Celebrating Earth Day With Recycling Success

Chelsea marks Earth Day by announcing we have achieved a 100 per cent rate for recycling waste at Stamford Bridge and the Cobham training ground.

By teaming up with Powerday, London's leading recycling company, even food and contaminated waste can now be processed at the North West London Materials Recycling Facility.

This now means that none of the waste from Stamford Bridge or Cobham goes to landfill.

New machinery at the site also means waste is turned into the fuel which will eventually be used to power the recycling plant itself, cutting down on electricity consumption.

The waste that is generated by the club, which includes drinks bottles, food and its packaging from matchdays as well as all office waste, is collected and taken to Powerday's Materials Recycling Facility only five miles from the stadium. The company is licensed to process 1.6 million tonnes a year there, that's eight per cent of London's waste.

Waste from the club is processed using cutting-edge technology including overband magnets, trommels, shredders, eddy currents and high-speed optical sorting equipment. At each stage in the process a different material is separated, ensuring as much as possible is suitable for recycling. Most of this material remains in the UK, going back into the manufacturing process. The remainder of the material is shredded into an even size to go as 'ready to use' fuel to generate energy from waste.

Chris Alexander, finance and operations director, welcomed the latest environmental initiative: 'We are delighted to be working with Powerday who share our view that we must do all we can to help reduce our impact on the environment. Our commitment to this is something we take extremely seriously.

'We have a number of initiatives to get our staff and fans aware of their own impact on the environment as well as installing energy efficient systems at both Stamford Bridge and Cobham, which is one of the most environmentally-friendly training grounds in the world.'

Powerday is a fellow member of the Green 500 and the London Mayor's Green Procurement Code. The company was a finalist for 'Recycling and Waste Management Business of the Year' in the 2009 National Recycling Awards.

Managing director of Powerday, Mick Crossan added: 'Powerday is proud of its association with Chelsea and commends the club's commitment to recycling. We are delighted to announce this new contract and look forward to continuing a relationship that benefits the club, Powerday and the environment.'

As a life-long Chelsea fan, Crossan is no stranger to the Bridge, and the club's Official Website couldn't resist asking Crossan his views on the season.

'Our season so far has been a real roller coaster and is going to remain a roller coaster until the last game against Wigan,' said Crossan. 'Chelsea are keeping us on the edge of our seats right until the very end.

'Ancelotti knows his stuff though; he's in control of his players and has Ray Wilkins at his side, who's Chelsea through-and-through.

'But it's all going to go down to the final game, which is fantastic for the neutrals but not so good for the fan's heart!'

Mikel Will Be Fit To Play For Nigeria At World Cup

The Nigeria Football Federation says midfielder John Obi Mikel should be fit for their World Cup warm-up match with Colombia in London on 30 May.

There had been doubts after the 23-year-old suffered ankle ligament damage at Tottenham last Saturday.

"Fortunately the damage does not limit his chances of playing at the World Cup as feared," NFF spokesman Ademola Olajire told BBC Sport.

"He will be able to take a major part in training sessions," he added.

"Mikel and Chelsea confirmed that he suffered an injury setback, but he should recover quicker than thought."

He will however miss the rest of the season for Chelsea as they battle for the English Premier League title and the FA Cup.

Meanwhile, the NFF have revealed that the only confirmed friendly match for the Super Eagles before the World Cup will be against Colombia on 30 May in London.

They are still trying to organise a game with Latvia on 23 May as well as one three days later against either Iceland or Honduras.

"But the team is expected to begin an official training camp London from 21 May," Olajire added.

Nigeria are drawn in a World Cup group alongside Greece, Argentina and South Korea.

Deco: Chelsea Formation Change Was Not Players' Decision

Chelsea midfielder Deco has refuted suggestions that the decision to alter the team's formation recently was taken by the players.

The Brazilian-born Portuguese international has insisted that manager Carlo Ancelotti makes all such key decisions at Stamford Bridge and the choice to switch back to a 4-3-3 after experimenting with a diamond 4-4-2 as well as 4-2-3-1 this season was the Italian's alone.

"We did not talk about it, it was the coach's decision," Deco told the Blues' official website.

"I think the formation is just a way to play, it matters more about the characteristics of each player.

"You can say now we are playing 4-3-3, the beginning of the season we played 4-4-2, and of course it is a different way to start the game but it is adapted to the players.

"At one moment it may be better to play one way because of the characteristics of the players and the moment of the team, and now we have three games to win and that is it."

Meanwhile, Deco is also confident that Chelsea have enough experience to fight off the challenge of Manchester United and win the Premier League title this season.

"First thing we need, we need to know that we are first," he added.

"The last three games will be difficult and of course there is pressure in our minds because we need to win our games if Man U win theirs.

"It is a war, and we need to be prepared but, if you said on the first day of the Premier League in August we would be one point clear with three games to go, two at home and one game away, we would all say okay, I'll sign!

"This is okay, it could be better if we won or Man U lost, okay, but it didn't happen, and our moment is this - we have three games, two at home and one away - we need to play well and be together."

And Ancelotti's men have their fate in their own hands now, according to the playmaker.

"No one can say they don't think about this, but we just need to think about the next game," he said.

"We can do the mathematics but it just depends on us, if we win our three games we win the league.

"We don't need to think about the games of Man U, they need to think about our games, we just need to win on Sunday against Stoke and after we will wait another week and try again."

Didier Drogba: I'm Really Struggling With My Fitness

Chelsea striker Didier Drogba has told Blues fans what they didn't want to hear - he is not in great shape.

The Ivorian has been struggling with a hernia problem for a number of weeks, culminating in playing in obvious discomfort in last weekend's 2-1 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur.

The Blues are now just one point ahead of Manchester United in the Premier League table with three games to go, and Drogba admits it will be a struggle for him to be at his best over the vital last few games of the season.

“The season's long and I've had quite a few niggles and I'm starting to feel it a bit,” the striker said, according to the Ealing Gazette.

“I had a hernia operation six years ago but it's playing up again and causing me discomfort.

“I think maybe adrenaline has got me through matches, but you can't continue for long like that."

It had been reported that the 32-year-old would need an operation to solve the problem, although Blues manager Carlo Ancelotti recently said that any decision would be left to the player himself.

But with the World Cup coming up in the summer, Drogba is unsure when he will be able to fit any treatment in.

“I will see if I need an operation, but something needs to be done because I can't continue like this next season," he said.

“There's no question of having anything done now though, with the World Cup on the way.”

Injury Blow For Chelsea As John Obi Mikel Set For Spell On The Sidelines

John Obi Mikel is the latest player to add to Chelsea's injury concerns, with the club fearing he could miss the remainder of the season.

The 22-year-old Nigerian limped off during the defeat to Tottenham Hotspur last Saturday, and a scan on Tuesday revealed ankle ligament damage. Consequently, the club stated he is "a doubt" for Sunday's game against Stoke City.

Earlier in the week, Goal.com UK revealed that the club feared Michael Essien might not play for the club before the end of the season, having been out of action since January with knee ligament problems.

"Contrary to this morning's stories stating otherwise, Michael will definitely not be involved against Stoke on Sunday. He is unlikely to play again this season," the club confirmed.

After the defeat to Spurs, Carlo Ancelotti's side are just one point ahead of Manchester United in the Premier League with three games left in the season.

UK Poll Results: Readers Urge Chelsea To Sign Sergio Aguero From Atletico Madrid

lsea should sign Sergio Aguero from Atletico Madrid during the summer to bolster their strike force for a renewed challenge on the European stage, according to readers of Goal.com UK.

Having exclusively revealed earlier that the Blues have made Bayern Munich's Franck Ribery and Atleti's Aguero their top transfer targets for a summer splurge, we asked you to voice your opinion as to who would be best suited to wear the Blue jersey next term.

And a majority 27.54 per cent of readers believe that Aguero would make the best summer signing, perhaps owing to his young age coupled with international experience that could prove invaluable for the Blues' quest for the Champions League crown.

Meanwhile, 15.28 per cent go for Alexandre Pato, possibly in the belief that the young Brazilian could gel well with the squad, having already worked with manager Carlo Ancelotti at Milan.

The Stamford Bridge outfit's midfield-heavy squad meant that Ribery amassed only 14.42 per cent of the votes, with the recent red card against Olympique Lyonnais probably playing some part in his score.

14.01 per cent believe that if Liverpool misses out on Champions League qualification this term, Fernando Torres could swap the Red of Merseyside for the Blue of west London during the transfer window.

Valencia hotshot David Villa comes next in line, polling 10.53 per cent of the votes, with the score perhaps reflecting the need for younger blood in the Chelsea squad.

Only a handful of readers (4.18 per cent) believe Robinho would fit hand-in-glove into the Stamford Bridge set-up, following his trouble-filled times at Manchester City that culminated in a loan deal with Santos.

And 5.55 per cent of readers believe that the Blues would be better off signing someone else, while an optimistic 8.44 per cent opine that no signings are required - believing that there will not be a slip between the Cup and the lip next season.

The Ultimate Nightmare Scenario For Roman

Imagine you are Roman Abramovich waking up this morning. Wouldn’t we all love to, but anyway. You open the papers and see the face of the manager you sacked three years ago and the headlines screaming at you. I will reproduce one for his benefit one presuming Roman is not a reader of The Sun. “SPECIAL WON”.

Imagine what it would be like if on the day after the Champions League Final he woke up to similar headlines about Jose’. After having seen Claudio Ranieri winning Italian Serie A (his Roma are at the top of the table one point ahead of Inter), Avram Grant the FA Cup and Fergie and that despicable sidekick of his Gary Neville holding the Premier League. It doesn’t even bear thinking about for us fans, let alone for an owner who has bankrolled the club with millions of pounds of his own money.

The bookies certainly don’t think that is a likely scenario. We are still favourites for The Premiership and the FA Cup, Barcelona, despite yesterday’s result are favourites for the Champions League and given Ranieri’s track record in twenty five years of coaching, Roma will probably contrive to fluff their lines.

Still, stranger things have been known to happen in football and I am sure that Abramovich sometimes stops to ponder over his managerial appointments since he bought Chelsea.

Scolari barely deserves a mention except to wonder who thought appointing him as Chelsea manager was a good idea. Prior to Chelsea he had never managed a club in Europe, he barely spoke the language and never even learned to pronounce the name of the club properly. He won the World Cup some would say. Who wouldn’t with Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos and a whole of world class players in your squad?

Claudio Ranieri was a dead man walking the minute the ink was dry on Roman’s contract to buy Chelsea. The miracle was that he lasted a whole season. Events conspired against Abramovich when it came to sacking Ranieri. He either had to sack Ranieri within a few days of his takeover or else stick with him for the whole season as all the best managers would have found a club by then. We were in the title hunt till February, so that worked in Ranieri’s favour. A couple of months after we lost to Arsenal in February, effectively ruling us out the running for the league, we beat the Gooners in the Champions League quarter final but even that was not enough to save Ranieri’s bacon. The deal with Mourinho was done on the day Chelsea played against Monaco in the first leg of the semi final. Which, I am sure you all painfully remember, Ranieri blew big time.

Grant’s appointment remains one of the big mysteries in Chelsea’s history. Why Grant? No track record to speak of, the charisma of a cloistered nun and absolutely nothing to suggest that he would ever be accepted by the players after Jose’. Still the lucky bugger got a three year contract but only lasted one. Under Grant we got to the Champions League Final and challenged United for the Premier League till the very end. Who should get the credit for that is still under debate. My sources tell me that the team was run by JT, Ballack, Drogba and to a lesser extent Frank Lampard. Given Grant’s record before he joined Chelsea I tend to believe it.

As for Jose’ Mourinho you just don’t know where to start. Before Jose’ there were three certainties in football – Arsene Wenger complaining about Chelsea’s new found riches, United getting loads of injury time whenever they need a goal and Chris Kamara saying “incredible Jeff” at least twenty times every time he is on Gillette Soccer Saturday.

Since Jose’ came onto the scene another certainty can be added to that list. Jose’ Mourinho wins trophies. In the last six seasons he has been in business Jose’ has won the league five times with three different teams in three countries. He has won cups galore (Portughese, FA Cup and Coppa Italia, Champions League and UEFA Cup). Quite simply he is a serial winner.

The question is, what if, God forbid, we don’t win the league this season? Jose’ is fed up to the nose in Italy. Is it possible that the thoughts that cross the mind of each and every Chelsea fan whenever we see Jose’ on the telly occur to Roman.

Paulo Ferreira: Winning The FA Cup But Not The Premier League Would Be An 'Anti Climax'

Winning the FA Cup will mean nothing if Chelsea doesn’t claim the Premier League title also, reckons Blues right-back Paulo Ferreira.

The Blues face Pompey at Wembley on May 15, but currently sitting top of the league, Ferreira would be disappointed if his side went into the clash not league champions.

“I think it would be an anti-climax in a way, because we are three years now without winning the league and of course we are not happy,” Ferreira said, according to the Ealing Gazette.

“A club like Chelsea should always try to win the league first and we want to do it this year. The last three years, Manchester United were better than us, but this season we have three games to win and it is in our hands.

“We don't want to think about going into the final game of the season at Wembley not being champions again. It happened before and we don't want that again because it's important to win titles – even if cups are also important.

“It's hard to win everything, but it was particularly disappointing not to win the Champions League this year."

The 31 year-old also believes such disappointments - being knocked out of the Champions League by Jose Mourinho's Inter - will spur Chelsea on to make sure they win the double.

“That will make us try even harder to make sure we go to the FA Cup final as champions.”

Ferreira has been enjoying a rare spell of games at right-back in the absence of the injured Jose Bosingwa and Branislav Ivanovic and has made 12 Premier League appearances so far this season.

Chelsea Should Sign Bastian Schweinsteiger This Summer

With another FA Cup final, three games remaining on the Premier League fixture list and one point between Chelsea and second placed Manchester United, it may be a little premature for the Blue’s management and players to think about summer transfers. Mercifully, as pundits and fans, we do not have to play Liverpool with the additional worry of the reigning champions snapping behind us, and can afford ourselves this idle speculation.

With an ageing but still potent team, Chelsea should only look to replace one member of the starting eleven – Michael Ballack. The German captain has played plenty this season, but has routinely looked average and tired when on the pitch. While he is still a fine midfielder, he should no longer claim a starting berth over Lampard, Essien or Mikel. The reasons for this are simple. He doesn’t bring the athletic dynamism of the Ghanian, the assists and goal return of the Englishman, or the youth and adequate defensive shielding of the Nigerian.

Essentially he is an old utility midfielder, a player who can be trusted to make the right pass but who can no longer run for ninety minutes, a player with an ego that demands stroking but increasingly, doesn’t deserve it.

But Chelsea have an excellent replacement ready should Bayern Munich prove to be willing bartering partners.

In Bastian Schweinsteiger, the Blues have a flexible player able to take on almost any role in the midfield position, much like his international Captain Ballack used to be able to provide.

“Schweini” could star as a direct replacement for Die Mannschaft captain in the central role, especially given his excellence in this position for his Bavarian club this campaign. He has displayed both the ability to spread the ball around and to work very hard to win the ball back for his side. But his abilities and uses are far greater than just being a hard working trooper, a man willing to run down opponents and lay off passes to the creative attacking types.

He can also function as a wide midfielder, and though lacking the pace and intricate dribbling associated with natural wingers like his teammate Arjen Robben, Schweinsteiger can put in enough accurate crosses to force any defense to adjust to this menace.
With Flourent Malouda, Ashley Cole and Yuri Zhirkov wreaking havoc on the left, Chelsea’s right has appeared tame. Branislav Ivanovic can be counted on for a couple of good crosses per game on top of his usual solid defending, but the right just does not have the same threat for the Blues that the opposite side carries. The right wingers in the Blues’ 4-3-3 – Anelka or Joe Cole or Solomon Kalou – are not as naturally suited to this role like Malouda is on the left and thus, the wide right attacks suffer.
Adding the German international to the right would improve Chelsea’s options in attack and force any opposition to consider how to contain both flanks equally. A tactical change to a 4-4-2 to include both Anelka as a pure striker and Schweinsteiger’s wide play would certainly give pause to anyone in Europe.

But, as mentioned earlier, Schweinsteiger has become one of Europe’s top central midfielders this season, and could therefore also fill in that role in Chelsea’s 4-3-3 or Ancelotti’s old favorite, the 4-4-2 diamond. With now constant injuries to Essien, Schweinsteiger could very well claim his place in the starting XI.

Additionally, he has shown for Germany that he can be a very good attacking player, although the presence of certain French and Dutch footballers on his club team seem to have prevented the repetition of his fairly impressive German goal return for Munich. Given more room to attack and fewer defensive responsibilities however, he should be able to knock in a goal every few games or so for the Blues.

Further, his relative youth means his performance would not dip so dramatically as both games and the seasons wear on. While not an explosive player, he certainly won’t visibly deteriorate during every ninety minute match. In the generally epic, tri-pronged (at least) campaigns Chelsea have involved themselves in over the past handful of seasons, the importance of players with sufficient energy come April and May should not be underestimated.

Lastly, his ego does not seem to reflect his quality on the pitch. While this might not seem to be so important, it could be argued that one of Chelsea’s biggest flaws of the past few seasons has come from the generally unpleasant attitude conveyed by some of their megalomaniacal stars. While this is by no means true for the entire squad, having another player who won’t add to this image can’t hurt.

While some might yearn for Sergio Aguero or Luis Suarez or some other player who can help add a cutting edge (although why another forward is needed is still a mystery to me), “Basti” is probably the player Chelsea need to become younger and more competitive in an area that needs instant repair.

The club should make the bid before the World Cup, as his price tag will shoot up come July if he repeats his excellent performances for Germany as he has done for most of his career. The chance to do so is now; come August, half of Europe may be splashing out on the midfield star.

Chelsea Resigned To Losing Michael Essien For Rest Of Season

Chelsea will be without Michael Essien for the remainder of the domestic season after the Ghanaian accepted his recovery from a knee injury would drag on beyond the FA Cup final against Portsmouth.

Essien has not featured for the league leaders since early December, when he tore a hamstring while scoring Chelsea's opening goal at Stamford Bridge in a Champions League group game against Apoel Nicosia. He was deemed fit enough to join up with his national squad at the Africa Cup of Nations, only to partially tear the medial ligament and damage the meniscus in his left knee while training during the tournament in Angola.

The Premier League club had initially anticipated a six-week absence – some of which was spent rehabilitating alongside Ashley Cole in the south of France – and, only two weeks ago, Carlo Ancelotti had suggested he was hopeful the 27-year‑old would be available to return to the first team for the potentially critical league game at Liverpool on 2 May.

Yet that optimism has been tempered by a series of minor complications and setbacks to delay his recovery, with the joint still prone to swell up after any strenuous work. The club's medical staff continue to monitor his progress and are confident he will be fit enough to play in the summer's World Cup finals in South Africa – where Ghana could meet England in the first knockout phase – but there is little hope of him contributing on the pitch as Chelsea pursue the first Double in their history.

Essien is expected to confirm as much publicly before the weekend, with Chelsea now resigned to doing without him over the final three league games of the campaign – starting against Stoke City on Sunday – and the FA Cup showpiece against Portsmouth at Wembley. "We were hoping that Michael would have recovered before the final game of the season, but it now looks unlikely that he will feature for us again this season," confirmed a club spokesman.

The player remains optimistic that he will still be able to play in the summer tournament, in which his side must confront Serbia, Germany and Australia in Group D. The Ghana coach, Milovan Rajevac, is due to name his 23‑man squad in mid-May, to meet at a training camp in France on 24 May, prior to friendlies against Latvia, Holland and a third opponent to be confirmed. The game against the Latvians takes place on 5 June in Milton Keynes with the team travelling to Pretoria the following day.

His absence is a blow for Chelsea ahead of the run-in. The Londoners have long missed Essien's dynamism but Mikel John Obi, the only other recognised defensive midfielder in their squad, will be absent for Sunday's visit of Stoke City with his own knee ligament problem, suffered initially in a challenge from Bolton's Kevin Davies last week but aggravated against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.

That will leave Ancelotti to play either Michael Ballack or Deco in the role in the hope that Mikel recovers his fitness in time for the games against Liverpool and Wigan Athletic. The Italian was encouraged at least that Didier Drogba played a full part in training at Cobham today as the players returned from two days off following their defeat at Spurs.

The Ivorian has been suffering from a hernia problem but will only decide at the end of the domestic season whether or not to undergo keyhole surgery on the injury before the World Cup finals.

Chelsea Put Atletico Madrid's Sergio Aguero And Bayern Munich's Franck Ribery On Summer Shopping List

Chelsea are closely monitoring Sergio Aguero and Franck Ribery as they plan their summer recruitment, Goal.com UK has learned. Sources close to the club say the pair head a list of prospective buys as the Blues prepare for a busy summer of transfer activity.

Aguero was quoted in the English media yesterday lavishing praise on the London club, calling them "great" and stressing his enthusiasm for the prospect of life in the English capital. His national team coach - and father-in-law - Diego Maradona has previously been expressed a desire to see 'Kun' follow in his footsteps by heading to Italy, with Jose Mourinho's Inter also interested; but the striker seems to feel his pace and technique will be better suited to the Premier League.

The Argentinian international is coming to the end of his fourth season in the Spanish capital and has long since become frustrated with the club's chaotic infrastructure. Though Quique Sanchez Flores' side are still in the hunt for silverware, with the Copa del Rey final to come and a Europa League semi-final with Liverpool on the horizon, they are languishing in 10th place in their domestic championship and for next season, a return to the Europa League is the best they can hope for. Atleti are heavily in debt and will need to sell at least one big name to fill the financial void left by the lack of Champions League football, so it is likely Chelsea will have room to negotiate a bargain, having privately let it be known that they are not keen to pay anywhere near Aguero's €60 million buy-out clause.

After moving to Spain in 2006, having just turned 18, Aguero endured a tough first season in La Liga before hitting 19 league goals in his sophomore year to propel Atleti into the Champions League - a notable achievement, and one that even club legend Fernando Torres was unable to manage.

Now 21, Kun's arrival at Stamford Bridge would provide a major fillip to a frontline reliant on the fine form of Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka, who are 32 and 31, respectively.

Meanwhile Ribery's future is even more up for discussion, with the winger approaching the final year of his contract in Munich. President Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has not ruled out the possibility of keeping the Frenchman, but with Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona, as well as Chelsea, closely monitoring the situation; it looks like they will have their work cut out to keep him.

The 27-year-old has started only seven Bundesliga games in the current campaign, having been stymied by a series of niggling injuries, but is returning to peak form as Bayern chase a Bundesliga, German Cup and Champions League treble. The player himself has suggested a decision on his future is imminent, though his connection with the current prostitution scandal involving the French national team makes an announcement in the next few weeks unlikely.

Ribery's signing would add creativity and dynamism to a Chelsea midfield in which Joe Cole is still uncertain of his future, with his current deal set to expire in the summer.

Drogba In Running For Semi-Final Award

The part Didier Drogba played in Chelsea beating Aston Villa to reach the FA Cup Final has earned our top scorer a nomination for the competition's Player of the Round.

Drogba broke the deadlock at Wembley when he turned in John Terry's volley and won Man of the Match on the day for his overall contribution to the 3-0 win.

He is one of five players up for the award with the winner to be decided by votes from supporters via the FA's website.

The other nominees are Aaron Mokoena, David James and Ricardo Rocha of our Final opponents Portsmouth, and Tottenham's Gareth Bale.

Essien Fears World Cup Absence

Michael Essien fears he may not be fit enough to play at this summer's World Cup after resigning himself to the fact he will not return for Chelsea this season.

The Blues admitted the Ghana midfielder was unlikely to make a late return for their bid to claim the domestic double after injuries have prevented him from appearing for the west Londoners since December.

Essien had hoped to return for this Sunday's home match with Stoke, but after complications in his rehabilitation from a knee injury the 27-year-old fears he may not even be ready to lead his country to South Africa.

Asked if he thought he would be fit for the World Cup, Essien said: "As at now I don't know. I am just taking it day by day and if I can make it I will.

"If not then I will have sit at home and support the team like every Ghanaian.

"Until I know how the injury improves in the coming days and weeks, it will be difficult to say whether I will make the World Cup or not."

Essien suffered the knee injury while on national team duty at the African Nations Cup in January as Ghana went on to lose in the final to Egypt.

The midfielder is central to Ghana's hopes in South Africa, but with their first game against Serbia on June 13 he is reluctant to play unless fully fit.

"Yes it will be (disappointing to miss out) but the World Cup is the best and most difficult football tournament in the world and I would rather be there fully fit," he added on his official website www.michaelessiengh.com.

"We will just have to wait and see."

Essien had originally hoped to be back in action in time for Chelsea's home Champions League leg against Inter Milan.

But his knee continued to swell up and the player underwent four lots of surgery inside a fortnight.

He began a running programme as a part of his rehabilitation last week, but suffered discomfort in his knee which further slowed his recovery and resigned him to sitting out the remainder of the season.

"I will not make the Stoke game and to be honest it is possible my season for Chelsea may be over," he added.

"It is still down to the medical team but it looks more unlikely that I will play for Chelsea again this season.

"I have been dreaming about coming back and helping the team win a trophy or two like last season but sometimes dreams don't always come true.

"I am supporting the other guys in different ways at the training ground and I have every confidence that they will deliver."

He added: "The medical team are doing a brilliant job and I can't thank them enough.

"I started running last week but had to stop because of slight pains I was feeling in my leg. It is a minor setback which I could do without but that is part of the game we play.

"It has ups and downs and one has to stay focused."

Lampard Backs Terry To Bounce Back

Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard has backed team-mate and club captain John Terry after he was sent off in last weekend's Premier League defeat at Tottenham Hotspur.

The England central defender lost his cool and, after a couple of rash challenges, he was given his marching orders as referee Phil Dowd dished out two yellow cards.

Terry's season has been somewhat turbulent after he was stripped of the England captaincy in light of his off-field spat with Wayne Bridge in February but Lampard believes he is a strong enough person to bounce back.

Speaking to reporters, Lampard said: "JT wants to win and he's a fantastic captain.

"For the first yellow I thought he got a slight touch on the ball, but when he went into that second tackle, you knew the minute the tackle went in he was going to get sent off.

"When you're playing in such circumstances sometimes these things happen."

The free-scoring midfield man, who scored the Blues' consolation in the 2-1 defeat at White Hart Lane, also admitted that Paul Scholes' last-gasp winning header for Manchester United at Manchester City was a bitter pill to swallow as they lead the Red Devils at the top of the Premier League by just a single point.

"What happened on Saturday was disappointing, especially with Manchester United's result," he added.

"When they scored in the last minute it was hard. If they had drawn the game it would have left us in a very healthy position but now it's tighter."

Chelsea Face Losing Big-Name Stars For Nothing In The Summer As Roman Abramovich Puts Contract Talks On Hold

Chelsea could soon see some major names exit Stamford Bridge as owner Roman Abramovich has suspended all contract negotiations until the summer, according to a report from The Times.

Joe Cole, Deco and Michael Ballack must all apparently prove that they warrant new contracts by helping Carlo Ancelotti win silverware this season.

Abramovich is reportedly angry about the club's spiraling wage bill, as well as still furious at the manner of the Blues' Champions League exit at the hands of Jose Mourinho's Inter.

The Russian has therefore apparently decided to send a strong message that failure will not be tolerated - and Ballack, Cole and Deco could all leave on free transfers in the close season.

Nicolas Anelka's situation is less pressing as he has a further year on his current contract, but his negotiations could also be affected.

Chelsea's wage bill has reportedly grown to a Premier League record of £146.2 million and Abramovich is determined to rein in spending on salaries.

Ballack has apparently rejected the offer of a one-year deal as he wants to prolong his career until Euro 2012. His request for a compromise whereby a second year is triggered by making 30 appearances next season has not been considered by Chelsea.

Cole's talks have stalled over money, apparently, with the England midfielder unhappy not to be offered a pay rise that would have taken his wages to £100,000 a week. Chelsea offered a more modest £85,000, though Cole was also understood to have been unhappy at his prospects of playing regular first team football with Ancelotti in charge.

Deco has not been offered a new deal of any kind, but the 32-year-old has previously stated that he would be interested in a move back to Brazil.

Anelka is reportedly happy with his offer of a new three-year contract, but there will be no further negotiations for him until after the FA Cup final.

Essien Losing Fitness Race

Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien looks set to miss the remainder of the season after failing to recover from a knee injury sustained in the African Cup of Nations.

The Ghana enforcer has not represented the Blues at all this year after previously tearing his hamstring in the home UEFA Champions League meeting with Apoel Nicosia back in December.

And a Chelsea spokesman confirmed the 27-year-old is losing the race to play any part in the crunch stage of the campaign.

The Blues head into the business end of the Premier League season one point clear of second-placed Manchester United with three games to play.

And Essien, who has suffered some complications in his rehabilitation, looks set to miss all league fixtures and the FA Cup final against Portsmouth on 15th May.

"Michael Essien will not be in the squad for the weekend's game against Stoke City at Stamford Bridge," said a club spokesman.

"The Ghanaian's participation in the remainder of the campaign is now in doubt, with only four games to play including the FA Cup Final on May 15."

Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti is also sweating on the fitness of John Obi Mikel after he reaggravated an old injury against Tottenham last weekend.

The Nigerian missed training on Tuesday afternoon in order to undergo scans on his left knee and ankle.

There was better news for Chelsea fans at Cobham though as star striker Didier Drogba took full part in the latest session.

The Ivory Coast frontman has been struggling with ongoing hernia problems but looks set to start for the Blues in Sunday's Premier League fixture against Stoke at Stamford Bridge.

Aguero In English Admission

Atletico Madrid star Sergio Aguero has, for the first time, conceded that he would relish the chance of joining Chelsea.

The Argentine forward is very loyal to Atletico, who paid more than €20million (£17.5m) for him when he was just 18 years old.

But now Aguero is ready to quit Madrid, with Chelsea seemingly at the top of his list of potential destinations.

Blues owner Roman Abramovich is ready to open the purse strings to boss Carlo Ancelotti this summer and a substantial part of their war chest could be spent on Aguero.

"Chelsea are a great club. They have become one of the most feared in Europe over recent years," he told the Daily Express.

"I look at players like Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard and they have been, and still are, the best players in their positions in the world.

"I could really learn from players like that, there is no doubt."

Aguero, who will be at the World Cup finals this summer and is Diego Maradona's son-in-law, insists he would have no qualms about living in England.

"London would be a really amazing city to live in as well, myself and my wife could be really happy there," he said.

"Carlos Tevez is doing really well at Manchester City but, for me, it is about joining a club who are ready to challenge for honours. City are not ready yet."

Inter Milan are also thought to be very keen on the 21-year-old, but Aguero says England is the place to be.

"Inter are a great club, but it is agreed that, over the last five years, the Premier League has been the strongest," he concluded.

Ribery Closer To Chelsea Than Ever

Franck Ribery is signing for Chelsea this week.

Lets get the obvious out of the way first before you all start running to your computers and ordering his shirt online -- He's not signing for Chelsea.

The British papers continue to do their job by relating world events to the public and they also are still enjoying their little side-hobby of making out Chelsea are the least professional club on the planet.

For the last two years, Chelsea have been one of a number of teams interested in the services of the Frenchman who is currently plying his trade at Bayern Munich.

Madrid, Barca, United, Inter, Milan and even Man City since last season have all expressed interests in the winger.

So while the Chelsea rumours died down since January 31st, it seems we've had bids turned down already and we've gone and lost interest, the papers determine that Franck has the perfect social lifestyle that would fit in well in London.

For those that have missed the story, including the Tabloid Editors, a 17-year-old girl found in a legal brothel in Paris is stating that a certain footballer abused her sexually.

Franck is not the player in question you'll be partly relieved to know although it still hasn't stopped the papers running with the idea that he's as bad a Ashley, JT and Mutu and would be perfect at Chelsea.

Ribery has been asked to give evidence as the case against the player continues. Allegedly the unnamed player claims to have thought she was 18.

In my opinion, this unnamed player sounds more like a British team player than Ribery and we should go ahead and sign him up instead!!!

Didier Drogba To Make Groin Injury Decision As Chelsea Chase Title

Carlo Ancelotti insists he will allow Didier Drogba to make the decision on whether he is fit enough to play in Chelsea’s remaining games this season.

The talismanic striker tweaked his groin at the start of the second-half of Saturday’s defeat at Tottenham and wanted to come off, but Ancelotti had already made three changes – two of them at the interval.

Drogba had to play on through the pain barrier for the remainder of the game and was clearly struggling as Harry Redknapp’s side powered to a 2-1 win at White Hart Lane.

The defeat left the Blues just one point clear of rivals Manchester United at the top of the Premier League.

But if they win their remaining three games, two at home to Stoke and Wigan with a trip to Liverpool sandwiched in between, the Stamford Bridge club will still be champions for the first time since 2006.

However, the 32-year-old Ivory Coast star is unlikely to want to carry the injury into the World Cup finals in South Africa this summer and is almost certain to undergo surgery.

But the big dilemma facing the club and Drogba, who has scored 32 goals this season, is when that operation will be carried out.

‘It’s his decision,’ said Ancelotti. ‘He doesn’t have a big problem. It’s more about controlling the situation.

‘He’ll take a decision at the end of the season, whether he has surgery or not. It’s not sure he’ll have surgery.’

One player who could be drafted in if is out for the last three games of Chelsea’s run-in is his Ivorian team-mate Salomon Kalou, who admits he is in awe of his countryman.

‘He has an amazing scoring record for Chelsea and as a player it is a level I want to reach but I am trying to get in the team regularly,’ Kalou said.

‘Every time I have the chance to work with him I listen to what he has to say he is like a big brother – he is very important to me.

‘When you talk about strikers, Didier is one of the best and I want to take advantage of this opportunity to learn from him.’

Calciopoli Trial Adjourned After Ancelotti Couldn't Fly To Hearing

The sixth hearing into the Calciopoli scandal in Naples has been adjourned until Tuesday, April 27, after Chelsea coach Carlo Ancelotti and others failed to show because of the European flying restrictions in place.

Judge Casoria closed proceedings following a brief hearing that lasted less than an hour in which plans for the next session were outlined.

She expects to see Ancelotti next week, and has also summoned both Manchester City coach Roberto Mancini and Carabinieri inspector Salvagno, who was part of the investigating team into the 2006 trial.

It should be stressed that both Ancelotti and Mancini will only be present in court as witnesses to give evidence in relation to their time as coaches of Milan and Inter, respectively. Neither is accused of any wrong-doing.

Pierluigi Pairetto's legal team were expected to deposit further phonecall transcripts, but they were unable to. Casoria established that in a hearing slated for May 4, the court will appoint Roberto Porta, the man tasked with transcribing all the 74 calls presented last week by Luciano Moggi's legal team, and the further 20 calls that will be deposited by Pairetto's lawyers.

Casoria confirmed that the calls presented last week, and the further 20 that Pairetto will hand over, are to be considered a definitive list.

Also, attorney Giuseppe Narducci is keen to obtain an interview Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini gave to a local radio station, in which he is alleged to have admitted to requesting a specific referee.

As those at the hearing left, Moggi was surrounded outside the court building by journalists and around 50 Juventus fans.

The former Juventus director again took a swipe at the club's current leadership.

"Ask Juventus why they are not defending themselves, and why is it just me who is defending them?" he told Sky News Italia.

The case continues.

Mayor Backing Chelsea's Search For Asian Star

The Mayor of London Boris Johnson has called on young Asian players to sign up for Chelsea's Search for an Asian Star event.

The lack of Asian players within affiliated football and the fact only seven players current play at a professional level has inspired Chelsea to create a groundbreaking scheme to identify talented players from Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Sri Lankan backgrounds.

The Mayor is fully behind the initiative: 'We may still be awaiting our first British Asian footballing superstar - but it is certainly not due to a lack of talent,' said Johnson.

'By focusing on developing the game amongst London's Asian communities, Chelsea FC are not only taking us a step closer to finding this superstar, they are also reinforcing the message that football - and sport in general - is for everyone. Just pull on your boots and get involved!'

Last season 350 players underwent a series of tests and practice matches in the Under 11, 12 and 13 age groups. The three winners were offered a week training and playing with Chelsea's Academy with two of the players going on to sign for professional clubs.

This season Chelsea has increased the number of age groups meaning that six players from U8 to U13 will win the chance to join the Chelsea Academy this summer.

Scouts and coaches from grass roots and professional clubs will also be invited along for the three-day event taking place at Cobham during May Bank Holiday and the Football Association will also be on hand to help players and their parents find clubs in their local area.

Back On Track After Tottenham

The squad was back in for training on Tuesday afternoon, after an extra day off following defeat at Spurs on Saturday.

Didier Drogba was fully involved in the session despite his ongoing hernia problems, but absent was Michael Essien, who contrary to media reports will not be in the squad for the weekend's game against Stoke City at Stamford Bridge.

The Ghanaian's participation in the remainder of the campaign is now in doubt, with only four games to play including the FA Cup Final on May 15, while Carlo Ancelotti reiterated at the weekend that any decision on an operation for Drogba will be taken by the player himself.

Also missing from Ancelotti's session on Tuesday was John Mikel Obi, who had been at Cobham earlier in the day before leaving for scans on his left knee and ankle, having reaggravated the injury picked up by a Kevin Davies tackle in the Bolton game at Reebok Stadium.

Those that were left completed a short, sharp hour-long programme, the type discussed by Michael Ballack before Saturday's match.

Raising The Banner

Regulars at Stamford Bridge may have noticed an increase in banners around the ground this season and been wondering where they've come from.

Meanwhile, fans watching from home, who have never had the opportunity to visit our west London ground may have seen the new banners appearing on their television screens.

In fact, it's a phenomenon most Blues will have noticed this campaign and the club's Official Website felt it was time to shed some light.

The banners belong to supporters' clubs, a system that gathers fellow fans in their local areas together, allowing them to support the Blues with like-minded people.

And it's pulled in groups of fans from all over the globe, including Dromore, Cyprus, Malta, Sweden, New York and even the United Arab Emirates and Bermuda

There are also banners from home-grown fans, with supporters' clubs originating from Swindon, Lincolnshire and Hastings all having banners on show at the Bridge.

'Opening a supporters club allows fans to meet like minded people in their area and socialise with them,' says David Mills, secretary of the Hastings Supporters' Club, which currently boasts around 170 members, 'it gives you the opportunity to socialise and travel to matches together.'

'We feel appreciated by the football club and in return get the benefits and supporters' clubs are definitely important to the fans these days.'

Striving to add to Stamford Bridge's atmosphere, this season the club has persuaded more supporters' clubs to create their own banners and offered to store them between each home game.

But fans in a supporters' club also bring an atmosphere with them to the Bridge from home, as many travel to games in one big group.

'Supporters' clubs give fans the opportunity to celebrate or commiserate together,' explains Mills.

'On a matchday we perform our pre-match rituals together in big groups, which definitely makes the day more enjoyable.'

The Hastings Supporters' Club's banner hangs proudly in the West Stand, and can be seen on the right side if you're looking from the dugouts.

It's a welcome addition which was created this season, although many die-hard fans may have already seen some representation from Hastings Blues in the Champions League.

'We have a large Hastings Blues flag that is often seen all over Europe but having a banner at Stamford Bridge was a good change for home games,' adds Mills.

'It lets other fans know there is a local supporters' club available if they wish to sign up for next year.'

With the 2009/10 campaign now drawing to a close, Chelsea is keen to see the creation of further official supporters' clubs and their banners before next season.

Initiation of supporters' clubs may take some work, as fans have to organise between themselves the set up of the club, which tier they may choose (they range from bronze to gold memberships) as well as arranging travel arrangements and tickets.

But it's not just about ordering tickets or going to games; many clubs arrange social events and trips. 'My advice to fans looking to set up a supporters' club is that it will take a lot of hard work and effort,' says Mills, 'especially if your club grows to a good size but it's worth it to have a club affiliated with Chelsea.'

The Blues will open affiliation for new supporters' clubs this May, but click here for more information if you can't wait that long.

'We're really hoping to see more banners around the stadium next season,' said Graham Smith, head of ticketing and supporters' liaison at Chelsea.

'And we want to see more supporters' clubs being established as well, it really makes a massive difference to fans across the world, it gives them somewhere to share their love of the club.'

Mills adds: 'Obviously not everyone can afford to attend matches as often as they'd like so to be involved with a club that arranges televised matchdays and more is definitely a benefit as they still feel as though they are involved with Chelsea.

'A group of our members just ran the local half marathon in aid of charity all kitted out in Hastings Blues Chelsea shirts, this got a lot of support around the circuit from fellow Chelsea fans.

'Various other functions include Christmas parties, quiz nights, trips to Star on a Stool and golf days.

'Also, on a matchday, we perform our pre-match rituals together in big groups, which definitely makes the day more enjoyable,' reports Mills.

Bertrand Quick To Deny Rumours!

It was probably only a matter of two weeks ago that rumours began to surface that our promising young full back, Ryan Bertrand, was, supposedly, wanting to sign for Reading on a permanent basis.

Bertrand an England U21 international who has been on loan with the Berkshire club all season, has made quite an impact with the club and pt in another sparkling display in the 6-0 thrashing of Peterborough this weekend.

However, rumours of a permanent departure, from Stamford Bridge, for the twenty year old, appear to have no substantiation with Bertrand quoted in the press as having remarked about the situation,

"Obviously there is some competition at Stamford Bridge and Ashley is there and he’s the best left back in the world. Then you’ve got Zhirkov who is an international."

"It’s important to be patient when you have those sort of players in front of you but hopefully my chance will come."

"We will sit down when I go back and see whether it is better for me to go on loan in the Championship or the Premier League, but I don’t have any problems coming back to Reading."

Obviously, it will be hard for Bertrand to make that breakthrough, especially when you consider the competition he has, but you just never know do you?

Cole Concentrating On Blues Before England

Joe Cole is focusing on winning the Barclays Premier League with Chelsea rather than the World Cup with England.

Cole has struggled to establish himself as a first-term regular under Carlo Ancelotti, but an impressive end to the season with the Blues - who are one point clear at the top of the Barclays Premier League - could yet see him force his way into Fabio Capello's World Cup squad.

The 28-year-old said: "My focus at the moment is just playing well for Chelsea. I don't like to talk about England because you can't talk yourself into an England squad. I just want to work hard and whatever happens happens."

He added: "It's obviously something I'd like to play in but at the moment I'm just concentrating on helping Chelsea win the title.

"I just want to keep playing well. I give everything in every game I play and that's just my nature.

"I want to work hard for my team-mates and manager and what will be will be."

Didier Drogba An Injury Concern For Chelsea During Crucial Premier League Run-In

Chelsea's top scorer Didier Drogba could miss some of the Blues' last three league games, as manager Carlo Ancelotti attempts to guide his team to Premier League glory.

The 32-goal Ivorian has been struggling with a groin strain in recent weeks, and wanted to come off in Saturday's 2-1 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur after causing it further damage.

But Ancelotti had used all three of his substitutions by then, so Drogba was forced to play out the remainder of the game noticably unsettled.

With four games left in the season, player and manager now have to decide how they manage the injury — which may yet require minor surgery before the summer's World Cup.

"It's his decision," said Ancelotti, according to the Press Association.

"He doesn't have a big problem. It's more about controlling the situation. He'll take a decision at the end of the season, whether he has surgery or not. But it's not sure he'll have surgery."

Drogba's countryman, Salomon Kalou, hopes the hitman is available for the remainder of the season — especially as three wins from their final three league games will guarantee the Blues their first title since 2006.

"Every time I have the chance to work with him I listen to what he has to say - he is very important to me," said Kalou.

"When you're talking about strikers in the game today, Didier is one of the best and I want to take advantage of this opportunity to learn from him.

"Didier is like a big brother to me. First of all we come from the same country and that makes us closer.

"He still takes me to one side at training and gives me tips. We are always working in front of the goal. He is always so sharp in front of the net and I want to improve that side of my game."

John Terry's Poor Form Raises Concerns For Chelsea And England

John Terry will this week get a placatory arm around the shoulder and some words of comfort and support as Chelsea look to put their damaged title challenge back on track.

The Chelsea captain’s season has dipped from bad to worse, culminating at White Hart Lane with a performance, in front of Fabio Capello, that the defender will want to erase from the memory bank.

Carlo Ancelotti will tell Terry: “non agitarti”. The Italian will translate that to “don’t panic” but the order, from a man who has experienced everything this game can offer, will be straightforward and calm amid the chaos that is unfolding at the business end of this most compelling of seasons.

Terry will miss the visit of Stoke City as a result of his first red card since December 2008, at Everton, when the same referee, Phil Dowd, sent the player off. This time he went for two yellow cards, for two sloppy fouls, but he could have been dismissed earlier had Dowd spotted Terry pulling the shirt of Jermain Defoe.

He had appeared to recover, with strength, from the allegations of an affair with the former girlfriend of Wayne Bridge and the subsequent loss of his England captaincy.

But the latest display, in a 2-1 defeat, will give cause for concern, both for Chelsea and England, particularly as he was outshone by another defender, Tottenham’s Michael Dawson, who is still waiting to make his senior debut for his country. Dawson later refused to consider the prospect of an England call up, but Capello is considering him for the coming friendlies.

Terry was even involved in an altercation with a Spurs fan at half time. How ironic that the fan has been banned, by Spurs, from the club’s next home game -- the same punishment meted out to Terry for the red card.

“The people are looking too much at John Terry’s performances,” claimed Ancelotti. “He is doing very well. He did a fantastic season. Maybe sometimes he had some problems and didn’t play so well, maybe against Tottenham he didn’t play too well. But he has been absolutely fantastic.”

As for the rashness of being sent-off in a game of such importance, Ancelotti again offered sympathy. “I was a player,” he recalled, “and you know sometimes you are not always rational, you lose sometimes your control.”

Which is something Chelsea can no longer afford to do. “Now we have to win the next game and if it’s possible the next three games and then we are the champions,” he added. “Tottenham played better than us, it can happen, so it’s not a time now to be disappointed, it’s a time to stay calm, to stay focussed and to look forward for the next game.”

As for the possibility that Tottenham could make it a trio of prize scalps, at Old Trafford, Ancelotti added: “They are in a good moment and they could do a very game, but we are not interested, we have to win against Stoke.

“And we have to control this but I think my players have the character and the concentration to maintain an atmosphere of calm and quiet and remain in focus on our match.”

Which is something they failed to do at White Hart Lane. From the early stages Spurs were inspired and having been denied one penalty, won another when Terry was adjudged to have handled David Bentley’s cross. The decision was harsh; the ball bounced awkwardly and may have caught his shoulder, but the complaints were minimal and Defoe, who had missed six of his previous 10 penalties, converted with power.

And when Gareth Bale, quite stunning on the left side, added a second before the interval, the warning bells were alive. Chelsea teams in the past have responded with urgency. This Chelsea side threw in the towel.

They were not helped by a woeful performance on the right by Paulo Ferreira, who was torn to shreds by Bale. He had been ill, his manager insisted, so his failure to appear for the second half was not a surprise.

Spurs had chances to embarrass Chelsea and although Frank Lampard’s late goal gave the visitors hope, losing Terry in the 67th minute, was the final set-back. Now Chelsea face Stoke with a defence missing Terry and Ricardo Carvalho but, almost certainly, reinforced by Ashley Cole, who spent Saturday on the bench.

One more slip, and one wonders what Roman Abramovich will be thinking. Interesting times indeed.

Alan Hansen: Failure To Win Premier League Could Be End Of Chelsea 'As We Know Them'

Former Liverpool defender Alan Hansen believes that, should Chelsea fail to claim the Premier League title this season, then the recent period they have enjoyed as a dominant force in the English top flight could be over.

The Blues lost to Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday whilst rivals Manchester United won at Manchester City.

That saw the Londoners' lead at the top of the table cut to just one point with three games left, and Hansen feels that failure to win the title will have consequences far beyond this season.

"As for Chelsea, they will be guilty of the biggest slip-up in the history of the Premier League if they fail to win the title because they have had so many opportunities to put it beyond their rivals’ reach and been unable to do it," Hansen told The Daily Telegraph.

"If they finish without the title this season, it could be the end of Chelsea as we know them. It is such a crucial time for the club.

"Win the league, and Roman Abramovich might be energised by the experience, throw more money at it and go for the big prizes all over again. But with the team needing new blood, he might decide that, although he has had a great time, the party is over."

Hansen feels that neither Chelsea nor United have been top class teams this season, with United's experience and, crucially, their manager, playing major parts in their title challenge.

"No matter who wins the title this season, though, it will be the first time that an average team will have claimed the Premier League crown," the former Liverpool skipper added.

"Jose Mourinho changed the face of English football when he was at Chelsea because his team raised the bar so high that you had to be a great side to win the league during his time at Stamford Bridge.

"But neither United nor Chelsea can lay claim to being a great side this season. If United win the title, it will be down to their perseverance and ability to do what champions do in terms of never giving up.

"They also have the figure of Sir Alex in the dressing room, warning players that they might not have a future at United and hammering home the message that they never give up."

Liverpool face Chelsea on May 2, and Hansen insists that there will be no difference in attitude from Rafael Benitez's side, even though a win for them could hand bitter rivals Manchester United the title.

"There is absolutely no chance whatsoever that Liverpool will be handing out any favours to Chelsea at Anfield, even it means that they ultimately play a pivotal role in handing United their 19th league title," he asserted.

"Sir Alex Ferguson knows this only too well and anybody who might doubt Liverpool’s integrity and resolve will be seriously mistaken.

"In 1995, Liverpool almost handed the title to United by beating Kenny Dalglish’s Blackburn on the final day of the season, but United’s failure to win at West Ham proved their downfall.

"Liverpool will be approaching the Chelsea game in exactly the same manner. They will be 100 per cent professional and they would expect the same from United."

Chelsea Analysis: Carlo Ancelotti Likes Stability, But Blues Definitely Need Changes This Summer

In between the confirmation of Ashley Cole's return to the first-team squad and various denials that the double was already in the bag, the most significant comment of Carlo Ancelotti's Friday press conference almost slipped under the radar. Asked by one journalist if he agreed with Fabio Capello's reported comments that the Premier League would have to spend to regain its grip on European competition, the coach said he didn't think it was the "most important thing".

Asked for a second time to clarify whether he would be reaching for the cheque book come the season's close, Ancelotti took the opportunity to state his position unequivocally. "No, it's not necessary to spend a lot of money this summer," he said.

Whether Chelsea or Manchester United end up winners, they will have suffered more Premier League defeats than any champions in nine years - United lost six times in winning the league in 2001. It doesn't take a visionary to work out that United miss a certain number 7, and that they could do with a better blend in midfield. But for the Blues - and Ancelotti - their strength this season in having a team full of experienced campaigners could prove to be their weakness in the future.

It's only natural that Ancelotti should put his faith in seasoned pros. This, after all, is what sustained him in eight seasons at the helm of AC Milan. He deserves enormous credit for keeping Milan competitive in Europe at least. The outstanding achievement on his CV when he arrived at Stamford Bridge was his Champions League record, with wins in 2003 and 2007 sandwiching the extraordinary loss to Liverpool. Performance in Serie A was far from what was hoped for, though. One Scudetto (in 2004) was Ancelotti's haul, and his last three seasons saw Milan struggle even to hold on to a Champions League spot - a humbling situation for a side so used to making their presence felt in that competition's final stages.

2006-07 4th place - Milan started the season on minus eight points, their punishment for their part in the Calciopoli scandal, but even with those points reinstated they would have finished 28 points behind champions Inter.

2007-08 5th place - the European champions missed out completely, having to content themselves with a UEFA Cup spot

2008-09 runners-up - despite a few end-of-season wobbles, Milan clinched second position and an automatic return to the Champions League group stage

Ancelotti's league record is tempered by a few mitigating factors: the aforementioned Calciopoli, and the fact that Milan's owner Silvio Berlusconi provided less and less funds to strengthen the side.

In his last season in Italy the coach acquired Mathieu Flamini on a free; plus Ronaldinho, who was widely considered to be a spent force, and certainly played like it in his debut Serie A season; and 30-somethings Gianluca Zambrotta and David Beckham (on loan).

This lack of investment was not an overnight thing. A look at the Champions League final line-ups in 2005 and 2007 reveals only four changes to the starting line-up for the latter final - Massimo Oddo, Marek Jankulovski, Massimo Ambrosini and Filippo Inzaghi coming into the XI for 2007. Ambrosini and Inzaghi were already at the club, and had been part of the squad for the 2003 win over Juventus at Old Trafford too. In fact, the whole starting XI in 2003 were still at the club in 2005 with all but Inzaghi (injured) in the squad for the Athens final.

At Stamford Bridge, it's been no secret that owner Roman Abramovich has wanted to make Chelsea financially self-sufficient for a number of years - it was with this in mind that he appointed Peter Kenyon. Perhaps the ability to keep getting more out of ageing players was an element of Ancelotti's profile that made him attractive to the Russian. Yet if Chelsea's league performance started to wane in the fashion that Milan's did the coach would swiftly find himself out of work, and age is starting to catch up with the squad.

Ancelotti: Character To Cope

Carlo Ancelotti has given support to his captain in the wake of John Terry's red card at Tottenham.

The Chelsea manager spoke about pressure generally following the 2-1 defeat at White Hart Lane but asked specifically if he believes Terry is coping with pressure upon him especially; Ancelotti pointed anyone raising that question to the big picture.

'All the people are looking too much at his performances,' the Italian said. 'Maybe sometimes he had some problems and he didn't play so well, maybe on Saturday he didn't play so well, but you have to look to the whole season of John Terry which is absolutely fantastic.

'I was a player and I know as a player sometimes you lose your control and any player can do this.

'John Terry is under pressure now, but everyone is under pressure at this moment,' Ancelotti added. 'He is the captain and he is involved in this exciting race and it's nothing special.

'The pressure is normal. To have pressure at the end of the Premier League is normal. We are top of the table and I think we have less pressure than the other teams.

'We have to control this but I think my players have character and concentration to maintain their focus on our matches.'

It was not a good day for Terry, nor other areas of the Chelsea defence and Ancelotti admitted there were problems with the right-hand side from where both Spurs goals originated. Paulo Ferreira, he reported, had suffered sickness is the days leading up to the game but Branislav Ivanovic, who replaced the Portuguese right-back at half-time, was not fit enough after injury to play a full 90 minutes.

What Ancelotti refuses to accept influenced the result was news of Manchester United's late winner prior to our kick-off.

'We were disappointed yes but we were involved in an important game and we prepared very well for this game, nothing changed about the pressure on this game after the goal by Scholes.

'It was bad day. Tottenham played better than us but it is not a time to be disappointed, it is a time to stay calm, stay focused and look forward to the next game.'

Chelsea TV Exclusive: It Was Messy

Reflecting on our 2-1 defeat to Tottenham, Frank Lampard insisted the side's slow start cost us three points in north London.

The midfield maestro, who began the game as vice-captain but ended it with the armband following John Terry's dismissal, believes their lead was too much to recover from after we conceded twice in the first half.

Chasing a two-goal deficit is never easy but against Tottenham, for Chelsea, it is even harder, explained Lampard: 'The last thing you want to do when you go to White Hart Lane is give them a 1-0 lead at the start, especially in the derby.

'When we went 1-0 down they got their confidence and when the game went to 2-0 it put us under a lot pressure and they are a good side.

'Then the game got messy in the second half and we went down to 10 men.

'But to be fair we had quite a lot of the ball in their box, we just couldn't find that last little pass.'

Needless to say, both players and fans alike were upset with Saturday's match but the result may not have been so hard to swallow, had it not been for a certain Paul Scholes goal.

'It's disappointing, especially with Manchester United's result,' noted Lampard.

'When they scored in the last minute it was hard. If they had drawn the game it would have left us in a very healthy position but now it's tighter.

'We were trying to get back into the game and with the last goal we had a bit of a lift but it's difficult with 10 men.

'But we have to get on with it now, understand it and not dwell on it because if we win our next three games we win the League.'

Touching on Terry's brace of bookings, Lampard was keen to express his leader's desire to succeed and how that sometimes transpires on the pitch.

'He wants to win and he's a fantastic captain,' reports Lampard, 'although for the first yellow I thought he got a slight touch on the ball.

'But when he went into that second tackle, you knew the minute the tackle went in he was going to get sent off.

'When you're playing in such circumstances sometimes these things happen but I don't think the referee gave us much in the game.'

However, Lampard himself gave us something when a stoppage time slide to the far post resulted in our only goal, taking him to 23 for the season.

'It doesn't feel so good given the circumstances of the game,' said Lampard, 'but if it can help us with the goal difference at the end of the season then it's worth it.'

With the League position in mind, Petr Cech, who put in an outstanding performance between the posts, knows Saturday's result has left us in the same position as a couple of weeks ago.

'It is basically the same as before,' said Cech. 'If we had drawn we would be two points clear and we would still have to win every game. Now we have the first game at home to Stoke and we have to win.'

Carlo Ancelotti Urges Chelsea Not To Panic After Spurs Defeat

Chelsea's manager Carlo Ancelotti has urged his players to hold their nerve in the Premier League title race following their defeat at Tottenham.

Manchester United could be back at the top of the league by the time Ancelotti's men kick-off against Stoke next Sunday after Sir Alex Ferguson's men defeated Manchester City before Spurs' 2-1 win against the Blues.

The results also mean Spurs are back in the Champions League places, with their victory over Arsenal in midweek backed up with goals from Jermain Defoe and Gareth Bale, while Chelsea had John Terry dismissed before pulling one back through Frank Lampard.

"We had a problem with soft defence," said Ancelotti. "We didn't put pressure on the ball. Lampard scored at the end but when we lost Terry it was impossible to recover the game with 10 against 11."

Chelsea will win their first title since 2006 if they defeat Stoke, Liverpool and Wigan. "We know what we have to do in the next three games," Ancelotti said. "We must not have a panic now. We are top of the league with only three games left so every team wants to be in our place. We have two at home and one difficult game away. We can be the best again. A one-point lead is not bad at this stage of the season. I am always confident. I am less confident than yesterday but we are still in the best position."
Ancelotti made his final two substitutions at half-time before Didier Drogba pulled up with an apparent groin problem just before the restart.

"Didier never said anything at the end of the first half," the Italian added. "He had a problem but after five minutes he was good to play to the end of the match without a problem. Now he doesn't have a problem."

Ancelotti also refused to comment on whether he thought Terry's dismissal, for fouls on Roman Pavlyuchenko and Bale, was harsh. "We are disappointed because we have lost John Terry for the next game but I don't have to say anything about the decision," he said. "Everyone is under pressure at this moment. He is the captain and involved in this exciting race."

Carlo Ancelotti Grateful That Premier League Title Is Still In Chelsea's Hands

Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti remained defiant about his side's Premier League title chances despite a 2-1 defeat to Tottenham.

The league leaders went into the tie at White Hart Lane having seen Manchester United narrow the gap to just a solitary point after victory over Manchester City earlier on Saturday afternoon.

But Ancelotti told ESPN that the stress at the top does not concern him: "I think at this moment all the teams have pressure, all the teams have their own aims - it's normal.

"There are only three games left; the title is still in our hands. We have to look to the next game against Stoke."

The Italian conceded that Chelsea deserved to lose following first-half goals from Jermain Defoe and Gareth Bale, but disagreed with John Terry who had earlier in the week said that the players are beginning to feel the nerves at the top.

"No, I don't think that," said Ancelotti. "We knew we had to do our best, but we didn't today.

"Tottenham played very well, as they did against Arsenal - this is football, sometimes this happens."

Ancelotti saw his captain sent off for two bookable offences in quick succession in the second half, but he offered no criticism of referee Phil Dowd.

He added: "I have no complaints about the sending off - I don't want to talk about the decision of the referee.

"I am disappointed only that he [Terry] is not able to play the next game, but Ivanovic is fit so we have a good substitution for him."

The former AC Milan boss did, however, state that his players need to regroup with the season drawing to a close.

"I think that this team played very well until this game," he continued. "This game was not good. We have to refocus and play better in our next game."

Chelsea To Decide On Mancienne Future This Week

A report in the News of the World today claims Chelsea will decide on Michael Mancienne ’s future this week.

The 22-year-old has spent the whole season on loan at Wolves and has impressed in a holding midfield role despite naturally being a central defender.

Neil Ashton claims that "Chelsea director of football Frank Arnesen is under pressure to make a Blues academy player a first-team regular - and Mancienne is earmarked to be the one."

Wolves, following a successful season, would be happy to sign Mancienne and are willing to spend five million pounds on the England Under-21 striker.

Mancienne has played 28 games for Wolves this season and has been booked six times. Last season he made five appearances for Chelsea.

Chelsea Chase £17m Rated Palermo Striker Edinson Cavani

Chelsea have targeted Palermo striker Edinson Cavani , according to a report in The People today.

The 23-year-old striker has been a major factor behind Palermo’s chase for a Champions League place and has impressed Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti and his scouts in Italy.

Cavani has claimed 10 goals in 29 appearances for Palermo in 2009/2010 and at 6.0ft should be able to deal with the physical nature of the Premier League.

A number of clubs have been tracking Cavani and Chelsea face competition from Juventus, Roma, AC Milan, Manchester City and Manchester United to bring the Uruguay international (13 caps/2 goals) to Stamford Bridge.

Palermo will also be eager to hold on to Cavani who has been at the club since 2006/2007 and is contracted to the Serie A side until 2014/2015.

Sturridge Helping Kids Achieve Thier Goals

Daniel Sturridge joined guests of honour and young people at Cobham to launch a unique programme to help tackle youth crime in Surrey.

The guests and youngsters were from the borough of Elmbridge within which our training HQ is located.

Chelsea's Goalz project is funded by the Premier League's Creating Chances initiative and operates within Elmbridge working with young people aged 12-16yrs.Police and the council's Youth Justice and Youth Service Departments identify youngsters at risk of offending and refer them onto the programme which operates three nights a week, 48 weeks of the year, ensuring long term contact and positive engagement with the young people.

Participants are offered the opportunity to take part in football and a variety other sports all of which are linked to a series of workshops incorporating education, advice on drugs and alcohol abuse, health and a variety of social issues relevant to the young people.

After joining in with a kickaround and a session of head tennis, Sturridge spent time chatting to participants, answering a wide range of questions.

'I enjoy doing things in the community, especially with disadvantaged kids that have obviously had a hard upbringing,' said the England Under 21 international.

'Everyone in life deserves the chance to get what they want and sometimes it is a bit difficult for them to just live a normal life. It is always good to talk to them and give them a bit of hope that they can achieve what they want in life.

'Football can make a difference. It is a worldwide sport and Chelsea is a worldwide club and football is one of those games that brings joy and happiness to people's lives. I am happy to be part of a football family.'

The Surrey police have proved vital to the success of the programme. Sergeant Jerry Milford was on hand throughout the day joining in with the activities.

'We have referred some people we think are on the verge of getting into real difficult times and some of them are absolutely blooming now after four or five months,' he said. 'You saw some of the people ask questions to Daniel Sturridge with confidence but they didn't have that confidence five months ago.'

Chelsea and the partners involved in the project are confident that by the end of their time on the course the young people will have gained qualifications, improved their self esteem and that anti-social behaviour, and youth offending levels in the borough will have been lowered.

The Mayor of Elmbridge, Cllr. James Vickers, was impressed with what he saw.

'Elmbridge are involved with Chelsea a lot and we are very much involved with youth and sport. With Chelsea on our doorstep here, they are great colleagues and friends to have around and I am delighted to support projects like these. Seeing the enthusiasm involved, I think it has a great future and will really take off.'

Youth development officer Howard Jones added: 'It is great for the Youth Service to have a prestige partner like Chelsea. I believe that the engagement and divergent schemes work. Any activity with young people has an element of crime diversion, but the specific engagement schemes when the young people are referred have a very good track record.'

Chelsea Pensioners Get Carlo Ancelotti's Vote Of Confidence

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti has given the clearest indication yet that he will retain faith with his ageing core of players next season.

With the club on the brink of the first league and FA Cup Double in their history, Ancelotti believes that this current group has answered questions about their collective age and does not foresee any need for a significant summer spending spree.

"I don't think it's necessary for us to spend a lot of money," he said. "I said that at the start of the season, that I was happy to have these players. I really do have a very good squad."

Ancelotti has already recommended that Joe Cole's contract is extended, while Michael Ballack, Nicolas Anelka, Juliano Belletti and Deco will also hold negotiations this summer.

Chelsea have had a long-time interest in both Franck Ribery and Sergio Aguero, yet there is a feeling that neither is worth the sort of fee being demanded in a market that has been inflated by Real Madrid and Manchester City.

Chelsea are overwhelming favourites to win a third title in six years, although captain John Terry did admit that nerves were evident in the edgy midweek win over Bolton. Ancelotti, however, clearly regards complacency as the biggest danger.

Youth Report: Leiceister City 3 - 2 Chelsea

Youth team defeat away at Leicester on Saturday compounded a disappointing weekend, but coach Dermot Drummy was impressed with his young side's display.

With only goalkeeper Sam Walker of the regular FA Youth Cup side involved, it was a mixture of first year scholars and schoolboys that fell 2-0 behind early on against a side now unbeaten in 25 league games.

Our hosts took the lead on 10 minutes when a slip in the Chelsea defence allowed Welsh Under 21 international Elliott Chamberlain to slot home from the edge of the area, and within two minutes the same player had doubled the lead from inside the six-yard box.

With Leicester firmly on top in the first half, it was Chelsea who dominated the second. Half-time substitute Nathaniel Chalobah pulled us back into the game with a far-post volley from Johnny Cane's cross, before Nikki Ahamed rifled home a 30-yard equaliser after a move involving Ben Sampayo and Danny Philliskirk.

Six minutes from time though Leicester scored the winner in slightly controversial circumstances, it being uncertain whether the ball had crossed the line when sub Ollie Norburn turned it goalwards following a City corner.

Despite defeat, Drummy was proud of the lads, and has an FA Youth Cup Final first leg to prepare for, the first leg against Aston Villa being on Thursday 29 April at Villa Park.

'Leicester were really direct and physical and we had three under-19s playing, but the rest of the boys were youngsters. We were very pleased although we lost and we were able to give a couple of young players a chance.

'For the Youth Cup, Adie Viveash and I travelled to Newcastle on Friday to watch the semi-final with Aston Villa, and they will be tough opposition but we look forward to it.'

Chelsea's £150m Wage Bill Has Bought Them Success: Arsene Wenger

Just when Chelsea looked to be marching unhindered to their third title in six years, along come Tottenham to remind us, on a day of high drama at White Hart Lane and Old Trafford, of football’s capacity for the gloriously unpredictable.

And few will have enjoyed it more than Arsene Wenger as he prepares his Arsenal side for their match at Wigan Athletic, suddenly handed a championship lifeline by the north London rivals he was cursing, rather than thanking, just a few nights earlier following their own derby defeat.

His pleasure will be all the sweeter as he remains a firm opponent of the kind of spending that has taken Chelsea to the top of the table.

In fact, Wenger thinks Chelsea should be stopped from what he sees as buying titles.

The Stamford Bridge club’s newly released accounts reveal that they spent a staggering £142.6million on players’ salaries last year, the highest sum in English football history.

It is over £20m more than Manchester United’s playing budget and £40m more than Arsenal’s. ‘What is not normal is not our wages bill, but their wages bill,’ said Wenger, who resents Chelsea being able to continue to splash out more than his club — and United — despite not bringing in the same revenue.

‘That should not be allowed.’ Indeed, the Arsenal manager believes the game’s governing bodies should legislate to prevent Chelsea spending the record sums on wages that could carry them to the Premier League and FA Cup Double.

Chelsea and their fans will be shocked by Wenger’s comments. After all the big spending in the early years of Roman Abramovich’s ownership, the club has been positively frugal by comparison this season as the Russian seeks to rein in the spending.

Only Yuri Zhirkov and Daniel Sturridge arrived this season, at a cost of £23m — just £4m more than United paid for Antonio Valencia and Gabriel Obertan and which does not begin to compare with the £80m Real Madrid forked out for Cristiano Ronaldo alone.

But the belief that English football at the top level is impoverished as a result of the recession is undermined, not just by Manchester City’s spending power but also by Chelsea’s wage bill.

Wenger’s attack on Chelsea and lament for the financial imbalance may have something to do with his frustration at his perception, before Saturday’s new (slim) hope, that his side had fallen short in a trophy campaign for a fifth season in a row. It also had much to do with his chagrin at the authorities failing to act quickly to prevent what he sees as unfair spending.

New UEFA rules have been drawn up aimed at preventing clubs accumulating debt while still spending heavily, which is why Abramovich converted many of his loans to Chelsea into equity and also one reason why Liverpool’s indebted co-owners, George Gillett and Tom Hicks, are seeking a new buyer.

Recently, however, the big clubs of Europe persuaded the governing body to delay implementing the rules from 2012 to 2015. Wenger turned 60 this season. Time is slipping away for him.

Dredging up defiance after recent setbacks, he insists, however, that his club can compete on the field with Chelsea and big-spenders United, despite having lost twice to both this season, and even surpass them next season.

‘We cannot compete for wages but I believe we can realistically compete on the pitch,’ he added. ‘I’m convinced of that. As well, we can overcome them. We were for a while not investing, maybe because we were building the stadium. But I think now our financial situation is much stronger and that we will be capable of buying the players we need to buy.

‘Not all the top players can go to Chelsea. There are top players Chelsea don’t want to buy who are still good enough for us.’

New Pitch For Wembley

A new pitch is to be laid at Wembley following criticism of the playing surface at English football's national stadium.

The pitch was heavily criticised by three of the four managers of the the FA Cup semi-finalists and PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor described it as an "embarrassment".

The FA Cup final between Chelsea and Portsmouth is the next match to be played at the stadium.

"Wembley Stadium can confirm that a new pitch will be installed, with work commencing today," a statement on Sunday said.

"We will continue working with The Sports Turf Research Institute (STRI) to install and maintain the new turf.

"The pitch will be the same type as was used in the latter part of last year.

"We will continue to refine the installation and maintenance regime to build on the formula that was successful during that period.

"Wembley and STRI feel confident that we will be able to deliver and sustain a good pitch at Wembley for our busy football schedule in May."