Fabio Capello Insists World Cup Door Not Closed On Joe Cole

Fabio Capello has insisted that Joe Cole still has a chance to secure a place in his World Cup squad if he performs consistently for Chelsea between now and the end of the season.

Cole, 28, has had an indifferent term so far under Carlo Ancelotti at Stamford Bridge after coming back from cruciate ligament damage in his knee.

The former West Ham child prodigy was not named in Capello's squad for Wednesday’s Wembley friendly against Egypt, raising expectations he had missed his chance to add to his 53 England caps in South Africa this summer.

But speaking at his pre-match press conference, England manager Capello said the door was not closed on the midfielder. "I saw the games he played after his injury and he played only so-so, but the last game he played very well," the Italian said. "He has to play more games like that and then he will be here, probably."

Wednesday’s match was the first for the national team since the furore over former captain John Terry's affair with the ex-girlfriend of Wayne Bridge. Terry has since been stripped of the captaincy while Bridge has ruled himself out of contention for the Three Lions while his former Chelsea team-mate is in the squad.

Moving to dismiss claims of dressing room unease over the affair, Capello said: "You have to understand that privately some players were not so good, but on the pitch it is different. We wear the England shirt and it is really important they help us every moment.

"He will be like the other players. I've spoken to him and I said 'you have to be like a leader'."

Dembele Wants Dutch Departure

Chelsea's interest in AZ Alkmaar's Moussa Dembele may have been reignited as the striker is ready to quit Holland in the summer, according to his agent.

The 22-year-old is expected to be sold at the end of the season as his contract expires in 2011 and he made no secret of his desire to leave in the winter transfer window.

Chelsea were warned by AZ that they would need to act quickly last summer if they wanted to sign Dembele, while Genoa had an offer turned down and Juventus and AC Milan were said to be monitoring the situation.

Ajax are the latest team to be linked with the Belgium international as Martin Jol is bracing himself for the probable sale of Luis Suarez, who has been linked with Sunderland this week.

But the Eredivisie side's interest has been knocked at the expense of clubs from abroad after Dembele's representative, Patrick Vervoort, told RTV Noord Holland of possible destinations: "The Dutch league is normally excluded."

Ajax are thought to be desperate to secure a replacement for Suarez as interest mounts in the 23-year-old after a dazzling season in which he has already scored 26 Eredivisie goals in 25 games.

It has been reported in the North East of England that Sunderland chief scout Ricky Sbragia is set to watch the Uruguayan in Wednesday's international friendly against Switzerland. Suarez signed a one-year contract extension in January, however, the new deal has done little to deter admirers and Sunderland boss Steve Bruce is thought to be keen to partner Suarez with Darren Bent.

Steven Gerrard: John Terry Was Superb And Great Leader Against Egypt

Stand-in captain Steven Gerrard praised the performance of John Terry during England’s 3-1 victory over Egypt, as the disgraced defender made his first appearance for the Three Lions since Fabio Capello stripped him of the armband.

“I thought he was superb tonight, John. I thought he handled everything really well and he showed he is a fantastic player and a great leader for us,” Gerrard told ITV Sport.

The Liverpool midfielder praised the visitors performance at Wembley, admitting that his side found them hard to compete against in the first half.

“You’ve got to give credit to them,” said Gerrard. "They played very well first half and the difference was we never converted the chances we had.

“We were unfortunate to come in 1-0 down but we showed good character and great togetherness to get back into the game and go on and win it.”

“I think we needed to press better together, we were a bit individual in the first half,” he explained. “We were pressing in ones and twos and they were passing it well around us.”

“We pressed a lot better in the second half and we won the ball further up in their pitch and we were more dangerous going forward.”

England Defender John Terry Hails Fans After Victory Over Egypt

England defender John Terry has applauded the Three Lions fans for the support shown during the 3-1 victory over Egypt at Wembley on Wednesday. The Chelsea captain was jeered during the early stages of the match, but the barracking died down as he went on to put in a performance worthy of manager Fabio Capello's mention.

The centre-half acknowledged the early reactions from the fans, but felt that the overall reaction was positive. "The supporters were fantastic in the way they got behind us," Terry is quoted by The Sun as saying "Obviously there were a few jeers but as a player I can handle that and they are fully entitled to their opinion.

"Whether or not I am cheered or booed it was important we got the win. "I was delighted with the response I got from all sections of the crowd. "It meant a lot to me the way we played and I thought Steve Gerrard was magnificent tonight." The ex-Three Lions captain had further words of praise for Gerrard, who was handed the armband in the absence of defender Rio Ferdinand.

Terry also hoped to keep the positive run going through to the 2010 World Cup, insisting that Capello's men have a good chance of going all the way in the showpiece event if the fans stay behind the team. "Steve played a great part with the captain's armband," he added. "And to come back from a goal down against a really good side that won the African Nations Cup was great.

"They worked really hard for each other and were great on the ball. "So what we have seen tonight is we have a real chance of going to South Africa and causing some problems in the World Cup because we are a very good side.

"We need everyone behind us, which they will be - we have the best fans in the world. "With everyone cheering all night, and us playing the way we are at the moment, it's important to we keep this run going."

Frank Lampard Wants England Boo-Boys To Leave John Terry Alone

Frank Lampard has called for the boos that greeted John Terry in the win over Egypt to stop for the sake of England's World Cup hopes.

A minority of Wembley fans jeered Terry at the start of the match, which Lampard admitted was 'half expected', but he hopes that marks the end of the dissent against his Chelsea team-mate following his recent off-field problems.

Lampard said: 'The unity in the squad is fine. We've only been together two or three days and everyone is here to concentrate on football and not concentrate on anything else.

'We've certainly done that. The manager is always very strong on that. We've trained, we've rested and there is a good spirit in the team.

'The boos for John (Terry) were half expected. It has happened before. We know it doesn't do too many favours and I hope it doesn't happen again.

'Overall It was the kind of work-out we were looking for. Egypt showed themselves to be a very capable team, very good on the ball.

That's why they are Africa Nations Cup champions. 'I think we worked hard but missed chances in the first half and, once we had got a goal back, we showed our character and quality.' Gareth Barry praised the performance of Terry and the boos turned to cheers as the match progressed.

He said: 'There is a lot of talk about other distractions which the players don't really need at this moment in time. It was good to show we are all together on the pitch and to put in a good performance.

'John is experienced and as soon as he is out there on the pitch, everything else that has gone on is all forgotten.

'In the second half, he made a couple of challenges that were cheered. 'Initially there might have been a few grumbles but the fans were brilliant and realised we need everyone behind us.'

John Terry Must Take David Beckham's Road To Redemption

The demonisation of John Terry has reached the stage where people are heckling him without knowing quite why.

Something to do with that woman and the reserve left-back. England's sacked captain was being booed by Premier League crowds long before Wayne Bridge said not-on-your-nelly to the World Cup.

What we have here is disapproval as a kind of new Mexican wave. Captain Sensible is a role Fabio Capello identified this week as one he urgently wants to see filled by the injured Rio Ferdinand and the third man down the line of illusory power, Steven Gerrard, who must have been overjoyed to be given the chance to repeat stock phrases in press conferences about responsibilities and role models.

Gerrard will hand the armband back to Ferdinand with all the reluctance of a childminder hearing a parent's ring on the bell when an upset toddler is screaming the walls down. For Terry, on the other hand, it is mortification in ribbon form, flashing around the pitch on another man's biceps.

Life would be much simpler if he could get it back and resume his East End guv'nor role. After a consoling word from Sir Dave Richards, chairman of the Premier League, Terry lined up for the ceremonials four from the end rather than in the old meet-and-greet position.

Lord Triesman, the Football Association chairman, moved to clasp his hand in upright, arm-wrestling mode, but then thought better of it, tapping Chelsea's skipper on the arm, as if His Lordship felt His Pariah's pain.

This solicitous gesture prompted the thought that Terry is close to entering the next phase of his trial by fire, when the mob stop taunting him and admire him for his resilience, his "quiet courage", as they did, in another context, with David Beckham, many months after he had been hung in effigy outside a London pub.

Beckham is easily the England centre-back's best bet for advice on cultivating an appearance of dignity and making it work in one's favour. Terry needs it, too, because the booing of his name before the kick-off was followed by persistent jeering that was dark and disdainful and took 20 minutes to subside.

A core of (Chelsea?) supporters tried to drown this hostility in cheers, which created the dissonant soundtrack of a previously admired bulldog leader being at once encouraged and condemned less than a hundred days before a World Cup.

The disconnect in Terry's brain that allows him to treat emotional turmoil as nothing more serious than an annoying squeak under the bonnet of a Bentley conceals damage below the surface.

Despite Capello's insistence that his centre-half's form is unaffected, Terry was bamboozled by Manchester City's Carlos Tevez at Stamford Bridge on Saturday and passed straight into touch on his first contact with the ball in this 3-1 victory over Egypt.

It was wishful thinking on Capello's part to believe that spending a week in Dubai with his deceived wife, having the England captaincy taken off him inside 12 minutes and then being held responsible for Bridge's international retirement would not affect Terry's equilibrium on some level.

Not forgetting Bridge's refusal to shake his hand at Chelsea and Capello's subsequent declaration that Terry would not be captain again on his watch, which was accompanied by a sermon about kids and how England players need to show them a path through life.

On the evidence of this tussle with the best team in Africa, Terry retains his outcast status in the eyes of his manager and many England fans, who have developed a generalised antipathy to hedonistic and narcissistic conduct.

Terry always exemplified the lionhearted geezer persona many England fans have always warmed to, so you would think it must have taken a lot for them to turn on him, when it really only took extra-marital slap and tickle, plus clear evidence of greed in the way he chased every buck that could be wrung from his position.

So the question for Capello, for England, is how long Terry will be locked out in the cold before being allowed back inside to his basket. Booing serves no purpose beyond allowing fans to feel righteous and they soon tired of it. For the England coach, meanwhile, there is the inescapable knowledge that successful teams are built around strong centre-back pairings.

With Ledley King plagued by knee trouble, a Terry-Ferdinand partnership is England's only fully credible combination for a World Cup quarter-final against a top-five nation. Neither Matthew Upson nor Joleon Lescott consistently attains the standards needed to nullify the world's best strikers.

The slip by Upson that led to Mohamed Zidan's first-half goal was attributable to the continuing farce of a £757m stadium being home to such a bad pitch, but the point remains: Terry is the best stopper in the English game.

After the interval the ex-captain was more vocal and demonstrative than the stand-in, but when Gerrard was withdrawn the armband passed under JT's nose to Wayne Rooney, then Gareth Barry. Another few weeks of shame and then a weird kind of sympathy will kick in.

Carvalho Scare For Chelsea

Ricardo Carvalho has handed Chelsea an injury scare after picking up an injury on international duty.

The Blues defender was a late withdrawal from the Portugal side for Wednesday's friendly with China because of a thigh problem.

The decision to leave him out was taken as a precautionary measure after the experienced centre-back reported pain in his right thigh.

Carvalho is now a doubt for this weekend's FA Cup quarter-final against Stoke, although Chelsea are waiting to find out the full extent of the injury.

Carlo Ancelotti will be hoping it is not serious as the Italian coach gets ready for a busy period of fixtures including the return meeting with Inter Milan in the Champions League on March 16.

John Terry Would Not Survive In Argentina, Says Carlos Tevez

The Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez has spoken out about John Terry's recent off-field troubles, saying that had such allegations been made against an Argentinian a player "would not survive".

"If you acted like this in Argentina you'd be dead," Tevez told the Sun. "It's complicated to say something about what Terry did to [Wayne] Bridge. I don't think you can do that with the wife of another player.

It's wrong. In my opinion, Terry has no moral code for what he did to Bridge. In my neighbourhood if you do that, you lose your legs, or more – you don't survive."

But Tevez denied that his angry confrontation with Terry at Stamford Bridge last Saturday was a result of his support for his City team-mate. "I didn't fight with Terry because of that," he said.

"I fought with him because he took me by the shirt and I didn't like it. I became furious with him because of that."

The striker, who played for Argentina against Germany in Munich last night, did however reserve some opprobrium for Chelsea's German international Michael Ballack.

"I have always had problems with Ballack but, you know, it is just football, not personal issues between us," he said.

"I don't know, maybe he doesn't like me, as I don't like him. On the field, I have never understood what he is saying to me but I am sure he didn't understand me either."

Man City Defeat 'An Accident' - Desailly

Chelsea legend Marcel Desailly is "worried" by the Blues' current inconsistencies, but maintains Carlo Ancelotti's men can get it right as the race for the Barclays Premier League title hots up.

Defeat by Manchester City on Saturday, a first in 37 home matches, saw Chelsea's lead over Manchester United down to just one point.

Indeed, with the Blues in FA Cup quarter-final action this weekend, they could find themselves knocked off top spot before they host relegation battlers West Ham on March 13.

Much has been made of the form of captain John Terry, while goalkeeper Hilario - standing in for the injured Petr Cech, was also exposed by City.

However, Desailly - who made more than 200 appearances for Chelsea between 1998 and 2004 - believes the league leaders will come good in the end.

"I am worried, but at the same time we have people who have the capacity to reorganise whatever is going on," Desailly told Chelsea TV.

"We are not pressing in midfield and we are also making some mistakes defensively but let's be patient.

"We are still at the top of the table and in the Champions League.

"We have a huge record here at Stamford Bridge and it doesn't happen often that teams can come here and win like that, so let's take it as an accident."

Desailly added: "Everyone concerned wants to fight for the club and for the team to come back because we need Chelsea at the top level.

"It is the year of Chelsea again, but we have to be careful.

"We have a clever coach who is going to get back the link we had before and the luck will come.

"The only problem I have is that at the end of the season in April we have a couple of games against the big four and it is going to be very difficult."

Football Transfers: Chelsea No Longer Big Spenders

Another day, another study on football finances. No, not the Deloitte and Touche one (which we will come to later), this study comes from Spain, the Football Transfer Review.

Yesterday we had a look at the first part of the study, which analysed the general health of football in the 5 biggest Leagues. The conclusion is that, despite the economic crisis, these Leagues are in rude health … if we judge the revenues generated by the clubs in the Leagues, not to mention the state of the transfer market, which is in constant progression. The Premier League is in a particular state, however, of constant growth (there seems to be no levelling off of our national game). It continues to be head and shoulders above its nearest competitor, the Primera Liga, and that despite the relative terms of trade having changed to the detriment of the Premier League as a consequence of Sterling`s slump.

The report carries out a case study of Chelsea, with an interesting tableau of annual spending in transfers between, 2004 to 2009. It shows pretty much a constant drop in our spending: whereas Chelsea spent some €91,6 million in 2004 (that was the first year of Mourinho, and he was indulged with Ferreira, Kezman, Drogba, Tiago and Carvalho as well as Čech and Robben who signed the winter before but were only available when José took the reigns), we spent only €28,5 last summer (on Yuri Zhirkov, Daniel Sturridge, and Nemanja Matic). Already by 2005-2006, spending had tailed off: that was the year of €54,4 million on Asier Del Horno, Lassana Diarra, Shaun Wright Phillips, and Michael Essien. In 2006-2007, Chelsea spent €46,5 million (Kalou, Boulahrouz Ashley Cole and Andriy Shevchenko), and 'only` €40,2 million in 2007 (Malouda, Anelka, Ivanović and Belletti). Actually the low point was 2008-2009, when €24,1 million was spent on Bosingwa and Deco.

These figures, considerably less than most of our rivals spent, contradict a myth of Chelsea being a chequebook team. Even in England, Chelsea are outspent by any number of our rivals: in a list of the 10 biggest spenders this year, Chelsea come only 8th. Needless to say, Real Madrid, with their €260 million, come first, followed by the €140 million of Manchester City and €112 million at Barca. In England, ManU spent more (44 million), as did whinging Liverpool (43 million). Bayern spent €51 million.

Then again, it is interesting also to compare the purchases with player sales, to give an idea of the investment potential of clubs. If we look at the 2009 figures, ManU clearly come first, with the €100-odd million they made selling Cristiano Ronaldo to Madrid: they made €103 million in player sales, so made a net profit of €59 million. Madrid, surprisingly, comes second, with €89 million in sales. Then again, Madrid had to offload a load of players. Most of their profit comes from the sale of Arjen Robben. However, net spending at the Bernabeu comes to a loss of €166 million, which is still an appalling figure.

Third comes Inter Milan, who made €84 million in sales (mainly Ibrahimovic) whilst paying €83 million in purchases. That`s a profit of €1 million. Milan also made a profit: they mugged Madrid for Kaka, trousering €78 million in total for €15 million in purchases, ending the exercise €63 million up. Arsenal also made a profit: €46 million (mainly Adebayor and Traore), whilst spending €13 million. That`s plus €35 million for Arsène. Liverpool managed to make €38 million in sales (Xabi Alonso) whilst spending €43 million. Therein lies the nature of Tubby Benítez` whinges: he only had a net €5 million to play with.

In this exercise, Chelsea recovered only €3 million in player sales, so our net outlay was €26 million. That still puts us in a rather modest situation compared to the big spending plans of Madrid, Barça (€90 million spent net), or Manchester City (€118 million net). We spent almost as much net as Bayern (€24 million for €51 million in purchase), and less than Juventus (€35 million for €48 million in purchases).

This gives a general idea of where Chelsea stand in overall spending, i.e. 5th overall. Chelsea are far from being the big spenders of yesteryear, and this picture is all the more restrained in that 2008-2009 was a very atypical year for the transfer market. Transfers were dominated by 2 clubs going on an insane and unsustainable acquisitive spree. Those two clubs were Manchester City and, particularly, Real Madrid. It is a spree that has been profitable for a number of other European clubs: Manchester United, Milan, Arsenal, and Liverpool.

Chelsea were one of a few European clubs (Bayern was another) that managed to resist losing our best players to this onslaught. The result was helpful from the point of view of squad stability, but other clubs made a handsome profit from selling players to mugs for overinflated prices. In addition, the consequence was that Chelsea had to strengthen a number of contracts of our existing players, which has not been positive from the point of view of our balance sheet. A good example of this was that Chelsea resisted selling John Terry to Manchester City. We could have received upwards of £30 million for the guy. Instead JT stayed at Chelsea, with the help of a £150,000 per week new contract, or €8,5 million per year. In light of recent events, we could ask whether it wouldn`t have been a good idea (and not only financially) to have offloaded our captain?

Since this is a Spanish study, the report ends with some interesting considerations about La Liga. This is pertinent to Chelsea since we are effectively competing with La Liga`s big clubs. The interesting considerations are to heighten the uncompetitive nature of La Liga, and how Real Madrid have smashed the market with their unsustainable practices. For whilst La Liga increased its overall transfer spending last ear from €257 million to a whopping €455 million, if you take off Madrid and Barça, there has been a net decrease, from €131 million to €79 million for the remaining 18 clubs. Most of this increase is Madrid`s (who only spent €31 million the summer before last), but Barça also increased their spending, spurred on by their capitol rivals. Whilst Madrid spent €265 million and Barça €111 million, the only 2 other Liga club to spend over €10 million were Villarreal (€16,9 million) and Sevilla (€12,5 million). This is reflected in the top 10 transfers last season: the first 8 are for Madrid and Barça between them. The report concludes that this is a 'worrying increase in polarisation`. It is worrying if two clubs weigh more than the other 18 in the League.

On a more global observation, the report points out that a number of clubs (ManU, Milan and Arsenal) spent the money they received from their exorbitant sales to Madrid and Manchester City. That is hanging over the market. The clubs probably thought that should they reinvest this immediately, all prices would be multiplied by 2, it was therefore in their interest to wait.

In addition, the report remarks the increasing importance and size of clubs in Russia and Ukraine, who are now regulars in the Champions League, and who are flush with oligarchs` cash. This is on top of the growth of Turkish football. Some of these clubs are in a position to compete with the medium-sized European clubs. Finally the report points out that regulations (particularly tax rates, but also nationality rules) are increasingly considered to be factors in competing between Leagues. It recommends that contracts be somewhat rationalised to be shorter in duration, but also a more results-oriented salary: many players are on contracts that simply don`t correspond to their results. Deco springs to mind.

In the longer term, the report points out that the new tax rates will apply in Spain (closing a loophole whereby foreign players pay advantageous rates). In the UK, however, there is a new 50% band which is going to make the Premier League less competitive. Also to note are the new FIFA rules of 6+5 (in terms of locally-developed players), and whether the EU will concede to a restriction on the free movement of workers. In addition, we have to consider that 2009 was particular in that there were elections in Real Madrid, which lead to the explosion in signings there. 2010 sees elections at Barça, which could lead to an inflation of electoral promise in Cataluña.

The full 2010 analysis will come in our assessment of the Deloitte and Touche Money League report, which has just been published.

Chelsea Star Michael Ballack Advises Inter To Be Prepared For Stamford Bridge Showdown

Chelsea midfielder Michael Ballack has sent an ominous warning out to Inter, advising the Nerazzurri to be ready for their Champions League clash on March 16. Despite the Beneamata taking a one-goal lead into the second leg at Stamford Bridge, the German international says that the Blues are a different beast to tame at home. "We need to concentrate on ourselves," Ballack was quoted as saying to Corriere Dello Sport. "We are a very strong squad, and know what we need to do. "The players also know what to expect from [Inter coach] Jose Mourinho, because he is a very good coach, and prepares his team well. They will be 90 minutes of fireworks, and we hope to have a happy ending in our favour. "Italian teams are hard to beat, even away from home. They can defend, and know what they need to do in order to qualify for the next round. But we are stronger at home, where we have a good record. "It is a precarious position to be in, but we have finished twice in the semi-finals and once in the final over the past few seasons, and our aim is to hoist the trophy," added the German midfielder.

Bayern Munich's Arjen Robben Backs Chelsea At 'Difficult Time' For The Club

Bayern Munich’s Arjen Robben believes the off-field antics involving both John Terry and Ashley Cole have made life difficult at Chelsea.

The Premier League leaders were beaten 4-2 by Manchester City on Saturday, but the Dutch international, who spent three years at Stamford Bridge, thinks his former team-mates have the strength of mind to overcome this troubled period.

"It is a difficult time. It is not good for the club or football in general but these things happen," Robben told Sky Sports News.

"I think it is going to take a long time for people to forget about it but they have to handle it.

"I think they are strong enough and they have so much quality. Also mentally they are up for it I think."

Jose Mourinho Prepares "Special" Plan For Second Leg Of Chelsea-Inter Milan

The Italian press reports today that Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho has left nothing to chance in his preparations for the Champions League second leg clash between Chelsea and Inter Milan.

Breaking with convention, Inter Milan will fly into London on Monday March 15 and will forgo the traditional pre-match training on the Stamford Bridge pitch.

Mourinho and an Inter Milan player will appear for the pre-match press conference the day before the game but the Nerazzurri will not train in public in England ahead of the second match with Chelsea.

The "Special One" is eager to prepare for the match in private and does not want anyone from Chelsea watching his team train in the build-up to the much anticipated match.

The Portuguese coach is also keen to isolate his squad from the limelight and tension of the encounter as Inter Milan look to make a major statement in the Champions League.

Inter Milan lead Chelsea 2-1 from the first leg last week.

Carlo Ancelotti Would Rather Stay At Stamford Bridge Than Lead Italy

Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti has revealed that he would rather stay at Stamford bridge to win the Champion's League than replace Marcello Lippi as Italy's coach. Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti has insisted he is not interested in replacing Marcello Lippi as coach of Italy after the World Cup. Reports in Italy have named Ancelotti as one of the candidates to succeed Lippi. But the former AC Milan boss, who joined Chelsea in the summer, has revealed he would rather stay at Stamford Bridge. ‘I am not interested in the national team,’ said the Italian. ‘I prefer to remain in London at Chelsea and lead the team to a Champions League final.’ However, his countryman Roberto Mancini, the Manchester City boss, admits to ambitions of leading Italy. He said: ‘I will be here [at City] for many years but one day I would like to return to Italy and guide the national team, I don’t deny it.’

John Terry Must Apologise For Upsetting World Cup 2010 Preparations - Former England Manager Graham Taylor

Former England manager Graham Taylor has demanded that John Terry issue a public apology to save Fabio Capello’s squad from being torn apart. Preparations for this summer’s World Cup have been thrown into disarray by revelations about the Chelsea skipper’s private life. The fallout has seen Wayne Bridge call a premature end to his international career, Capello take the captain’s armband away from Terry and the full glare of the media fall on the team. Speaking to Goal.com UK at a VIP reception for the England 2018 World Cup bid, Taylor was adamant the centre-back must atone for his actions. He said: “Fabio Capello has a problem with the Terry situation, it’s eaten in much deeper than people are aware. We’ve all seen that, the media are not going to let it go. “John I think would be well advised if he did come up with an apology sooner or later, and preferably sooner, but he has chosen not to do. “We would [also] say that his form is a little bit unsure at the present time.” Taylor led England for three years and guided the side during the unsuccessful qualifying campaign for the 1994 World Cup. The former Aston Villa and Watford boss lifted the lid on the unique pressures of international management and praised the way Capello has handled the Terry fiasco. He said: “International level is different than club level because you are dealing with an international dressing room where players have competed against one another. “Sometimes that can be, not difficult to handle, and never difficult to handle during the games, but during the build up people tend to stick together with their club mates. “I think with Fabio he has taken a hands-off approach, a distant approach, and at the moment that seems to be working. “If we’re not successful and Fabio goes and a new manager comes in, they’ll be saying ‘it’s a far more relaxed atmosphere, it’s much better’. So, you have to win. “If you win, what you do is right, and if you don’t win, everything you do is wrong. At the moment that’s the position Fabio has. “I speak from experience and we didn’t qualify for 1994 and I will take that to my grave. Now, I’m not going to stand here and go back to 1994 and say ‘there was this, there was this and all that,’ and Capello will do exactly the same.” The current chairman of Watford has offered his backing to the campaign to see England host the World Cup in eight years' time. He insisted the infrastructure is in place, but warned that FIFA may decide to hand the tournament to a developing nation. He said: “I think it’s right and proper that we should be bidding. We had a go some years ago that wasn’t successful. “I think our stadiums and everything about football in our country says that after, what is it now, 44 years, we should have another World Cup. “The problem that we have is that FIFA want to make football a really all-world game and they have to go in to other countries."

Cheryl Cole Agrees To Counselling Sessions With Husband Ashley Cole

Cheryl Cole has agreed to attend counselling sessions with her husband Ashley Cole, it has been reported. The first meeting with a therapist could even take place next week after Ashley Cole returns home from a rehabilitation clinic in France where he is being treated for a broken ankle, according to the Daily Mail. The singer and X Factor judge released a statement last week announcing her intention to split from her husband following reports that he had cheated on her with several women and sent sex texts. They have been married for three and a half years. The Girls Aloud pop singer, 26, announced her separation on February 23 but has not yet started divorce proceedings. Two years ago she forgave her husband after he had a one night stand with a hairdresser he met in a nightclub called Aimee Walton. Last month he was accused of sending sex texts to Sonia Wild a glamour model. Since then Vicki Gough, a secretary, has claimed she had sex with him twice during autumn 2008 while Ann Corbitt, a US local government worker, alleged that she had sex with him in a Seattle hotel last July. Finally Alexandra Taylor came forward and said she had a short affair with the 29 year-old in 2004 only hours after he and Mrs. Cole made their relationship public at the National TV Awards.

Capello: Joe Cole May Return

Fabio Capello has given hope to Joe Cole that he could make the England World Cup squad.

Cole, who has 53 caps, has not featured for his nation since returning from serious knee injury in September but with three months to go until the Finals in South Africa, the England manager is watching the player closely.

'I saw the games Joe Cole played after he returned from injury and he played always so-so, but the last game he played very well,' Capello said, taking to the media ahead of Wednesday's international against Egypt.

'He has to play more games like the last and after he will be here [with England], possibly.'

Though closing the door on John Terry regaining the England captaincy under his management, Capello is satisfied with the Chelsea captain's current form.

'I saw two games that he played, in Milan and against Manchester City,' said the Italian.

'He played a normal game but always when the team loses, the journalists try to find something about the most important player. I think he played very well those two games.

'He is training very well. He will be the same player in the dressing room and I told him he has to do the same thing like a captain.'

Cech Hopes For Early Return

Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech is optimistic that he will be able to return from his calf injury ahead of schedule. The shot-stopper tore a muscle in the Blues' first-leg defeat to Inter Milan in the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League and was ruled out for one month. But Cech has his fingers crossed that he will be able to make his comeback before the end of March and that would boost Chelsea's domestic and European title hopes. Asked if he expected to be out for three to four weeks, he told Sport.cz: "I hope I will be back sooner than that." Meanwhile, Cech has been named Czech Footballer of the Year for 2009 to win the award for a third time. Galatasaray striker Milan Baros and Bordeaux midfielder Jaroslav Plasil finished second and third, respectively. Cech said of his hat-trick of awards: "For me they are of the same significance. To win this award is a great honour, no matter how many times you manage to do that."

Chelsea And Man United Tracking Defender Luiz

Chelsea have reportedly joined the race to sign highly-rated Benfica defender David Luiz.

Coach Carlo Ancelotti is a known admirer of the £15 million-rated Brazilian and is hoping to secure Luiz's signature in time for the start of next season.

The 22-year-old would strengthen an ageing Chelsea defence, but Ancelotti is likely to face competition from Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson, who has also been keeping tabs on Luiz for some time.

Sir Alex reportedly sees him as a natural, long-term replacement for Patrice Evra, whereas Ancelotti would look to play the former Under-20 international in his preferred role of centre-back.

Luiz has been a mainstay in a Benfica defence that has conceded just 11 goals in 21 league games this season, propelling them to the top of the Portuguese Primeira Liga.

Luiz has a £45 million buy-out clause written into his current contract which expires at the end of the 2014-15 season, although it is thought Benfica are open to offers. Real Madrid, Fiorentina and Bayern Munich have also shown an interest.

Despite the transfer talk, Luiz, who is yet to win his first full cap for Brazil, is focused on playing well for Benfica and breaking into the international squad in time for this summer's World Cup.

He said: "We have to do our utmost to win the Portuguese Liga, Portuguese League Cup and UEFA Europa League. Will it be hard to win all three? Definitely, but it's our duty to give it our best shot.

"I work hard every day to perform for my club, and if I get the opportunity to pull on my country's shirt I'll grab it with both hands. But it's still only a dream, not an obsession."

Flamengo Dismiss Deco Talk

Brazilian club Flamengo have rubbished reports linking them with a move for Chelsea midfielder Deco.

Deco was quoted as saying earlier this week that he wanted to continue his career back in the country of his birth after the World Cup.

Speculation has suggested that he could be set to join Flamengo but Vice-President Marcos Braz says there is no truth in the rumours.

"I know the news published in England but this does not make any sense," Braz told Globoesporte.

"At this moment the player is not a part of our plans."

Deco, who was born and raised in Sao Paulo, has carved out a successful career in European football since moving to Benfica in 1997.

He qualified to play for Portugal six years later and has since spent time with Barcelona and Chelsea.

But the veteran playmaker, 32, is now keen to be nearer his family in Brazil despite continuing to play a key role for the Blues.