controversially, the deal will see the German midfielder’s wage more than halved. But even more interestingly, Ballack looks likely to agree to it.

Back in 2006, Ballack signed for the club on a free transfer after a successful career at Bayern Munich, and agreed a £121,000-a-week contract that made him the highest paid player at the club.

The move came at the zenith of Roman Abramovich’s ownership, where the twin factors of insatiable Champions League ambition and the Russian's vast wealth perfectly aligned to net certain lucky players (Andriy Shevchenko being another) huge paydays.

But now, four years on, the increasingly pragmatic Abramovich - via current club chief executive Ron Gourlay - wants the club to attain self-sufficiency and that means a pay-cut for the previously handsomely rewarded 34-year-old midfielder.

The deal on offer will reportedly see Ballack earn £60,000-a-week, with that rising to £80,000 if he plays 20 games in a season (he has played 24 of 28 league matches this term). And Ballack is about to bulk the traditional view that says footballers are all about the money by gladly agreeing to it.

“It’s about what both sides want. We’ll sit down together soon and there’s no pressure,” Ballack revealed to The Times in an interview late last year.

“I like the club and I like London, and it would be perfect if I could stay.”

Reaching the twilight of his career, Ballack no longer ranks earnings as the priority - it is now more about what his family wants, what he still wants to achieve in the game, and how he sees his life developing after football.

If Chelsea give him certain reassurances that they will exercise their option to extend his contract through to 2012 (Ballack wants to retire after that year’s European Championships) then he will have little hesitation about agreeing to the deal.

“You have to use London,” he said. “It’s really good for everything. It’s an amazing possibility to play for such a big club and live in such a city."

And, having failed to win either the Premier League or Champions League since arriving at Stamford Bridge, the German still has a hunger to achieve something great with the club.

“You don’t step back and have less motivation when you get older, the opposite is true," he said.

“You become more focused, more professional in terms of things like looking after your body and more determined because you can see all the younger players coming up, looking for your place.”

Both Nicolas Anelka and Joe Cole - the club’s other players with pressing contract issues - have been offered similar deals, and both have responded to recent offers with a mixture of shock and outrage that (presumably) would have team-mate Ashley Cole nodding his head approvingly.

News broke on Tuesday that the Blues have re-opened constructive negotiations with Anelka over a new deal, and it will be interesting to see whether the notoriously greedy player is pressured by his club to adopt a similar stance to Ballack.

Because, despite his age, the 30-year-old is arguably in a stronger negotiating position than Cole. The club are notably short of world-class strikers (Drogba is the only other, with Salomon Kalou, Daniel Sturridge and Fabio Borini still developing) and as such the club cannot really afford to let him leave.

Gourlay and Abramovich might want to be fiscally responsible, but both they and everyone else at the club recognise that £10 million over two years for an established squad member (with a respectable goalscoring record) will be more cost-effective than the £20-30m transfer fee needed to ensnare a signing of equal talent.

Cole, on the other hand, is in a tougher quandary. The 28-year-old plays in a position where Chelsea already have an enviable amount of depth (Nemanja Matic and Gael Kakuta, both highly rated by the Chelsea management, have barely played this season) and his performances this campaign really haven’t warranted the rumoured £120,000-a-week (a £40,000 hike) he is demanding.

With rumoured interest from the likes of Manchester United and Manchester City, it is not hard to anticipate the former West Ham United prodigy leaving the club come the season’s end. But the club are keen to retain his services, and as a self-confessed Chelsea fan who has come back from similar set-backs at Stamford Bridge before, the emotional attachment cannot be overlooked.

After the money thrown at Terry, Alex and Salomon Kalou late last year it is tempting for Cole, Anelka and Ballack to view their modest offers as a slight on their ability and importance. But in reality, considering the changing economic landscape around football these days, the club are simply working to a different financial model.

Ballack, to his credit, has recognised and accepted that fact - doing what is best for his family rather than his bank balance. With his first child on the way, Cole now has to evaluate the same factors.

Ballack believes that considering his family’s needs will give Cole greater perspective and help him make a better choice.

“It comes with age. When you’re young it’s football, football, football,” Ballack reflected.

“Then you get a family, kids come into things and you find you have a broader view of life. You get your inspiration from many different places.”

That choice might still be to leave the club. Carlo Ancelotti is showing no signs of entrusting Cole with more first-team responsibility, and with his England career waning the chance to re-establish himself elsewhere - and, in the process, pick up the wage he wants - might indeed be the best thing for him and his young family.

As a player he is a risk-taker, a mercurial talent, and rolling the dice at a crucial stage in his career might prove the most effective course of action.

Ballack is much more of a pragmatist (being German probably helps in that respect), but he believes transferring his playing approach to his off-field decisions has served him well in what has been a stellar career.

“For me, football it this level is about making the right decisions on the pitch,” he notes.

“You can’t do it all the time, of course, but if you make the right decisions nearly every time you will usually win the game. That’s what I’ve found, anyway.”

If Ballack signs his new contract, it will have the feel of yet another right decision. The deal will free up valuable funds for the club that can be redirected towards new signings (or towards achieving that magical self-sufficiency target) and, equally importantly, the deal will establish a precedent for diminishing wages as other aging Chelsea stars reach negotiations (Terry, Lampard, Drogba will all find the precedent affecting negotiations in future seasons).

Both moves will aid the long-term stability of the club, ensuring vital resources can be re-distributed to the future of the club, rather than being hoarded by former star players who are past their peak.

All in all, it should prove an important step towards ensuring Chelsea remain competitive in England and Europe, even as the purse strings continue to be tightened.

Back in the summer of 2006, Ballack’s signing was yet another reinforcement of Roman Abramovich’s ability and willingness to throw around all the money he believed was required to guarantee success.

Five years on, the same player's modest contract renewal should firmly usher Chelsea into a new era of fiscal sense and responsibility.

Three Chelsea Cult Heroes

What does the term ‘cult hero’ mean to you? Perhaps it invokes memories of an honest tryer with wayward shooting but a loveable face. Or that surly bloke from the continent who only stayed for a season but scored the winner against your local rivals that one time. Or even that ridiculously talented bit-part player whose omission from the side you always resented the manager for.

The characteristics that qualify a player as a cult hero are plentiful, diverse and often intangible; and, in recognition of these life-affirming souls, Sport.co.uk picks three Chelsea FC players who once graced Stamford Bridge yet live on in the hearts of the Blues fans, wherever they may be…

Petar Borota – The Serbian goalkeeper was well known for nearly bringing Chelsea FC fans out in panic attacks with his frequent forays up the field to try and dribble past opposing outfield players, not to mention his predilection for throwing the ball against the crossbar when he was about to take a goalkick! Brought in by Danny Blanchflower as a replacement for Peter Bonetti, he was named as Chelsea FC’s player of the season in 1981 but his risky yet crowd-pleasing antics as proved too much for Bonetti’s successor John Neal. Despite his eccentricities, he kept an impressive 36 clean sheets in 114 appearances for the Blues. Borota passed away last month aged just 56.

Erland Johnsen – Chelsea FC bought the Norwegian centre-half from Bayern Munich suspiciously soon after he scored from the half-way line against Scotland for his country – surely they weren’t expecting him to repeat the trick? – but he turned out to be solid performer and was named the club’s player of the season in 1995. As the Ruud Gullit/Gianluca Vialli revolution got going in earnest, Johnsen found himself out of the frame but he excelled during the side’s run to the European Cup Winner’s Cup semi-finals in the 1994-1995 season and remains a popular figure at Stamford Bridge.

Paul Canoville – The left-winger was the first black player to play for Chelsea and did so at a time (the early-to-mid 80s) when racism was still too prominent a feature of football. As such, he was subjected to abuse by elements of Chelsea’s support and, according to the man himself in his autobiography ‘Black and Blue’, even one or two high profile teammates. His book deals with how he overcame these obstacles, as well as cancer (twice), crack addiction and the death of his baby son.

Ashley Cole's Hopes Of Reconciliation Dashed As Cheryl Throws Herself Into Work

Ashley Cole's hopes of a meeting with estranged wife Cheryl seems ever more distant today as the singer instead threw herself into work commitments in London.

As she spent the morning at a rehearsal studio in south-west London, it emerged that Ashley may need a further week rehabilitating an ankle injury at a clinic in the south of France.

Ashley had hoped for an audience with Cheryl in London today to desperately try to explain away his infidelities.

Sources close to Cheryl have however told MailOnline that the best he can hope for is a frank one-to-one with her about how they should divide their assets in a divorce.

However neither seemed likely today as Cheryl left her home before lunch and headed straight to a recording studio in Putney, south-west London to rehearse for upcoming performances to promote her debut solo album.

Miss Cole arrived at Ritz Studios, a venue specialising in rehearsals for band before they begin live tours, at around 11am and left a couple of hours later, headed back home.

A few moments later, her chauffeur-driven Mercedes limousine left, empty, signalling that she was preparing to spend the rest of the day at home.

It has now emerged that Cole may be staying on for a further week for treatment.

Terry Amazed By Alex

Chelsea skipper John Terry has hailed the form of fellow centre-half Alex and admits he has given Carlo Ancelotti a selection headache.

The Brazilian has often been resigned to back-up duties at Stamford Bridge, with Terry and Ricardo Carvalho regarded as the Blues' first-choice pairing at the heart of their defence.

He has, however, proved to be an able deputy when called upon and has rarely let the side down.

The burly defender put in a man of the match showing in Chelsea's comfortable 2-0 victory over Stoke in the FA Cup quarter-finals on Sunday, and Terry is among those keen to pile praise on the Samba star.

"He amazes me how he comes in and plays so well," said the England international.

"He is not first choice regularly but when he does come in he is brilliant. He made two great tackles in the game (against Stoke), especially the one against Tuncay."

Terry admits Alex is pushing hard for a regular role in Ancelotti's plans and accepts that he and Carvalho, who is currently struggling with a knock, must raise their game if they are to keep him on the sidelines.

"It is down to myself and Riccy to maintain our place in the team," he added.

"Riccy is out with a slight hamstring strain but hopefully he will be back soon and when players come in and play as well as Alex, it gives the manager a problem which is good for the squad."

Lampard: Kicked Back Into Shape

The players are back training today after a Monday break and as they begin preparations to face West Ham, Frank Lampard hopes FA Cup victory has restarted the push for trophies.

Consecutive defeats have thankfully been rare during Lampard's time at Chelsea and he was pleased to see a run that took in the away match at Inter and the home shock against Manchester City go no further when Stoke paid us a visit.

'Our home record has probably been as good as anyone's over that last few years but bad results can happen and sometimes they can be a kick in the right direction if you react positively enough,' he said as he reflected on the last two matches.

'I think we did that and hopefully it can make us more aware and make sure that we get back on it, especially at home for the rest of the season.

'We have certainly got it in us to go on a good run and every team has faltered at times this season when there has been opportunities to kick on in the league. The team that puts together a consistent run now can go and win the league. A winning habit is very important, and we need to take that forward from Sunday.'

The Chelsea vice-captain is certainly unconcerned that the lead in the Barclays Premier League was lost at the weekend when, having fallen at the first hurdle in this year's FA Cup by losing at home to lower league opposition, Manchester United were able to play a league fixture.

'It is only because we have got a game in hand,' Lampard highlights. 'We have been second a couple of times this season when we have had games in hand and it is important to block that out that. People will make a meal of it. We know we have got the extra game and we just have to concentrate on winning games again like we did on Sunday.'

Lampard's opener against Stoke was added to by John Terry and the midfielder reckons opposition fans are wasting their breath if they think taunts and chants are going to knock his colleague out of his on-pitch stride.

'I have had that at times and John got it on Sunday and sometimes the abuse does overstep the mark, but strong players react in positive ways and that is what John did.

'We just play and move on. That's a good answer to it.'

Frank Lampard spoke to Chelsea's official website on Saturday about closing in on Peter Osgood's total for FA Cup goals. His 18th in the competition scored on Sunday was his 146th overall for Chelsea, placing him four behind Osgood and Roy Bentley's comparative figures.

'I called to John [Terry],' Lampard told Chelsea TV after the game about his goal.

'Some players swivel and put it back in the box but John was very aware to lay it back and I focused on trying to keep the ball down.

'I should be level with Ossie's FA Cup goals. I should have scored in the second half from one I put over the bar but Ossie is always a benchmark for me and I am getting close to him in the all-time goals. It is nice to get near to the heroes of Chelsea history.'

Ajax And PSV Eindhoven Set Sights On Chelsea Youngster Stoch

Dutch giants Ajax and PSV Eindhoven are interested in signing Chelsea's 20 year-old midfielder Miroslav Stoch , according to Dutch news outlet Sportsweek.

Stoch is currently on loan at Steve McLaren's Twente Enschede and is enjoying an excellent season. He has scored 10 goals in 36 appearances and has been a real attacking threat in the Dutch top division, the Eredivisie this season.

Stoch joined Chelsea's youth academy in 2006 and has since progressed through the ranks at Stamford Bridge. He made his first team debut at Chelsea in late 2008 against Arsenal and has since gone on to play 4 times for the Blues. He was loaned to Twente last summer and has impressed during his time in Holland.

Now, according to Sportweek in Holland, both Ajax and PSV Eindhoven are closely following Stoch's progress with his future next season as yet undecided. Twente are keen to keep Stoch, but should Chelsea be willing to part with the Slovakian, both Ajax and PSV Eindhoven are monitoring the situation and would be keen to step in.

Chelsea Re-Open Contract Talks With Nicolas Anelka

Chelsea have re-opened contract negotiations with Nicolas Anelka, Sky Sports News are reporting.

The club have recently seemed reluctant to enter negotiations with the French striker, whose current contract runs out at the end of next season.

But the Blues hierarchy have apparently relented and discussions have now begun regarding a new two-year deal.

Anelka and his club had previously failed to come to an agreement after three rounds of talks, but are hopeful that something will now be agreed before the end of the month.

The 30-year-old was the Premier League's top scorer last season has scored eight goals in 24 league appearances this campaign, although he has failed to score in his last seven games for the Blues.

Chelsea Target Angel Di Maria Plays Down Transfer Talk

Benfica star Angel Di Maria has insisted that he won't think about his future until the end of the season.

The Argentine international has regularly been linked with a move away from the Portuguese side, with Chelsea, Manchester United and Manchester City all heavily tipped to make a bid.

But the 22-year-old, who joined Benfica from Rosario Central for £6m in 2007, wants to focus on helping his club attempt to win their first league title since 2005.

"I am very happy and perhaps I am having the best moments I have had as a player," Di Maria said after helping his side to a 3-1 win over Pacos de Ferreira at the weekend

"My work with Benfica is good and my family are settled in Lisbon, and I am dreaming of titles and hopefully that is what will happen in the next few months.

"My head is with Benfica and I will not speak about my possible exit until the end of the season."

John Terry: I Was Entitled To React After Fans’ Abuse

John terry has no regrets over the exuberant way he celebrated his FA Cup clincher against Stoke – and insists the abuse of opposing fans will not affect his form for Chelsea.

The Blues skipper is still being taunted for the lurid headlines that followed his relationship with Vanessa Perroncel – the former girlfriend of his one-time Chelsea team-mate Wayne Bridge – an affair which cost him the England captaincy.

Terry responded to sustained abuse from Stoke fans by setting up the opening goal for Frank Lampard in the 2-0 FA Cup sixth-round victory.

He then heading the clincher in the second half to secure a Wembley semi-final against Aston Villa and celebrated by running to the corner flag after rolling up his sleeve and pointing at his armband.

The 29-year-old admitted: ‘I was just giving the Stoke fans a bit of banter. That was all.

‘They were giving me a bit of stick and I was just giving a bit back and that is what football is about.

‘They are entitled to do what they do and so am I on the pitch as long as they take it in the right manner. I am sure they did.’

And Lampard admits Terry thrives on rival fans’ chanting, claiming it only makes him more determined.

‘Sometimes the abuse oversteps the mark,’ added Lampard.

‘Strong players react in positive ways and that’s what John did.’

Bayern Desperate To Keep Ribey

Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has admitted the club will pull out all the stops to convince Franck Ribery to extend his current deal at the Allianz Arena.

The Frenchman is out of contract in 2011, but if he doesn't commit himself to a new deal before the summer he is likely to be sold, as Bayern would risk losing him on a free transfer 12 months later.

"Extending Franck's contract is our absolute priority," Rummenigge told the Welt newspaper. "If we had wanted to sell him, we would have had to do that last summer.

"We had some really big offers then, particularly from England. But we all agreed to keep him.

"We want to have the best players at FC Bayern and Franck is currently one of the best in the world.

"We won't throw everything into the mixer, but we will throw in a lot to convince Franck to stay in Munich."

Rummenigge has also told the French winger that his future at Bayern is as much in his own hands as it is the club's.

"We need him because then I think we have a good chance to compete on a par with Europe's top clubs," added Rummenigge.

"Franck is hungry for success and I don't think a contract extension is purely dependent on the financial side of things.

"It is up to him. We recently told him: 'Franck, it is hard to stop you on the field. You can do things alone and decide things in our favour'.

"We want to keep hold of him because he is so extraordinary and that would be good for us and the Bundesliga."

Julio Cesar: Inter Will Eliminate Chelsea By Playing It Safe

Julio Cesar is hoping to avoid accidents against Chelsea when Inter travel to Stamford Bridge next week.

The Nerazzurri aim to finish the job and reach the Champions League quarter-finals after their 2-1 first leg win. And the keeper is there to ensure chances are not dented following on from his road accident in Milan two weeks ago.

While his handy work on the pitch has been good, it was less so behind the wheel. Nevertheless, he is looking to steer Inter in the right direction against Chelsea, and he is confident they will avoid a tailspin in London.

"I was driving my car and a friend of mine was with me. I revved up so we could here the engine, but I hit a puddle of water and lost control of the car," he told 'Esporte Espectacular', as reported by Il Corriere Dello Sport.

"I have learned plenty from this accident because I understand I risked my life and the life of another person. I could have thrown everything away by doing stupid things.

"A few days ago I was with Lucio, and I asked him to slow down because I was scared of the speed."

A lesson learned is a lesson earned then as he looks forward to leaving Chelsea with the Blues.

"I conceded a strange goal in the first leg, but I will save everything in London, and we will qualify," he concluded.

FA Cup Draw: Aston Villa To Face Chelsea

The draw for the semi-finals of the FA Cup kept several plot-lines alive with Aston Villa facing Chelsea and Portsmouth up against either Fulham or Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley Stadium.

It means that Harry Redknapp – should his team negotiate their way past Fulham at White Hart Lane on March 24 – will be up against the club he left, and who he won this trophy with, just two years ago.

If Fulham prevail it sets up the possibility of a west London derby in the final – while if Portsmouth win it will pit their manager Avram Grant against the club that sacked him after the 2008 Champions League Final should, again, Villa be defeated.

The other semi-final pitted Chelsea, the holders, against Aston Villa, which will be a re-match of the 2000 final, the last to be played at the old Wembley, which Chelsea won 1-0.

Chelsea assistant manager Ray Wilkins, after the quarter-final victory over Stoke City, said: “They beat us earlier on (in the season) at Villa Park but that was quite a while ago.

"The problems they gave us were from set plays but today we must commend our guys on how they dealt with that situation against a very strong side.”

Villa manager Martin O’Neill said: “Chelsea are one of the best sides in Europe but we will take them on. And we certainly don’t fear them.”

Tottenham midfielder Niko Kranjcar said he would have preferred to have avoided Portsmouth, should Fulham be defeated, “because of the emotions and everything”. It will, he said, “be a hard game to play”.

"Obviously nearly all of the players who won the Cup two years ago have left the club but they all have a special emotional feeling for the club and the fans.

"We as players really enjoyed our time there. We had some great results and we are not happy with what is happening with the club."

Ribery Says Chelsea Want Him

Franck Ribery has confirmed that Chelsea are competing with Real Madrid and Barcelona for his signature.

However, the French superstar insists that he is not definitely going to be leaving Bayern Munich this summer.

The 26-year-old is out of contract at the Allianz Arena next year and Bayern are looking for him to sign an extension.

Ribery has now confirmed that his future is likely to be resolved by the end of this month.

"When will I decide my future? In two or three weeks," he told French television show Telefoot.

"I am not 100 per cent sure I am going to go to Real Madrid.

"Barca is also attracted, and there is Chelsea. But that doesn't necessarily mean I will leave Bayern."

Manchester United were strongly linked with Ribery last summer following Cristiano Ronaldo's departure, but they now appear to be exploring other options.

Chelsea Special: Blues Finally Put In A Performance As Award Season Begins

It wasn't a perfect portrayal, but it was close enough. The Oscars may be later tonight, but with today's display Chelsea gave encouraging signs to suggest they are working back to top form at just the right time — as the season reaches the stage where football's biggest prizes are decided.

The 2-0 victory against Stoke City ensures the Blues will go to Wembley to continue their bid to retain the FA Cup, with a semi-final tie against Aston Villa the only obstacle between them and the final. The victory came courtesy of the club's long-time leading men, Frank Lampard and John Terry, but it was a solid team performance that rendered toothless an opponent that always have the potential to cause problems.

Parallels this season can perhaps be drawn between Chelsea and the movie Avatar, with both blue behemoths having enjoyed similar seasons. Both saw seemingly unstoppable early success bring them plaudits and points in equal measure, but now they find themselves in award season — where everything is brought into sharper focus — and both seem to be struggling to convert their early success into prizes.

To continue the film metaphor, then, the Cristiano Ronaldo-less Manchester United must be The Hurt Locker; struggling initially without a world-renowned star but emerging as a well-crafted unit to gain real momentum when it matters. Both have grabbed the season's early silverware (The Carling Cup/BAFTAs) and are quickly building up an ominous head of steam in the race for the biggest prizes.

If all that can be accepted as accurate (a stretch, I know), then that must leave today's opponents, Stoke City, somewhere between a Steven Seagal and Jean-Claude van Damme film. You know what you are going to get with Tony Pulis's side, and invariably it isn't pretty.

But Stoke's direct approach is stuck with because it is effective, whatever the critics say about it, and invariably brings tangible results. But today they were not even given a look-in, as Chelsea showed why they are true A-listers.

Central defender Alex in particular gave an education in how to defend against Rory Delap's long throws, a display that went a long way to ensuring Chelsea were never in real danger of a cup shock. With their unashamedly direct approach nullified, Stoke never looked like having the wherewithal to catch the Blues on the blind side with an intricate passing move.

Lampard's long range strike was deflected past the unlucky Thomas Sorensen for the first-half opener, and then Terry met a corner to beat Sorensen with a precious second, thanks to another late Stoke touch. In between the Potters failed to cause Hilario any real problems, and at the end the home side had done as much as they could to dispel the bitter taste of last week's 4-2 league defeat at the hands of Manchester City.

"It's never easy after a defeat like we had last week. We've come back determined to put it right and I think we handled it well," Lampard said.

"We hold the trophy at the minute and we want to get back there [Wembley], simple as that."

The destination of the league title might still be up in the air, but today Chelsea showed why they are favourites among the remaining nominees to take FA Cup glory.

More importantly, with crucial games against Inter Milan and United on the horizon, they gave the sort of professional display that suggests their recent bloopers might finally be behind them.

And not a moment too soon.

Chelsea Comment: In Defence Of Henrique Hilario

Not every footballer can be anointed as the best thing since sliced bread. But as far as praise goes, it is safe to say few footballers ever hope to hear themselves described as “not as bad as people think he is”.

Something along the lines of “criminally underrated” or “competently completes his duties with the minimum of fuss” would be marginally more preferable.

But unfortunately for Chelsea goalkeeper Henrique Hilario, those two latter descriptions are not quite accurate. The first one, all things considered, probably is.

Ahead of, during, and indeed even in the aftermath of yesterday’s 2-0 FA Cup victory against Stoke City, the goalkeeper was routinely described as “Chelsea’s weak link”, “a worry” and “a liability” by the various 'experts' asked to comment on the game.

All this despite seeing the 34-year-old keep a clean sheet — with only a few minor scares — against a team that constantly examines opposition goalkeepers with long balls into the box.

Yes, we get the fact that his surname lends itself to ridicule. You wonder whether, if Hilario had a different name — Kuszczak, for example, or even Cudicini — he wouldn’t get half the stick he does. Because there seems to be a genuine disparity between what he has done on the pitch and the response he has got off it.

Admittedly he was poor against Manchester City in the ignominous 4-2 defeat at the end of last month, particularly for Carlos Tevez’s first-half equaliser that changed the course of the game. But that goal cannot be blamed entirely on the goalkeeper — no matter how slow he was to get down to a mishit shot — when even assistant manager Ray Wilkins acknowledged there had been “five or six” mistakes from other Chelsea players in the build-up.

Nevertheless, it wasn't a reassuring display from the No. 40 — although few of his team-mates emerged from the game with any credit.

"Unfortunately things didn't go quite right for him last Saturday,” Wilkins admitted in the week after the game.

"Supporters nowadays will always have a pop at the errors and as a keeper you make a ricket and you've lost a goal.

“Hilario is experienced enough to come through it. He’s substituted for Petr [Cech] many times very well and it was just one of those games when it didn’t go as he wanted."

But in other areas, Hilario is actually entering something of an Indian summer in his professional career. He earned his first international cap last week, playing the second half of his country’s 2-0 win against China. He now looks set to go to the World Cup in South Africa as Portugal’s second choice shot-stopper.

Carlos Queiroz might not be blessed with a range of world-class ‘keepers, but clearly Hilario has been doing something right in recent times.

Indeed, it is hard to identify exactly what it is about him that has attracted such condemnation. The main criticism (other than his unfortunate name) seems to stem from his height. He’s officially listed at 6ft 2in on Chelsea’s official website, but that seems optimistic in the extreme when you see him lined up alongside some of his team-mates.

And even if that is accurate, he is still giving away three inches to Petr Cech — a huge difference in a position which seems, now more than ever, to covet prodigious elevation.

But goalkeeping is not all about height, with Real Madrid’s Iker Casillas being perhaps the ultimate example. Comparing Hilario to the Spanish No. 1 might be something of a stretch, but he does share some similarities.

Like Casillas, Hilario is a very good shot-stopper (in this respect he is genuinely — but not criminally — underrated), and yesterday he showed good athleticism to punch clear a number of throw-ins and corners despite his diminuitive stature.

Communication with his back-line has been a problem in recent games, causing a few worrying moments, but that shouldn't really be a great surprise. It cannot be easy for a goalkeeper, used to sitting on the bench week-in and week-out, to suddenly come into the team and command his box like he has never been away.

Nearly five months after recovering from a long-term injury, Joe Cole is still being excused for his poor performances, many keen to suggest he is still getting back to 'match fitness'. Hilario has gone weeks and months without ever actually playing — so if he is judged by the same rules it’s more than understandable that it is going to take some time to adjust when he is finally called into action.

He is not the same 'keeper as Petr Cech, who has developed a great understanding with his defenders only after years playing together, and will not always come for the same crosses as his team-mate. He shouldn’t be blamed if it takes a few games for him and what is (given the injures to Ashley Cole, Ricardo Carvalho, etc.) an unfamiliar Blues back-line to forge a solid appreciation of what to expect from one another.

The encouraging news for Chelsea fans is that it seems Hilario does not suffer under pressure. He may have been poor against Manchester City, but when he was called upon earlier in the season against Liverpool in a crucial game at Stamford Bridge he was exemplary, making a number of smart saves in an important 2-0 win.

There are further examples in his Chelsea career. His first game for the club was in a 1-0 win against FC Barcelona, and his Chelsea career has had many games like the one at Blackburn a few years ago — where he kept a clean sheet after 11 months without a competitive appearance.

That Manchester City aberration was only the second time he has been on the losing side in nearly 30 Chelsea starts.

It is his understated consistency which seems to have gained him the support and faith of his team-mates:

“Hilario has never let us down at all. He has been brilliant every time he has come in, whether it is for one game or a run of them,” Frank Lampard said recently.

"That is something we are not worried about. You have to have faith in him, and Ross Turnbull behind him, and we certainly have that."

Chelsea can still win every trophy they are going for with Hilario between the sticks — which is perhaps the single most important point. Petr Cech's injury, sustained in the first leg of the Champions League tie against Inter Milan (Hilario came on and kept a 30-minute clean sheet) is a blow, but his understudy can keep things ticking over until his return.

The Czech international's injury will probably keep him out of the second leg of the clash with Jose Mourinho (who brought Hilario to Stamford Bridge) but he should be back for the campaign's final run-in. In the meantime, the understudy will take all the advice and tips he can get from his team-mate.

“He is my friend and it has been an absolute pleasure to work every day with Petr,” Hilario told Chelsea’s official website last year.

“I feel proud that when I am playing, I have his support and it helps me a lot, not only when I am playing but because every single training we are together and we challenge ourselves.

“He is an absolutely fantastic goalkeeper and I learn a lot with him.”

The absence of Cech (who himself has had some wobbles this term), especially at such an important stage of the season, is an undeniable blow to Carlo Ancelotti and Chelsea. But pundits and, by proxy, fans immediately identifying his understudy as a weak link in the side are guilty of making a lazy and inaccurate assessment.

His record and past performances for the Blues don't merit such a conclusion, not yet at least. Watch his next game with an open mind — chances are you will be surprised.

He's not as bad as people think he is.

John Terry Dedicates Goal Celebration To Chelsea Fans

Chelsea captain John Terry says his goal celebration in Sunday's FA Cup victory over Stoke was a tribute to Blues fans for their support.

Terry has endured a turbulent few weeks following allegations about his private life and lost the England captaincy.

After heading Chelsea's second goal in a 2-0 quarter-final win, he celebrated by pointing to his captain's armband.

"The armband means a lot. Chelsea have been supportive. We wanted to show the fans what it meant to us," said Terry.

Terry was booed throughout Sunday's tie at Stamford Bridge by the visiting Stoke supporters, who lambasted the 29-year-old over his alleged affair with Vanessa Perroncel, the ex-girlfriend of former Chelsea team-mate and current Manchester City defender Wayne Bridge.

Terry, who was stripped of the England captaincy by national coach Fabio Capello last month after the allegations came to light, was also barracked by a small minority of home fans during the international friendly win over Egypt at Wembley on Wednesday.

Terry's form has undoubtedly dipped during the fall-out from the recent newspaper revelations, but his performance against Stoke - capped by his powerful 67th-minute header - represented a marked improvement.

The Blues grew in stature and confidence throughout the match to record a deserved victory over a powerful Stoke side to set up a semi-final clash with Aston Villa.

The win was Chelsea's first in three matches following a 2-1 defeat by Inter Milan in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie on 24 February and the 4-2 Premier League home loss to Manchester City three days later.

Wilkins Wants John Terry Abuse To Stop

Chelsea assistant manager Ray Wilkins is hoping the abuse of captain John Terry will now stop and feels the booing has 'served its course'.

Terry has become a target for opposing supporters in recent weeks following allegations of an affair with the ex-girlfriend of his former team-mate Wayne Bridge.

He was stripped of the England captaincy and was jeered by a small section of fans for the national team's 3-1 win over Egypt last week.

The defender was booed again on Sunday by Stoke City supporters as Chelsea won 2-0 to reach the FA Cup semi-finals, but Wilkins has called for an end to the abuse.

"I would like to think the abuse would stop," said Wilkins. "It's served its course. But it's happening and John's just getting on with the situation.

"I'm not too happy about the abuse, but there's nothing I can do about it.

"He's dealing with the situation in the only way he can - committing himself to the cause.

"He's an exceptional captain and we're delighted to have him on board. He leads these players on the pitch in fantastic fashion and scored the second goal which was a great goal.

"This was another superb performance from him."

Lampard: Taunts Make Terry Stronger

England midfielder Frank Lampard insists John Terry thrives on the kind of vile abuse dished out by Stoke fans during Chelsea's 2-0 FA Cup quarter-final victory at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

Lampard warned fans throughout the Barclays Premier League that taunting Terry will only make him even more determined to fight back.

Terry responded to the abuse by setting up the opening goal for Lampard and then heading the clincher in the second half to set up a Wembley semi-final against Aston Villa next month.

Terry, 29, is still being taunted for the lurid headlines that accompanied his alleged affair with Vanessa Perroncel - the former girlfriend of his one-time Chelsea team-mate Wayne Bridge.

The revelations were bad enough for England coach Fabio Capello to strip the centre-half of the national captaincy. But Lampard insists fans who barrack Terry do so at their peril.

"Sometimes the abuse oversteps the mark," said Lampard. "Strong players react in positive ways and that's what John did. These things happen but we'll just move on. That's a good answer to it really."

Lifting the FA Cup on May 15 would be the perfect answer to Terry's critics, but Lampard knows Villa will be no pushovers.

"Winning the FA Cup this year will mean the same as it always has done for John," the midfielder continued. "You want to look back on your career having won trophies.

"Villa are a good team, we all know that now. They have a few players in the England squad and have great spirit and quality.

"After the disappointment of losing the League Cup final, they will want to go back to Wembley and win something, so it will be tough for us."

Chelsea's involvement in the FA Cup meant Manchester United went back to the top of the Barclays Premier League with a 1-0 victory over Wolves.

United are two points clear, with Arsenal, victors over Burnley, now behind Chelsea on goal difference only.

But Lampard added: "It's important to block that out. People will make a meal out of it but we have a game in hand and just have to focus on winning games."

Terry celebrated his goal by making it clear to everyone he still wears the Chelsea captain's armband - Stoke fans included. He ran to the corner flag after pointing at his armband, then declared afterwards: "I was just giving the Stoke fans a bit of banter. That was all.

"They were giving me a bit of stick and I was just giving a bit back and that is what football is about. They are entitled to do what they do and so am I on the pitch as long as they take it in the right manner. I am sure they did.

"You just get on with it as a player. One way to get through it is to play well and to score was the icing on the cake.

"It has been a good week. It was good to get away with England, play 90 minutes and then come back here and show the fans how disappointed we were by how we played in the 4-2 defeat by Manchester City last week."

Stoke boss Tony Pulis wants his team to bounce back from their FA Cup setback by eclipsing their previous points tally of 45 in the Barclays Premier League.

City have amassed 34 points so far but Pulis wants his squad to make the most of their remaining 11 matches.

"We've got to make sure we get back on track in the league and really drive on in the last 11 games to try to make the most of the back end of the season," said Pulis.

"Can we get more points than we did last year? That's something good for the players to set their sights on.

"I think only one team in the history of the Premier League have accumulated more points in their second season than their first, Blackburn, but the lads have got to get to 40 points first.

"We mustn't take our foot off the pedal."

John Terry Silences Boo-Boys

Chelsea captain John Terry provided the perfect response to an afternoon of abuse as the Blues claimed a place in the semi-finals of the FA Cup with a 2-0 win over Stoke at Stamford Bridge.

Terry's second-half strike confirmed Chelsea's place in the last four where they will meet Aston Villa at Wembley.

Frank Lampard had given Chelsea a first-half lead with a deflected drive in the 35th minute and Terry sealed victory with a thumping header.

Terry had been booed and abused all afternoon by Stoke fans who lambasted the defender for his alleged affair with Vanessa Perroncel, the former girlfriend of his one-time Chelsea team-mate Wayne Bridge.

Terry, stripped of the England captaincy by Fabio Capello because of the lurid headlines concerning his private life, celebrated his goal by running to the corner flag and pointing at his captain's armband.

"The armband means a lot, of course," said Terry. "Chelsea have been very supportive, the players as well, but we wanted to show the fans how much it meant to us.

"We had a couple of days to work on their set plays but they can play as well. On a dodgy pitch I thought we played well and bounced back from last week."

When asked about the abuse, Chelsea's assistant coach Ray Wilkins replied: "It's happening and John's just getting on with the situation.

"I'm not too happy about it, but there's nothing I can do. He's dealing with the situation in the only way he can - committing himself to the cause. That was another superb performance from him."

When quizzed about Terry's celebration involving the use of the armband, Wilkins added: "He was taking a bit too much stick from the Stoke fans and wanted to demonstrate that.

"He's an exceptional captain and we're delighted to have him on board. He leads these players on the pitch in fantastic fashion and scored a great second goal."

Wilkins was delighted with the response following their 4-2 home league defeat by Manchester City last weekend.

"Stoke put you under a lot of pressure, especially from dead balls and long throws but our concentration was fantastic," added Wilkins.

"Stoke work extremely hard, are superbly organised, and make it difficult for you. Defensively we were very strong indeed.

Stoke boss Tony Pulis defended his supporters over their treatment of Terry and claimed that the Chelsea captain will come home a hero if England win the World Cup in South Africa this summer.

"Our fans are brilliant, different class," said Pulis. "John will have to accept he'll take stick. He took stick from England supporters the other night.

"If John does well in the World Cup and wins it, he'll come back a hero.

"We've knocked Arsenal and Man City out. To pull Chelsea out of the hat at Stamford Bridge was a difficult tie.

"The players were first class, we gave everything and had a right go."