Real Madrid Plan Chelsea Raid

According to reports in Spain, Real Madrid have emerged as shock candidates for Chelsea FC midfielder Michael Ballack.

The German international has played a crucial role in Chelsea FC’s successful Premier League campaign, but is out of contract in June and is yet to agree terms with his employers.

The 33-year-old had been linked with a return to the Bundesliga, with Schalke 04 openly admitting their interest, however according to reports in Spain, the former Bayern Munich captain is attracting strong interest from Real Madrid.

Sport1 claim Real Madrid would jump at the chance to sign the Chelsea FC star on a bosman, and with the German international currently reluctant to sign a reduced terms deal at Stamford Bridge, Ballack could seek one final swansong on the continent before retiring.

The media speculation continues to suggest Inter Milan boss Jose Mourinho is Real Madrid’s top managerial target this summer, and Sport1 indicate Ballack and the former Chelsea FC manager would relish a reunion at the Bernabeu.

Chelsea And Manchester City Offered Unsettled Barcelona Striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Barcelona have offered Chelsea and Manchester City the chance to sign Zlatan Ibrahimovic for around £40 million, according to a report from the Daily Mail.

The Swedish international only arrived at the Nou Camp last summer, in a blockbuster £40m deal with Italian side Inter Milan that also saw Samuel Eto'o head in the opposite direction.

But the 28-year-old's form has been inconsistent this season, scoring a fairly disappointing 16 goals in all competition, and he was even withdrawn early by manager Pep Guardiola as the Catalan giants failed to defeat Inter in the Champions League semi-finals last month.

Consequently Barca president Joan Laporta has reportedly instructed 'super-agent' Pini Zahavi to gauge interest in the player from abroad, as the club try to recoup the money they spent on the skilful striker. Juventus have shown their interest in paying around £35m for their former star, but Laporta hopes either Chelsea or Manchester City will be more willing to meet their valuation.

Both Premier League clubs have been strongly linked with moves for strikers during the summer, with Liverpool's Fernando Torres, AC Milan's Alexandre Pato and Atletico Madrid's Sergio Aguero all reported targets. But either or both might be intrigued by the possibility of adding Ibrahimovic to their ranks.

Barcelona have been widely linked with an agreement to sign Valencia and Spain hotshot David Villa in the summer, a possible reason behind their sudden willingness to offload their big signing of the last summer transfer window.

Despite an underwhelming season Ibrahimovic is still ranked at an impressive No.9 in the Castrol Rankings, making him the third highest Barca player behind Gerard Pique (8) and Lionel Messi (1).

Chelsea Join Race To Sign Kaspar Schmeichel From Notts County

Chelsea are now in the hunt to snap up goalkeeper Kaspar Schmeichel from Notts County, according to a report from The Daily Mail.

Blues scouts were apparently watching the 23-year-old in action last week against Torquay United and view him as a potential understudy to Petr Cech.

Bayern Munich, West Bromwich Albion and Derby County are also believed to be tracking the young Dane.

Schmeichel is now a free agent after spending a season at Meadow Lane.

Manchester City And Chelsea Battle Over Mario Balotelli And Marek Hamsik

The two clubs predicted to be among the Premier League's biggest spenders - Chelsea and Manchester City - are ramping up the competition for the signings of Serie A starlet duo Mario Balotelli and Marek Hamsik.

Chelsea and City, who have Italian managers in Carlo Ancelotti and Roberto Mancini, respectively, are tracking the young strikers as speculation in Italy suggests both will be allowed to move in the summer.

Balotelli, 19, has endured a difficult time at Inter Milan lately, having fallen out with manager Jose Mourinho and come under fire from the club's notoriously hard-to-please fans.

He gestured towards the stands after being jeered during their Champions League campaign, and stormed off without staying on the pitch to celebrate following their victory over Barcelona earlier this month.

Meanwhile Slovakian star Hamsik, 22, has impressed in a Napoli team pushing for a European place this season, scoring 12 goals.

But the club could opt to cash in on him if they receive a hefty pay-off from an English counterpart.

Mancini is a known admirer of Balotelli, having seen him first-hand and signed him from Lummezzane during his time at the San Siro.

And he is also well versed in Hamsik's ability through his ongoing connections in Italy.

Meanwhile Ancelotti is also aware of the talent of both strikers and is keen to bring them both in alongside Salomon Kalou as understudies to first-choice forward pairing Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka.

Rising Stoch

Having won a championship medal of his own in Holland, Miroslav Stoch returned to Cobham this week to share his story.

The 20-year-old Slovakian had a season to remember with FC Twente, where he helped secure the club's first ever Eredivisie title with 10 goals from 32 appearances under the leadership of Steve McClaren, the former England manager.

'I think it was a great season, when I went there I didn't expect it could be like that, that we could be champions but from the first day it was getting better and better and we kept on winning,' Stoch explained. 'I was so surprised and now we are champions, it was so great!

'My form was good until the winter break, then I had a little problem with my groin and didn't play so good, but in the end I was better and my play improved enough to score in the last two games.'

The second of those was in the final day victory over NAC Breda which secured the championship for the Enschede side.

'To score was so nice, I felt so happy and of course to win was unbelievable. I think everyone is a legend there now, it is something special for the club, the first time they won the title and everyone there is buzzing,' smiled the diminutive winger.

McClaren yesterday left the club for Germany, and Wolfsburg who competed in this season's Champions League. Stoch hopes it brings the Englishman further success overseas.

'I heard the manager had gone to Wolfsburg, I knew a little earlier that maybe he would leave, but it is not surprising, he has done a great job and what else can he do with the team?' he reasoned. 'Now he can move on to a bigger team and hopefully learn more.'

'I don't know what will happen but we have to decide the best option for me, last year we decided really well when I went to Twente, and now I hope we will do the best again,' he explained. 'I want to play all the time like I did in Holland.'

Stoch was at Cobham for his end of season fitness testing, and was joined by fellow loanees Jack Cork, Michael Mancienne and Scott Sinclair.

Cork rounded his loan spell at Burnley on Sunday with a goal as the Clarets came back from two down to beat Tottenham 4-2.

The goal, a second-half header, pulled already relegatedBurnley level before they went on to win the game.

It was Cork's 11th appearance for the Turf Moor side since arriving there in early February, following a spell with Coventry City for the first half of the season.

Mancienne was not involved in Wolves' final game of the season on Sunday, so completed his stay at Molineux with 25 starts and eight sub appearances, helping them to achieve Premier League survival for the first time.

Sinclair was ineligible for Wigan's visit to Stamford Bridge on Sunday, but was at the game to see his temporary side beaten 8-0 by the Blues.

During his time at the DW Stadium, Scott made five starts and 17 sub appearances, scoring twice.

Franco Di Santo has also completed his loan spell at Blackburn, where he made 16 starts and nine sub appearances, scoring a solitary goal against local rivals Burnley in October.

Michael Ballack Admits Time Is Running Out To Sign A New Deal At Chelsea

Chelsea midfielder Michael Ballack has admitted that time could be running out for him to secure a new contract at Stamford Bridge ahead of the World Cup.

The German's current deal at the club runs out in the summer and, whilst he accepts the decision taken by owner Roman Abramovich to delay contract negotiations until after the weekend's FA Cup final, he does feel that something needs to happen quickly.

"Roman Abramovich will only hold contract discussions once the season is over," Ballack told reporters.

"I don't want to pass judgement on that and I have to accept it.

"But everything is becoming rather tight in terms of time."

Bundesliga outfit Schalke 04 have been linked with the 33-year-old in recent days.

Sky Sports Pundit Lauds Ancelotti's "Unnoticed" Assistant

Sports pundit Chris Kamara has praised the contribution of Chelsea FC’s assistant coach Ray Wilkins, suggesting Carlo Ancelotti’s right-hand man deserves a lot of credit for his part in helping the Blues win the Premier League.

Kamara suggests Wilkins goes relatively unnoticed by those outside of the Chelsea FC dressing room but claims the former QPR manager plays a crucial role in liaising with the players and Ancelotti.

The Sky Sports pundit praises Wilkins as “Mr. Chelsea” and suggests Ancelotti’s assistant “deserves a shower of love” for his role in the club’s successful Premier League campaign.

Kamara told Skysports.com: “I think Ray Wilkins deserves a lot of credit too.”

“He goes unnoticed but the contribution he makes at that football club is brilliant.”

“He's been through a few managers now but he's a great coach, he's Mr. Chelsea and he deserves a shower of love.”

Chelsea Won't Break Bank For Joe Cole

Chelsea chief executive Ron Gourlay has warned midfielder Joe Cole the club has a salary budget this summer with regards to new deals.

The former West Ham man along with vastly-experienced German midfielder Michael Ballack are both of contract next month and available on free transfers.

The club is keen to thrash out new terms with England international Cole, who has been at the club for the past seven years following his Upton Park switch.

Gourlay insists finalising players' futures is one of the club's top priorities, however, with their aim to be self-sufficient in mind; The Blues will not retain the 29-year-old at all costs.

"We will sit down and talk to Joe Cole at the end of the season, and he knows that," explained Gourlay.

"We will do that with a number of players, but when it comes down to salaries you have to draw the line somewhere.

"Every time we push the wage levels up higher we have somebody else knocking at the door," he continued without naming Cole.

"We've got to make a mark in the sand at some point."

Chelsea To Make £20M Raid On Tottenham For Luka Modric

Chelsea will make a £20m raid on Spurs for midfield maestro Luka Modric.

And Carlo Ancelotti has been told he can buy a £70m player like Fernando Torres if he wants.

But the Chelsea manager has targeted Croatian schemer Modric as the man he wants to add to his midfield.

As a result he would allow both Deco and Joe Cole to leave. Modric is also understood to be a target for Manchester United, but it is believed that he would prefer to stay in London and could be interested in a move to Chelsea.

Ancelotti wants to freshen up his midfield and the 24-year-old Modric is considered ideal signing because he has already had two seasons in the Premier League.

It means that Cole will be allowed to leave because Chelsea are refusing to meet his £100,000-a-week plus wage demands.

But he could easily go in the opposite direction and join up with Spurs boss Harry Redknapp, who he started his career with at West Ham.

Redknapp wants to keep hold of Modric but may struggle if the player wants to move to Chelsea, and Cole could be the perfect answer.

Talking about meeting Cole’s wage demands, Chelsea chief executive Ron Gourlay said: “We’re very conscious of controlling our salaries, but at the same time we’re expected to win every game we play so have to get the balance right.

“The balance is being able to bring players through from the academy to offset some of the higher costs we’ve incurred over the years.

“We will sit down and talk to Joe Cole at the end of the season, and he knows that. We will do that with a number of players, but when it comes down to salaries you have to draw a line somewhere.”

Chelsea also hope to do new deals with Michael Ballack and Nicolas Anelka, who are out of contract this summer.

But although Chelsea want to become self-sufficient and balance their books, Gourlay would not completely rule out splashing out a record £70m on a player – like Torres.

He added: “We have to get a team together to challenge for trophies.

“We have a good squad. We do not feel we will be required to spend a huge amount of money.

“It is a balancing act between trying to become self-sufficient and improving the football team. Any decision about signings will be made by Carlo.”

Chelsea And Man City Chase Torres

CHELSEA will match Manchester City in the fight for Fernando Torres.

Blues boss Carlo Ancelotti has been given the go-ahead to bid for £50million-rated Liverpool striker Torres.

Chelsea chief executive Ron Gourlay said: "If it was good for the club then we can make an exception to buy a marquee player.

"We have to challenge for trophies. We have a good squad and don't feel we are required to spend a huge amount.

"It's a balancing act between keeping to our strategy of trying to become self sufficient and improving the team.

"However, we want to let our on-field success drive our commercial income and any decision about signings will be made by Ancelotti.

"There is a balance to be had between young players coming through from the academy and those players that we might sign."

Pato Rules Out Chelsea Move: "I Want To Stay At AC Milan"

Brazilian striker Alexandre Pato has moved swiftly to reject recent transfer rumours linking him with a summer exit from AC Milan to new Premier League champions Chelsea.

The 20-year-old told Corriere dello Sport: "I want to remain at AC Milan and win everything with them. But I am a Rossonero player and my future will be decided by the club."

All the transfer rumours have suggested Pato would be eager to join up with current Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti who managed the young starlet at AC Milan.

Pato: "He helped me grow in Italy but I am under contract until 2014 and I am happy to remain at AC Milan.”

Alexandre Pato scored 14 goals in 28 appearances for AC Milan in 2009/2010 but has not played since March due to injury.

Chelsea have been linked with a host of high-profile strikers ahead of the summer transfer window, including Fernando Torres and David Villa.

Terry Hosts Tickets For Troops Dinner

John Terry and club chairman Bruce Buck last night hosted a special Tickets for Troops dinner at Stamford Bridge, where they paid tribute to Britain's Armed Services.

Terry, who lifted the Premier League trophy on Sunday, spoke at length with members of the Medical Regiment of the Colchester-based 16 Air Assault Brigade, and also met with Lance Corporal Johnson Beharry VC before settling down to dinner in Marco.

'We all picked up a medal for winning the Premier League but these young men and women deserve a medal every day for the courage they show,' said Terry. 'They are inspirational to us all.'

The evening was organised and hosted by Buck, who believes it is important clubs like Chelsea show their support for such initiatives.

'This was an easy thing and an obvious thing for us to do, the real heroes are out in Afghanistan and Iraq, they're not really at Chelsea Football Club, and all of us have an obligation to do whatever we can to make their jobs easier,' he said.

'This is a way for us to help Tickets for Troops and thank the people that have been generous to them.'

Tickets for Troops chairman Lord Marland saw the evening as a fitting tribute to the Services.

'It was set up because we felt the nation as a whole wanted to show gratitude and understanding for what our troops do,' he explained. 'One of the first people I called was Bruce Buck, a very good friend of mine, and Chelsea have led the Premier League in persuading others to give us tickets and started it rolling.

'It's not just about football, troops can go to theatrical shows, rugby games, the world darts, the world snooker, concerts at the O2, loads of events, and not just in London. It is very humbling, we feel good about doing it and that's very important. All we've done is captured the mood of the moment to support our troops, and it's a wonderful thing to be involved in.'

On the night, Terry was delighted to meet with Lance Corporal Beharry VC (as pictured top), who explained how servicemen and women feel about the scheme.

'Speaking for the guys on the ground, I never received a package or a letter from anyone, every now and then someone receives a box with things in, and the whole team looks forward to it, it's similar to Tickets for Troops,' he said.

'You have access to a computer and you can go online and apply for that ticket. Knowing you are actually getting a ticket, it's all you think about, you know when you finish your tour you are going to a game, or the opera, it is something to look forward to because all day you have nothing else.'

Tickets For Troops was launched last year and the charity is dedicated to providing free tickets for the Armed Services.

Terry also posed with a giant England ticket to mark the Football Association's decision to dedicate the last friendly before the World Cup between England and Mexico on May 24 to Tickets For Troops.

Youth Report: Tottenham 3 - 0 Chelsea

A depleted Chelsea Academy side finished off an FA Youth Cup-winning season with an away defeat to Tottenham in their second game in two days.

The side, which only had two substitutes on the bench after a weekend win over Ipswich, went down to 10 men midway through the first half when Kaby Djalo (pictured) was shown red.

It's likely the spritely midfielder would have been sent off following a late tackle but when a scuffle ensued red was the only option for the referee as Djalo was sent for an early shower.

However, despite being down to 10 and tired, the side continued to compete late into the second half when the game was killed off by Tottenham's third.

It didn't take long for the hosts to take the lead once Chelsea went down to 10. It was a good piece of football that sealed the opener as the home team dazzled our defence with some direct two-touch passing.

As the move reached its final man a mistake from Aldi Haxhia between the Chelsea posts was enough for the ball to slip over the line just before the half-hour mark.

At half time youth team manager Dermot Drummy decided to use one of his two subs when he swapped George Saville for Todd Kane. The change spurred the side into action but despite producing a few decent chances, Chelsea failed to really threaten to Spurs' goal.

Then, just before the hour mark was up, Philipp Prosenik went off with an injury, forcing goalkeeper Sam Walker into a striker's role as he took up the offensive position.

Not long after, despite having two keepers on the pitch, Chelsea conceded the second when another breakdown in communication allowed the hosts to break past our defensive line before slotting home.

It would take another 20 minutes for Tottenham to increase the lead but when they netted for the third time the game died down. Chelsea continued to work hard but the recent spate of games began to show as they tired towards the end.

'The boys did well and have had a fantastic season, it was a shame we finished the season with a loss but overall it's been a brilliant campaign,' said Drummy after the game.

'They showed fantastic commitment and although our discipline went slightly, you can't argue with the overall work ethic of the side.

'We just want to congratulate the first team players and staff on winning the League and thank them for giving the boys a chance to see, at close quarters, a League-winning side.

'These are things in development that you can only learn by winning. The first team showed us that this weekend and the way they were with the boys was fantastic.'

Ancelotti Testifies In Match-Fix Case

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti testified on Tuesday in Naples at the criminal trial on the Italian match-fixing scandal.

Ancelotti, whose team won the Barclays Premier League title on Sunday, was called in as a witness by the prosecution.

Ancelotti has not been accused of any wrongdoing.

Juventus general director Luciano Moggi and former referee selector Paolo Bergamo are defendants.

Ancelotti was the coach of AC Milan for eight years before leaving for Chelsea last summer.

Milan were hit with an eight-point penalty during the 2006-07 campaign for their role in the scandal.

Carlo Ancelotti Eyes Long Chelsea Stay & More Trophies

Boss Carlo Ancelotti plans to establish Chelsea as the leading force in English football after winning the Premier League in his first season at the club.

The Blues last lifted the title in 2006 but thrashed Wigan 8-0 on Sunday to wrest it away from Manchester United.

"I hope to stay here a long time and win a lot of titles," said 50-year-old Ancelotti, who joined Chelsea from AC Milan on a three-year deal last summer.

"We have a very good squad, for next year and the years after."

Chelsea chief executive Ron Gourlay backed up Ancelotti's assessment of his squad and insisted that a move for Liverpool striker Fernando Torres had not been discussed by the club's board.

"We have 28 players in the squad and the average age is 27 - that's not too old," Gourlay told BBC Sports News correspondent Dan Roan.

"The squad has lots of experience and we have lots of individuals and characters. There is not going to be too many changes for next year.

"We have not discussed anything at board level," added Gourlay, referring to speculation linking Chelsea with Torres. "We will see through the FA Cup final and analyse where we are. If the right player is available we will take that into consideration."

Ancelotti succeeded Guus Hiddink as the Blues boss on 1 July 2009 after eight years at the San Siro, where he won one Serie A and two Champions League trophies.

On being appointed, the Italian spoke of his desire to guide Chelsea to a maiden Champions League crown in his debut season.

Their bid was ended by Inter Milan in the first knockout round but they bounced back to win the Premier League and deny United an unprecedented fourth successive title.

Ancelotti now hopes to match Jose Mourinho's achievement in 2005 and 2006 of leading the west London side to back-to-back league titles.

But before then he could do something either Mourinho or any other previous Chelsea boss managed by winning a league and FA Cup Double.

"Mourinho did some fantastic work and won two titles consecutively," said Ancelotti, whose side faces Portsmouth at Wembley on Saturday. "This is my first and I hope to do the same as Mourinho.

"Now we have the opportunity to win the Double and I hope that my players can, after these celebrations."

Chelsea's triumph arrived despite six defeats and five draws over the course of a unpredictable season in the top tier.

The west London club eventually pipped United by a point and Ancelotti felt it was their league double over Sir Alex Ferguson's men - November's 1-0 win at Stamford Bridge and a 2-1 victory at Old Trafford in April - that made the difference.

"The key point, I think, was our victory at home and also, above all, in Manchester," he said. "They were the key for this title because that improved our confidence and sent United a little bit down."

Chelsea went into the final day knowing anything other than a victory would probably see United - who beat Stoke 4-0 - snatch the title.

But Didier Drogba's hat-trick, a Nicolas Anelka double and strikes from Salomon Kalou, Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole saw them demolish Wigan and score seven or more goals for the fourth time this term.

"We had a fantastic season, not only by winning the Premier League but because we showed a good style on the pitch," said Ancelotti. "But we played much better in the second half. We played a good match and won, and that was our aim.

"To win this game and close this title. We are very happy and I want to say a lot of thanks: to my owner, Roman Abramovich; to my club and everyone who worked with me in this season, supporting me every day; and above all my players.

"I found a fantastic team here who worked very well every day, maintaining a good atmosphere as a team. We won this title because we played as a team and worked as a team, everyone.

"I remember every victory because every one stays in your mind. I'm happy to have done this in my first season. I had a lot of help because I found a team and a club with fantastic organisation. So it was easy for me to do my best.

"Manchester United stayed with us right to the end. I said it would go to the last game, so we have to be proud and happy that we won against such a fantastic team like United. They were a very good opponent."

If Ancelotti does want to strengthen his squad this summer, Chelsea chief executive Gourlay insisted funds would be made available to the Italian.

"We have a mature side but also a very experienced side and if the correct player of the quality that Chelsea requires is available in the summer then the funds are there for us to take that opportunity," Gourlay told BBC Radio 5 live.

"Carlo will identify any players required for the club and we'll take it from there.

"It was very important for Chelsea to wrestle the title back from Manchester United. Three years without the Premier League for a club of our status is not the perfect world.

"It's very difficult to win the league but if you look at the last six years we have three each with Manchester United so we'll certainly be trying to push forward from here for next season.

"We have played football the way the owner wants it to be played and I really believe we can take it too the next level over the next few season."

Cole: I Came To Win The Big Ones

If Ashley Cole still needed to prove to anyone that he is fully fit again following injury, he couldn't have done it any better than racing into the Wigan penalty area to crack in a volley just before the final whistle.

The scorer of Chelsea's eighth and final goal in the title-winning rout was understandably in jubilant mood after ending a six-year personal wait for another championship-winners' medal.

'It has been a long time and this is my first title at Chelsea and now people will realise why I came here,' said the left-back who was twice a league champion at Arsenal.

'I came here to win the big ones, the Premier League or the Champions League, and hopefully this can be a big year, we can get the Double and make history for this club.

'It was always going to be tense going into the game, knowing we had to win and we knew Man United were going to get a result,' he added.

'Before they got a man sent off they played well, passed the ball and made it hard for us and we probably didn't play as well as we could have in the first half, but in the end we deserved it.'

Cole's goal gave him four for the season, the best total of his career and included among them was the recently-announced Chelsea Goal of the Season.

'I said before the start of the season that I was going to get five. I am happy with the way I played this season, happy with the goals I contributed to the team but I am a little bit disappointed I didn't get more to be honest, but I missed two months of the season.

'At the time of the injury I was playing well and it hurt me that I had to miss two months because I had a lot to give to the team. But I worked hard to get back and this is the reward I got for it.

'I am happy and hopefully there is more to come from this club.'

Chelsea Will Have To Pay £15m To Land Javi Martinez From Athletic Bilbao

Chelsea are in the hunt for Athletic Bilbao midfielder Javi Martinez but the Basque club will not alllow the player to leave for less than £15 million, according to a report from The Daily Mirror.

Real Madrid are also apparently in the hunt for the 21-year-old, who signed for Bilbao in summer 2006 from Osasuna.

Martinez has also been linked with a move to Liverpool during the course of the last year or so, though nothing concrete has materialised.

The Blues are also apparently interested in Valenica winger Pablo, according to the report.

Blues Want Carlo For Long Term

Chelsea are hoping manager Carlo Ancelotti is happy to stay at the club in the long term after clinching the Premier League title.

Ancelotti took charge at Stamford Bridge last summer after ending his lengthy association with AC Milan and he could mark his first season in England with the League and FA Cup double.

He was appointed by Chelsea to replace interim boss Guus Hiddink following a turbulent time on the managerial front since the September 2007 departure of Jose Mourinho.

With Ancelotti bringing the title back to West London, Chelsea chief executive Ron Gourlay is hoping the Italian may be prepared to spend a decade at the helm.

"It is a pleasure working with the guy," said Gourlay. "The plan is to work with Carlo for five to 10 years. I think stability would be good for the club going forward and when we start to bring the young players forward.

"Carlo is definitely here for the long term. He is not a coach who moves around, even in his playing days. I am sure he will be around for many years to come.

"We have won the Premier League and hopefully we can win the double. But then we have to look at next season because it is important that we continue on."

Gourlay also confirmed that the likes of Michael Ballack and Joe Cole have yet to be offered new contracts as the club attempt to reduce their wage bill.

He added: "We decided a couple of months ago not to talk about any new contracts or any comings and goings at the football club until the last game of the season.

"The plan is to keep that the same. Our approach has been spot on and hopefully we will be able to add the FA Cup next week. But we are respectful of Portsmouth and it will be tough game.

"We have given the players no indication about contracts at all. We made it very clear that the time for talking about these things is at the end of the season.

"That is the way forward for future seasons and that is the way it should be. As a contract nears its end there is a time to open up the conversation, but it should never get in the way of football.

"The bottom line here is that Carlo will recommend any players that he wants in the squad next year. We will sit down at the appropriate time at the end of the season and evaluate that."

Cech Puts Celebrations On Ice

Petr Cech has told his Chelsea team-mates to focus on winning the FA Cup before truly celebrating their achievements this season.

Jubilant scenes greeted the final whistle at Stamford Bridge on Sunday as Chelsea clinched their first Premier League title since 2006 with an 8-0 thumping of Wigan.

Cech, who revealed his post-match celebrations consisted of a glass of champagne and a pint of Guinness, says he is more concerned with landing an historical domestic double than enjoying the Blues' title success.

"To win the Premier League is wonderful but the upcoming FA Cup final against Portsmouth is more important than a party," the 27-year-old goalkeeper told sport.cz.

."The ultimate target for all of us is to claim the double."

Cech, who collected his third winners' medal for the Blues, claimed this one meant the most.

"This one is the most valuable one because the league has been extremely even," added the Blues shot-stopper.

"It has shown that all big clubs invested big money into new signings ahead of the season.

"To win the third title has been the most difficult because in the two previous cases we had won it before the final round, this time we had to fight until the very end.

"We have won all matches against the clubs from the 'Big Four' and that made the difference in the end."

Chelsea Rule Out Bidding Wars

Chelsea chief executive Ron Gourlay insists the club will not enter bidding wars with rival teams to purchase players in the close season.

Carlo Ancelotti's side wrapped up the Premier League title on Sunday following their 8-0 thrashing of Wigan and the Blues can claim an historic double should they beat Portsmouth in the FA Cup on Saturday.

But the Chelsea squad has faced questions over their age throughout the campaign, with concerns raised by some over the team's ability to combat tiredness and offer alternative dimensions to their play.

It has led to suggestions the Stamford Bridge outfit will enter the transfer market in the summer to brighten up their playing ranks and add younger talent to the side.

Gourlay dismissed such talk, but admitted his team would not pay over the odds in chasing new targets.

He told Sky Sports News: "No - we wouldn't get involved a bidding war. If there's any player that has become available and we feel they can strengthen our team then it will be on the terms of Chelsea Football Club.

"We've got to be respectful to the rest of the players in the pool and as we mentioned we have some great players coming through from the academy, so the future is bright."

He went on: "But I keep hearing about our ageing squad - we have 28 players in our first team squad and our age average is 27 - so I hope people are not telling us we're too old at 27. I think we're in a good position."

Despite his warning, Gourlay insisted resources would be available to Ancelotti should he chose to bring in new faces.

But after enjoying years of lavish spending under former boss Jose Mourinho, the 46-year-old said the club must operate in a "self-sufficient" manner in its transfer dealings.

That means it will be hard for Ancelotti to source big-money signatures, with Gourlay explaining some of the existing team may have to make way for new purchases.

He added: "If the right player is available that Carlo wants to bring into his squad and if it fits with everything else then we'll bring him in.

"The money will be there but we'll stick to our goal of being self-sufficient and that's very, very important.

"From a business point of view it would be nice to finance any new signings coming in from players that may be going out or selling players.

"But at the end of the day we've got to keep our goal of being self-sufficient but if we have to go into the market place then if it's the right player to strengthen the team, then the answer to your question is 'yes'."

Terry Calls For Reinforcements

Chelsea captain John Terry wants the club to splash the cash in the summer to strengthen their first-team squad after the Blues landed their first title for four years on Sunday.

Chelsea were crowned champions for the first time since 2006 after demolishing Wigan 8-0 to give them the title by a single point over Manchester United.

Terry is desperate to ensure their success is not a one-off and chief executive Ron Gourlay is adamant they will make a move into the transfer market if the price is right for the Blues.

"We definitely want to do it again but all the big four - ourselves, Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal - need to strengthen because everyone has become closer to us," Terry said.

"No doubt it will be a busy summer for the big clubs. Now I hope to lift the FA Cup to do the double - going down in history as the club captain to do it means the world to me."

The England defender also believes Chelsea must make sure that Joe Cole and Nicolas Anelka remain at Stamford Bridge.

Both players have yet to sign new deals with Chelsea after the club put a hold on any new talks until after the FA Cup final with Portsmouth this Saturday.

"We have a great squad here, anyway," added Terry. "Hopefully we can keep hold of Joe Cole because he has been key for us with his goal away to Manchester United. Nicolas Anelka will hopefully sign a new deal and we can keep everyone here.

"Last year I spoke to the club about the importance of keeping Didier Drogba when I was negotiating my contract.

"It was key for me and he has been brilliant. I wanted these kind of people to stay. They've been brilliant this year - Frank Lampard, Didier, people like this are important to the club."

The club's billionaire owner Roman Abramovich is ready to fund any rebuilding and chief-executive Ron Gourlay admitted the Russian would be interested in which players were brought in.

"We have a mature side but we also have a very experienced side," said Gourlay. "If the correct player of the quality that Chelsea requires is available in the summer, then the funds are there for us to take that opportunity.

"What happens is that manager Carlo Ancelotti will identify any player that is required for the club going forward, then we'll take it from there.

"Roman is always interested. He's very engaged with the football club, he likes to understand the decisions that we come up with and our thought process.

"Which I think is quite normal for an owner. He may not veto but he will certainly make sure that he has every right to question and ask our thought process."

Chelsea's hat-trick hero in their 8-0 hammering of Wigan, Ivorian striker Drogba, hailed the title success as the best moment of his career and claimed it finally eradicated the ghost of the Jose Mourinho era.

Drogba won the Premier League's 'Golden Boot' with 29 goals - three more than Manchester United's Wayne Rooney.

"This is the best moment I have had since I became a professional footballer," said Drogba.

"It's been a fantastic season, we scored a lot of goals, 103, and we have played some good football and that's what is important for the team.

"The team have worked hard for this all season and they helped me win the Golden Boot, which will always mean a lot. It is amazing and special and I owe it to the whole team.

"We kept our identity throughout the season which is good and this is a message for people about Chelsea's strength. We had a great season and we deserve to be champions.

"This is what we wanted to achieve at the start of the season and for four years we have been fighting for this, so it is great.

"Since Jose Mourinho left we have wanted to win the league and now it is done. It's not a new era it's just the continuity of what we have been doing for years and there's more to come.

"Now we could win the double. It's going to be hard but we will try."

Chelsea’s Search For Asian Star Given Bollywood Backing

One of Bollywood’s leading actors is backing Chelsea’s ‘Search for an Asian Star’ campaign, urging budding young Asian footballers to sign up to the project.

Abhishek Bachchan, a Bollywood actor and television presenter, emphasized the importance of such campaigns in promoting football in Asian countries.

“I know how important it is for young Asian kids to get involved with sport, not just to reach the top but to enjoy themselves, meet new people and be part of a team,” said the 34-year-old.

The star was quick to praise the London club for taking steps to promote the sport in Asia. “As a Chelsea fan I’m delighted my club is taking a lead on providing these amazing opportunities for Asian players and would urge everyone with a love for the game to sign up and take part.”

The competition began last year with over 350 players participating for a series of trial matches at the club’s training facilities in Cobham.

The search, which is aimed at youngsters aged between 8 and 13, involves specifically designed training exercises used by staff at Chelsea’s academy to analyse the ability, skill and speed of the competitors.

And managers, coaches and scouts from other clubs from various levels in the English game are afforded the chance to visit the academy in the search of potential talent.

The benefits of the initiative are evident after two of last year’s winners were later signed by Leyton Orient and Southend. The promise of a potential contract with the newly-crowned Premier League champions offers the ultimate motivation for any young Asian starlets.

Despite India’s vast population of over one billion it has failed to make any impact within world football. The country is ranked a lowly 132nd in FIFA’s rankings, a stark contrast to the success of the Indian cricket and hockey teams and golfer Jeev Milkha Singh who recently broke into the PGA’s top 50.

Match Report: Chelsea 8 - 0 Wigan

Chelsea clinched the Barclays Premier League title and set a new goalscoring record with a sensational destruction of 10-man Wigan at Stamford Bridge.

Coach Carlo Ancelotti guided the Blues to their first Championship success since 2006 in his debut season in England as Chelsea took their tally to 103 goals - the highest in the Premier League since Manchester United in 2000 and the first to achieve the century since Tottenham in 1962/3.

United's victory over Stoke at Old Trafford was irrelevant as the Blues finished the season one point clear of their rivals.

Ancelotti's side smashed home seven or more goals for the fourth time this season as Wigan, who had defender Gary Caldwell sent-off on the half-hour, simply capitulated.

A hat-trick from Golden Boot winner Didier Drogba, who finished the season with 29 league goals, two from Nicolas Anelka, a Frank Lampard penalty and others from Salomon Kalou and Ashley Cole, left Chelsea champions and on the brink of a League and FA Cup Double.

Only Portsmouth now stand in their way of a history-making season for Ancelotti and his team.

The Blues will become only the seventh team in the history of the game to win both competitions if they can overcome Avram Grant's side at Wembley next week.

The Blues were given the best possible start by France international Nicolas Anelka.

The striker, expected to sign a new two-year contract once the season is over, collected a knock down from Florent Malouda to fire past Wigan goalkeeper Mike Pollitt.

Wigan boss Roberto Martinez caused a stir by playing three in defence and for the next 25 minutes they gave Chelsea and their fans some anxious moments.

But the game changed on a pivotal penalty on the half-hour when Lampard was clearly brought down by Wigan defender Caldwell.

Referee Martin Atkinson then produced the red-card for the unfortunate centre-half.

Drogba, chasing the Premier League Golden Boot and level on 26 goals with United's Wayne Rooney, asked Lampard to let him take the spot-kick but the England international rejected his request.

Drogba was distinctly unhappy with Lampard's answer and had to be calmed down by other members of the Chelsea side.

Lampard duly put the penalty into the bottom corner to leave Chelsea in control of their own destiny at half-time.

In the 54th minute the title was sealed as Lampard and Kalou combined for the Ivory Coast international to almost walk the ball into the net.

Two minutes later Chelsea's fans were in dreamland when a cross from Branislav Ivanovic was volleyed home at the far post by Anelka.

With the title now Chelsea's, the only remaining issue to be settled was Drogba and his hunt for the Golden Boot.

That was settled in the 63rd minute when the Ivorian rose highest at the far post to head Lampard's cross into the net and make it 5-0.

It got better for Drogba five minutes later when Cole was brought down and Lampard tossed the ball to Drogba so he could take the penalty.

The Ivorian's spot-kick went in off the post but it mattered littler to Drogba who had taken his tally to the season in the league to 28.

Ancelotti was hailed by the home fans and for the first time in the game the Italian responded by waving to the supporters chanting his name.

Drogba completed his hat-trick 10 minutes from the end of the game as Chelsea made it seven in a game for the fourth time this season.

Substitute Joe Cole's shot was parried by Pollitt but the ball fell kindly to the lurking Drogba who tucked it home for his 29th league strike of the season.

The goal sparked more cheering of Ancelotti but Wigan, who had not tested Petr Cech at all during the one-side contest, finally forced him into action when the Czech international tipped a goalbound shot from substitute Victor Moses over the bar in the 87th minute.

Cole completed the rout when he volleyed home in the final minute to make it 8-0 and as the champagne was sprayed over Ancelotti, the Italian had clearly banished the ghost of Jose Mourinho.

The day belonged to Ancelotti and his attacking side as Chelsea were crowned deserved champions for the fourth time in their history.

Carlo - We Don't Need Torres

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti has dismissed claims he is set to make a summer bid for Liverpool striker Fernando Torres.

Rumours have circulated that the Italian tactician has approached the Spaniard after the Reds failed to qualify for the UEFA Champions League this term.

However Ancelotti, who is hoping to wrap-up the Premier League title on Sunday afternoon, believes Torres is no better than the strikers he currently has at his disposal.

When asked whether an approach had been made, Ancelotti told Independent Sport: "No, I don't think so, because with (Didier) Drogba and (Nicolas) Anelka it's too similar.

"Torres is a fantastic player but it's better to grow players with this ability in the academy. We have a very good squad for next season.

"It's not an old team; we have players with experience, ability and skills. After the FA Cup final we will have a meeting with Roman (Abramovich) and take a decision about next season."

Liverpool chairman Martin Broughton declared debts of more than £350m at the club on Friday.

Chelsea Star Lampard Set To Turn Down Real Madrid Move

According to the Sunday Mirror, Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard will turn down a prospective move to Spanish giants Real Madrid.

The England midfielder has been rumoured to be the number one target of former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho, should the 'special one' take over as manager at Real Madrid. The Sunday Mirror speculates that a £30million bid could see Lampard move to the Bernebeu.

However, Lampard will reportedly turn down the opportunity to move to Spain in favour of focusing on his relationship with TV star Christine Bleakley.

The Sunday Mirror quotes a friend of Lampard saying, “It’s no secret that Frank finds the prospect of a reunion with Mourinho at one of the world’s great clubs attractive.

“But he absolutely adores Christine and he is not prepared to do anything that would rock the boat.

“Her TV career is going brilliantly and Frank knows she wouldn’t leave the country right now so he’s decided to stay at Chelsea.”

Lampard has scored 25 goals for Chelsea this season and is on the verge of collecting his third Premier League winners' medal.

Chelsea’s Joe Cole Keen To Join Redknapp At Tottenham

Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole wants to join his former boss Harry Redknapp at Tottenham, according to The Sun.

Cole has been unable to agree terms with Chelsea with his contract expiring this summer. Although the 28 year-old has made it clear that he would like to stay at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea chief Roman Abramovich is looking to curb spending on exorbitant wages and is resisting Cole's demands.

Although Liverpool have also been linked with the England midfielder who will be available on a Bosman free, Cole apparently favours staying in London and would relish the opportunity to link up with his former West Ham boss Harry Redknapp at Tottenham. Redknapp helped nurture Cole as he came through the ranks at Upton Park.

Especially with Tottenham having secured Champions League football next season, Cole is keen to move to White Hart Lane according to The Sun. However, he will likely ask Spurs to agree to wage demands of around the £100,000-a-week mark, way beyond their previous salary limits.

Burnley Midfielder Cork Is Ready To Leave Chelsea, Says Father

Alan Cork has revealed that son Jack is ready to seek a permanent move away from Chelsea – and would have no qualms about dropping down to the Championship to play for Burnley again next season.

The former Wimbledon and Sheffield United striker is due at Turf Moor on Sunday to see Jack in action on the final day of the campaign against Tottenham, and has taken great pride in seeing his son take his first steps in the top flight with the Clarets – making them one of a select group of fathers and sons to have both played in the Premier League.

The 20-year-old has impressed since joining from Chelsea in January, having had a spell with Coventry earlier in the season following previous loan spells with Bournemouth, Scunthorpe, Southampton and Watford.

Many Burnley fans hope that Cork could return to Turf Moor on loan again next season. But a permanent switch could also now be a possibility, funds permitting, with the midfielder set to give up on his dream of making the first team at Stamford Bridge – even if he may also attract interest from elsewhere.

“I think he’s pretty much realised now that it’s not going to happen for him at Chelsea,” said Alan.

“He has been there since he was seven but they’ve got about 40 players, and they have just won the Youth Cup so they have a lot of good young players.

“They have Ryan Bertrand who has been out on loan at Reading, Scott Sinclair at Wigan and Michael Mancienne at Wolves.

“If eight or nine of them go back at once they’re not all going to get a game.

“Jack has got two years left on his contract at Chelsea, so it’s all down to what they want to do.

“I think Coventry put a bid in for him previously but they turned it down.

“He’ll go back to speak to Chelsea and Frank Arnesen on Monday or Tuesday and find out what their plans are.

“He has played in a few teams that have been struggling now and I think he would just like to be in a team that is winning more games.

“He would go anywhere.

“I don’t think dropping down to the Championship would worry him.

“It’s been disappointing for Jack that Burnley have been relegated but personally it has gone well for him.

“He has enjoyed it there.”

Alan, now 51, scored goals galore during his time at Wimbledon and is desperate to see Jack break his Clarets duck.

“I scored a lot of goals and that’s the one thing he hasn’t done,” said Alan, who left his coaching role at Bolton when manager Gary Megson was relieved of his duties.

“Jack has got everything else. He can pass the ball, which I could never do, he doesn’t give the ball away.

“He just needs to score some goals! I think he’d love to get one on Sunday.

“I was at Fulham when he came on for his debut for Burnley and he was really pleased about that because he was excited to play in the Premier League.

“They have been good to him there. I know Paul Fletcher from Coventry, and I know Stuart Gray as well because I worked with Steve Wigley at Bolton and those two are close.

“There are only three or four fathers and sons who have played in the Premier League so I’m proud to see Jack doing well.

“He’s a nice lad and he’s played 120 games now so he’s quite experienced.

“I played until I was 36 and made 700 appearances. He’s certainly on course for that.”

Youth Report: Chelsea 4 - 0 Ipswich Town

Chelsea's Under 18 side won their penultimate game of season by thumping visitors Ipswich 4-0 despite the rain pouring down.

FA Youth Cup-winning captain Conor Clifford started in midfield alongside fellow Cup finalists Sam Walker in goal, Aziz Deen-Conteh at left-back and Jacopo Sala up front.

Adam Phillip (pictured) also returned to the starting line-up after missing most of the season through injury.

A 4-3-3 set-up was youth team manager Dermot Drummy's choice as the side lined up against Ipswich.

It was a slow start at Cobham, with the game unfolding in midfield as both sides failed to threaten either goal.

It took 20 minutes for Walker to be tested between the posts when the keeper was forced into an acrobatic one-handed save to deflect a shot from reaching the net.

Then the opening goal arrived when Daniel Philliskirk broke down the centre of the pitch, placing a clever through ball for Phillip to latch onto. The striker then rounded the keeper before drilling into the net.

It was the perfect return to competitive football but not long after Phillip was forced out of the game with injury as he limped off to be replaced by Philipp Prosenik.

Chelsea doubled the lead minutes before half time when Milan Lalkovic won a penalty with some boisterous play down the left, which saw him dance his way into the box before being cut to the ground.

The referee pointed to the spot and the young Slovakian drove a low shot down the centre which the keeper saved but failed to hold onto, allowing 15-year-old Nathaniel Chalobah to net the loose ball.

Drummy then made two changes at half time and rested Sala and Clifford, who were replaced by Anton Rodgers and Todd Kane.

And soon it was 3-0 after Philliskirk, who had received the armband from Clifford, scored a well-worked goal before minutes later Kane made it four.

The schoolboy netted Chelsea's final goal with a left-footed strike after a Lalkovic shot rebounded off the woodwork into the youngster's path.

The game was as good as over early into the second half, and with such a huge deficit to come back from, Ipswich failed to produce any real chances on goal.

Instead the Blues sat back and completed another comfortable victory as they head into their final game of the season against Tottenham this Monday.

Portsmouth Boss Blasts Chelsea

Portsmouth manager Avram Grant has launched a stinging attack on former club Chelsea, insisting he will never forget the way they unceremoniously dumped him.

Grant took over from Jose Mourinho in September 2007 and was handed a four-year contract at Stamford Bridge three months later.

Under the Israeli, Chelsea lost just two league games, narrowly missing out on the Barclays Premier League title to Manchester United, who also beat them in the Champions League final on penalties.

Despite Grant's success his contract was terminated, something he believes was a mistake on their part.

"If I had been manager at the start of the season and we had played as well as we had finished the campaign, Chelsea not Manchester United would have been Premier League champions," Grant told the Mirror.

"And how close were we from winning the Champions League? A penalty away.

"So I can tell you with total honesty that I was not happy with the way they treated me in the end.

"There were a lot of negative things that happened, things I didn't like and find hard to forget.

"I was very proud of what I achieved at Chelsea but their big mistake was to take what I did for granted.

"I felt it was important the club had continuity and was looking towards long-term stability.

"I always believed that it would be easier in the second season. But I was never given the chance."

Grant will meet his former club next weekend when Portsmouth take on Chelsea in the FA Cup final.

Despite his broadside, Grant claims he still has many friends at Chelsea, including billionaire owner Roman Abramovich.

He added: "I appreciate the owner gave me the chance to manage and then he offered to make me a director which I declined. I don't forget that.

"There were many good things at Chelsea and I still have a great affection for the club.

"After Portsmouth beat Tottenham in the semi-final most of the Chelsea players sent me text messages."

Chelsea Hold No Fears For Passionate Grant

The chances of beating Chelsea in the FA Cup final are slim, but Avram Grant doesn't believe in fear in sports, says Jamie Jackson.

Back in January, Avram Grant was at a low point when he realised he had been misled, as had his Portsmouth team, about the club's ability to make signings during the transfer window.

He called together his players and offered them two choices. "The first is to give up, go to the beach," he told them. "Obviously I will not come as I'm not so skinny. But nobody will blame you for what's happened. This is not football. The second is not to give up. But to do it big time."

Grant would accept no half measures. The players took option B, found their best form in the FA Cup and knocked out Sunderland, Southampton, Birmingham and Tottenham en route to Saturday's final against Grant's old club Chelsea. "For us to come to the FA Cup final in a season like this, playing our best performance in the semi-final against Tottenham -- that is some kind of miracle."

Grant took over from Paul Hart on November 26 with Portsmouth rooted to the bottom of the Premier League table and on their third owner of the season, Ali al-Faraj, a Saudi-based businessman who would never visit Fratton Park.

At one point, they had had more owners than home wins in the League. They stayed bottom because of a nine-point deduction for going into administration and are heading into the Championship with debts of £138m.

"There were many problems off the pitch," says Grant, with a hefty degree of understatement. Salaries were unpaid for a third time in December, and a transfer embargo was imposed because money was owed to other clubs, and was only lifted days before the close of the January window.

Looking back to those desperate days, Grant says: "All the players said to me: 'Will we bring players in January?' I said: 'For sure, they (the club's executives at the time) promised.' When you wait for something that's promised you are disappointed when it doesn't come. So this was hard. I decided then only to concentrate on the football, on what I and the players could control."

Grant spent eight months in charge at Chelsea, having followed Jose Mourinho, the act no coach would choose to succeed. An indicator of the widespread derision that greeted Grant's appointment in September 2007 can be found in the front-page headline of an Israeli sports magazine. It read, in capital letters, 'What the fuck?' Grant smiles and says: "The Israelis are very nice guys, but some like to be cynical."

But Grant shows no bitterness. "I was concentrating on my job. I said in my second press conference that the target was the Champions League final and to change the club's image, because even when Chelsea achieved the title everyone said it was not with positive football. We had won nine games in a row and then we lost the Carling Cup final."

Tottenham beat Chelsea 2-1 in extra time, with a controversial penalty equaliser by Dimitar Berbatov and a winner from Jonathan Woodgate after a rare error by Petr Cech. Questions were asked about Grant's team selection.

By May 2008, Grant had lost that Carling Cup final, finished second in the Premier League and taken Chelsea to a first appearance in the Champions League final, a feat beyond even Mourinho during his three seasons at Stamford Bridge. After Chelsea's penalty shoot-out defeat by Manchester United in Moscow, Mourinho reflected on Grant's season in this newspaper and labelled him a loser. "In my philosophy it was a very bad season," Mourinho said, "because, in football, 'almost' means defeat-- and Chelsea almost won the Carling Cup, almost won the Champions League and almost won the Premier League.

"Almost is nothing. After two titles per season for the last three years (for me), there were zero titles, which, in my philosophy, means a really bad season. Maybe in the philosophy of a loser this was a great season."

Now, when speaking of his three months working with the Portuguese as Chelsea's director of football, Grant is generous regarding Mourinho the man. He is not so keen, though, on the Inter coach's style of football, though.

"Jose is a good coach, but I agree with Johan Cruyff, who said the message Mourinho brings is the wrong message. His message is only tactics, only winning. People say football is the winning. Of course, but in big teams you can decide sometimes how to win and play because you have the best players. Barcelona chose a way since Johan Cruyff came (as coach in 1988) and they never change it, the style of the team. They don't play long-ball, never. I agree.

"Jose is a good coach and his strength is to be the underdog. He is the only coach that can come with four of the best Brazilians (Julio Cesar, Lucio, Maicon, Thiago Motta), four of the best Argentinians (Javier Zanetti, Walter Samuel, Esteban Cambiasso, Diego Milito) and still be underdogs."

Grant was surprised at the culture that had enveloped Chelsea when he took over. "They had only just started to be a big club. Manchester United were champions, but I didn't see one of their players say: 'We are the champions.' But every player in Chelsea said: 'We have won two championships.' But that had been a year and a half ago."

The 55-year-old is clear that, despite his surprise appointment, every Chelsea player responded to him, bar one. "I found out after I left he behaved not as a professional and did a lot of things behind my back," Grant says with a shrug. "I won't say who. But one player thought he had so much power, maybe because they gave him the impression. He allowed himself to do things players shouldn't. But the rest were very professional and I enjoyed working with them."

Grant departed within days of the defeat in Moscow. "It was an emotional moment," he says of the penalty shoot-out. "I remember one of the Chelsea directors saying: 'You show emotion.' I said: 'For me it's a compliment, for you it's not.' Emotions are good if you don't lose your judgement. I wanted to bring more soul to the game, for players not to be like computers."

Portsmouth are 11/1 to defeat Grant's former club, which is not surprising given their abysmal form against Chelsea in seven Premier League seasons. "The chance is low, but I don't believe in fear in sports, I believe in respect. And everybody likes romance -- even my wife," Grant says, with a twinkle.

Will he be Pompey manager next season? "Let's wait and see. Football is about passion, it made me stay in January. I knew the team was relegated, there was no reason to stay."

West Ham, Celtic and others are sure to be interested. Pompey fans everywhere will hope the man they call Uncle Avram will stay on. "I cannot tell you," he says, "what a good feeling it is that people are behind you."

Premier League Preview: Chelsea vs. Wigan Athletic

After 37 games, it all comes down to this. Chelsea know that only a victory against Wigan Athletic will guarantee them the Premier League title on Sunday — although depending on how Manchester United fare against Stoke City a draw or even a defeat could still see the crown secured.

But, in front of the Stamford Bridge faithful, Carlo Ancelotti and his players know that only a comprehensive win will end the campaign in the style befitting of champions. Few expect the Blues to lose — Wigan, after all, having nothing to play for — but the intense pressure of closing out a title campaign has caused stranger collapses in the past.

And it is not as if Roberto Martinez's side don't have the credentials to upset Chelsea, having beaten their more illustrious opponents at the DW Stadium last September — Ancelotti's first defeat as the club's manager. On that day the Latics were helped by Petr Cech's dismissal, but Hugo Rodallega in particular proved himself a striker capable of causing major problems to John Terry and the Blues' defence.

Six months later, however, it would be a surprise if Wigan could pull off their own double to deny Chelsea a shot at theirs. In last Monday's 2-2 draw with Hull City the club's players showed some signs of lethargy after securing their top flight future - a symptom that, if it persists, the Blues are more than capable of taking advantage of.

What is more, the Latics have traditionally been poor travellers against top sides this season, losing 5-0 at Manchester United, 4-0 at Arsenal and — most memorably — 9-1 against Tottenham Hotspur. Added to that they head into Sunday's game with a less than full-strength defence to rely on.

With Chelsea having knocked seven past opponents three times this season, all in front of their home fans, Martinez's squad might be heading to west London more with thoughts of avoiding a last day embarrassment than causing a historic last day upset.

FORM GUIDE

The Blues have only conceded two goals in their last five games — both against Spurs in their disappointing defeat at White Hart Lane. With four other clean sheet victories notched up, Ancelotti's side enter the final day in nigh-on perfect spirits.

Wigan, on the other hand, have shipped goals left, right and centre in recent games, despite clinching an impressive victory against Arsenal that knocked the Gunners out of the title race. Defeats to both Fulham and West Ham on their recent travels suggest London isn't a happy hunting ground for them — with little prospect of that changing on Sunday.

Chelsea

Liverpool 0-2 Chelsea (Premier League)
Chelsea 7-0 Stoke City (Premier League)
Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 Chelsea (Premier League)
Chelsea 1-0 Bolton Wanderers (Premier League)
Aston Villa 0-3 Chelsea (Premier League)


Wigan

Wigan 2-2 Hull City (Premier League)
West Ham United 3-2 Wigan (Premier League)
Wigan 3-2 Arsenal (Premier League)
Wigan 0-0 Portsmouth (Premier League)
Fulham 2-1 Wigan (Premier League)


TEAM NEWS

Chelsea

Carlo Ancelotti will be without both Michael Essien and John Obi Mikel (who had surgery on a knee injury this week) for the game, which means Michael Ballack will have to continue in his slight make-shift role as the side's holding midfielder.

Both Jose Bosingwa and Ricardo Carvalho continue their long-term absence, but otherwise Ancelotti has a strong squad to choose from.

Didier Drogba has concerns over a persistent groin injury, but will doubtless look to play through the pain barrier in helping his team-mates to a first title since 2006.

Possible starting XI: Cech; Ivanovic, Alex, Terry, A Cole; Ballack, Lampard, Malouda; Kalou, Anelka, Drogba.

Wigan

Charles N'Zogbia returns to action after missing the last game against Hull, which will be a major boost for Roberto Martinez as he will be without some other key players.

Both goalkeeper Chris Kirkland (hand) and defender Titus Bramble (stress fracture) continue to miss out with injury problems, while two on-loan forwards, Marcelo Moreno (ankle injury) and Scott Sinclair (ineligible), are unavailable.

Midfielder Paul Scharner will be involved, however, in what will be his last game for the club.

Possible starting XI: Stojkovic; Figueroa, Gohouri, Caldwell, Melchiot; McCarthy, Watson, Diame; Moses, N'Zogbia; Rodallega.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Chelsea

Rather than rely on one man, Carlo Ancelotti will be delighted to go into the game with so many players capable of delivering. Contrary to the early stages of the season, no one player has been imperative to the Blues' success in recent weeks. But the pressure of the occasion might see the side revert to type, and as such Didier Drogba has got to be his side's key man.

The Ivorian has been his side's top goalscorer all season, with 26 goals in 31 league games to date, and has frequently been deferred to as the potential saviour when times have been tough. One the first day of the season against Hull the 32-year-old scored twice (the last deep into injury time) to grab an important momentum-building victory — it's not beyond the realms of possibility he will bookend a fine individual season with a similar impact performance this weekend.

Wigan

Preparing to face an onslaught of shots on goal at Stamford Bridge, Manchester United's hopes of a last-day upset rely predominantly on the golden gloves (or otherwise) of Wigan's reserve goalkeeper Vladimir Stojkovic. Which won't exactly have Sir Alex Ferguson jumping for joy.

The Serbian, currently on loan from Sporting Lisbon, enjoys a questionable reputation with English audiences after a few suspect performances for his current employers. With the 26-year-old hoping to put himself in the transfer window — not to mention his country's World Cup squad — for the summer, Sunday would be a fine time for the 6ft 5in shot-stopper to cut out the errors and put in a commanding display, and perhaps even keep his first clean sheet with the club.

The Last-Day Failure At Juventus That Haunts Carlo Ancelotti Ahead Of Premier League Decider

Perhaps owing to his reputation today as one of the world's best managers, many people tend to forget that Carlo Ancelotti had been regarded as something of a loser in football management until seven years ago, when Milan defeated Juventus on penalties at Old Trafford in a dull 2003 Champions League final.

No moment in his early coaching career shaped this initial perception more than Juve's last-day collapse, which saw Lazio pip them to the 2000 Serie A title.

Having been Serie A runners-up with Parma in 1997, earned successive second-place finishes with Juve in 2000 and 2001 and been eliminated in the semi-final of the Champions League in 1999 by Manchester United - despite leading 3-1 on aggregate in the second leg in Turin - Ancelotti was tagged by the Calcio community as a “nearly-man”.

Much in the same way as another former Chelsea boss, Claudio Ranieri, is still viewed today.

These disappointments eventually led to Carletto’s departure from Juve at the end of 2000-01, with former general manager Luciano Moggi of the opinion that Ancelotti lacked the winning mentality to take his team over the final hurdles.

Moggi brought back 1990s winning machine Marcello Lippi, who immediately reclaimed the Scudetto in his first season after returning and then defended it the following campaign.

While Ranieri has never displayed much bitterness despite all his near misses, you can sense that despite winning two Champions Leagues and a Scudetto post-2003, Ancelotti’s earlier failures still irritate him.

"Do I have to go over it again?" he complained at a reporter in Friday's press conference who asked about the climax of the race in 2000.

The biggest scar was left almost exactly 10 years ago, during one of the most infamous matches in Italian football history.

The venue was the Stadio Renato Curi as Juventus travelled to mid-table Perugia on the final day needing just a victory to see off Lazio in the championship race.

All three points seemed a formality as the modest, unspectacular Umbria outfit, who possessed few star players and a young Marco Materazzi, were already safe from relegation. And in Italy teams with nothing to play for traditionally put up no fight against title challengers or relegation battlers in the closing rounds.

But a huge cloud then emerged, quite literally. Juventus had controlled the first half, with Pippo Inzaghi and Zinedine Zidane (twice) being inches away from putting the Bianconeri ahead.

Before half-time, a beautiful blue sky suddenly turned into a monsoon-like downpour, allied with hailstones and thunder and lightning. The pitch soon became as waterlogged as a World War One trench.

It appeared inevitable that the game would be suspended when referee Pierluigi Collina came out during the break and attempted to bounce the ball, only to see it stop dead in the puddles of water.

Both sets of players waited in the changing rooms for 82 minutes before, incredibly, they were eventually called back out to play the second-half.

The conditions were truly horrific with the ball regularly holding up in the aqua-pools. The match became something of a lottery, and astonishingly Perugia took the lead thanks to a superb volley from Alessandro Calori on 50 minutes.

Juventus laid siege as they looked to salvage the Scudetto, but a string of missed chances (including an Inzaghi sitter), as well as a quite impossible playing field, saw Perugia hold on.

With Lazio beating Reggina 3-0 (and watching almost the whole of Juventus’ second-half on the Stadio Olimpico pitch) Sven Goran Eriksson’s men were crowned champions.

This had been an unlikely triumph for the Swede, whose side had trailed Juventus by five points with three games remaining and nine points several weeks earlier.

Juventus were furious, and protested that the game should never have resumed in such conditions and after such a long delay.

Collina has been detested by the club’s fans ever since. But that was and is no consolation for Ancelotti, who still has a notable sense of exasperation whenever the subject rears its head.

A decade on from sinking in the Perugia whirlpool, he will be determined not to drown again when Chelsea host Wigan Athletic at Stamford Bridge on Sunday afternoon.

Essien In Ghana's Plans

Michael Essien has been included in a provisional 30-man squad for Ghana ahead of the World Cup.

The Chelsea midfielder has been sidelined since suffering a knee injury during the African Cup of Nations in January.

Ghana coach Milovan Rajevac has been keeping a close eye on the 27-year-old's rehabilitation and has named him in a squad for a training camp at the end of May.

Rajevac has also selected four players, including three goalkeepers, who play club football in Ghana.

Portsmouth midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng has been called up despite previously playing for Germany at youth level, although his inclusion in the final World Cup party depends on a green light from Fifa.

Boateng's brother Jerome was named in a provisional Germany squad earlier this week and the two could play against each other at the World Cup.

Ghana open their Group D campaign against Serbia on 13 June before taking on Australia six days later and then Germany on 23rd June.

Chelsea Set For £40m Raid On AC Milan Striker

AC Milan striker Pato could be on his way to Chelsea after Roman Abramovich gave the go-ahead to a £40m bid.

Carlo Ancelotti has identified the Brazilian as his number one summer target and informal talks between the clubs are believed to have already begun.

The Blues tried to land Pato last summer but had to let their interest cool over doubts about their transfer ban and because Milan did not want to ship out another key player after selling Kaka to Real Madrid.

Yet the Italians are now short of cash and are thought to be receptive to a deal.

Chelsea Starlet Set For FC Twente Loan Spell

Chelsea will send brilliant babe Jeffrey Bruma to Twente Enschede next season to play Champions League football - and come back as a first-teamer.

The 18-year-old Dutch centre half led the club’s kids to FA Youth Cup glory and has also made a couple of first-team appearances for the Stamford Bridge club this season.

But supremo Frank Arnesen thinks Bruma would benefit from a spell of regular action back in his homeland and a deal is teed up - whether Steve McClaren stays as coach or not.

Bruma, who joined Chelsea as a kid, is tipped to be John Terry’s eventual successor but the teenager needs to get games to continue his progress. Twente won the title and will be in the elite competition next season.

Malouda: 'Title Failure Would Be Worst Blow Of My Career'

Florent Malouda has admitted it would be “the worst blow” of his career if Chelsea failed to win the Premier League title.

The French winger has been one of the stars of the Blues’ season which sees them just one win from claiming their first league title since 2006.

Chelsea must keep their nerve to beat Wigan at Stamford Bridge on Sunday and Malouda said: “Nobody here even thinks about anything other than a victory. To fail would be a disaster.

“For me, it would be the worst blow in my career, but with our fans at Stamford Bridge behind us we believe that’s impossible.

“If you analyse the numbers and statistics in our season, then Chelsea deserve to be champions and yet we know we must still win on Sunday to confirm our achievement.

“We will forget the nerves and we know we will have to play with our heads and be patient. I am totally convinced we will be champions.”

It has been one of the most exciting title races in the history of the Premier League with the three-way race between Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal developing into a two-horse race in the past three weeks.

Now, United boss Sir Alex Ferguson will try to ensure there are no slip-ups against Stoke, meaning Chelsea must win against Wigan to avoid the unthinkable.

But having lost at the DW Stadium already this season, Malouda has been quick to emphasise Carlo Ancelotti’s side cannot afford to take the Latics lightly.

Malouda said: “We know Wigan will not give up against us, but our chance of winning the title should be big enough to overcome any obstacle placed in front of us.

“The key to beating Wigan will be to score the first goal, we must not think about Manchester United and for Chelsea the only interest is our match.”

This season Malouda, 29, has been in easily his best form since arriving from Lyon in a £12million deal in 2007.

And the Frenchman, who has just been voted Blues’ player of the year by his team-mates, hopes a Chelsea title win will only be the first part of a double celebration.

Malouda added: “I came to the Premier League to win titles and personally I am very motivated for Sunday. The day when you can win a title is special for any player, it hardly happens every day.

“The squad is in good shape and we have so much belief and confidence. I’m optimistic but we still haven’t won the title yet.

“United is a tough rival, a great team, but I think we have been consistent – we’ve won twice against them.

“We’re ahead of them by such a small margin and that shows how competitive it has been. We have great respect for them.

“Personally, I am determined to win two trophies this season and if we can achieve that then I will enjoy a really special celebration.”

Lampard Desires Double Glory

Frank Lampard claims he will rate this season as his finest in Chelsea colours if they win the double.

The England international became the first midfielder to breach the 20-goal barrier in the Premier League last weekend when he grabbed the second goal in the 2-0 win at Liverpool to put the Blues within touching distance of the title.

Carlo Ancelotti's side can clinch top spot when Wigan visit Stamford Bridge on Sunday, while an FA Cup final against Portsmouth follows the week after with Chelsea red-hot favourites to win the trophy for the second successive year.

And Lampard insists he is ready to show his worth once again as he bids for glory on two fronts.

"Because of the goals I have scored in this run-in, this season is up there with my best already," the 31-year-old, who has scored nine goals in his last seven games, said in The Sun.

"Last season was my best yet all-round because of the way I played, but then you think how important it is to perform at the business end of the season.

"You always remember the players that turn up for the big games and help win leagues - guys like Wayne Rooney or Thierry Henry.

"So, if we do go on to win it this season, then I would have to say that for the trophies and the goals that this is my best campaign."

Chelsea have endured several distractions this term with John Terry and Ashley Cole subjects of off-field allegations about their personal lives, while the club were forced to fight off a transfer embargo following the signing of Gael Kakuta.

Lampard, however, believes everything which might have thrown Chelsea off course in their pursuit of trophies, has in fact, made them stronger.

"People should realise that it has been a mad season," the former West Ham player added.

"Stuff has happened on and off the pitch to make things more difficult but there has been a positive reaction from all of us.

"True, there have been times when we have not been at our best but who else has scored seven goals three times in the league?

"We have overcome a lot but we are a strong group at Chelsea and if we weren't we would not have pushed ourselves to the brink of winning a Double."

Manchester United Could Launch Audacious Bid For Chelsea's Nicolas Anelka

Manchester United are ready to raid their title rivals for Nicolas Anelka should contract talks with Chelsea break down, according to The Sun.

The tabloid claims that the France international striker, who has one year remaining on his current Blues deal, is a target for United.

Red Devils boss Sir Alex Ferguson is looking for a replacement for Bulgarian mis-firing forward Dimitar Berbatov, who has failed to impress at Old Trafford since his £30.75 million move from Tottenham Hotspur.

Ferguson was thought to be keen to bring the well-travelled Anelka to Old Trafford in 2008, when the Frenchman left Bolton Wanderers for Chelsea in an £18m move.

Anelka has already played for five Premier League teams but could join United for a reported fee of around £8m.

Ferguson is thought to want a strike partner for Wayne Rooney next season and the experienced Anelka, who was the Premier League’s top scorer last season, could fit the bill.

Premier League Is Still The Best, Says Frank Lampard

Frank Lampard has insisted the Premier League is stronger than ever as Chelsea stand on the brink of winning the title for the first time since 2006.

The Chelsea vice-captain rejects suggestions the league is not as strong as in previous years as they prepare to face Wigan Athletic at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

A win for Chelsea, who head the table over Manchester United by a single point, will guarantee them the title in Carlo Ancelotti's first season as coach.

The Italian's team have been defeated six times in league games this campaign, but they are in pole position at the most crucial point of the season.

"This is the position we wanted to be in," said Lampard. "Some people have said the league has gone downhill but I don't think it has.

"The league has improved because the teams in the middle of the table and down the bottom have been fighting even harder and are more organised.

"It has proved more difficult for the bigger teams to win regularly week in, week out, and if we can win one more game it will be a big achievement to win it this year due to circumstances.

"To win the league you can never have it smooth and there are not many seasons when it is plain sailing all the way through.

"You are fighting against big teams in Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City and others and there are times you have to stay strong. In the moments when we were down this season we have stayed strong."

Lampard will earn his third champion's medal should Chelsea achieve their aim.

Chelsea, under coach Jose Mourinho, won the title in 2005 and 2006, and another triumph would also end a run of three successive title successes by United.

Watching Sir Alex Ferguson's side take the trophy three times in a row only increased Lampard's desire to win the trophy again.

"Credit to them, they deserved to win it in recent seasons," said Lampard. "We are there to battle with them and we have been in touching distance.

"I was very proud of winning the league twice, particularly the first time because of all the years Chelsea had gone without it.

"It was a huge thing to be part of that group but if we can go and win the Double it will be right up there with that because not many clubs have done it in history."

Meanwhile, Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba claims he will gladly forego winning the Golden Boot this season if Chelsea can land the League title and then secure 'The Double' by beating Portsmouth in the FA Cup final on May 15.

Drogba is vying for the scoring award with Wayne Rooney on 26 goals and he has already collected the club's player of the year award.

"It has been the best season in my career so far," said Drogba. "When you have a season like this, individual trophies like player of the year are good, but I want more and I want to share with my friends.

"I really want to win the Premier League trophy and the FA Cup again, this is very important.

"I really don't mind if I don't win that (the Golden Boot) and I win the Double. That is really what matters.

"It has been a great season and I am really happy. Everybody knows my history with the fans here and there have been some difficult moments, but really and honestly we are always talking the same language and that is Chelsea."

Drogba also hailed the influence of Ancelotti.

"It is his first year here and it could be the best season in Chelsea's history so I hope that there will be more seasons like this one," added Drogba.

"He put a lot of confidence in this team and a desire to play well, start from the back, short passes - completely different to what we were doing before.

"There are many ways to win football matches and I think this way is one of the best."

Didier Drogba: Our Solidarity During John Terry Scandal Was The Turning Point In The Season

Didier Drogba has admitted that the manner in which the Chelsea squad overcame the ‘storm’ of John Terry’s off-the-field problems proved the turning point in their season.

The Chelsea skipper was the subject of intense media coverage after allegations of an affair with the former partner of Wayne Bridge, once a teammate at Stamford Bridge, broke, resulting in Fabio Capello’s decision to strip him of the England captaincy.

Drogba admits that the Blues performances suffered as a result of the intensity of the situation, but believes that the camaraderie of the squad pulled them through.

“We showed solidarity between us just as we've always done each time the club is in the middle of a storm,” Drogba told France Football magazine.

"I think it was a key moment of our season because we were losing points on the field and Terry was not performing as well as usual."

The club’s top goalscorer insisted that whilst their Champions League elimination at the hands of Inter was a disappointment, the prospect of securing a Premier League and FA Cup double means that the season can still be a success for Chelsea; a campaign which has produced his best performances since he arrived at Stamford Bridge.

"I think it's been by far my best season here... ending the season ahead of Rooney in the scoring charts would be the icing on the cake," Drogba added.

"It still can be a good season because only six teams have completed this double in England until now. If we achieve that, we'll make history.”