Match Report: Portsmouth 0 - 5 Chelsea

Chelsea cut Manchester United's lead at the top of the Premier League to one point with an impressive 5-0 hammering of crisis club Portsmouth at Fratton Park.

A David James howler allowed Didier Drogba to tap into an empty net for Chelsea's opener before Florent Malouda grabbed two second-half goals in 10 minutes.

Drogba's neat finish and Lampard's late goal sealed the win against a Portsmouth side now one step closer to almost certain relegation.

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti handed Daniel Sturridge a surprise start as the Blues looked to close the gap on United and atone for their Champions League exit to Inter Milan last week.

Sturridge replaced Nicolas Anelka in Ancelotti's starting XI, which also included Petr Cech and Ricardo Carvalho, who have both been out through injury for a month. Deco was handed his first start since February 2 while Yury Zhirkov came in for the injured Branislav Ivanovic.

Portsmouth manager Avram Grant replaced Quincy Owusu-Abeyie and Nadir Belhadj with Steve Finnan and Richard Hughes, while there was no place for Aruna Dindane due to a clause in his loan agreement which would require Pompey to pay £4million to Lens if he played another game for the club.

Ancelotti described the match as a "must win" against Grant, who spent eight months at the helm at Stamford Bridge in the 2007-08 season.

Financially-stricken Portsmouth, who learned before kick off they would be allowed to sell players outside the transfer window, lined up in a defensive 4-3-2-1 formation at a rain-soaked Fratton Park.

Chelsea were the most dominant team in the early exchanges and Deco combined well with Drogba before the Ivory Coast striker fired a weak shot wide.

Drogba was in the thick of the action again soon after but he wasted a good chance by volleying well over the bar from inside the box.

Lampard thought he had put Chelsea ahead in the 10th minute but James scrambled across his line to tip the midfielder's 30-yard strike around the post.

James was once again on hand to save another Lampard shot moments later from a similar distance.

Pompey started to get a foothold on the game as the pitch cut up under the rain but found themselves 1-0 down thanks to a James howler in the 32nd minute.

The England 'keeper raced out of his box to make a routine clearance after Deco tried to play through Drogba but James completely missed the ball, leaving the Ivory Coast man to tap into an empty net.

James was left with his hands on his hips as the Chelsea fans ridiculed the stopper for his mistake.

Ancelotti was forced into a change soon after when he brought on Alex for Carvalho, who went off clutching his ankle.

The game came close to boiling point soon after when Pompey full back Ricardo Rocha had to be carried off after colliding with Malouda.

Malouda then squared up to Hermann Hreidarsson, who claimed the Frenchman had used his elbow in the challenge, before being booked by referee Lee Mason.

Rocha, meanwhile, was carried off on a stretcher after a four-minute stoppage while wearing an oxygen mask.

Pompey's troubles worsened when Tommy Smith hobbled off after the half-time whistle.

Smith failed to emerge after half time and was replaced by Quincy, whose clever ball into the box failed to find a team-mate soon after the break.

After his booking, Malouda was booed every time he touched the ball and he soon plunged the Pompey fans into further misery when he picked up Lampard's pass and beat James from a tight angle to make it 2-0.

Joe Cole, who had voiced his frustration at his lack of first-team action earlier this week, replaced the ineffective Sturridge in the 53rd minute.

The midfielder made an immediate impact, drawing a good save from James after a clever through ball from Lampard.

Malouda then scored his second of the night when he reacted first to James' save from Lampard's shot to coolly slot the ball home to make it 3-0.

James then pulled off a flying save to deny Lampard from 20 yards as Chelsea looked to turn the screw.

Kanu replaced Mokoena with 15 minutes left in a desperate attempt to inject some life into the Pompey attack, who were being well marshalled by John Terry and Alex.

Drogba was then played in by John Obi Mikel and the striker held his nerve to slot past James from inside the box to make it 4-0.

Portsmouth then had a golden chance to pull one back but Hughes somehow put a free header from five yards out wide.

Frederic Piquionne then beat two Chelsea defenders down the right but Kanu blazed over from eight yards out.

Second half substitute Patrick Van Aanholt then squared the ball to Drogba but he just missed out on his third by firing over.

Lampard completed Pompey's misery when he finished from Drogba's knock down in the dying minutes to make it 5-0.

Asenjo Attracting Interest

Sergio Asenjo will decide his future at the end of the season but his agent concedes he is honoured to be linked with the likes of Chelsea and AC Milan.

Asenjo, who is rated as one of the best young goalkeepers in Europe, was snapped up by Atletico Madrid from Real Valladolid last summer.

The 20-year-old has impressed hugely for the Rojiblancos and now both Chelsea and Milan are said to be keen on landing him.

"The interest of top clubs like AC Milan and Chelsea is an honour," his agent Zoran Vekic told Calciomercato.

"In football anything is possible, but until the end of the season we will not take any decision.

"Atletico Madrid has made a major investment in him and together at the end of the season we'll evaluate the situation."

Vekic revealed that both Manchester United and Barcelona were tracking his charge before he moved to Atletico.

"We know that the Rossoneri have followed him but last year there were also Barcelona and Manchester United and there was also a deal with Fiorentina," he said.

Ancelotti: Closing The Door

Carlo Ancelotti admits he is experiencing his toughest days since joining Chelsea and he is ordering rearguard action to bring the good times back.

The 50-year-old certainly doesn't lack for experience at the top level of the game and knowledge gained over many seasons tells him the road to recovery begins with improving matters at the back.

He identifies the home defeat by Manchester City last month as the starting point for the downturn and as he takes his team to Portsmouth on Wednesday with just two wins in the last eight away league games, says:

'This is the most difficult moment of the season, but we don't have to be afraid to say this and we are working to close this moment immediately with a victory.

'During this period we had a lot of injuries and didn't have to possibility to rotate using our squad but this is not an excuse.

'Every team has a difficult moment in the season. In the past I had every year a problem with the team and every year the right way forward was to stay focused defensively.

'We have to have more discipline on the pitch and have stay focused on the defensive positions and I spoke to the players about this. It is very important not to concede a goal.

'The statistics say we were winning a lot of games and the other teams then equalise,' he highlights.

'Our behaviour is to attack every time and also when we are winning. Maybe we need different behaviour and to stay more focused on defending when we are winning.'

Giving the ups-and-downs of a long season, it is only at the end of the fixtures that Ancelotti believes an accurate assessment of Chelsea this campaign can be made, but whatever the final trophy haul he expects to lead the Blues into the next campaign.

'I have a very good relationship with the club and with Roman [Abramovich] and my position is not in discussion. I have two years of contract left and I have no problem to confirm this.'

Ribery Rules Out Chances Of Summer Move To Chelsea

Franck Ribery has ruled out the possibility of joining Chelsea this summer, saying it will be a straight choice between Barcelona and Real Madrid if he leaves Bayern Munich.

Ribery is out of contract at the end of next season and, if he fails to agree an extension, it looks certain he will be sold this summer rather than being allowed to leave on a free transfer.

Chelsea are thought to have an interest in Ribery, but the France star has now said the weather would prohibit a move to England.

"If I decide not to accept Bayern's offer of an extension then I'll certainly be going to Spain," he told Sport Bild.

"I can assure you there has been no decision yet. I myself am brooding about this the most. Money is not the only issue. The difference between the clubs is no longer so big. The decision will therefore not be made with my bank account, but in my head.

"I would be lying if I said I wasn't leaning in one direction, but I have to take a lot of factors into consideration - not only what is good for me but also for my wife and children.

"My wife is from the south. She needs sun. There are many things to keep in mind. I think about my family. Here, it rains and it snows. [My wife] is often alone when I am not there. She doesn't have many friends, but that doesn't mean we don't feel happy in Munich."

It has long been speculated that Ribery has already agreed a move to Madrid, but he has suggested that Barca are currently the better side.

"Real and Barcelona are, perhaps alongside Manchester United and Chelsea, above all other clubs. I am also only human. If you have an offer from such a club you should be allowed to consider it. It's where the world's best players play," he said.

"Barcelona have built a team for the long-term. Everyone in the world knows how they play. Meanwhile, Real Madrid have invested in superstars, but something is missing.

"Right now, I am pondering what is the most attractive option. Madrid have prestige despite failing in the last-16 of the Champions League for the last six seasons."

Meanwhile, Bayern winger Arjen Robben has denied reports he advised Ribery to choose Barcelona over Madrid if he decides to leave.

Robben, who moved to Bayern from Madrid in the summer, told Radio Marca: "I never said that. He has the quality to play for both teams, but what I prefer is for him to stay at Munich. Hopefully he will continue with us. I love playing alongside him."

Paulo Ferreira Keen To Stay At Chelsea Until The End Of His Career

Veteran full-back Paulo Ferreira hopes to see out the remainder of his career at Chelsea.

The 31-year-old is under contract with the west London club until 2013, and hopes to honour that deal before retiring from the game.

"I have a deal with Chelsea that runs until 2013 and my idea is to see that out and to then leave football, but this sport is unpredictable," he told Maisfutebol.

"If I finish that deal I will be 34 and it is difficult to find another club then, so this has always been my intention since I signed the deal (in 2008)."

Ferreira, who joined the club from FC Porto in 2004, has been linked with a summer exit from the Blues, but he believes that will not be the case.

"Rumours about a possible exit were false as I have always considered Chelsea to be my home as I have always had great support here," he said.

"I am a player that has always given his all to his club, at Porto and here. I am a professional in all aspects. When I am able to look back on my career I will be content.

"I have been able to win many important titles and I am happy with what I have achieved."

Entering the twilight of his career, Ferreira also hopes he can taste success at international level, having gained 51 caps for Portugal but falling agonisingly short of any major honours.

"With Portugal I really want to win a title," he added.

"We were very close at the Euros in Portugal [where they were runners up to Greece] and did excellently at the 2002 World Cup [finishing fourth].

"My dream now is to make the final list for the national team and to play wherever I am required."

Redknapp Cool On Cole Talk

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp has played down suggestions he will look to sign Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole if he leaves Chelsea this summer.

Cole, 28, is out of contract in the summer and revealed this week that negotiation with Chelsea has not gone according to plan.

"We can't seem to find common ground and it's distracting," he said. "At the moment there is no offer on the table, so I know where I stand. I still hope to talk in the summer."

Should Cole leave Stamford Bridge on a free transfer, he is likely to attract widespread interest from around Europe, but Redknapp has indicated that he is unlikely to make an offer.

"He is a terrific player but I have a lot of terrific players here," he said. "When you look at Luka (Modric), Niko (Kranjcar), Aaron Lennon, David Bentley, I am not short really.

"When you talk about signings of the year, Niko never gets a mention. He has to be right up there. What a fantastic signing he has been for us. I paid £2.5 million when I signed him for Portsmouth and the same when he came here. "When I first saw Niko play, I thought that he was a terrific technical player. He has been top-class since we brought him here."

Carlo Ancelotti, meanwhile, has suggested he is unconcerned by the current uncertainty over the player's future.

"For me, it's not distracting," he said. "I think that Joe doesn't need to do more. He is doing everything at his best and he wants to play.

"He isn't playing because Joe Cole has a manager who puts him on the pitch sometimes and sometimes puts him on the bench."

Real Madrid's Rafael Van Der Vaart On Chelsea's Wish List To Replace Deco

Spanish daily AS is reporting that Chelsea coach Carlo Ancelotti has identified his transfer target to replace the ageing Deco in his squad for next season is Real Madrid's Rafael Van der Vaart. The English club will reportedly pay €11 million.

AS quotes The Sun, which has reported that conversations between the London club and the Dutchman's agent have already begun to discuss a deal with the hope of finalising an agreement before the World Cup, as it is anticipated that the Dutchman's transfer fee will increase after his appearance in South Africa.

After being largely discounted in the Real Madrid squad at the beginning of the season, not even being included in squad lists for friendly matches, van der Vaart has worked his way back into the Blancos rotation, providing pivotal performances. His most notable impact came with his last minute goal to give Real Madrid the three points against Sevilla - a win that saw them vault ahead of Barcelona into first place in the Liga table.

PSV Director Jan Reker Downplays Miroslav Stoch Transfer Rumours

Slovakian international Miroslav Stoch left Chelsea for Twente on a year-long loan deal last summer and has since been in impressive form for the Tukkers. The young winger has scored eight goals in 27 league games so far.

His strong performances haven't gone unnoticed by Dutch powerhouse PSV and Stoch could reportedly be on his way to Eindhoven at the end of the season. However, PSV director Jan Reker has now downplayed any such rumours.

"We were not interested in signing Stoch last summer and haven't approached Chelsea to ask about his availability," said Reker to Dutch football weekly Voetbal International.

"I recently read that we want to sign him this summer, but we haven't approached him. His agent offered him to us, but that doesn't mean that we will make a move for him.

"There's no doubt about it that we think Miroslav is a good player, but we haven't shown any interest in signing him. Maybe his agent approached us to get him a better deal at Chelsea."

Match Preview: Portsmouth vs. Chelsea

A mere three or four games ago who have ever dared to suggest that an ex-colleague of ours, Avram Grant, had, at his finger tips, the potential to permanently derail our Premier League title aspirations?

A home defeat to Manchester City followed by a lackluster 1-1 draw up at Ewood Park have left serious questions being asked about the current validity of our title challenge. Despite our fate being in our own hands with it being common knowledge that if we win all our reaming Premier League games we’ll be crowned champions, there’s an uneasiness in the air that’s enough to give some of us kittens.

With a recent blip in form being the main discussion point we can but only take each game as it comes but with Portsmouth condemned to relegation, courtesy of the financial mess they’re in, but still very much up for the fight, I can think of several other Premier League grounds I’d rather us be visiting.

Nevertheless, if the malaise of the past two Premier League performances is to be shaken off and the players are to knuckle down and produce the sort of performance we all know is needed, I’d suggest a very vociferous Fratton Park is just the place to re-stamp our credentials as title contenders.

Portsmouth Team News:
Avram Grant goes into this game knowing that there’s nothing but pride left to play for after administration made survival in the top flight nigh near impossible.

As for his squad, he’s not able to use his forward Aruna Dindane as one more appearance will invoke a further fee which Pompey do not have.

Elsewhere, Vanden Borre is out with a hamstring problem whilst Boateng, Utaka and Yebda are all rated as doubtful.

Player to watch: Jamie O`Hara
On loan from Spurs O’Hara has become a firm favourite of the Pompey faithful. He’s in the strange situation of having helped them to a FA Cup semi-final, at Wembley, but it looks like he’ll be unable to play against his parent club unless Fulham can spring a surprise win at White Hart Lane. O’Hara emphasized his danger from set pieces at the weekend with a cracker against Hull City as Iain 'Davros` Dowie watched his Hull side lose 3-2 after being 2-1 up with less than five minutes to go.

Chelsea Team News:
Carlo takes his squad to the south-coast with his injury list lengthened even more. Branislav Ivanovic joined the list of casualties that currently includes, Michael Essien, Ashley Cole and Jose Bosingwa after he picked up a knee injury at Ewood Park, on Sunday.

However, we are led to believe that both Petr Cech and Henrique Hilario are both fit enough for consideration although it should be pointed out that in their absence Ross Turnbull hasn’t put a foot wrong.

Following on from the two points dropped at Ewood Park, it’ll be interesting to see if Carlo Ancelotti is tempted to shuffle his pack to try and inject the flair that has been missing in recent games. Whether this means a start for Deco or Joe Cole remains to be seen, perhaps Carlo may opt to bring back Michael Ballack, all questions only his team sheet can answer.

In defence Carlo could be tempted to recall Ricardo Carvalho, will John Terry be rested or will it be Alex who finds himself unfortunate enough to be warming the bench again?

But, with Ivanovic injured we’re fairly certain that Paulo Ferreira will drop in at right back and Yuri Zhirkov will occupy the left back slot.

Something of a shot in the dark, our anticipated starting eleven - Cech, Ferreira, Alex, Terry, Zhirkov, Mikel, Lampard, Malouda, Deco, Drogba, Anelka

Player to watch: Nicolas Anelka
Apart from the assist for the Didier Drogba goal up at Ewood Park, Anelka’s contributions since Drogba`s return from the Africa Cup of Nations have been diminishing. It could be argued that stuck out wide, by Ancelotti, isn`t doing the Frenchman any favours or possibly even his ongoing contract situation might be affecting the situation. Nevertheless, Anelka needs a good ninety minutes and hopefully ninety minutes whereby he can score, let’s hope that place is Fratton Park on Wednesday evening!

Match Facts & Stats
Chelsea have not been beaten by Portsmouth in their last 17 fixtures at this level, a period that spans an incredible 52 years!

In their last 8 visits to Fratton Park, in top flight football, Chelsea have emerged victorious!

Ancelotti: New Targets

Carlo Ancelotti, a self-confessed fan of statistics, believes a points tally of 86 would be enough for Chelsea to take the league title.

With our current total on 65, that means Chelsea can afford to drop only three points in the remaining eight games to reach the manager's target. He is also clear those three points cannot be let slip in the game against Manchester United.

'I like statistics and I think that in the past with 86 points every team has won the title. I think that we need to get 86 points to win,' he says.

Ancelotti is naturally demanding the full three points collected from the visit to bottom club Portsmouth on Wednesday and for that challenge he welcomes Petr Cech back in goal after five games out with a calf injury.

The goalkeeper injury picture is improving fast with groin strain victim Hilario expected to be fit for Saturday's visit by Aston Villa. Ancelotti also has an update on Ashley Cole's ankle fracture.

'Ashley's recovery is going very well,' he says.

'He started to train in the sand today and I think that he will start to train on the normal ground in 15 days, so he will be ready to play before the last game of the season.'

There was not so good news on another full back however. Ancelotti confirms Branislav Ivanovic suffered a tear in a collateral medial knee ligament during the Blackburn game.

'Ivanovic is an important player for us. He is out for one month but we hope to recover him before this period. We have fortunately recovered Yury Zhirkov so we can put Paulo Ferreira at right back and Zhirkov at left back.

'The mood was not good after the Blackburn game because when we don't win we are disappointed,' the manager continues.

'But we have a possibility to come back on Wednesday. We know our results have not been good enough because we have the possibility to win every game and we haven't done this, but I am happy with the players' attitude and everyone has kept the right behaviour, players and club.'

The Italian insists that with hindsight he remains happy with the preparations for the Inter and Blackburn games and is not dropping his attention to detail ahead of Portsmouth.

'I know Portsmouth have a lot of difficulties but I also know Portsmouth won their last game against Hull when they were 2-1 down and in two minutes they won the game. We have to pay attention because they have the possibility to play without pressure so they can do a good job against us.'

Petr Cech To Return For Chelsea Against Portsmouth On Wednesday

Petr Cech will return to action for Chelsea against Portsmouth on Wednesday, manager Carlo Ancelotti has revealed.

The goalkeeper has been out injured since landing awkwardly in the Blues' Champions League game against Inter Milan in Italy last month, with Henrique Hilario and then Ross Turnbull asked to deputise as the side were knocked out of the Champions League and stuttered domestically.

But Ancelotti will welcome back his No. 1 at Fratton Park, and hopes his presence will see a revival in his side's form.

"Carlo Ancelotti has announced that Petr Cech will return for the game at Portsmouth on Wednesday," the club's website confirmed.

"Hilario is also close to full fitness as the goalkeeping injury picture improves. He is expected to be ready for Saturday's visit by Aston Villa."

Ancelotti Has Five Games To Save His Job

Carlo Ancelotti is facing a fight for Chelsea survival as the Blues' season stands on the brink of implosion.

Sunday's 1-1 draw at Blackburn left Chelsea, already out of the Champions League after being humiliated by Jose Mourinho's Inter Milan, third in the table and four points behind Manchester United with a game in hand.

But as Ancelotti was rocked by the news that Serbian defender Branislav Ivanovic is set to miss the next month with a knee ligament injury sustained at Ewood Park, the pressure on the Italian was mounting as he prepared for the three week spell that will define his reign.

Senior figures close to Roman Abramovich were last night pointing fingers at Ancelotti, rather than his players, for the run of just five wins in their last 11 games in all competitions and 10 points dropped out of the past 21.

It means Ancelotti's future is on the line unless he can conjure a winning run over the next five games, starting at Portsmouth on Wednesday and including the Easter Saturday visit to Old Trafford and the FA Cup semi-final clash with Aston Villa.

Members of the Stamford Bridge hierarchy are concerned that the series of lackluster and limited displays of recent weeks has now become a trend rather than isolated events.

And unless the former AC Milan coach can turn around the confidence and form of his players to ensure Chelsea take their fight for the title all the way to May 9, he could become the sixth manager to leave the club since 2004 this summer.

Abramovich is understood to be concerned that Ancelotti and his players are failing to respond to the gravity of the situation, with the tame and tepid second half performance at Blackburn indicative of a lack of drive and desire.

Unlike last term, when Luis Felipe Scolari was dismissed amid fears that Chelsea were poised to fall out of the top four, there is no question of Ancelotti being removed before the end of the season.

But the Italian, who cut a stressed and crestfallen figure at Blackburn, is under huge pressure to prove he is the right man for the job, starting at Fratton Park on Wednesday.

David Villa Is On The Market

Chelsea are on red alert after debt-riddled Valencia agreed to sell striker David Villa.

His team-mate David Silva is also available and Manchester United are sure to fancy the attacking midfielder, who may fetch up to £20million.

The Spanish team want to raise £50m by selling both players but Villa could cost £40m alone if a bidding war erupts between Chelsea and Manchester City.

Insiders say Villa, who has fired 121 goals in 223 outings for Valencia and 37 in 55 internationals, will also be wanted by Barcelona and Real Madrid.

But he is thought to prefer a move to the Premier League, with Chelsea his first choice.

Nicolas Anelka is stalling over an extended one-year deal at Chelsea and Blues fans would view Villa, 28, as an eye-popping replacement.

Villa said: "For now my head is in Valencia and the World Cup.

"After South Africa I will decide what's best. My final decision won't be based solely on money."

Chelsea Suffer Branislav Ivanovic Injury Blow

Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic will be out for a month after injuring his knee in Sunday's 1-1 draw against Blackburn Rovers.

The 26-year-old has torn his medial knee ligament and was replaced by Yuri Zhirkov during the game at Ewood Park.

The injury to the Serb will be a blow to Carlo Ancelotti's Premier League title contenders, who are four points behind leaders Manchester United.

Ivanovic will now miss the crucial game against United on 3 April.

Chelsea have one game in hand on the Premier League champions, which comes against Portsmouth on Wednesday evening.

But Ivanovic's injury adds further worry to a defence that is already without long-term absentee Jose Bosingwa and Ashley Cole, who is battling to be fit before the end of the season.

The Blues have only eight Premier League games left and Ivanovic is now likely to miss five of them in addition to the FA Cup semi-final against Aston Villa on 10 April.

Ancelotti will be desperate to win some silverware in his first season at Stamford Bridge after crashing out of the Champions League to Inter Milan last week.

Yet with only Paulo Ferreira, Juliano Belletti and Zhirkov left as recognised full-backs, Chelsea's defensive cover is now looking thin.

Ashley Cole Returns To Chelsea Training And Expected To Be Back By End Of Season

Chelsea defender Ashley Cole, who suffered the injury against Everton at the beginning of February, was given a stringent non-contact workout at the club's Cobham training ground.

The England left-back also did some heading and turning exercises to test out the joint before undergoing more physio work inside the complex.

And manager Carlo Ancelotti, who is preparing his side for a crucial Premier League game against Portsmouth on Wednesday night, said he expects Cole to join his team-mates in full training in two weeks' time.

'Ashley's recovery is going very well,' he said.

'He started to train in the sand today and I think he will start to train on the ground maybe in 15 days, so he will be ready to play the last game of the season.'

It had been feared Cole's ankle injury may keep him out of the World Cup - giving England boss Fabio Capello a selection headache for the tournament with second-choice Wayne Bridge having made himself unavailable.

But Cole looks in a positive frame of mind and has targeted the game against Wigan at Stamford Bridge on 9th May - the final day of the Premier League season - for his return.

It could mean the 29-year-old has at least two competitive fixtures before England's squad meet for their World Cup warm-up program.

Chelsea have the opportunity to reach the FA Cup final, which will be on 15th May, if they beat Aston Villa at Wembley in the last-four next month.

Contract Talks Between Chelsea And Midfielder Joe Cole Have Stalled

Contract negotiations between Chelsea and Joe Cole appear to have hit an impasse and Manchester City, Liverpool and Tottenham could all be in on the England international in the summer transfer window.

With the midfielder’s current deal running out this summer, stalling discussions could mean that Cole will leave Stamford Bridge after seven seasons with Chelsea.

Cole does not wish to leave Chelsea, and is keen to re-open contract talks so that an agreement can be reached.

"I've never spoken publicly about contracts before,” Cole told The Sun.

"I don't think contracts should really be discussed mid-season. I have always signed mine in the summer in the past.

"But this time it's different. We can't seem to find common ground and it's distracting. At the moment there is no offer on the table, so I know where I stand. I still hope to talk in the summer."

Cole has made 272 appearances for the Blues since joining from West Ham United in 2003 for £6.6million.

Ancelotti: Cole Going Nowhere

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti believes Joe Cole will remain at the club beyond the end of the season, despite mounting speculation regarding the player's future.

Cole's contract expires in the summer and the 28-year-old was reported as saying he has not been offered a new deal by the Stamford Bridge outfit.

It means the England winger could leave Ancelotti's side on a free during the close-season, with some of Chelsea's title rivals believed to be keen on capturing his signature should he depart the London club.

Cole has said he hopes to extend his stay at the Blues, and Ancelotti - who also dismissed claims he would be leaving Chelsea - reiterated his belief that the midfielder would remain with his team for the new campaign.

He told Sky Sports News: "I said the player will be here next season because the player wants to be here and the club wants to keep him in the squad.

"That's all - there is no news about this. I think that there is a time to speak about his contract but this is not my issue.

"I gave my technical opinion about this player and nothing else. I think that he is showing a pleasure to stay here, to play for this club."

Cole has failed to hold down a regular spot in the Chelsea team this season following a lengthy injury lay off with a cruciate ligament problem.

Ancelotti has used the former West Ham youngster sparingly during his bid to bring the Premier League title to the club, with Cole having to settle for a place on the subs bench.

The player has admitted he needs to play regular first team football in a bid to force his way into Fabio Capello's England squad for the World Cup finals in South Africa.

And Capello is another manager who has been unconvinced by Cole since his returned from injury, with comments from the Italian following the friendly win over Egypt in March suggesting the player's place in the 23-man party for June's show piece event may not be guaranteed.

But Ancelotti praised the Paddington-born star for his conduct around the Chelsea camp - although he too stressed it was important he played frequently on the domestic front.

He added: "He's doing a very good job, he's very professional and he has very good relationship with his other team mates.

"It's a very important moment for him and the other players to show his quality to stay in the squad for the World Cup with England.

"He wants to play, I know that, and he's doing everything he can in training to show me his quality. Sometimes he's played and sometimes he's stayed out, but that's what happens at the big teams."

Ancelotti: "The Game Against Portsmouth Is Very, Very Important"

A despondent Carlo Ancelotti targeted Chelsea’s next game at Portsmouth on Wednesday night following a disappointing draw at Blackburn on Sunday.

Following Chelsea’s 1-1 draw Ancelotti said: "It’s difficult to explain why this has happened. We have less probability of winning the title, but we want to fight. We need to work together, stay compact and the game against Portsmouth is very, very important. We can stay close to Manchester United."

Ancelotti continued: "I don’t know how many points we need to win the title. We need to win on Wednesday. We have to win, that’s the only solution to go forward. We needed to win this game and didn’t so it’s more difficult for us. It’s been a hard week, but every week is hard. We have chances to arrive in first place."

Chelsea’s Italian boss denied the result at Ewood Park was a hangover from the Champions League exit at the hands of Inter Milan and Jose Mourinho.

Ancelotti: "I don’t know about a hangover. We prepared very well for this game and tried to win to cancel out [the defeat] against Inter. It’s not an easy moment for us and it will be difficult to recover. We have to leave this moment as quickly as possible. It was a difficult game. There was a lot of fight on the pitch. We tried to play football, but we lost confidence. They put pressure on us. Afterwards we had chances, but it was too late."

Branislav Ivanovic picked up an injury at Blackburn and is an injury doubt for the trip to Fratton Park but Petr Cech is expected to return for Chelsea.

John Obi Mikel Calls On Chelsea Team-Mates To Turn Season Around

Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel has called upon his team-mates to pick themselves up after a week of disappointment domestically and in Europe, and begin to turn their season around.

After losing to Inter in the Champions League and subsequently drawing against Blackburn Rovers in the Premier League, the Blues find their European and league dreams in tatters, but Mikel hasn't given up yet.

"I think the belief, mentality and everything is still there," Mikel told the Press Association.

"In football sometimes you have a bad spell and we are having ours right now. We made the mistakes so we have to repair it."

The 22-year-old remains confident that the Blues can still lift the Premier League title, despite letting a five-point lead slip over the past few months.

"We have to fight as a team, not as individuals," Mikel said.

"We played a very good game in the first half yesterday [at Blackburn] but in the second we didn't fight well enough.

"The owner [Abramovich] just came to show support. We still have the double [league and FA Cup] to win and that's what he came to assure us.

"He's a football fan and understands but at the same time he wants us to put things right.

"Everyone was shattered after losing to Inter, which is why he came over - to tell us to keep going. All we can do now is look forward to Wednesday [against Portsmouth] and, hopefully, put things right."

Lampard Proves To Be A Class Act Yet Again

Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard set the bar high for his peers yet again in terms of demonstrating fair play. Many other football players around the world would have thought twice before getting back on their feet after going to the ground in the final moments of a game. Sunday afternoon’s game against Blackburn, in particular, was one such game where circumstances could have forced any player to resort to desperate tacticts.

With the Blues struggling to take the lead in a hard-fought 1-1 draw at Ewood Park, Lampard was obviously one of the key players who the visitors were relying on. During one quick play, his teammates even managed to get the ball to him in his favored territory at the top of the box, and as Lamps broke inside the box, he lost his balance. As a result, the visiting supporters – as well as several Chelsea players – appealed hard for a penalty as soon as Lampard hit the turf.

The referee, not ideally positioned to make an immediate call, paused for a second before insisting that the play go on. One of the reasons the head official Steve Bennett was able to deliver the right verdict was the sportsmanship shown by Lampard in getting back to his feet right away. Lampard knew that despite all the desperation in the world that his club faces at the moment, he had to do the right thing to lead by example.

Not only did Lampard’s actions prove that he is one of the greatest professionals for young fans to look up to, but in maintaining his integrity, he also sent a message to those who believe that diving is an inseparable part of the modern game. To reiterate, Chelsea’s form has lately been so poor that anyone in Lampard’s shoes could have been tempted to stay down and pressurize the referee to award a penalty.

Frank Lampard, though, continues to stand out as he continues to build his reputation as one of England’s finest football players of all time.

Cole First Out As Abramovich Sees Error Of His Ways

Fifteen minutes after the final whistle blew on Chelsea’s latest unsuccessful tilt at the Champions League, Roman Abramovich, flanked by minders, took a long, lonely trudge across the pitch at Stamford Bridge.

His face, as ever, was inscrutable, but enough noises have come out of Stamford Bridge to tell us what he was thinking. Disappointment with Carlo Ancelotti? Yes, a little. Anger with his players for failing to deliver the performances in proportion with their pay-packets? Yes, plenty. Regret at losing sight of the big picture over the past year or two? Intriguingly, yes.

Abramovich, according to someone close to him, is facing up to having made mistakes. To an outsider, the obvious one was falling out with José Mourinho, but the Chelsea owner is more concerned by the way he has allowed his squad to grow older — and, very significantly, richer — while seeing Manchester United re-establish themselves as the dominant force in English football.

One example cited was that of the John Terry contract saga last summer, when he was wanted by Manchester City. Abramovich, apparently, was "spooked" by the possibility that his captain had been attracted to City’s riches, so Terry was offered — and duly signed — a new deal worth £151,000 a week. Six months later, Abramovich recognises that, while it would have been unwise to sell Terry, a five-year £40 million contract for a defender approaching his 29th birthday was not good business.

It goes on. Aware of the need to rejuvenate an ageing squad but committed to his ambition to make the club self-sufficient, Abramovich planned to raise funds for reinforcements this summer by selling a key player or two. But who is there to sell? The time to cash in on Terry, Ricardo Carvalho, Frank Lampard, Deco, Didier Drogba or Nicolas Anelka has gone, with their market value — and in certain cases their performance level — now in decline.

Considering it was always Abramovich’s aim for Chelsea to break even by 2010, the lack of forward planning is staggering. Although the precise figure has not yet been released, Chelsea’s wage bill for the last financial year was more than £150 million. United’s was a not inconsiderable £123 million, but the champions’ turnover was £72 million higher than Chelsea’s. In terms of wages as a percentage of turnover, Chelsea spent at least 70 per cent. The equivalent figures at United and Arsenal are 44 per cent and 33 per cent respectively.

Abramovich accepts that to rejuvenate the squad he will have to spend, but he is loath to throw good money after bad. Joe Cole, out of contract this summer, seems destined to be the first victim of a purge of the older players, but he might not be the only one.

Robinho Warns Brazilian Wonderkid Neymar To Avoid Joining Chelsea

Brazilian wonderkid Neymar is ready to take Robinho's advice and snub a move to Chelsea.

The 18-year-old, who has been backed by Pele to go to the World Cup finals this summer, is reluctant to leave his homeland at such a young age after being told to stay put by the City loan star and his own father.

Chelsea have tracked the forward for more than two years and are weighing up a £20m move, but Santos recently tied Neymar to a contract till 2014 and insist he will not be sold for less than his £31.5m release clause.

Third-party investors Grupo DIS secured 40 per cent of Neymar's economic rights when the new contract was agreed with Santos in February.

DIS deny reports that they met Chelsea officials earlier this month and say they agreed with Santos that their star player should stay in Brazil for at least another year.

Wilkins Confirms Roman Talks

Ray Wilkins has confirmed club owner Roman Abramovich held talks with the Chelsea squad in the wake of their UEFA Champions League defeat to Inter Milan.

The wealthy Russian businessman has made no secret of his desire to see the Blues crowned champions of Europe, with coach Carlo Ancelotti admitting that was his target when appointed in the summer.

A succession of managers have all been unable to deliver the greatest prize in European club football, with Claudio Ranieri, Jose Mourinho, Avram Grant, Luiz Felipe Scolari and Guus Hiddink all failing before Ancelotti's appointment.

Reports claimed that Abramovich issued an ultimatum to the squad after they crashed out of the competition at the last-16 stage to former boss Mourinho and threatened wholesale changes in the summer.

But assistant boss Wilkins has played down those suggestions and insists the playing staff are always happy to hear what the owner has to say.

Wilkins said: "It was a very positive meeting that the players have had with Roman so from that aspect he just added his support to the situation.

"We were delighted to see him, he's always extremely involved in the club.

"He owns the club and wants to have a big input into what happens. So whenever he is down it is a positive as far as we're concerned.

"He's very close to the players, he knows the way they work so therefore he wanted to have a little input with them during the week. It was nothing dramatic, it was all pretty low-key stuff so we just get on with the business now."

Wilkins accepted changes in playing personnel were likely this summer, but said that was a normal occurrence at any big club.

"Seasons pass on, people are brought in and people leave the club and that's the way football is," he said.

"We're no different to any other football club. We want to improve, we want to go forward and if it means a few players go along the way and a few come in that is just the way football is run.

"Whenever a top-quality player becomes available, a top club like ours will always be involved in the process."

Hansen: Chelsea Do Not Have The Desire To Win The Premier League

Liverpool FC legend Alan Hansen believes Chelsea FC lack the desire to win the Premier League title this season, and believes Manchester United and Arsenal FC will be the main contenders for the remainder of the season.

Chelsea FC’s 1-1 draw with Blackburn Rovers at the weekend has handed the initiative to Manchester United and Arsenal FC, and Liverpool FC hero Hansen suggests age maybe catching up with Carlo Ancelotti’s side.

Hansen, who won eight league titles with Liverpool FC during his illustrious Anfield playing career, believes Chelsea FC should have had the tile wrapped up by now, but recent stuttering form has enabled Manchester United and Arsenal FC to fight their way back in. Hansen suggests the likes of Jon Obi-Mikel and Michael Ballack amongst others appear to be passengers at Stamford Bridge.

The Liverpool FC legend told the Telegraph: “Chelsea's failure to win at Blackburn on Sunday, when they should have won by five or six, proved that they simply do not have the desire to win the Premier League.”

“The title run-in is well underway, but Manchester United and Arsenal are the only teams who have that genuine desire to win it.”

“There has never been a season when the title has been there for the taking as it has been this year and Chelsea should have won it by a country mile.”

“United have struggled for a long time and produced more bad performances than I can ever remember.”

“Arsenal, having lost heavily to both United and Chelsea, should have been out of the race a long time ago. Chelsea should be home and hosed by now but, for whatever reason, they have not shown the desire required to win the league.”

“Why has that happened? It could be down to a host of reasons, but biggest question is do they really want it? If you look at Arsenal and United in recent weeks, their performances tell you categorically that they desperately want to win the league.”

“That’s why I believe that the title race is now between those two. Chelsea are not out of it, but they don’t appear to want it enough.”

“Sunday was a real marker for them. Having seen United beat Liverpool following Arsenal’s win against West Ham on Saturday, Chelsea could and should have beaten Blackburn inside 25 minutes, but it didn’t happen.”

“Maybe age is catching up with Chelsea and they certainly lack pace in key areas.”

“If they don’t win the league, they will need fresh blood in the summer with four or five new signings, but what happens next all depends on Roman Abramovich and whether he has the desire to start again.”

“Chelsea might point to the injury that has cost them the services of Michael Essien because he has been a huge loss. But that excuse doesn’t wash because Arsenal have been without Robin van Persie for months and United have had to deal with both Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic being injured for long periods.”

“Chelsea have too many players whose contribution comes into question. What does John Obi Mikel do? Michael Ballack doesn’t do enough, yet he looks like getting a new contract. Salomon Kalou is in and out and Nicolas Anelka, who looked brilliant earlier in the season, has now gone off the boil.”

“There are no young players coming through who look like replacing the ageing superstars.”

Carlo Ancelotti Concedes Chelsea Have Lost Composure

Carlo Ancelotti conceded tonight that his Chelsea team had lost confidence and composure after their second demoralising result in a week. Six days after going out of the Champions League they could only draw 1-1 at Blackburn Rovers and their manager admitted they were no longer favourites for the Premier League title.

Didier Drogba gave Chelsea a sixth‑minute lead with his 28th goal of the season but they threw away a winning position when El Hadji Diouf equalised in the second half. Ancelotti later accepted that Manchester United were now "strongly placed" for what would be their fourth championship in a row. "For us it is less of a probability," he said.

In all competitions Chelsea have won five and lost four of their last 11 games and Ancelotti believes the rot set in when they were beaten 4-2 at home by Manchester City on 27 February. "That result was unbelievable and since that day we have been in difficulty," he said. "The confidence is not there at the moment and winning is the only solution, starting at Portsmouth on Wednesday. It is vital that we win that one.

"It is more difficult for us to win the title now. It is not impossible but to do it we need to play better. Collectively we need to work together to go forward. I don't know how many points we need but it is possible that we will have to win every game."
Chelsea and their manager were encouraged by the fact that United still had to play at Ewood Park, on 11 April. Ancelotti said: "It will be difficult here for them, too. Blackburn at home are very strong. They have lost here only twice and you have to fight them for everything. Every team finds it difficult here."

After Portsmouth on Wednesday Chelsea play Aston Villa at home and Manchester United away in what the midfielder Frank Lampard described tonight as "make or break" fixtures.

Ancelotti was asked if his team had been suffering a hangover after elimination from the Champions League by Internazionale. "I'm not sure about that but I don't think so," he said. "In the first half we played well, scored a good goal and had other chances, which we should have taken. In the second half it was more difficult for us to play on the floor because Blackburn won a lot of the second balls and when that happened we lost our composure.

"By the time we got it back it was too late. Manchester United are now top of the league and we have to run more and do better and leave this behind us as soon as possible."

Sam Allardyce, the Blackburn manager, believes Chelsea could still pull off a league and FA Cup double. "We've put a dent in their chances but they are still capable of doing it," he said.

Match Report: Blackburn Rovers 1 - 1 Chelsea

Chelsea suffered a stumble in the title race that could yet prove fatal to their chances of taking the Barclays Premier League crown to round off a week of bitter disappointment for Carlo Ancelotti's side.

A match that seemed there for the taking after Didier Drogba's early goal somehow drifted out of Chelsea's grasp.

El Hadji Diouf headed a superb equaliser as Blackburn put in such a powerful second-half performance that keeper Jason Brown was barely tested.

For Chelsea, whose record in their past nine matches is now four wins, four defeats and one draw, this was hardly a display of title-winning credentials and they are now four points behind Manchester United and two behind Arsenal, though with a game in hand.

This was underlined by the fact that the clear man of the match was none other than Rovers' 18-year-old central defender Phil Jones, making his league debut and up against Drogba and Nicolas Anelka.

Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce had gambled on him in the absence of Ryan Nelsen and Gael Givet.

That gamble may have seen rash as Drogba carved out an early chance for himself, dinking a neat curling shot just wide of the post despite being surrounded by a posse of defenders.

That was just a foretaste of what was to come as the Ivory Coast striker opened the scoring in the sixth minute with an almost effortless simplicity.

Anelka burst down the right, cut inside Jones and laid the ball back for Drogba to wrong-foot the entire Rovers defence and keeper Jason Brown with a neat left-footed finish back into the opposite corner.

Kalou threatened to further emphasise Chelsea's early dominance with a header from a corner that flew over the crossbar but from then on it was downhill for the visitors.

David Dunn won a free-kick in Morten Gamst Pedersen range after being halted by an agricultural challenge by Alex, but although the Norwegian was on target Chelsea keeper Ross Turnbull turned his effort behind.

Pedersen had another sight of goal but was wildly off-target with his volley, while Jones drew the loudest cheers from the Rovers fans so far with a series of crunching - but legal - challenges as Blackburn did their best to out-power the visitors.

Florent Malouda let fly from 20 yards out with a stinging drive but Brown managed to parry the shot, if somewhat unconvincingly.

Ancelotti was then forced to make a change just before the break with Branislav Ivanovic, who appeared to have been stood on unintentionally by El-Hadji Diouf, limped off to be replaced by Zhirkov.

Blackburn, as if scenting that Chelsea may have missed a trick by scoring just a single goal in the first half, upped the tempo in the second.

Zhirkov's first involvement for Chelsea, right at the start of the second half was to head off the line after Chris Samba had beaten the flapping Turnbull to Pedersen's long throw.

Pedersen was then left cursing again when given space to shoot from 25 yards out but missing the target by some margin.

Frank Lampard, who had been having a quiet game by his standards, was much closer with a rising effort from the same range that was a whisker away from the top right-hand corner.

The suspicion that Chelsea had seemed over-confident in settling for a 1-0 win had been growing the longer the second half went on, and in the 70th minute Diouf made them pay.

The Senegal international hung in the air above Ferreira to meet Michel Salgado's cross with a superb header down into the corner.

Chelsea, stung in action, became more direct themselves and Alex struck a piledriver from a 30-yard free-kick over the bar.

With time running down, Drogba was denied a fine winner by a good block, then Jones crowned a magnificent debut with an intercepting header to keep out John Terry.

Rovers celebrated as though they had won the Premier League. Chelsea looked as though they had just lost it.

Chelsea Owner Roman Abramovich Hands Out Ultimatum To Players And Staff - Report

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has handed an ultimatum to his players and staff to either prove their mettle - by winning a trophy, or fall prey to the axe at the season's end, the News of the World has reported.

The wrath of the Russian billionaire is believed to have been irked by the manner of the defeat to Inter, and in particular former boss Jose Mourinho, who masterminded a famous victory over the Blues at Stamford Bridge amid taunting chants from travelling fans aimed at the west London club's owner.

Following the heavy handed defeat, which sent the Premier League title chasers out of the Champions League earlier than initially expected, Abramovich is believed to have arrived unannounced at Cobham on Wednesday, and called a meeting to discuss the direction in which the club is currently heading.

The owner was reportedly unhappy with the state of affairs on as well as off the pitch, and it is claimed that some players as well as coaching staff are on the verge of being shown the door if silverware does not roll into the Bridge at the end of this term.

An unnamed source who attended the meeting is quoted as saying: "Roman didn't actually say that much but it was clear from what he did say and his body language that he was absolutely furious.

"Nobody knew he was coming to Cobham on Wednesday and certainly nobody expected the three most powerful men at the club to call a meeting.

"It was Tenenbaum who did most of the talking. Well, actually, there was as much shouting as talking. He made the points that Roman obviously wanted to get across.

"The meeting lasted almost two hours and it wasn't a debate, it was the boss getting a message across and everybody was pretty clear about what it meant. If there wasn't a dramatic change, then there would be new faces coming in the summer.

"It wasn't just the players he was talking about, it was the coaches and the medical people as well. Nobody felt safe coming out of the meeting."

Chelsea Pip City To Neymar Capture

Chelsea are set to beat Manchester City to the £30million summer signing of Brazilian wonderkid Neymar.

The Santos striker, 18, was thought to be on his way to Eastlands as part of the deal that saw Robinho loaned back to his first club in January.

But Chelsea are ready to exploit a potential breakdown in the agreement.

City secured first option when Robinho joined Santos on a six-month loan deal.

But problems in meeting his wages mean if Santos cannot finalise sponsorship deals worth £375,000-a-month, the whole loan deal could collapse, with Robinho returning to Eastlands.

Real Madrid claim to have signed a pre-contract agreement with Neymar but Santos say they were not party to that. The club own 60 per cent of Neymar's economic rights with the rest belonging to South American management group Sonda.

Neymar starred for Brazil in last year's World Under-17 Championship but is not expected to be named in Carlos Dunga's World Cup squad.

Mourinho Backs Blues Squad

Jose Mourinho believes there is still time for the current Chelsea team to win the Champions League.

The former Blues coach masterminded Chelsea's exit from this season's competition with new club Inter Milan earlier this week, sparking claims the side has reached the end of an era.

Six of Tuesday's starting line-up are 29 or over, while Ricardo Carvalho (31), Deco (32) and Paulo Ferreira (31) are on the sidelines at the moment, and there has been talk of wide-scale changes needed at Stamford Bridge in the summer to make sure they are Champions League contenders next term.

But Mourinho feels only bad fortune has denied Chelsea a European title so far and reckons coach Carlo Ancelotti could still launch a tilt at Champions League glory with the current crop next season.

"They don't need to change much," he said.

"This is a great team with great professionals with people in a great age.

"They don't have a Zanetti like I have, they don't have a Toldo like I have, or a Materazzi. They don't have 36, 37 or 38 year-old players.

"They are in a perfect age, the age of experience, the age of everything, so they can do it. It is difficult to say what they need.

"We - when I say we, I mean Chelsea - lost a semi-final with a goal that was not a goal and lost a semi-final on penalties.

"They lost a final with a penalty that if they scored they win the competition.

"Last year they lost against Barcelona in a game which should have had three penalties for them.

"I think in recent years for Chelsea, this one was the year when they can say 'we lost against a team that was better than us'."

Terry Admits Chelsea Stars Fear The Axe After European Exit

Chelsea skipper John Terry fears a backlash from Carlo Ancelotti and says all the players are sweating over their places against Blackburn today.

Terry believes Ancelotti is still fuming over the way his side crashed out of the Champions League against Inter Milan.

Terry knows they cannot afford a repeat performance at Ewood Park today and he said: “We will get a bollocking from the management, from the club, for the way we played. It was a bad performance from us.

“The manager wasn’t happy. Players could be dropped for Blackburn, could lose their place in the team because of the Inter performance.”

Terry is also facing a ­backlash from UEFA after slamming German referee Wolfgang Stark and claiming Chelsea have been victimised once again by the officials in the Champions League.

Chelsea were fuming that they were not given a penalty when Didier Drogba appeared to be wrestled to ground in the first half by Walter Samuel. They were also angry Salomon Kalou was not given a penalty in the first leg.

The former England skipper is so outraged he has urged the Chelsea hierarchy to take up the issue with Europe’s governing body as he feels drastic action needs to be taken. When asked if Terry thought there was a conspiracy against Chelsea, he added: “I don’t know. I am not going to say the word conspiracy, which is not the term I am using.

“But I am so frustrated by what happened and it is not good enough. We were at home and we didn’t get one decision.

“I think we need someone at the club to take it up with UEFA because it has gone on for two years now. People might say I am being one-sided, but it just wasn’t good enough.”

Michael Ballack Confirms Chelsea Contract Offer

German international midfielder Michael Ballack has confirmed he has received a new contract offer from Chelsea and he expects to put pen to paper in the coming weeks.

The 33-year-old is out of contract at Stamford Bridge at the end of the season and is quoted in Bild this morning confirming the new deal.

Ballack: "The club has made me an offer. It shows how happy they are with me that they plan to keep me."

The former Bayern Munich midfielder continued: "Now it’s just a question of clarifying a few details of how long it will be and then we will agree."

Bild add that Ballack is seeking a one year extension to his contract with the option of another season until 2011/2012.

Michael Ballack has made 31 appearances for Chelsea in the Premier League and Champions League this season, scoring four goals and providing three assists. He has also been booked twice and sent off once.

Chelsea Defender Cole Set To Return For Season's Final Six Weeks

Chelsea and England defender Ashley Cole is expected to return for the final six weeks of the season, according to the Sunday Mirror.

The England defender broke his left ankle during Chelsea's defeat to Everton in February.

Following surgery, Cole has undergone intensive rehabilitation during a three week spell in France.

There had been media reports which claimed that it was hugely unlikely that Cole would play again this season, jeopardizing his selection for Fabio Capello's World Cup squad.

But, Cole's operation on his ankle was deemed a complete success, his recovery is going well and now the left-back is expected to return for the final six weeks of Chelsea's season.

The news will be welcomed by both Chelsea coach Carlo Ancelotti and England coach Fabio Capello, who is already without left-back Wayne Bridge, who ruled himself out of World Cup contention.

Chelsea Defender John Terry Bemoans Referee's 'Bad Performance' In Champions League Loss

After crashing out of the Champions League in a 1-0 loss to Inter Milan at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea captain John Terry criticised the refereeing during their crucial European matches.

The Blues were eliminated in the round of 16 by a 3-1 aggregate score, but the former England captain believes that the referee did not help the Blues.

"It was a bad performance by us but a really bad performance from the referee,” Terry told The Guardian.

"It is not good enough at this stage of the competition. We were at home and we didn't get one decision. We do our best to get ourselves in this position and for two years running we get let down by bad refereeing."

German referee Markus Stark was in charge of the second leg and refused a couple of Chelsea’s penalty appeals, decisions that Terry believed should have been given.

"I'm not going to say the word conspiracy. But I'm so frustrated by what happened. The penalty on Didier Drogba was blatant and how the referee and linesman miss those decisions frustrates me."

Terry also revealed that the referee was discourteous to the Chelsea skipper when he was inquiring as to why the penalties were not given.

"When a decision didn't go our way I, as captain, went to speak to the German referee and he turned his back on me. I wasn't shouting. I went to try to talk to him and when he wouldn't talk that is when I got frustrated. That is just pure disrespect."

Terry Risks UEFA Punishment After Slating Referees

Chelsea captain John Terry has criticised the standard of UEFA's elite referees following his side's elimination from the Champions League by Inter Milan last week.

Terry, who was widely quoted in Sunday's British newspapers, could be cited by the European governing body after claiming that bad refereeing contributed to Chelsea's loss not only to Inter but also to Barcelona last season.

Chelsea had two penalty appeals turned down by German referee Wolfgang Stark against Inter on Tuesday while Norwegian referee Tom Henning Ovrebo turned down four penalty appeals at Stamford Bridge against Barcelona last season.

Terry also claimed that Stark "disrespected him" as Chelsea captain by turning his back when he went to speak to him.

"It was a bad performance by us but a really bad performance from the referee," Terry said. "It is not good enough at this stage of the competition. We do our best to get ourselves in this position and for two years running we get let down by bad refereeing. We need someone at the club to take it up with UEFA."

Terry, who has made plenty of headlines for the wrong reasons this season, now faces the risk of a punishment from UEFA after remarking: "I'm not going to say the word conspiracy. I am not using that term, but I'm so frustrated by what happened.

"Florent Malouda got fouled inside the box in the first half and the referee waved play on. Didier Drogba gets manhandled and if the referee misses it, we have the linesman.

"When a decision didn't go our way I, as captain, went to speak to the referee and he turned his back on me.

"I wasn't shouting. I went to try to talk to him and when he wouldn't talk that is when I got frustrated. That is just pure disrespect.

"If I get myself in trouble, then so be it. I owe it to our fans to speak out."

No UEFA spokesman was available for comment.

Terry will not lead England at the World Cup in South Africa this year after he was stripped of the national captaincy last month following newspaper revelations that he had had an extra-marital affair with the former partner of team mate Wayne Bridge.

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink Wants To See 'Refreshment' At Chelsea

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti needs to "freshen up" his squad at Stamford Bridge in the summer according to former Blues striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.

The Italian's side have become a little one-dimensional over the course of the campaign, with the focus on efficiency rather than style.

Hasselbaink feels injuries have exacerbated that situation but more creativity is still required, especially after the manner of the Blues' Champions League exit at the hands of Inter.

"I was quite frustrated seeing them lose the way they did," the former Dutch international told Sky Sports' 'Goals on Sunday' programme.

"They are a good side, but I said this a year and a half ago - they need refreshment.

"They need some help in the creativity. They have the power but they struggle to create a little bit.

"Everything is focussed on [Frank] Lampard and [Didier] Drogba, everything is going through the middle.

"What doesn't help Chelsea is Jose Bosingwa being injured, Ashley Cole being injured and Michael Essien out.

"It has been very, very difficult with injuries."

With the Champions League beyond their reach for another season, Hasselbaink insists winning the Premier League must be the Blues' main focus now, despite them also being in the semi-finals of the FA Cup.

"They still have a great chance to win the league, but they have not been playing well for the last four or five weeks," he added.

"Now they only have the championship. They have the FA Cup of course, but they have won that the last two years. They need to focus on the league."

Carlo Ancelotti Is Right Man For Chelsea, Says Graeme Le Saux

Didier Drogba's dismissal as Chelsea crashed out of the Champions League to Jose Mourinho and Inter Milan cannot be condoned. His stamp on Thiago Motta cannot be excused. The incident can, though, be understood.

Chelsea's players had grown increasingly frustrated at Inter's robust approach, their complaints to referee Wolfgang Stark increasingly vocal as he waved away two penalty appeals when first the Ivorian and then Branislav Ivanovic were mauled to the ground.

It is at these moments that referees are presented with a difficult decision, perhaps the toughest of all the calls officials must make. Give a penalty and discourage all such behaviour all over the pitch for the rest of the game. Fail to do so, as Stark did, and achieve the exact opposite. His lack of action encouraged Inter's cynicism and led directly to Drogba's dismissal. It was a sending off borne of frustration, and I can sympathise with that.

Two of the three red cards I earned in my career were a result of reacting to an opponent's provocation. They book-ended my time in the game, the first picked up as a youngster, the second when I was with Chelsea at Blackburn in a match when I was so wound up before kick-off that I probably had a yellow card before I went on the pitch.

Like me, Drogba deserved to be sent off, but that does not change the fact that referees have a duty to make decisions, however difficult, to take that opportunity to draw the line between what is and what is not allowed. I do not believe Stark's failure to do so was premeditated. It was simply poor refereeing.

That should not detract, of course, from the fact that over the two legs Inter deserved to progress. Chelsea were not especially poor, and had either of those penalty decisions been given the tie may have swung in their favour, which shows how fine the margins are between success and failure for the game's elite. They were not, though, and Carlo Ancelotti's side are now left to concentrate on the FA Cup and, first and foremost, the Premier League.

With the disappointment of their elimination from Europe fresh in their minds, and all of the attendant psychological and physical effects, Chelsea must face up to a pivotal week of their season. They travel to Blackburn on Sunday, face Portsmouth at Fratton Park on Wednesday before returning to Stamford Bridge to host Aston Villa. It is the sort of week that makes or breaks a title challenge.

Blackburn, particularly, will present a thorough examination of the character of this Chelsea team and Ancelotti's ability to get the right response to a setback from his players. Chelsea have no time for a hangover. It is about a team's determination, their personality and their will to win.

No players could approach such an arduous run of fixtures fully fresh. You are going on to the pitch tired, you have been travelling and playing, travelling and playing, scarcely doing any training at all, but you have to overcome all of that, do your job and hope that those players in your side who can win a game single-handedly perform.

Chelsea have several of those, not least Drogba and Frank Lampard, and they also boast a bigger and deeper squad than most. Ancelotti's side will need to call on all of that if they are to take nine points from these three games and seize the initiative in the title race.

Even if they fail to do so, even if they fail to win the Premier League, there can be no doubt this has been an immensely positive season for Chelsea and for Ancelotti.

Ever since Mourinho left in 2007, Chelsea have been searching for a replacement of similar stature and in Carlo, they have found that. He has the credibility and charisma Mourinho boasted, and the good relationship between manager and players that is portrayed in public is echoed in private. From speaking to those at Stamford Bridge, it is clear Ancelotti and his staff have created an excellent working environment.

That shines through on the pitch. Players like Ashley Cole and Florent Malouda have flourished. The manager has handed young players their opportunity, and it is clear he is not picking by reputation. He has got every single player on board and convinced them to believe in his methods.

Elimination from the Champions League has led to suggestions that all of the good work Ancelotti has done might be under threat, but I believe Chelsea's powerbrokers know they have the right man. All he needs is the chance to mould the side to his tactical ideology.

That should not encompass a major overhaul. For all the talk of Fernando Torres or the like, Chelsea need just one or two players – a creative dynamo would be top of their agenda – who fit in with Ancelotti. It is all well and good spending £50 million on a player, but if they are not suitable for the manager's vision, they will have little impact.

For Ancelotti to cast Chelsea in his own image, as Arsène Wenger has done in the style he has brought to Arsenal or Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford, he needs time. Mourinho had a plan, and was given the space to execute it. The signs from his first season in English football, wherever the title ends up, are that Ancelotti deserves that too.

Match Preview: Blackburn Vs Chelsea

Chelsea face a stern test of their title credentials as they look to bounce back from European disappointment.

Blackburn have an impressive record at Ewood Park this season, losing just two games in the Premier League, and their home form has kept them away from the relegation battle.

Rovers are currently 10 points clear of the bottom three in 12th position and will feel they can push into the top half of the table if they enjoy a strong finish to the campaign.

Having knocked Chelsea out of the Carling Cup in December, prevailing on penalties after a thrilling 3-3 draw, Blackburn will go into the clash in confident mood.

But Sam Allardyce will be without Paul Robinson for around a month after the goalkeeper was substituted with a torn calf muscle in the defeat to Tottenham.

Jason Brown came on at White Hart Lane and could start against Chelsea, although Mark Bunn has been recalled from his loan spell with Sheffield United to provide an extra option.

Ryan Nelsen (knee) and Lars Jacobsen (hernia) are still sidelined, while Gael Givet (groin) is also out and on-loan striker Franco di Santo cannot play against his parent club.

However, David Dunn came through the encounter against Spurs unscathed and should start again.

Chelsea bowed out of the UEFA Champions League in midweek after losing 1-0 at home to Inter Milan, coached by former manager Jose Mourinho.

The onus had been on the Blues to attack after Inter won the first leg 2-1 and Carlo Ancelotti will have been disappointed by how rarely they threatened the Italians' goal.

But Ancelotti must now focus on domestic matters as Chelsea continue to fight for silverware in the Premier League and FA Cup.

Chelsea are currently two points behind league leaders Manchester United but have control of their own destiny with a game in hand.

Third-choice goalkeeper Ross Turnbull has played between the posts in the absence of injured No.1 Petr Cech and also Hilario, who are both still doubtful.

Michael Essien, Ashley Cole and Jose Bosingwa are still sidelined, so there are unlikely to be many changes from the side beaten by Inter.

Joe Cole will hope to start as time runs out for him to impress England manager Fabio Capello ahead of the World Cup.

Possible starting XIs:

Blackburn: Brown, Salgado, Chimbonda, Samba, Olsson, Andrews, Dunn, Emerton, N'Zonzi, Pedersen, Kalinic.

Chelsea: Turnbull, Ivanovic, Terry, Carvalho, Zhirkov, Mikel, Lampard, Ballack, Malouda, Anelka, Drogba.

Allardyce Wary Of Chelsea Backlash

Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce has warned his players to expect Chelsea to react like a wounded animal after their Champions League mauling by Jose Mourinho's Inter Milan side.

Allardyce said Chelsea, who visit Ewood Park on Sunday, had receiving a "massive kick up the backside" from Inter but is hoping their players will suffer from fatigue.

He said: "I'm not sure it's a good time to play them but the only thing we do know is that they are going to tire later on in the game.

"They put a huge amount of effort in against Inter Milan so there will be some physical and mental fatigue, so we have to make sure we are in there with a shout for the last quarter of the game.

"Chelsea have had a massive kick up the backside and didn't expect to lose that game and get knocked out of the Champions League, and they are now a wounded animal that you have got to protect against."

Allardyce has taken some tips from Mourinho's book of tactics by studying the success of Inter Milan - and Wigan earlier in the season - to pinpoint weaknesses in Carlo Ancelotti's side.

"I learn an awful lot from every game, I usually used to manage to set out a team tactically against Chelsea that could get a result and we have had a look at some of the stuff that Inter did," said Allardyce.

"We've also looked at what Wigan did when they beat them, as they are a team very similar to ourselves.

"If you watch Inter Milan's work-rate and the tactics that they put together it shows why they nullified Chelsea so much.

"Whether you can keep that up for 90 minutes is another thing but we'll have a go.

"We have to be right tactically and we need 11 lads prepared to roll their sleeves up and work harder and run longer than they have done all season."

Agent Denies Neymar Approach

Chelsea have not made an approach to sign Brazilian youngster Neymar, according to the player's agent Wagner Ribeiro.

Another one of the Santos forward's representatives, Augusto Frederico Pena, previously announced that he would likely leave Brazil in the summer, with Chelsea or Manchester City the destination.

However, Ribeiro has now said that his client has not entered negotiations with the Stamford Bridge outfit over a possible move.

"It isn't true at all that I had a meeting with people from Chelsea for negotiating Neymar," he told Radio Cultura.

"Nobody got in touch with either me or his father and even less with the officials of Santos.

Interest
"The only moment they showed interest in Neymar was two years ago when he was 16 years old.

"In that moment they came to Brazil and saw him in action personally during the Sao Paulo Youth Cup."

Neymar is one of the most sought-after talents in world football, with several of Europe's top clubs ready to secure his signature.

But his agent is adamant that Santos do not yet want to sell the player, instead hinting that they could hold out for a mega-money deal later in the summer transfer window.

He added: "On the other hand the president Luis Alvaro de Oliveira Ribeiro has said to me that he doesn't want to sell Neymar.

"And that is true because the club has signed a new contract with him until December 2014. And the most important thing is that Neymar isn't interested in leaving the team.

"And we know that we will have much more offers for him after the World Cup."

Carlo Ancelotti: I Won't Be Axed

Defiant Carlo Ancelotti claims Chelsea will not sack him even if they finish the season without a trophy.

But the under-pressure Blues boss has challenged his Champions League flops to do the Double anyway – just in case.

Chelsea will try to rebound from their crushing defeat to Jose Mourinho’s Inter Milan when they face Blackburn on Sunday.

And Ancelotti said: “Will I still be here next season? Yes. I’m sure – 100 per cent.

“I’m sure because I think that, at the end of the season, we will have had a very good season. A fantastic season.

“We are in the semi-finals of the FA Cup and two points behind Manchester United but with a game in hand, so our destiny is in our own hands.

“If we win every game, we can do the Double. That’s very difficult, but we can try to do this. That’s very important, to think about this.”

Ancelotti had a sleepless night after being outfoxed by former Chelsea boss Mourinho and could not bear to watch yesterday’s Champions League draw.

But he was back to his defiant best after vital clear-the-air talks with disappointed Blues owner Roman Abramovich at the club’s Surrey HQ on Thursday.

Ancelotti said: “He came here to support us because he knows football very well and he knows that we are involved in important competitions again.

“We have to shift the objectives because we were focused on the Champions League and now we’ve changed our aim.

“I think to think you can do a Double is a good motivation for everyone at this club. It was my idea. It’s a new motivation for me, also.

“I needed this because I was disappointed by what happened on Tuesday. I slept two hours.

“Not very much but enough. I couldn’t sleep. But now I am fresh, no?

“Only five teams, I think, have won a Double in 140 years here in England.

“It’s not easy, but we can think about this and do our best – that’s our aim.”

Actually six teams have won a league championship and FA Cup Double in this country – Preston, Aston Villa, Tottenham, Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United.

But it is something that Chelsea have not managed – even under ‘Special One’ Mourinho.

And now Ancelotti is convinced he can achieve it in his first season in England.

As AC Milan boss, he suffered a shock early exit from the Champions League to Deportivo La Coruna in 2004.

But Ancelotti said: “Immediately we changed focus and concentrated on Serie A – and we won it.

“It’s not easy because the disappointment stays in your mind, but you have to put it out of your head and concentrate on the league.” Ancelotti also confirmed Starsport’s exclusive that time could be up for some of Chelsea’s ageing stars, who face being replaced by younger players this summer.

He said: “It’s normal that, with a new season, there are new faces. This is normal.”

Anelka Desires New Blues Deal

Nicolas Anelka has given Chelsea the clearest indication that he is ready to pledge his future to the club, while Ross Turnbull is hoping he can stay in Carlo Ancelotti's first team plans.

The Premier League challengers are understood to have reopened talks with the French striker's representatives over a contract extension that would see the much-travelled marksman remain at Stamford Bridge until 2013.

Initial discussions with Anelka's team last week stalled, allegedly over his desire for a £40,000-a-week pay increase from his current £80,000-a-week deal.

But the 31-year-old is adamant he wants to remain in London with Ancelotti's side after chopping and changing clubs throughout his career.

"I feel at home here at Chelsea," said Anelka, whose current deal expires in 2012. "I'm happy in my life and I will be more happy at the end of the season if we win the Premier League.

"I said when I first signed that I wanted a big club and I've found a big club, so now I don't need to move anywhere else.

"I am very glad to be here. I've been at big clubs before with Arsenal, Real Madrid and Liverpool, but between the ages of 25 and 30 you want to be able to find a real home for yourself.

"It came at 28 for me, when I signed here, so I am glad - it has been a long career, playing for a lot of clubs, but I like the fact that I'm playing now in one of the biggest clubs in the world, I don't need to move anywhere."

Meanwhile, rookie goalkeeper Turnbull is hoping to remain in goal against Blackburn on Sunday even though first-choice Petr Cech will undergo a late fitness test on his calf problem.

The former Middlesbrough shot-stopper - who joined the Blues in the summer - played in Chelsea's 4-1 victory over West Ham last weekend and the 1-0 defeat to Inter in the UEFA Champions League, and he now wants to hold on to the shirt.

"I want to play but at the same time I don't wish ill health on Petr," said Turnbull.

"Football is funny, it's not an 11-man game anymore, it's a big-squad game and people are starting to understand that.

"You will get injuries and you need a big squad. If the games continue to come, great, but if not I will support Petr as much as I can. The most important thing is for the team to have success.

"My chance to make a contribution is now and it would be nice to look back at the end of the season having done my part.

"As I said every game now is a big one and we have to step up and do our stuff. I think I have improved massively, coming here has been a big step. There have been some hard times, I've been training extremely hard doing double sessions and it's been pleasing to show that's paid off."

Deco In Blues Exit U-turn

Deco has moved to clear up matters reported on his desire to quit Chelsea this summer in order to move back to his homeland of Brazil.

The Portugal international, born in Sao Bernardo do Campo in Brazil, earlier this month revealed his plans to cut short his Stamford Bridge stay for family reasons.

The former Barcelona and Porto player admits finishing his career with first club Corinthians remains a dream of his, but he would like to fulfil his Chelsea contract which expires next year.

"I still have the dream of playing in Brazil but this isn't the moment for returning to my country as I am still in contract at Chelsea and I don't have it in mind to break it," said Deco.

"Besides saying that I wanted to go back to Brazil to play for Corinthians, I didn't mean that it was going to be now. I am in contract at Chelsea until June 2011."

Deco, who has not played since the Blues' 1-1 draw with Hull last month, was not part of the Chelsea squad dumped out of the UEFA Champions League by Inter Milan in midweek.

The 32-year-old is still frustrated at the European exit, however, and hopes involvement in this summer's World Cup with Portugal can help soften the blow.

"We failed once again," said the two-time European Cup winner.

"If I am called to the Portuguese national team (for South Africa 2010) I am going to give the very best from me to the team.

"This could be my last participation in the national team as I don't think that I will be fit for Euro 2012."

Sturridge: For The Kids

The FA Youth Cup returns to Stamford Bridge on Monday, and Daniel Sturridge has been recalling the time he scored there in the competition.

The 20-year-old forward netted for Manchester City in the first leg of the Final back in 2008, a goal that earned his side a 1-1 draw against the Blues, before we were beaten 3-1 in the return leg at Eastlands.

'I'd already played for the first team at City but it was still a buzz to be in such a big stadium with a big crowd, even though I wasn't too popular that night because I scored the City goal,' Sturridge said.

'Playing in the Youth Cup in front of a big crowd was a great feeling. I remember the game at Stamford Bridge, I was playing for City obviously but the atmosphere that night was amazing; there were a lot of people there.

'It is a great tournament, it really opens your eyes as a kid and even though I missed the second leg of the Final I still have my winners' medal at home, it's all great memories.'

Now our lads face Blackburn in the semi-final second leg on Monday, with a 1-0 advantage brought back south from Ewood Park on Wednesday. Sturridge is hoping they receive the same levels of support that he saw two years ago.

'I urge people to get along to Stamford Bridge because it helps the lads having people support them, and they have a great chance of making the Final again,' he said.