Match Report: Chelsea 6 - 0 West Brom

Double winners Chelsea fired an early warning to their Barclays Premier League title rivals as Didier Drogba smashed a hat-trick in their opening-day thrashing of new boys West Brom at Stamford Bridge.

Florent Malouda set the Blues on their way after only six minutes, with Drogba's free-kick extending the lead on the stroke of half-time.

It was more one-way traffic after the restart, as the Ivory Coast striker netted from close range with Frank Lampard making it 4-0 just after the hour.

Drogba's deflected effort and a last-minute strike from Malouda sealed an emphatic win for the champions, who put last week's 3-1 defeat by Manchester United in the Community Shield at Wembley firmly behind them.

Despite being outplayed, West Brom and their manager Roberto Di Matteo, the former Chelsea midfielder, deserve credit for continuing to display some good passing football, but which tellingly lacked a cutting edge in the final third.

Chelsea had got off to a flying start when they took the lead after only six minutes.

Malouda was tripped by Pablo Ibanez on the edge of the West Brom box.

Keeper Scott Carson spilled Drogba's free-kick straight to John Obi Mikel, whose follow-up effort was blocked. The ball then dropped straight to Malouda, who could not miss.

The champions were in full flow, with Ashley Cole whipping a low ball across the six-yard box after another surge down the left.

However, the conditions worsened, and fit again Chelsea keeper Petr Cech had to be at full stretch to touch away Graham Dorrans' deflected effort.

The visitors, who finished second behind Newcastle in the Championship last season, continued to try to take the game to Chelsea, putting together some promising passing moves.

Czech striker Roman Bednar smashed a fine finish into the roof of the Chelsea net on 18 minutes, but the offside flag had already gone up for what looked a marginal decision.

Cole then drew some predictable jeers from the travelling fans when he went to take a throw-in - but the boo-boys were soon drowned up by the home faithful showing the England defender their full support.

After a drop in tempo, Chelsea slowly started to find their rhythm again.

Gabriel Tamas fouled Drogba, giving Chelsea another chance to deliver a ball into the West Brom box.

Lampard struck his 20-yard shot well and Carson parried, but this time Malouda could not keep his follow-up on target as he sent a looping header over.

It was, though, 2-0 just before the break.

Youssouf Mulumbu tripped Michael Essien and this time Drogba smashed his free-kick through the wall and into the bottom corner.

The conditions improved for the second half, allowing both teams to pass the ball quickly.

On 53 minutes, Scotland midfielder Dorrans chipped a free-kick over the wall, but the ball dropped onto the top of the net.

Chelsea then moved 3-0 ahead when Drogba bundled in his second.

John Terry flicked Malouda's inswinging corner goalwards and Mulumbu hacked it off the line, but the ball was not cleared and Drogba, who won the Golden Boot with 29 goals last season, was alert to smash it in from close range.

Lampard walked in a fourth on 63 minutes after a clever exchange between Nicolas Anelka and Cole down the left.

The England midfielder, who had been carrying a slight ankle problem, was then replaced by Yossi Benayoun, as the Israeli made is debut following a summer move from Liverpool - who were described as a "small club somewhere north of the M25" by Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck in his program notes, hitting back at comments by Joe Cole following his free transfer summer move to Anfield.

On 68 minutes, Drogba completed his hat-trick with a 20-yard effort which cannoned off Tamas and flew into the bottom corner past a wrong-footed Carson.

The Ivory Coast striker was then given a well-deserved break when he was replaced by countryman Salomon Kalou.

Malouda whipped a 20-yard free-kick over the wall and bar, while Alex flicked a rising shot from Chris Brunt over the bar to deny the visitors a late consolation.

Neymar Denies Chelsea Deal

Santos striker Neymar has dismissed claims he has already signed a contract with Chelsea after Carlo Ancelotti hailed the teenager as a 'fantastic player'.

Neymar, who scored on his Brazil debut against the United States in midweek, has been heavily linked with a move to Stamford Bridge before the close of the transfer window.

Chelsea have seen an offer rejected by Santos and the Brazilian club's president has threatened to report the Premier League champions to Fifa regarding their pursuit of the 18-year-old.

There have been claims that Neymar has agreed personal terms with the Blues, but the promising forward is adamant that is not the case.

"I'm very happy to be remembered by a great team, but Santos is my place at the moment," Neymar told reporters.

"I want to stay at Santos, win more titles here and, who knows, leave in the future.

"That whole story that people are saying about Chelsea did not reach me until now. I don't know anything about it."

Blues boss Ancelotti is unaware of Santos' threat to report the club to Fifa, but acknowledged his admiration for Neymar.

Ancelotti said: "I know nothing about this. He is a fantastic player, but he is not a Chelsea player now and it's difficult for me to speak about this.

"What happened after, I am not interested. I can only speak about his technical quality.

"We are interested in all the young players that come through all over the world. Neymar is one of these, but this doesn't mean we have to buy this player."

Chelsea Ready To Dig Deep To Bring Benzema To Stamford Bridge

Chelsea are rumoured to be ready to make a significant bid to bring Real Madrid misfit Karim Benzema to Stamford Bridge. Carlo Ancelotti is looking to bring in more youthful attacking options as he sees the likes of Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka entering the latter stages of their illustrious careers.

The Blues boss was apparently greatly displeased with his sides showing in the Community Shield encounter with Manchester United and as a result is looking to spend big to help beef up his squad ahead of the new season. Jose Mourinho may well be looking at offloading the French international and there were rumours that a deal to bring Ashley Cole to the Bernabeu could have been tied into such an approach but Ancelotti has no desire to sell the full back so will instead try to get the former Lyon man in a straight cash deal.

The young forward hasn’t had the best of times at the La Liga giants and only managed 18 starts in all competitions last term and spend long spells on the bench. There is no sign that the new Real boss will be looking to push him back up the pecking order so if a big enough bid came in then it would surely be considered.

The 22 year old missed out on French World Cup squad due to his lack of first team action and is currently embroiled in a sex scandal that has rocked his home country. He may well therefore be keen on a fresh start and a new challenge.

Real Madrid will be looking to recoup as much of the £34m outlay they spent last summer and Roman Abramovich is apparently more than happy to fund new additions and the west London side haven’t really spent big at all so far this summer, having only spent money on Yossi Benayoun, so clearly funds won’t be an issue.

Wigan To Poach Chelsea Youngster

Wigan boss Roberto Martinez is set to sign Argentinian striker Franco Di Santo from Chelsea on a season-long deal.

Martinez has made an official approach for Di Santo as Jason Scotland’s replacement and the forward’s agent flew in from South America to open talks yesterday.

Di Santo had a loan spell at Blackburn last season that started promisingly but faded away when he was left out of Sam Allardyce’s side.

Chelsea wanted to sell Di Santo but there have been no takers.

Bolton backed off because they could not get a straight answer while Feyenoord and Twente Enschede cooled their interest.

Martinez wants to pair Di Santo with countryman Mauro Boselli and use his intelligent front-running.

Where Will Ramires Slot In Alongside Chelsea's Existing Midfield Options?

As erstwhile police detective Lester Freamon advises throughout the critically acclaimed American television series The Wire, "All the pieces matter". And in £16 million Brazilian Ramires, it seems Carlo Ancelotti has found another one he believes will play a significant role in helping his Chelsea squad try to retain their Premier League crown.

If some pundits thought the Blues' rush to the title last season showed their squad to be in rude health, then Ancelotti seemingly didn't agree — at least in midfield. The club has operated ruthlessly and efficiently to remodel their midfield ranks this summer — releasing seasoned campaigners Michael Ballack, Joe Cole and Juliano Belletti, while Deco has joined Fluminense, with Ancelotti showing little remorse before introducing the subtley different skillset of Yossi Benayoun and now the 23-year-old Brazilian in replacement.

The question, then, is how these pieces — both new and old — will be utilized next season. With Ancelotti likely to stick predominantly to the 4-3-3 formation that worked so well in the latter stages of last season(with one holding midfielder sitting behind two box-to-box central operators, themselves deeper than the two wingers working behind Drogba), he now has plenty of ways of filling that mould.

A return to the diamond formation the former AC Milan manager has long put his faith in is not impossible, despite memories of its failings when used to start last season — if only to cause opponents some tactical uncertainty. That system, in midfield at least, is not markedly different from the 4-3-3 but does require an adept playmaker to slot in adeptly at the tip to work effectively (something that couldn't be done last year).

Chelsea Players Are At War With Abramovic

Chelsea stars kick off the new season on Saturday at war with owner Roman Abramovich.

The billionaire Russian has infuriated his Double winners by scrapping and slashing the squad's bonuses.

A Chelsea insider said: "The players are furious and there is a huge row going on behind the scenes.

"They're champions and are rewarded with a pay cut - it's hardly a great way to motivate them.

"It was a big shock and they're not happy. Now they're going into the season under a cloud."

Stunned Blues players - who face West Brom in Saturday's Premier League opener - were given the news at a meeting with director Eugene Tenebaum and chief executive Ron Gourlay.

They were told Rom has done away with all appearance bonuses and cash tied to performances and results.

The only bonuses this term will be for WINNING the Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup or Carling Cup. And they will get nowhere near previous season's figures.

Our insider added: "They thought it was it was just a normal pre-season meeting.

"But instead they were told it was all change and most of the bonuses they'd enjoyed had been scrapped or reduced."

Malouda: A Taste For Success

Florent Malouda has not been back to Stamford Bridge since lifting the Premier League trophy on May 9. Two months on he is desperate for another go, but knows we face a long battle to retain our crown.

The winger sparkled and shone for much of last season, rightly earning the Player's Player of the Year award as he helped us to the Double and a record number of goals scored in one season.

Now the time has come to stop reflecting on those successes and ensure that by May 2011, we are in celebratory mood once more.

'Even if the trophy is heavy it is a real pleasure to have it and it was a very hard season for us last year, we had a struggle to get it, but that's the way it is, it doesn't come easy but once you get it you realize you did a great thing. Now we want it again,' said the Frenchman, before admitting we begin the campaign in less than ideal shape after a tricky pre-season period.

'It has been a tough pre-season. I think when you come back from a big event like the World Cup you must quickly switch on in your mind,' he explained. 'It has been a short pre-season, we didn't have good results but that's normal, because there were too many differences.

'Some players were back on July 5, others had longer holidays because we know the season will be long, so the most important thing is at the beginning of the season when maybe we are not 100 percent as a team to work on the confidence, work hard, defend well and then be really efficient in front of goal, that's how to prepare the next good moments.

'Winning is a habit but you have to prepare yourself to win, the season is very long, especially the Premier League. It is a good taste when you are winning and celebrating on the pitch but you must never forget the basics, so for me, the most important thing is to start right, get back to the basics, get the confidence back and you can keep on winning.'

We currently have three straight league wins and many will be expecting us to add to that in grand fashion against newly-promoted West Brom at the Bridge on Saturday afternoon, given the goalscoring form in which we ended the last campaign.

Does Malouda believe we can be quite so prolific once more in 2010/11, or was our record 142 goals last term, 103 of them in the Premier League, a one-off?

'We shouldn't forget that achievement, it was a record, and because we are competitors we must have the aim to beat our own record,' argues the 30-year-old. '. It won't be easy but I think we have the quality and the strength to score even more goals. That will be the best way to keep the Premier League at Stamford Bridge.'

Ancelotti - Title Will Be Harder To Win

Chelsea's players begin their Barclays Premier League title defence on Saturday with a stark warning from manager Carlo Ancelotti that they will have to work much harder than last year if they are to hold on to their crown.

Chelsea welcome Roberto Di Matteo's West Brom to Stamford Bridge in Saturday’s late game as they look to build on the league and cup double which the Italian achieved in his first season at the helm.

This year's title race looks set to be one of the most open in years. Tottenham will be brimming with confidence after they broke the monopoly of the 'big four' by finishing fourth last season while Arsenal and Liverpool have both made good acquisitions this summer.

Manchester United easily beat the Blues in the Community Shield last week while their neighbours City look strong after their summer spending spree to which Mario Balotelli was added last night.

"It will be more difficult to win the title this year," said Ancelotti.

"It is not enough to be like last year; we will need to work harder.

"Manchester United will be our biggest rivals.

"They have quality, tradition and history but I know that we have to pay attention to the other teams.

"Arsenal bought a fantastic striker in (Marouane) Chamakh, Liverpool has a new manager, they could be a strong opponent, and we have to look at Manchester City because they bought a lot of good players and they have to build a team. They could be involved in the title race."

The Blues' bid was boosted by the signing last night of Brazil midfielder Ramires from Benfica.

The 23-year-old has joined on a four-year contract having received a work permit and passed a medical.

The Blues are thought to have paid £18.2million for the energetic and versatile midfielder.

Ancelotti has predicted a bright future for the 23-year-old, who represented his country at the World Cup.

"He is a fantastic player," Ancelotti said.

"He will be the future of the Brazil national team and I hope he will be the future of Chelsea.

"He won't have any problems adapting to the English game because he is not Brazilian 100%. Because usually a Brazilian doesn't like to run, he likes to play football. He is a runner."

Ancelotti was hit by the departure of defender Ricardo Carvalho to Real Madrid this week. The Portuguese, who played a key role in Chelsea's title win last year, had come to an agreement with the club a year ago to let him move on this summer, much to his former manager's dismay.

"Everyone was disappointed Carvalho left because Carvalho did very well for six years at the club," said Ancelotti.

"His desire was to leave this club to try new emotion, new experience."

Carvalho's departure does not mean that Ancelotti will be making a move to sign a replacement, though, effectively quashing any rumours linking the club with Benfica centre half David Luiz.

Ancelotti said: "As a centre-back, we have (John) Terry, (Branislav) Ivanovic, Alex and (Jeffrey) Bruma. We are okay. We do not need anyone else."

Chelsea Get First Refusal On Fluminense Stars As Part Of Deco Deal

Chelsea have been given first refusal of Fluminense’s youth players as a condition of Deco’s transfer to the Brazilian club.

The Portuguese midfielder was released with a year left on his contract at Stamford Bridge and subsequently signed a two-year deal with Fluminense in August.

According to The Daily Mail, Chelsea’s scouts have been invited to Fluminense's academy in Rio de Janeiro to asses their promising youngsters.

Notable graduates of Fluminense's youth system include Manchester United’s Rafael and Fabio da Silva, who were picked up by Sir Alex Ferguson’s side when they were 15.

Brazil Under-17 forward Wellington Silva is another product of their academy and he will join Arsenal in January when he turns 18.

Match Preview: Chelsea vs. West Brom

Chelsea begins the defence of their Premier League title with a home game against West Bromwich Albion on Saturday evening.

The Blues won an historic league and FA Cup Double last season, but go into the new campaign short on momentum after a disappointing pre-season campaign – where they won just once – was capped off by defeat to Manchester United in the Community Shield.

Defeats to Ajax, Hamburg and Eintracht Frankfurt before their loss to the Red Devils at Wembley caused concerns for manager Carlo Ancelotti, who has also had fitness worries over a number of his key players in recent weeks.

There are likely to be new faces at Stamford Bridge – the likes of Ramires and Neymar are being heavily linked to the Blues – before the end of August, but it is the current crop that needs to get the season off to a winning start.

And despite their problems before the big kick-off, few will be betting against a Chelsea victory on home soil as the serious business gets under way.

The Blues, who scored over 100 league goals in 2009/10, have won their last 10 matches against Saturday’s opponents and it will be a major upset if that sequence is not extended to 11.

West Brom have certainly been the 'yo-yo' club of the 21st century so far, being promoted four times from the Championship and relegated back to the second tier on three occasions.

That means they are now starting a new season in a different division for the eighth time in ten campaigns.

The Baggies did buck the trend and dramatically stay in the top-flight on the final day of the 2004-05 season, but the odds are against them repeating that feat this time around - the bookies rate them as the second most likely side to go down, behind only Blackpool.

Boss Roberto Di Matteo has signed Boaz Myhill, Nicky Shorey, Pablo Ibanez and Steven Reid over the summer, as well as securing Gabriel Tamas on a permanent deal ahead of what is set to be a long struggle against the drop.

Games against the likes of Chelsea will not be the ones which decide the Baggies’ fate, though, so anything they do pick up will be considered a bonus and this may be a good time to play the champions with their worries over form and fitness.

In all likelihood, though, Di Matteo will already have one eye on next week’s home game against Sunderland as his search for around 40 Premier League points begins.

FORM GUIDE

Chelsea 1-3 Manchester United
Hamburg 2-1 Chelsea
Eintracht Frankfurt 2-1 Chelsea
Ajax 3-1 Chelsea
Crystal Palace 0-1 Chelsea

West Brom 1-1 Osasuna
Coventry City 1-1 West Brom
Doncaster Rovers 1-0 West Brom
Bristol Rovers 0-1 West Brom
VVV Venlo 1-2 West Brom

TEAM NEWS

Chelsea

Chelsea are hoping that goalkeeper Petr Cech will be fit enough to return in time for the game, after problems with a calf injury meant Henrique Hilario and Ross Turnbull stood in for him throughout pre-season.

Didier Drogba should be fit enough to play a full part in proceedings after being restricted to a substitute appearance in the Community Shield, although Alex is out with a thigh problem and Ricardo Carvalho has joined Real Madrid.

That means Branislav Ivanovic is set to continue in the centre of defence alongside John Terry, with Paulo Ferreira at right-back.

Possible Starting XI: Cech; Ferreira, Ivanovic, Terry, Cole; Mikel, Essien, Lampard; Anelka, Drogba, Malouda.

West Brom

West Brom’s main injury concern comes in the form of key player Graham Dorrans, who had to pull out of Scotland’s midweek friendly against Sweden with a groin strain.

He will be assessed in the run up to kick-off, as will new signing Pablo Ibanez, who looks likely to recover from a minor problem that forced him to withdraw from last week’s friendly with Osasuna after the warm-up.

Possible Starting XI: Carson, Jara, Tamas, Ibanez, Shorey; Mulumbu, Brunt; Morrison, Dorrans, Thomas; Bednar.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Chelsea

Didier Drogba scored 37 goals in a sensational 2009-10 season as he helped Chelsea to the Double - a return which saw him finish 11th in the Goal.com 50.

After his World Cup and pre-season campaign were disrupted by injury, though, the Ivorian will be desperate to make up for lost time and get off to a goalscoring start.

A home game against newly promoted opposition gives him the perfect chance to do just that.

West Brom

Scott Carson has a big season ahead of him as he aims to get back into the England set-up after David James was dropped and Paul Robinson retired from the international scene.

The Baggies shot stopper is likely to be busy on Saturday and will need to be on top of his game if the visitors are to pick up anything from their trip to west London.

Kalou: This Season Could Be Last Opportunity For Chelsea’s Ageing Squad To Win Champions League

Saloman Kalou believes that the forthcoming season could be this Chelsea squad’s last chance of winning the Champions League.

Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba, Nicolas Anelka, John Terry and Ashley Cole will all be in their 30s when the season draws to a close, but Kalou thinks they can all put disappointing World Cup campaigns behind them to inspire their club this season.

"That's the reason why we should win, we should go for every challenge," the 25-year-old Ivory Coast international told the Guardian.

"And I think this season will be a great season for Chelsea because this may be the last opportunity for us to win the Champions League or to win more prizes together. Everyone is concerned by that and we have a decent goal and this team is willing to do their best to achieve all those trophies.

“We have good professionals in the team, good experience and people are hungry to win because, at the World Cup, it was not so good for everyone at Chelsea. They have that hunger to win games because we know that the World Cup was a disappointment for everyone."

Kalou feels the team will also benefit from the return of midfielder Michael Essien, who played in the community shield against Manchester United.

"We know how important he is for the team, how important he can be to the whole season, because having him in the team is a bonus," Kalou said.

He also dismissed Chelsea’s poor pre season, blaming the World Cup for disrupting the club’s preparations.

"Some players came in at different moments [from the World Cup], and some players didn't train for one week, so they need time to be fit. It can be a problem but we have the players and the experience of these kind of competitions. I think they will be ready for Saturday, I have no doubt of that."

Chelsea Complete Ramires Signing After Successful Tribunal Appeal

Chelsea have been given the go-ahead to complete the £18.2m transfer of the Brazil midfielder Ramires from Benfica after the player was granted a work permit at a tribunal today.

The clearance came this afternoon after the Chelsea assistant manager, Ray Wilkins, and the club secretary, Dave Barnard, attended a hearing in London and argued their case for Ramires to receive a permit under the special circumstances clause, given that he has not played the required 75% of games for Brazil over the past two years.

The panel sanctioned the signing of the 23-year-old widely recognized as one of the most sought-after young talents in the game. The Brazilian is expected to arrive in London on Saturday to complete the paperwork, although he is unlikely to be considered for the visit of West Bromwich Albion to Stamford Bridge.

City To Pip Chelsea To David Luiz Signing

Manchester City are beating Chelsea in the race to land Benfica’s £27 million-rated Brazilian centre half David Luiz.

City are willing to outbid the double winners in the chase for the curly-haired defender who is now a priority signing for both of the Premier League giants.

Luiz has been lined up by Chelsea as a replacement for Real Madrid new boy Ricardo Carvalho, but City believes they will win the race - even if it means paying over the odds for a player yet again.

Coach Roberto Mancini wants Luiz signed quickly to let him sort out his defence and then push out some well-known faces when he trims his squad to 25 for the Premier League rules.

City already have a handful of top centre halves but Mancini believes Luiz, who also plays left back, is the answer and negotiations are at an advanced stage.

Luiz’s signing would push the likes of Vincent Kompany and Joleon Lescott down the pecking order as Mancini and his team put the squeeze on Mark Hughes’s signings.

The news that City have stepped up their bid will be a blow for Chelsea who have seen the Arab-backed outfit move ahead of them in the signing stakes - with this a potentially major reminder of that wealth.

Luiz will have City’s promise to weigh up against Chelsea’s status, but both the player and his handlers - who are used to dealing with both clubs - could go where the money is instead.

Both City and Chelsea hope to make progress on their moves over the weekend, with Luiz back from international duty with Brazil in America.

It is also an extraordinary fee for a player who has barely got into the Brazil side but most experts tip him as a star of the next decade.

Chelsea's Neymar Interest Confirmed By Carlo Ancelotti

Carlo Ancelotti, the Chelsea manager, has confirmed that he would like to sign the Brazil striker Neymar from Santos.

Chelsea has antagonized the Brazilian club with their determined approach to the transfer, with Santos threatening to report them to Fifa for "unethical" conduct and "harassment".

"I know nothing about this," said Ancelotti, whose club has already had a £17m bid for the 18-year-old rejected. "I can only speak about his technical quality. He is a fantastic player.

"We are interested in all the young players that come through all over the world and Neymar is one of these but this doesn't mean we have to buy this player."

France U-19 Star Gueida Fofana: I Want To Join Gael Kukuta At Chelsea

Team captain of France's Under-19 European Championship winning side and tracked by Europe's elite, Gueida Fofana, the midfielder of Le Havre has delivered an exclusive interview to Goal.com about his future.

Goal.com: About your future, you are tracked by big clubs (Chelsea, Liverpool)...

Gueida Fofana: Yes, there are big European teams interested in me. Honestly, this is very pleasing. But I will ask to leave Le Havre. I need a good sports project behind the club to allow me to progress, with a framework that helps me improve.

Currently under contract, would you leave if a club makes an offer that Le Havre can’t refuse? And what club would you go to? Chelsea?

Yes, it's true [I would leave]. Obviously, playing at a big club tempts me, but I do not really have a favourite destination. As I said, I want a club that proposes a good sports project.

Would it make you happy to play with France Under-19 team-mate Gael Kukuta at Chelsea?

(Laughing) Yes, of course it would make me happy. As well as with Gilles [Sunu] at Arsenal, Francis [Coquelin] in Lorient or Chris [Mavinga] in Liverpool. To go to a club where there is already one of my [international] team-mates, it would be nice, for sure. I'll be happy if there is a beautiful sports project for me. But playing with Gael, of course it would make me happy.

Are you not afraid you would ‘polish the bench’ if you left Le Havre for a big European team?

Sure, it is not easy. I must weigh up the pros and cons. But that does not scare me. The important thing is that the club offers me a project that will allow me to progress, to gain experience. There is a risk, but I'd say that’s football. Overnight, you can be pushed or forgotten.

What are your goals for the new season?

To win promotion to Ligue 1. I really hope we will succeed. We are all highly motivated to earn a spot in Ligue 1 next season, and hopefully it will happen. From a personal standpoint, my goal is to play more, to have as much playing time as possible.

You've won the European Under-19 Championships against Spain this summer. Is not it difficult to get back into club football?

Psychologically, it is not easy. We [the France U-19s] spent six weeks together. We had other rules, other ways of doing things, a way of training. But we're all back to work and to do the right things!

Speaking of the Euros, what happened during the competition?

It was very cool. We were a united group who lived well together. We tried to put aside our individuality and it worked well. We all had the same goal: to be crowned European champions, and we all gave everything to go in this direction.

How did you feel about the competition as captain of France's Under-19s?

When you wear the armband, you have certain responsibilities that suit me perfectly. It takes a person who likes to talk, give advice, to invest in the field. I really enjoyed being the captain of my team and I am satisfied with the role that I played.

As captain, you lifted the trophy for the U-19 European Championship. How did you feel at the moment?

I felt great pride. It only happens to one player and it happened to me. I'm super proud. In addition, it was not very far from home, for my family, in front of the French public. It was unforgettable.

Do you think about a selection for the senior team?

The national team is a bonus. It happens when you have demonstrated your potential with your club and played very good seasons. So you think about it, but much work remains.

Do you think you have brought some joy to some of the French public after the fiasco of the France team at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa?

We arrived after what happened at the World Cup. We did not know we were going to generate much excitement, either from the public or the media. We did not expect to play before such a crowd. If the team is a pleasure to people, so much the better. We are pleased to be able to bring happiness, especially as we have played a good competition with four wins and a draw. All of this is exceptional.

Fergie - Blues Are Favourites

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson believes defending champions Chelsea must be considered favourites for the Premier League title.

The Red Devils finished one point behind the Blues last season after an epic tussle which went right down to the wire.

Chelsea's success brought an abrupt end to United's top flight dominance, with Ferguson's men having taken the title in each of the three previous years.

Between them, United and Chelsea have now shared ownership of the Premier League crown for the last six years, with no other club able to get a look in.

Many expect that trend to continue in 2010/11, with it difficult to see where a sustained challenge is going to come from.

Ferguson accepts that United and Chelsea will be among the frontrunners once more this time around, but insists that it is the men from Stamford Bridge who are under the most pressure to perform.

"My thoughts are not necessarily on the top four, because we've got to think about how we're going to win this league," he said.

"You have to think that Chelsea - having won the league last season - are going to be the favourites. That's what you have to think - the team that won it the previous season, you have to try and knock off their perch."

Ferguson, who stopped short of suggesting that 'noisy neighbours' Manchester City could be potential challengers, feels the battle for a top four finish will be as intense as ever this season.

He added: "The interesting one is Everton. They have got all their players back. The first half of last season was a nightmare for them, with the injuries for major players like (Mikel) Arteta and (Phil) Jagielka - they were big losses to them.

"Now all these players are fit, they could be an interesting prospect for the season.

"I say that with the events of last season, when Tottenham got into the top four, so they broke that monopoly of established teams like ourselves, Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool. I expect Everton to do very well this season."

And Ferguson is also expecting Liverpool, who finished seventh last term, to be back in the mix after drafting in Roy Hodgson to succeed the departing Rafa Benitez.

"You would expect Liverpool to improve with Roy. Tottenham are on the upswing, with Harry's (Redknapp) experience," he said.

"It tells you the top four is going to be a competitive four again, because that's what we're all aiming for - to be in the Champions League. That's the priority for all these clubs."

Ricardo Carvalho: I Have Always Wanted To Play For Real Madrid

New Real Madrid signing Ricardo Carvalho says that he has always longed to play for los Blancos and is also looking forward to his reunion with Jose Mourinho.

The Portuguese has joined Madrid from Premier League champions Chelsea on a two-year deal for a reported €8 million transfer fee and will be officially presented as a Blanco today. Ahead of the press conference, the 32-year-old told Spanish sports daily Marca that he had always dreamed of playing for the nine-time European champions.

"This is an important step for me in my career. For a long time I have wanted to play for Real Madrid."

He added: "Wherever Mourinho goes, he wins. He is a great coach, as has already been demonstrated. Players have full confidence in him."

Alex: I'm Feeling Good

Alex may have missed the pre-season campaign but he's feeling sharp and ready to line up against West Bromwich Albion on Saturday.

The Brazilian, who missed pre-season due to injury, rotated his position with Ricardo Carvalho last campaign, but with the departure of our former number 6 to pastures new, he's likely to become a more regular name in the starting line-up.

However, despite this extra responsibility, Alex is relishing the opportunity and insists the pressure upon him is no different from the beginning of any other season.

'It is a normal start to the season,' he said. 'The pressure is the same for every player; we just have to win every game.

'I am feeling very good. I had a problem about one month ago but now I have been training in the sand, on the pitch and in the gym, so I am ready to start on Saturday and have a great season.'

With the Double still fresh in everyone's mind, many will think the possibility of more silverware will spur the side on this campaign, but Alex has a different message.

'We have to concentrate on this season. We will forget last season, it was a great season, winning a Double, but now we have to focus on the new season.

'Every team will come to play us and they will try their best to beat us, so we have to think about this.

'We can do it better [have a more successful season]; we have the quality to do it a lot better but we have to forget about last season a little bit and focus on this season now.'

As he narrows his focus into this campaign and considers potential silverware, there's one trophy on the Brazilian's mind.

'I want to win the Champions League,' admitted Alex, 'the club wants to win the Champions League and every player wants to win the Champions League.

'It is a very good competition, one of the biggest in the world. In Brazil everybody says Chelsea needs to win the Champions League, here it is the same, so we need to concentrate on the Champions League.

'We have a good midfield, a good defence; we have a very good team. It is my opinion that we have the right team to win the Champions League.'

But for now the fans will be thinking only of the Barclays Premier League and our opening game against West Bromwich Albion.

The last time Chelsea played at the Bridge, it ended 8-0 in our favour, as we thumped Wigan in the last League game of 2009/10. But after a summer of World Cup football, which resulted in late returns to pre-season for many Blues, Alex warns the side may not be as prolific on Saturday.

'The fans will want a greater result but the start of the season is difficult.

'The first two or three games of the season are always difficult but we still need to win. We need to start the season well, with three points, because it is a long competition and so we need a good start.'

Chelsea Chuffed As Target Romelu Lukaku Snubs Real Madrid

Chelsea's long term target Romelu Lukaku has given the Blues a boost by snubbing Real Madrid and insisting he will stay with his club Anderlecht.

The 17-year-old striker is regarded as one of the hottest prospects in Europe and has been linked with Chelsea and Madrid over the summer.

However Lukaku says he is going nowhere and wants to stay in Belgium in a setback for Real boss Jose Mourinho who wanted to breeze him and tempt him away from Anderlecht with a £16million bid.

Chelsea, on the other hand, is prepared to sit and wait for Lukaku and will pleased learn that the Spanish giants have been warned off.

Lukaku, who scored 18 goals in 43 games for Anderlecht last season, said: 'I'm staying. My desire is to play Champions League with this club and continue my studies in Brussels.'

Clarets Capture Cork

Burnley has signed Chelsea midfielder Jack Cork on a season-long loan.

Cork, 21, enjoyed a successful four-month spell at Turf Moor last season and scored his first Premier League goal in the win against Tottenham on the final day of the campaign.

A statement on the club's official website said: "The 21-year-old was an outstanding success in his four-month stay as a Claret, making 11 appearances, with his influence on the field matched by his popularity in the dressing room."

The England Under 21 international has had previous loan spells with Coventry, Scunthorpe, Southampton and Bournemouth, clocking up over 100 league appearances.