Match Preview: Blackburn Vs Chelsea

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Possible starting XIs:

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

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

Allardyce Wary Of Chelsea Backlash

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Agent Denies Neymar Approach

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Carlo Ancelotti: I Won't Be Axed

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Anelka Desires New Blues Deal

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Deco In Blues Exit U-turn

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sturridge: For The Kids

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ross Turnbull Hunting Premier League & FA Cup Double After Crashing Out Of Champions League With Chelsea

Chelsea goalkeeper Ross Turnbull wants the Blues to bounce back from their disappointing Champions League exit at the hands of Jose Mourinho's Inter by winning a Premier League and FA Cup double.

The former Middlesbrough youngster was called into action for the game against the Italian giants at Stamford Bridge with Petr Cech and Hilario both injured.

Although he was happy with the standard of his personal performance, the keeper would rather the team had made it to the quarter finals of the competition.

"I was pleased with my performance, that's a positive but I'd much rather us be in the last eight," Turnbull told his club's offiical website.

"We set out to win the game and go through but it wasn't to be, we didn't perform on the night. We have two other competitions we can still win though, and winning them has to be our aim.

"Every game now is a big one and we have to step up and do our stuff."

Turnbull also admits that not playing regular first team football can make it difficult to stay focused. However, he is well aware that professionalism demands he trains hard and stays as sharp as possible.

"I will always work hard, but it does get frustrating when you train Monday to Friday and on Saturday you're in the stands, it's not easy wanting to get that chance, but I absolutely love it here," he added.

"Training is fantastic every day, they're all world-class players, but every professional wants to play, but equally as a professional you have to stay patient and focused.

"I want to play but at the same time I don't wish ill health on Petr or Hilario, they're friends. Football is funny, it's not an 11-man game anymore, it's a big squad game and people are starting to understand that.

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

"My chance to make a contribution is now and it would be nice to look back at the end of the season having done my part. As I said every game now is a big one and we have to step up and do our stuff."

Cech A Possibility For Blackburn Clash

Carlo Ancelotti may have Petr Cech available for selection as we look to recover from Champions League disappointment at Blackburn on Sunday.

The goalkeeper has been out with a calf injury since our European first leg defeat at Inter on February 24, but has now returned to training. Ancelotti will monitor the situation before leaving for the north-west on Saturday afternoon.

'Cech trained on Friday, but is doubtful for Sunday,' Ancelotti said on Friday afternoon. 'He will train today and we will take a decision for the game against Blackburn.'

Hilario is still absent though, meaning Ross Turnbull, who has deputised in the last two matches, could continue. Meanwhile, Turnbull called for focus as we aim for an FA Cup and Barclays Premier League double and his manager was in full agreement.

'Now we have to look at the Premier League and the FA Cup. It is not an easy moment because we are out from an important competition, the Champions League, we are disappointed for this but this is football and we have to look forward to the next game,' the manager said.

'I can say that we have to have a very good reaction, every game will be very important and we have 10 or 11 games to the end of the season. We can do a fantastic season because we are involved in two important competitions and after this disappointment we need a good reaction on Sunday.

'Our destiny is in our hands, if we win every game we can do the Double, and it is very difficult, but we can try. It is very important to think about this, only five teams won the Double in 140 years here in England. It is our aim.'

Three days after exiting Europe, spirits are beginning to lift and Ancelotti was keen to express he still has faith in the players at his disposal.

'I have trust in these players. I have confidence and it can happen sometimes that we are not able to do what we want,' he explained. 'I have fantastic, professional players and we have very good direction.

'We want to play football - I always said our aim is to play good football. We missed the last game but want to come back to play good football against Blackburn.'

Juventus Close To Chelsea's Frank Lampard

Juventus are following Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard, and have opened up a line of communication with the player's agent, according to Tuttosport.

General director Roberto Bettega is said to have met Steve Kutner, Lampard's agent, on Tuesday. The pair spoke about the Blues midfielder with Juventus, and Bettega, being long-time admirers of him.

Furthermore, the men shared opinions on Felipe Melo, Amauri and Jonathan Zebina - players who have all been linked with summer exits.

Brazilian midfielder Melo has had a turbulent season in Turin, and he has often been connected with a move to Arsenal.

Schweinsteiger Dashes Blues Link

Bastian Schweinsteiger has played down speculation linking him with a summer switch to Chelsea.

The Bayern Munich midfielder is under contract at Allianz Arena until 2012 and claims he has no intention of breaking that agreement.

He has been linked with a move to England amid reports Chelsea are planning an overhaul of their playing staff.

An ageing squad is set to be shaken up, with a host of top names reported to be on the Stamford Bridge hit-list.

Schweinsteiger is said to be among them but the Germany international, who admits to being a fan of the Premier League, is adamant he is staying put for now.

"I have extended my contract with Bayern Munich until 2012 and I assume that I will play for this club for even longer than that," he said.

"I would hope that our relationship can continue to develop in the future. But many things are possible.

"The atmosphere in English stadiums is unique and the standard of play is very high, because there are many great players there."

Ancelotti Excited About Young Talent Coming Through At Chelsea

Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti says he's excited about the young talent coming through at Stamford Bridge.

He has given youth a chance this season more than any other manager in the era of the Russian multi-billionaire and the Italian is committed to his philosophy.

Indeed, for Daniel Sturridge, Gael Kakuta, Fabio Borini, Jeffrey Bruma and Nemanja Matic, they can expect to play a much bigger part in the next campaign.

Ancelotti said so himself at a club event last week. He revealed: “All the young players have impressed me. They are all very young — Borini was born in 1991, Bruma 1991, Kakuta 1991, Matic 1988 and Sturridge 1989.

“All these players can have a future in this club. They need to improve and they are working to improve. But I think next year all these players will be in the squad.”

Ancelotti Not Thinking Of Clear-Out

Carlo Ancelotti insists it is far too early to talk about a summer clear-out at Stamford Bridge following Chelsea's Champions League exit to Inter Milan.

Chelsea's Italian coach has already refocused his seasonal ambitions on achieving the domestic Premier League and FA Cup double following their disastrous European exit in midweek.

But while Ancelotti remains adamant that he has not spoken to owner Roman Abramovich about plans for next season, he accepts there will be new faces.

Much has been made of Chelsea's ageing side since their defeat at the hands of Jose Mourinho's Inter but Ancelotti is refusing to press the panic button.

When asked if he was looking at a major overhaul of the squad during the summer, Ancelotti replied: "We haven't planned. It's not the time now to plan.

"We have to look to the next game. We have 11 matches left until the end of the season and, after them, we'll have a lot of time to speak about the future of this team.

"It's normal that, with a new season, there are new faces. This is normal.

"Really, now, I want to think about this team. I want to put this team in the best position until the end of the season.

"Now is not the right moment, we have other things to think about. We have to look at the Premier League and the FA Cup.

"This is not an easy moment because we are out of the important competition, the Champions League, and we are disappointed about this.

"But this is football and we have to look forward to the next game. We have to have a very good reaction in the next game. Every game will be very important for us.

"We have 10 or 11 games before the end of the season and we can still do a fantastic season. We are involved in two important competitions so, after this disappointment, we need to have a good reaction."

Abramovich spoke with Ancelotti and his squad at their Cobham training ground on Thursday but the Italian insists it was nothing more sinister than to demonstrate his support for their efforts.

"Roman was here on Thursday and spoke with me and with the players," confirmed Ancelotti. "He came here to support us because he knows very well football and he knows that we are involved in important competitions again. So I think his presence here was very good.

"We didn't speak about the future, about the changes for next season, because it's not the right time to speak about this.

"I said we have important games in the next week and we have to stay focused - all the players and all the club.

"Roman was disappointed and he's the owner of a club that's out of the Champions League. Everyone was disappointed about the last game against Inter.

"We didn't have a good performance on Tuesday because I said we'd lost the confidence in our play.

"We didn't play like we wanted. I think the players tried to do their best, but we didn't do our best. I have trust in these players, confidence.

"It can happen that, sometimes, we are not able to do what we want. But nothing else. I have fantastic, professional players and we will have a very good reaction.

"We have to train, we have to train every day. We have to maintain a good control of our players.

"We did very well in this season, changed something by putting a different identity in the team.

"We want to play good football - that has always been our aim - and we did that for a long time. We didn't in the last game, but we want to come back and play good football against Blackburn.

"We have to be strong, sure, and maintain good control of our emotions, but the players have good quality to do this."

Chelsea's double hunt begins in earnest against Blackburn on Sunday but Ancelotti knows they must keep on winning until the end of the campaign.

"We have a very important trophy again to pursue. We are in the semi-finals of the FA Cup and, maybe, two points behind Manchester United but with a game in hand," said Ancelotti.

"So our destiny is in our own hands. If we win every game, we can do the double. That's very difficult, but we can try to do this. That's very important, to think about this.

"Only five teams, I think, have won a double in 140 years here in England. It's not easy, but we can think about this and do our best. That's our aim."

Salomon Kalou Set To Lead Summer Exodus As Chelsea Plan Massive Clearout

Chelsea are ready to launch a summer clear-out of Carlo Ancelotti's squad, with striker Salomon Kalou heading up a list of star names who could be set to depart, according to a report from The Guardian.

Deco, Ricardo Carvalho, Paulo Ferreira, Juliano Belletti are also believed to be set to depart from Stamford Bridge, with Deco having recently told Brazilian radio that a move back to South America in the summer would suit him for family reasons.

Contract negotiations with Nicolas Anelka, Joe Cole and Michael Ballack could all be affected by a reported desire amongst the Chelsea hierarchy to revitalise an ageing and seemingly somewhat jaded squad.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has been rumoured to be interested in making a move for Kalou in the past, with the Gunners chief believed to have made an enquiry when he sold Emmanuel Adebayor to Manchester City.

Roman Abramovich Blind To Real Problem At Chelsea

Claudio Ranieri, Jose Mourinho, Avram Grant, Luiz Felipe Scolari and, now, Carlo Ancelotti. It is all your fault that Chelsea have failed to win the Champions League, as far as Roman Abramovich is concerned.

Abramovich privately fumes about the amount of money he has spent and – in his reasoning – the unacceptable return he has received. As the Chelsea owner would have it, it's their fault that too many players and agents have grown ridiculously rich at the Russian's expense and that he has had to – Ancelotti, for now, apart – sack them all.

No one knows, for sure, what goes on in Abramovich's mind. He speaks sparingly, even to those closest to him, but having taken soundings following Chelsea's exit to Inter Milan on Tuesday, a game when it was clear that this team had run their course, the response appears to be the same: blame the manager.

Yes, the players received flak – Joe Cole, Michael Ballack, Frank Lampard, John Terry and Didier Drogba, especially, came in for criticism. All the big names with the biggest pay packets, in fact. But that was part of a theme.

These guys have cost Abramovich a fortune whereas the likes of Alex and Salomon Kalou haven't and, according to the reaction from 'the big guy', appeared to be the only ones really trying.

Abramovich has been told often enough he needs to spend big again and he is prepared to – but it will have to be, for example, Sergio Aguero at £30 million rather than the £40 million that Atletico Madrid want. And the prices for Franck Ribery, Fernando Torres, David Villa all, similarly, have to come down to attract Abramovich.

He's also been told that it's time to move some of the big names on. There are those who maintain Manchester City's offer of £30 million for John Terry should have been accepted.

But Abramovich doesn't accept it. And the core of his argument highlights his blindness to what goes wrong at Chelsea. He tells his friends this: why can't all the expensive coaches he's hired (with the exception of Mourinho, who left because he couldn't get on with the boss) mould a team in the way that Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsène Wenger have? The answer, as they say, is in the question, Roman.

ASHLEY COLE TAKES STEP FORWARD

He tried to hide his presence but it was, unmistakably, Ashley Cole in the Stamford Bridge press room before Tuesday's match. He had the hood of his black top pulled over his head and was trying to squeeze himself into a corner so he wasn't noticed as he talked to who he was there to talk to.

Fair enough. There wasn't much chance the media were going to bother him anyway. What was more interesting was the fact that not only did Cole appearing to be walking comfortably, and able to put weight on his broken ankle, but that he also had a little turn of pace as he quickly exited the room once his conversation was finished. No limp. It would appear he's well on the way to recovery, which is good news for England as well as Chelsea.

PORTUGUESE TEARS OF WAR

There was some damage done on the night, however. Jose Mourinho left Stamford Bridge late on with his right hand bandaged up. It begged the question: had Roman Abramovich – or more probably one of his pumped-up bodyguards – inflicted some damage in a bone-crushing handshake of congratulations? The answer was more prosaic: Mourinho's fingers had been trapped in a door he held open for someone in the corridors of Stamford Bridge. It brought a tear to his eye. But it wasn't the only one he shed.

One reason for the long delay before Mourinho addressed the media following Inter's victory was because he wanted to compose himself. Such was the understandable emotion of the occasion that Mourinho had sobbed, tears of relief and, perhaps, regret in the away dressing room.

FOREIGN FIELDS A BIGGER LURE

Just two English clubs – Manchester United and Arsenal – will be in the draw for the last eight of the Champions League on Friday, which may lead to some hand-wringing at the Premier League. After all, with three representatives in the semi-finals for the past two seasons, and England the powerhouse of domestic football, then surely their dominance was set to continue?

It's not exactly a poor showing – indeed the spread of countries, with France the only other with two clubs, is a healthy thing. But it does puncture the myth that leading foreign players come to England because of the football, the excitement, the competition and the crowds. With a 50 per cent tax rate kicking in and the pound continuing to be weak against the euro, the reason why some players – especially those in France – are less keen to move is the reason why they wanted to come here in the first place: money.

Abramovich Will Stick With Ancelotti And Bankroll £140million Summer Spree

Roman Abramovich last night gave Carlo Ancelotti a personal training ground assurance his Chelsea job is safe despite the Blues’ Champions League humiliation at the hands of Jose Mourinho.

But the latest premature end of the quest for Abramovich’s Holy Grail will bring a summer of upheaval which will finally see the coffers opened and a wholesale change of the squad Ancelotti inherited.

Abramovich was understood to have been angry and embarrassed by Tuesday’s exit, which saw Mourinho unfurling his peacock feathers once again after overseeing the destruction of the team he created, with the blame being pinned on the Italian.

But while the Chelsea owner expected far more, his more measured response was to go to see Ancelotti at the club’s Cobham headquarters where agreement was reached over the need for radical rebuilding - at a potential outlay of £140million-plus.

Even before Tuesday night, Ancelotti and the Blues hierarchy had been concerned about the danger of the Chelsea squad beginning to resemble the Saga-sponsored AC Milan side who had capitulated at Old Trafford last week.

That feeling was only reinforced by events at the Bridge, with Ancelotti out-thought by Mourinho and his players second-best in every area of the park.

When Ancelotti took the job last summer, he also accepted the philosophy of doing it with the tools he was given, rather than buying an expensive new set.

But it did not take long for Abramovich to concede that things needed to be different and - with Lens paid off and the threat of a transfer window ban over the Gael Kakuta affair ended - rather than tinker in January Ancelotti was given the green light to do it for real this summer.

That means the end of Mourinho’s generation of Chelsea “Pensioners“ and a new-look side, recruited to fit Ancelotti’s pattern of play, instead of trying to force square pegs left behind by the Special One into round holes.

Top of the wish-list are Fernando Torres, Franck Ribery and David Villa.

The odds are heavily against capturing any of them, although the Torres’ hints of disquiet with Liverpool have raised hopes.

Ribery is seemingly set for Real Madrid, Villa for Barcelona, but if either is available, then money will be no object as Abramovich seeks to find a “personality“ in his side that fits his image of what Chelsea can become under Ancelotti’s guiding hand.

In midfield, too, the need for change is pressing. Joe Cole’s miserable cameo after replacing Michael Ballack - who will accept the reduced contract terms on offer in order to stay in London - may have sealed his fate, John Obi Mikel is vulnerable and Deco is half-way back to Brazil in his head already.

Ancelotti is looking for more pace and invention, Lazio’s Marek Hamsik at the forefront of his mind, as Chelsea accept they cannot expect Frank Lampard to keep on playing every match and delivering 20-plus goals each season.

Other options include Benfica winger Angel Di Mario, fellow Argentine and Atletico Madrid striker Sergio Aguero - despite concerns over his lack of inches - German midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger and Inter’s marauding Brazilian right-back Maicon.

To land even half of that list - Chelsea have also looked at Sampdoria striker Giampaolo Pazzini, Palermo centre half Simon Kjaer and Alkmaar’s Belgian striker Moussa Dembele - will require a massive outlay, increasing the expectation that academy products Kakuta, Jeffrey Bruma, Fabio Borini and Nemanja Matic will be genuine first team options.

But as the chastened Chelsea players conceded that lessons have to be learned to prevent the rest of the season from capsizing in the wake of the Mourinho bow wave, while urging the club not to throw the baby out with the bathwater, the requirement for action was implicitly understood.

Chelsea Target Fernando Torres As They Plan Squad Rebuild

Chelsea are drawing up plans to reshape their squad after being knocked out of the Champions League and despite the current squad pleading for one more chance to win Europe's top prize.

The 1–0 defeat by José Mourinho's Internazionale on Tuesday exposed weaknesses in Carlo Ancelotti's squad. The club will aim to retain the spine of the team but a number of fringe players are expected to be moved on in the summer.

Chelsea's transfer policy in recent seasons has been one of relative prudence, as successive chief executives have aimed for self-sufficiency instead of continued reliance upon Roman Abramovich's benevolence. However, the club's Russian owner has made it clear that should the right players become available at competitive prices, he will fund the occasional big signing.

Ancelotti may thus be able to consider moves for long-standing targets such as Fernando Torres, Franck Ribéry, Angel di María or Sergio Agüero. Torres is emerging as the club's principal target and the Spanish striker's future at Liverpool could be decided by the level of investment attracted to his club in the next few months. Real Madrid will compete for Ribéry's signature though the French forward, who plays for Bayern Munich, confirmed interest from Chelsea last month.

Abramovich was at the club's Cobham training base yesterday and he spoke to Ancelotti about long-term transfer policy. Funds could be raised by moving players on with the likes of Deco, Ricardo Carvalho, Paulo Ferreira, Juliano Belletti and even Salomon Kalou potentially made available. The owner's desire to reinvigorate the squad could also have implications for contract negotiations with Joe Cole and Michael Ballack, whose deals expire at the end of the season, and possibly Nicolas Anelka, who is contracted until 2011.

Previous Chelsea managers have come under serious scrutiny following elimination from the Champions League but Ancelotti, who has been at the club for nine months, retains the owner's faith and will oversee the next stage in this team's development.

"Most of the players are really happy and want to stay here and continue the adventure," said the striker Didier Drogba, 32, who was sent off late in the 1-0 second-leg defeat. "It would mean a lot to win [the Champions League] together next season because we've been trying so hard to do that for such a long time. I hope there is more to come from this team."

Their forward Florent Malouda, 29, said the current team "could have given much more than we did". Ballack, now 33, offered the telling admission that Inter's physical power had proved too much to cope with. "I don't think this team is coming to an end because you can't use this game as a means of assessing the development of the side over the whole year," the German midfielder said.

Uefa's disciplinary panel has yet to decide if Drogba's red card for violent conduct – the Ivorian stamped on Thiago Motta's ankle – will prompt further sanction. The Ivory Coast striker is nine months into a three-year probationary period for a previous offence. Drogba was banned for four matches, with a further two games suspended, for verbally abusing the Norwegian referee Tom Henning Ovrebo after Chelsea's defeat in last season's semi-final, against Barcelona.

Drogba faces a mandatory two‑match ban for his most recent offence, which could be extended to four games. "The referee was a bit hard [on me] with this red card," said the striker.

"I stepped on [Motta's] achilles tendon, but it was not intentional and I was more focused on the cross and the ball. I know I have had unhappy endings in Europe for the last three years [he was also sent off in the 2008 final], but I'm going to try and make it better. I hope next season will be mine."

Roman Abramovich Wants Answers After Euro Exit

Roman Abramovich held an inquest at Chelsea's training ground today following their dismal exit to Inter Milan in the Champions League.

Standard Sport understands the Chelsea owner made the trip to Cobham to meet with coach Carlo Ancelotti after they lost 1-0 to Jose Mourinho's side at Stamford Bridge and crashed out at the last-16 stage 3-1 on aggregate.

It is normal for the Russian billionaire to be seen at the training ground and there is no suggestion the former AC Milan coach's position is under threat at this stage but he was hired to win the Champions League and has failed at the first attempt.

Ancelotti told fans at a club event last week that he talks with Abramovich once a month about squad matters.

He said: "Roman is very interested in his team. We meet together maybe one time a month. We like to when he doesn't have to deal with his job and he stays in Cobham. We like to discuss everything, because he likes football, he likes Chelsea, the Chelsea players and he wants to know everything - the injuries, performance of the players and tactical questions. He is a competent man."

But the timing of any conversations today would appear to be far more significant. Mourinho, Avram Grant and Luiz Felipe Scolari have all been sacked in the past three years for failing to meet the owner's standards in Europe.

Ancelotti admitted after last night's game that he will now be under strain having seen his side lose four of their last eight matches, which has also put their title hopes in the balance.

He said: "I've worked a long time in this environment and it is normal that the manager comes under more pressure if he loses a few matches."

Chelsea could be trailing Manchester United by five points in the Premier League by the time they take on Blackburn on Sunday, while they face a tough FA Cup semi-final against Aston Villa next month.

Midfielder Florent Malouda, who trained with the rest of the first-team squad this afternoon, believes Chelsea can bounce back by winning the domestic Double.

He said: "We are all disappointed but now it's over we have to think about the League. I think we failed against Inter, we have to analyse this and think about the future. The best way to bounce back is to win the Championship.

"We have quality but have to show it. It will be difficult but we're lucky because we're still in a good position in the League and the FA Cup.

"We have to think about the way we reacted after the defeat to Barcelona last year and do the same because it can still be a wonderful season. We must stay strong and we're all behind the manager."

Didier Drogba could start next season with a four-game European ban following his sending-off for stamping on Thiago Motta.

The striker's automatic two-match punishment could be doubled because of previous offences.

Drogba was suspended for three matches for his rant at referee Tom Henning Ovrebo during last season's semi-final defeat by Barcelona, a penalty which also carried the threat of a further two-game ban if he stepped out of line again.

UEFA are still awaiting the report from last night's referee Wolfgang Stark before deciding on their next move. Drogba was also sent off in the 2008 Champions League Final for pushing Manchester United's Nemanja Vidic in the face.

The Chelsea striker said the dismissal had been "difficult to take" adding: "I stepped on Motta's calf but I don't think it deserved a red card."

Florent Maluoda Hits Out After Ancelotti Plan Backfires

Florent Malouda hit out at Carlo Ancelotti’s leadership yesterday, saying Chelsea played route one stuff against Inter Milan.

Former Blues boss Jose Mourinho totally outwitted Ancelotti as the Italian champions dumped the west Londoners out of the Champions League on Tuesday.

While the Portuguese coach spent much of the match directing and organising his team, former Milan boss Ancelotti was largely static. “We had a plan and couldn’t apply this plan,” said Malouda.

“I didn’t think we used the potential of our team. We didn’t use our strengths and sometimes we played too many long balls.

“We wanted to play to our strengths and put more pace and intensity in the game, but they were looking for fouls to slow the pace of the game.

“It was strange and we didn’t seem to handle it and to find a way to keep the intensity high. It was difficult and I think that is where we lost the game.”

Chelsea needed just a 1-0 win to reach the last eight, having lost 2-1 in Italy, but they ended up crashing to a 1-0 defeat after Samuel Eto’o scored in the 79th minute.
Malouda, who had the Blues’ only serious shot on target early in the second-half, added: “We lost patience and were looking for long balls.

“That’s what they were waiting for. They were looking for fouls and there was a lot of diving, but we didn’t find a solution.

“Inter deserved their win and we are eliminated, so we can’t speak about the Champions League any more this season.”

Chelsea’s German international midfielder Michael Ballack also admitted Mourinho and his men had been superior over the two legs.

“Their full-backs are very strong and we couldn’t live with them, even with their wingers because our full-backs were blocked,” he said. “In the end we couldn’t find an answer, which is why we are so disappointed.

“If you lose, then always, something has gone wrong in there (with your tactics), but offensively was what we were most disappointed about. That was one of our poorest games in the Champions League.

“We couldn’t perform well. In the second half we had no answer.

“Inter were defensively so strong and in every duel they were unbelievable, clever and hard.

“Normally you find an answer because we are also a physical team, but we were not good on the night.

“We knew it wouldn’t be easy because it is a smaller pitch here, which is an advantage because they are an experienced team, especially in defence.

“I don’t want to speak about Jose Mourinho. We are out of this competition now and we have to think about us.

“We played against a good side. They played one of the best games in the Champions League.

“But if we played better, we would have had a much better chance. We have had a lot of good games this year and qualified first in the group.

“We were looking good and confident before the game, confident that we could beat them. “But we have to accept it like it is. I don’t think the team looks poor generally. It was just a bad day.

“I want to win this comp-etition once and want to play as long as I can at the highest level and Chelsea is a club that play at the highest level, but Inter was a bad day for us.

“There is always a first time, the first time has to come and then maybe it is easier. But you have to fight for this first time.

“It’s like when Chelsea won the Premier League then won another one straight away. I think the team has the quality to win. We showed that every year, but it’s difficult to explain more because we had a bad day against Inter.

“Now we have to be at our best against Blackburn at the weekend. Maybe there are two or three days to be disappointed – that’s normal when you are out. You have to show a reaction and I think we will do it.”

Drogba: Tough To Go Out At Home

Following our exit from the Champions League on Tuesday, Didier Drogba knows we have to improve if we want to win the domestic league title.

The Ivorian was obviously disappointed by the midweek result, and felt there could have been at least one penalty awarded over the two ties, but he's now concentrating on the competitions we can still compete in. That means wins over Blackburn Rovers and Portsmouth in the next week are a must if we are to maintain our challenge for the Barclays Premier League.

'We are disappointed but we have to come back stronger,' insists the Chelsea number 11.

'The League is going to be a big battle, we have one game more to play [than our title rivals] and we have to go to Portsmouth,' he adds, looking ahead to the next midweek clash.

'So, we have to go there and do everything we can to be top of the League again.'

But with another Champions League campaign ending with another ban for Drogba, does the Ivorian think the Blues are unlucky in Europe's elite competition?

'At the end of the day Inter were a better team,' he reports. 'We couldn't play our game and they were stronger than us. But it is difficult to stop at this stage of the competition and be out.

'In the two games we could have won at least one penalty, but maybe the referee didn't see them or feel like giving any penalties.

'It is tough because every season you start the Champions League you have a lot of belief and then to go out like this, especially at home, it's just very difficult.'

Drogba's red card in the 86th minute means he'll miss the start of next season's European campaign.

It'll be the third season in a row this has happened following a red card in the Moscow final and further disciplinary action after our final game of the competition against Barcelona last year. Aware of the repercussions after last season's exit, Drogba accepted his sending off on Tuesday with grace, despite disagreeing with the decision.

'The referee was a bit harsh with this red card,' he says. 'I stepped on his tendon but it was not intentional, I was more focused on the ball coming from the cross.

'But it is hard and I didn't really want to discuss it at the time, I just went straight into the changing room.'

Now in terms of Champions League success, Chelsea will have to wait for the 2010/11 season.

'All the players here are really happy and we want to stay, we want to contribute to this adventure. It will mean a lot to win it next season together because we have been trying so hard for such a long time. I hope next season will be different for us in the Champions League.'