Sunday, September 12, 2010

Match Report: West Ham United 1 - 3 Chelsea


Chelsea's 100% start to the new season continued against rock-bottom West Ham at Upton Park as a brace from Michael Essien and another from Salomon Kalou kept them top of the Barclays Premier League.

West Ham midfielder Scott Parker became the first player to score against the Blues this season but his late effort was scant consolation for the home side.

Chelsea's victory over their London rivals piled more pressure on under-fire manager Avram Grant, whose side remained rooted to the foot of the table without a single point from their opening four games and having conceded 12 goals.

In contrast, Carlo Ancelotti's team have now scored 17 and conceded just once, and their domination of this game began as early as the second minute when debutant Ramires won a corner on the left flank.

Essien rose above two defenders to head home Didier Drogba's cross to silence the home fans.

West Ham almost equalized moments later when new signing Victor Obinna sent a close-range effort straight at Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech.

The visitors went 2-0 up in the 17th minute, though, when West Ham's England goalkeeper Robert Green spilled a 30-yard Drogba free-kick.

Defender Matthew Upson tried to clear the loose ball but it cannoned back off Chelsea's Ivory Coast striker Kalou and over the head of the stricken Green.

Kalou went close to grabbing his second in the 21st minute but his shot was deflected around the post, much to the relief of the grounded Green.

Another corner from Drogba caused panic in the home defence but this time John Terry's effort was collected easily by Green.

West Ham should have pulled one back in the 27th minute but the unmarked Obinna put his volley wide from eight yards.

The Hammers striker then sent a curling shot just wide of the target after cutting in from the left wing.

Chelsea almost extended their lead when another Drogba corner fell to Nigerian midfielder John Obi Mikel.

His rising drive from 20-yards slammed against the angle of Green's left upright and the crossbar.

Chelsea received a scare in the 35th minute when Terry went down under a challenge from Carlton Cole, but the England defender continued after lengthy treatment - much to the disappointment of the home fans.

Ashley Cole became the first name in Chris Foy's notebook in the 40th minute when he was shown the yellow card for a foul on Herita Ilunga.

In the 43rd minute, Cech had to punch away a cross-shot from Ilunga as West Ham looked in vain for a way back into the game.

They almost succeeded in stoppage time but Carlton Cole's effort was ruled offside.

Ramires should have troubled Green in the 50th minute but fired over from the edge of the penalty area as Chelsea continued to dominate proceedings.

West Ham tried hard to lift the tempo of the game and substitute Kieron Dyer, on at half-time for Luis Boa Morte, almost broke through with a clever run into the six-yard box.

Chelsea almost made it three on the hour when Kalou collected a fine pass from Drogba only to send his curling shot inches wide of Green's right-hand post.

The visitors had clearly settled for the three points as their was little urgency in their play.

When they did show some ambition, Drogba forced Green into a fine save with a 20-yard shot.

Branislav Ivanovic was booked in the 64th minute for bringing down Carlton Cole.

A cross from Obinna three minutes later then found only the hands of Cech, much to the growing frustration of the home fans.

Mark Noble then sent a long-range effort just wide of Cech's right-hand post but the home side still lacked the killer touch.

Chelsea made it 3-0 in the 83rd minute when Essien headed home Paulo Ferreira's cross but moments later they conceded their first goal of the season when Parker calmly lobbed Cech from 20 yards.

West Ham substitute Frederic Piquionne wasted a great chance to reduce the arrears still further when he headed against the bar from just two yards.

Cech Wary Of Slovaks


Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech will not be underestimating MSK Zilina in the Champions League on Wednesday.

The Slovakian minnows travel to Stamford Bridge to take on the Premier League champions in the opening game of Group F.

The Blues have also been paired with Marseille and Spartak Moscow in a group which Carlo Ancelotti's side is odds-on favourites to top.

Czech Republic international Cech is well aware of the threat the Slovak champions will bring after eliminating Sparta Prague in the play-off round.

"Zilina had to go through qualification and the fact they have made it into the group stages shows their quality," said Cech.

"Underestimating any team in the Champions League can only damage you.

"Matches against Zilina will certainly have a special atmosphere.

"Then we have Marseille, who are a traditional participant in the European cups, with a number of achievements too. And then there is Spartak Moscow.

"I think all the teams are playable. We don't have to do any crazy travels so we may be satisfied."

Ancelotti: We're The Sexy Chelsea Abramovich Wanted


Carlo Ancelotti suggested his Chelsea side have finally given Roman Abramovich the football he has always craved.

Ancelotti’s Blues travel across London to Upton Park on Saturday looking to extend their goal glut at the expense of former boss Avram Grant’s basement dwellers.

Since Chelsea went on their seven-goal rampage against Stoke in April, they have scored 31 times without reply in six full games, with 14 in their opening three matches of the new campaign.

The attacking philosophy Ancelotti always claimed he wanted to introduce is in stark contrast with the win-at-all-costs mantra under Jose Mourinho that eventually did not prove enough to satisfy the Stamford Bridge owner.

While Ancelotti admitted he has been able to build on the foundations of the winning machine bequeathed by Mourinho and also immediate predecessor Guus Hiddink, the Italian believes his side is exactly what the Russian billionaire was always looking for.

Ancelotti said: “Chelsea showed their personality before I arrived here.

“They reached the semi-finals of the Champions League five times and that doesn’t happen unless a club has character.

“We have a clear identity to play with now. The identity to play in the way we want to do. We’ve shown that with possession, attacking football, maintaining balance during the game.

“This was our aim before the start of the season.

“Roman is not here a lot, although he came to Cobham to see us two weeks ago. I think he’s happy. He’s happy to see his team play good football.” Ancelotti’s style and personality is utterly different to that of Mourinho, even if the pair has not called a truce to their long-standing war of words.

Chelsea Eyeing Up The 'New Ronaldo'


Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti is keeping tabs on French forward Yohan Mollo.

Ancelotti has been tipped off about the Monaco starlet who has excelled on loan at Caen this season.

Winger Mollo, 21, has been compared to Cristiano Ronaldo because of his pace and dribbling and Chelsea believe they may be able to take a gamble on him at around £5m.

Alves Rubbishes Blues Link


Dani Alves has squashed rumours of a January move to Chelsea or Manchester City and he instead insisted that he has a long term future at Barcelona.

According to the Daily Mail, the world’s most expensive right-back initially believed he would be heading for the exit at the Nou Camp after he failed to earn a new contract at the end of last season.

The change of President at the club, however, has made Alves confident that he can have a long career with the Catalans.

The £28m signing from Sevilla revealed: “The offer for renewal was not very serious.”

New president Sandro Rosell, however, has sanctioned fresh talks and Alves stated: “I've had the chance to talk to [new directors] Josep Maria Bartomeu and Andoni Zubizarreta, and found a great willingness to reach an agreement.”

John Terry Is Told He Must Play It Cool


He has played for club and country with broken noses, fractured cheekbones, concussion, dislocated elbows and busted feet.

He has swallowed his tongue, blacked out, gritted his teeth though a long-standing back problem and been punctured by more painkilling jabs than a pin cushion. But John Terry has been told that his gladiator days are over.

The player of whom it has been casually – and truthfully – said for so long that he would take the field even if there were bits hanging off him, has finally been ordered to slow down for the sake of his career.

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti wants his skipper around for a long time, so there will be no more heroics. Terry, 29, returns for Premier League leaders Chelsea at West Ham today after taking a fortnight off to nurse a sore hamstring and missing two England games.

Ancelotti last night brushed aside any suggestions that Terry is cooling on his England career in the wake of a dismal World Cup and revealed he has ordered him to slow down.

Chelsea go into the game against struggling West Ham having scored a frightening 32 goals without reply in their last seven games stretching back to last April.

Cech: What A Difference A Day


For those who play football for their country this season, Wednesday is the new Thursday, Thursday is the new Friday, and Petr Cech is already a big fan of the change.

The days in question are the ones immediately following a typical double-header of international fixtures and with the scheduling of those matches now altered, the upshot is an extra day of recovery and preparation in the build up to today's game at West Ham.

Whereas for many years an international break meant a big program of games around the globe on the Saturday a week after the last league match, and then a second set of internationals on the following Wednesday, on the recommendation of top club managers the pattern is now Friday evening and Tuesday evening games.

'It is a really big improvement in terms of timing,' reckons Cech who returned from facing Lithuania for the Czech Republic this week.

'Before with the national team, the week was long when you had preparation from the Monday to the game on Saturday.

'To play the first game on Friday is better because you can then play on Tuesday. Before this change, some of the guys were flying for five hours back from somewhere, and you don't sleep after the game, you go straight to the airport, and then on Thursday you are completely dead.

'On Friday you could have a little training session and if you were playing an away game on Saturday it was not the best scenario because you kept travelling. It was tiring.

'So I think going to international matches on Friday and Tuesday is the best idea for a long time.'

It had long been a concern for top clubs with many star players that two-week international breaks had a detrimental effect on results. Last season, a last-minute goal prevented a Chelsea slip-up at Stoke after such an interval but when it came to playing away at Aston Villa with a Saturday lunchtime kick-off, Cech and his colleagues did suffer defeat.

Only time will tell if the new calendar shows any trends in results but our keeper does confirm this week felt more like a standard domestic one with a midweek game.

'You have your recovery day on Wednesday, the following day you feel the worst and then you have Friday to feel fresh and get ready for the game.

'Let's wait and see but it should improve everybody's state. Teams like us with many internationals, when everybody comes back from all over the world then you obviously have a disadvantage compared with other sides. One extra day can make a big difference.'

Ancelotti: Extending Eras


Old age catches up with all of us eventually, but Carlo Ancelotti believes that with the right management, its effects can be minimized on his squad.

Using captain John Terry as an example of a player approaching his 30th birthday, Ancelotti explained how players can prolong their careers in the way his legendary captain at Milan, Paolo Maldini did.

'I don't like players that want to play with injuries, when they are not 100 percent,' he said, discussing Terry's withdrawal from England duty last week. 'I don't like this. A player has to say to me I am not 100 percent and you have to decide.

'I think Terry with the national team took the right decision because he was not 100 percent and it could be a problem. He is a player with strong character, he loves to play for the shirt, but also you have to be realistic. When the player has a problem he has to say.

'When he said to me that he wanted to use this time to recover and resolve his problem, I agreed with him. I said to him to speak with the national team, he spoke with the national team and everything was okay.'

Ancelotti is hopeful that by sharing his advice with Terry, who has previously played with back, ankle, cheekbone and elbow injuries, the defender's career will be prolonged.

'I think so, he has not until now had big injuries,' the manager said. 'He is working very well in training and this is the key to play for a lot of time. It was the same, Maldini was able to work hard every day. It is the key to have a long career.

'Last season he didn't have a lot of problems and I think we can manage it, not just John Terry but all the players. But now in this moment when we have seven games in 20 days it is very important to control these things, we can lose players for a long time if we don't pay attention.'

Saturday, September 11, 2010

Premier League Preview: West Ham United vs. Chelsea


If the formbook is anything to go by, West Ham United will be quaking in their boots at the prospect of entertaining Chelsea.

The defending champions are flying with 14 league goals without reply this season, while the Hammers on the other hand have scored two and conceded nine in their three league games.

While Chelsea are flying at the top of the league, West Ham are floundering at the bottom. The two teams are exact opposites. The first three games of the season have been agony for West Ham, and they will not be feeling too confident that their season can get underway against the Double winners.

Chelsea has been scoring goals for fun this season, but Julien Faubert is confident he can smother the Blues' joint top scorer, Florent Malouda.

"I know Malouda is on fire," Faubert told WHUTV. "He was a big player before and is a big player now, but I think we have to play as a team.

"If we play as a team and we are really compact, we won't let him play and will restrict his chances I think. I am not scared of anybody so I don't care who I am up against."

For Chelsea fans they will be hoping for more of the same. 19 places above West Ham going into this match and they will be looking to make it four wins out of four this term. Despite this, Carlo Ancelotti thinks his team can improve.

He said to reporters after the Stoke game: “We didn't play our best football but we were focused and concentrated - it's important to win.

"It's impossible to win 6-0 every week, today we played very well defensively."

The Blues were expected to be a weakened team this season following the summer departures of Joe Cole, Michael Ballack, Deco and Juliano Belletti. However, that has been the case so far and Ancelotti's men are vying to continue their best start ever to a Premier League campaign.

TEAM NEWS

West Ham United

West Ham will have been boosted by the fact that midfield general Scott Parker signed a new four-year contract this week, after speculation Tottenham wanted to sign him during the transfer window. Thomas Hitzlsperger is out and Jack Collison and Zavon Hines have long term injuries.

New Hammers signing Lars Jacobsen may well start at right-back in a defensive set-up, with normal right full-back Julien Faubert moving to right wing. Young Mexican winger Pablo Barrera could play on the left wing with Kieron Dyer, Mark Noble and Parker in central midfield with Carlton Cole up front as a lone striker.

Possible starting XI: Green; Jacobsen, Gabbidon, Upson, Ilunga; Faubert, Parker, Noble, Barrera; Dyer, Cole.

Chelsea

For Chelsea it will be more of the same, although there are concerns over the fitness of England duo Frank Lampard and John Terry. Both missed the matches against Bulgaria Switzerland, although Carlo Ancelotti is confident Terry will start. Lampard faces a late fitness test, but Ancelotti is hopeful he will be able to play.

Brazilian Ramires gives the defending champions more options in midfield, while Branislav Ivanovic is still sidelined with a back injury.

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

Florent Malouda Is Keeping His Feet On The Ground Despite Perfect Start


Florent Malouda has warned his Chelsea team-mates not to get too carried away by their good start to the season or they could pay a price at West Ham tomorrow.

Chelsea are top of the League after winning their first three games, which has included two impressive 6-0 wins against West Brom and Wigan.

The defending champions have not been beaten by West Ham since 2003 but Malouda is worried that could change if they take victory for granted.

He said: “There's something to improve even when you're winning 6-0. It's all about the details. It's important to be calm and patient when we win but also to be calm and patient when we have bad results. That's the way the manager sees it.

“When you're angry and you don't have good feelings, it's not the right way to have a good vision. When you stay calm, you're able to analyze and you keep improving, whether you're winning or having bad results.

“That's why I was saying we have to be calm and patient even when we win because in these games people are watching our games and seeing what we do.”

Malouda, who has scored four goals already this season, added: “It was only a few months ago that we were celebrating winning the Premier League and the fans arrived at the start of the season with so much joy and happiness. We want to keep that feeling.”

Carlo Ancelotti Believes English Players Have Greater Mental Strength Than Italians


Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti believes that players in the Premier League want to work harder than those in his home country of Italy.

Ancelotti is always looking for ways to improve as a manager and he feels that English players have a similar mentality, with hard work being a feature of Chelsea's training ground.

"In football there are a lot of things, a lot of details that you can always improve," Ancelotti told his club's official website.

"Every experience can give you the possibility to improve. I had good experience before I came here and now I think I improved with this experience.

"There are not a lot of differences between Italy and England, but I think the English players have a stronger mentality, they like to work very hard on the pitch every day."

Ancelotti recently spent time at the Uefa Elite Club Coaches Forum in Switzerland, where he discussed the game with such luminaries as Jose Mourinho, Claudio Ranieri, Didier Deschamps, Sir Alex Ferguson and Pep Guardiola, amongst others.

"We talk about everything, the rules, the balls, they asked us what made the difference during the World Cup and Champions League," he added.

"It is a good moment to have a relationship with the other coaches, it is a good moment during the season because there are the most important coaches in Europe and it is important to know about everything. After that we stay together and speak in the bar like supporters, it is fun."

Ancelotti also believes that an important part of management is ensuring that the personal relationships at work are positive.

"I like to have a good relationship with all the people that work around me," he explained.

"I think I have the respect of the media, I think, I know very well that sometimes the relationship depends on results.

"For example, Fabio Capello now has a problem but I think you have to pay attention to the criticism. Sometimes there is a right criticism but when you attack the person I do not like this. He is still a very good coach."

Chelsea Preparing £16.5m Winter Bid For Sevilla Winger Jesus Navas


Premier League champions Chelsea are prepared to make a £16.5 million (€20m) bid to land Sevilla winger Jesus Navas when the transfer window reopens in January, according to AS.

Carlo Ancelotti is reportedly keen to secure the services of the talented 24-year-old but the bid is sure to come up short of the Andalusian's valuation of the highly-rated World Cup winner.

Barcelona and Real Madrid are already said to be on alert as contract negotiations between Navas and Sevilla evolve.

Los Nervionenses are understood to be keen to tie him down to a longer-term deal and the hometown boy is unlikely to want to leave Seville.

His current contract at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan is set to expire in 2012.

Ancelotti - No Bid For Drogba


Carlo Ancelotti has refuted claims from Marseille that they failed in a bid to re-sign Didier Drogba this summer.

Club president Jean-Claude Dassier announced on Thursday that the French champions had attempted to bring the Ivorian striker back to Stade Velodrome before the transfer window slammed shut.

He claimed their advances were knocked back by Chelsea, who acquired Drogba for £24million from Marseille in 2004.

Since then he has gone on to become one of the most fearsome frontmen in world football, collecting an enviable collection of honours along the way.

Drogba is, however, now 32 years old and there had been talk over the summer that Chelsea may choose to cash in on him.

Those reports were quickly played down by the Blues, who insist the African ace remains an integral part of their plans.

That means they are unwilling to entertain any offers for a player who has scored over 135 goals during his six years at Stamford Bridge.

Ancelotti has been left bemused by Marseille's suggestion that they recently lodged a bid for Drogba and is adamant that his talismanic hit-man is going nowhere.

"This is not true," said Ancelotti.

"They did not make an offer. They didn't ask the club if they could buy Drogba. If they come to us in January, they already know the answer."

Ancelotti Wants Terry And Lampard To Keep England Places


Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti wants John Terry and Frank Lampard to play for England for as long as possible and sees no benefit to his team if their international careers end.

Ancelotti, who had a 10-year-long international playing career with Italy, said he was surprised that a debate had even started about their futures with England.

But it did begin after both missed England's opening Euro 2012 qualifiers against Bulgaria and Switzerland, which ended in convincing 4-0 and 3-1 wins for their "other" Italian manager, Fabio Capello, England's coach.

Unlike other coaches like Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson who make no secret they prefer it when their key players are not involved in international action, Ancelotti said he had no problems as far as his players are concerned.

"It would not be a benefit to Chelsea," he told a news briefing at the club's training complex in the leafy Surrey countryside.

"Terry and Lampard still have the desire to play for England and I think next time they will be ready to play for the national team.

"It is no problem with them getting injured, they are part of the England team."

Terry, who has won 65 caps and scored six goals since making his international debut in the centre of defence in 2003, missed the two internationals because of a hamstring injury.

Lampard, who has won 83 caps and scored 20 goals from midfield, needed a hernia operation recently which kept him sidelined.

However, their replacements did well, with first Michael Dawson and then Phil Jagielka helping to hold the back line.

Newcomer Adam Johnson's inclusion in midfield and a deeper lying role from Wayne Rooney suggested that the long-running debate about Lampard and Steven Gerrard playing together for England could finally be put to bed.

Gerrard seemed to thrive without Lampard, playing more like he does for Liverpool with greater freedom.

The debate about Terry's inclusion is less clearcut as he is still regarded as the natural partner for Rio Ferdinand at the heart of England's defence.

Ferdinand has been out injured since June but is likely to return to the international side when he makes his comeback for Manchester United within the next few weeks.

Alex: Premier League Pride


There is more than one Chelsea player who can currently claim to be in the form of his life - be it Didier Drogba whose who has either scored or assisted 27 goals in his last 19 Premier League appearances, or Florent Malouda who has scored with each of his four shots attempted this season - but one man on top of his game it is easy to overlook is Alex, whose excellence at the back has helped restrict our opposition to just seven shots on target in three games this season (consider we have scored 14 goals in that time).

For much of his Chelsea career the Brazilian has played back-up to the John Terry - Ricardo Carvalho partnership, but with injury problems limiting the Portuguese's game time prior to this summer's Real Madrid transfer, Alex has stepped in and made the position his own.

'I feel very good in this moment, it is not just me, all the defence, all the team is important,' he commented, in typically modest fashion. 'John Mikel Obi is very good, every game he is doing a fantastic job and is helping me and John Terry, and Paulo and Ashley.'

Cole, Terry and Ferreira have also contributed further forward with assists in the opening three games. The captain's tendency to move forward on the ball leaves his partner as the last line of defence.

'It is strange!' laughs the man who grew up admiring the attacking talents of Romario and Bebeto. 'Sometimes I need to tell Obi to stay back, if there is time to speak on the pitch, sometimes I have to cover on the left side and Paulo or Ivanovic will have to close the space. It is good for us that JT and Ashley can work like this, it is very good for Chelsea.'

Seven league games have passed since we last conceded a goal, and the defender admits immense satisfaction at this current run, but is eager to see it continue past the weekend's fixture against West Ham.

'I think at PSV we did 10 games, during 2004/05, with Gomes from Tottenham in goal, but this is a different league and it makes me more proud in the Premier League,' he said.

On paper it should be straightforward against the league's bottom side, though trips to Upton Park are rarely easy, as Alex has learned to appreciate during his three years as a Londoner.

'In the last game against Stoke we played so so, but we won 2-0. West Ham I know they are bottom, but on the pitch it is different and we have to play well,' said the 28-year-old. 'We have to start the game strong, they have a difficult position and we have to attack, attack, attack in the first 15 minutes and try to score.

'We have the big game against Manchester City away near the end of this month, and that is a big test on the pitch for us. If we win our games until then, we will have a chance to win there and to play well, and maintain our place on top.'

Ancelotti Bags August Award


Carlo Ancelotti has won the Barclays Manager of the Month award for August after his side made a flying start in defence of the league title, scoring 14 goals without reply as they took maximum points from the three matches.

Ancelotti was the only manager to see his team win all three of their games in August and this is the second time he has won the award. In November last season, the Blues also recorded three wins and three clean sheets and were top of the Barclays Premier League.

'I enjoy getting started on the Premier League and I am happy to win the Manager of the Month,' Ancelotti said. 'It is a good moment recently and I have to say thanks to my players. We have fantastic strikers and we support them with good play from the back and we have confidence in our play.'

The decision was made by the Barclays Awards Panel that includes representatives from football's governing bodies, the media and fans.

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Ancelotti: 'I Want To Manage Chelsea For 25 years'


Carlo Ancelotti has set his sights on being Chelsea boss for the next 25 years - before moving into international football, perhaps with England!

The Stamford Bridge chief wants to emulate Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United and build a destiny in west London.

He told talkSPORT: "My desire is to be here for 25 years. I don’t know if it’s possible, but I hope to stay for a long time."

The former AC Milan coach has also revealed he would like to take charge of an international team when he leaves Chelsea.

"I would like to manage a national team," he added. "It could be England, it could be Italy. But, of course, I would like to be coach of the Italian team because I am Italian."

Having won the Premier League and FA Cup double in his first season at Chelsea, Ancelotti is now focused on claiming more silverware, with the Champions League top of his wish list.

He was part of the great AC Milan side that won the European Cup in 1989 and 1990 and would love to repeat that achievement as a manager.

He insisted: "When I came to Chelsea our aim was to be involved in all the competitions. The Champions League is not more important than the Premier League – they are at the same level and we maintain that.

"They are two very important competitions but it’s natural after wining the Premier League last season to think more about the Champions League.

"The final this season is in London at Wembley and that's a good motivation. All the London teams will want to win the Champions League for this reason."

Ajax Admit Chelsea Target Could Leave Club In January


Ajax admit they will be powerless to stop Gregory van der Wiel leaving in January if a 'sensible' bid came in.

talkSPORT revealed earlier this summer the Dutch full-back was being tracked by Chelsea but they were desperate to keep hold of him in the transfer window.

Manager Martin Jol has a lack of funds at his disposal and has been told player departures are a main way in which he can improve his situation at the Amsterdam Arena.

Carlo Ancelotti is said to be monitoring van der Wiel this season and officials at Ajax claim they are aware of interest from another Premier League club.

And now Ajax insiders are bracing themselves for a bid in January - with a bid for the 22-year-old between £12-£15m likely to make them listen.

A source close to the club has confirmed that two Premier League teams have requested 'representative passes' to watch Ajax matches this season, with van der Wiel likely to be the main attraction.

Luis Suarez, the free-scoring Ajax striker, remains settled in Holland for now but the future of Dutchman van der Wiel is not as certain.

Carlo Ancelotti Tuning Into Euro Glory


Premier league big guns Chelsea and Manchester United have both targeted supremacy in Europe to prove they are top dog.

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has already suggested the Champions League is highest on his trophy hit-list this season.

“From my perspective, the history of this club makes the European Cup a big attraction. For me anyway, that must be a priority,” he said in August.

Now Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti has also set his heart on the European Cup – and has promised his players the party of all parties if they can win it this season. Ancelotti won the Premier League and FA Cup Double in a sparkling first season at Stamford Bridge, and has won the European Cup twice as a manager with AC Milan, and twice as a player.

But if Chelsea do have a victory party next May at Wembley, the Italian promised music-lovers one thing: tone-deaf wing-back Yuri Zhirkov will not be allowed near the microphone.

Ancelotti said: “I want the Champions League. And I’ll make a promise: if we win, there’ll be a party. And Zhirkov won’t sing.” Tradition has it at Chelsea that new players have to stand on a chair and sing to the rest of the squad as their initiation to the club.

But Russian Zhirkov’s caterwauling was so awful when he did his party piece last season that he has been banned from ever joining in any sing-songs again. Ancelotti explained in his autobiography: “Zhirkov is a midfielder with a host of talents and just one shortcoming: he can’t sing.

“If you want to join this team it’s not enough to sign a contract. There’s another hurdle, and it’s the toughest, where pity isn’t a word, where mercy isn’t shown.

“A player has to make it through karaoke night – a sacred ritual. It was in Los Angeles on our summer tour. The team had been ribbing him for days.

“He stood on a stool and began. I’ve never heard anything that bad. It was a disaster, he didn’t hit one note. Pieces of bread were flying within seconds, followed by pieces of whole fruit. He went on singing like a drowning cat, like a stuck pig, for two solid minutes.

“The entire roster of players refused to take pity on him, refused to interrupt that bloodcurdling cacophony. Petr Cech wanted to put on his helmet to protect his ears. Zhirkov still hasn’t fully recovered from the trauma.”

Zhirkov Looking To Force His Way Into Ancelotti's Plans


Russia international Yuri Zhirkov says he will consider his options in January if he has not managed to secure a place in the Chelsea side.

Zhirkov joined the club for a fee of £18 million 12 months ago but a succession of injury problems restricted him to only ten league starts last season, and he is yet to feature for the club in a competitive fixture this term.

Though he is certain that Carlo Ancelotti will give him a chance to impress, Zhirkov knows that the left side of the Chelsea team is particularly strong at present and will look at his situation again in four months.

"I'll certainly get a chance in the next few months and I'll try to use it completely," Zhirkov said. "Then, in the winter, everything will probably depend on whether I got this chance and how I used it.

"We are currently in brilliant form and getting past Malouda and Cole is problematic. Everyone understands about the competition: once you are on the bench you can be there for a long time. But I will definitely get a chance.

"The thoughts when you are watching your team play are always the same: you support, worry and your soul wants to be on the pitch to help."