Hull apply the brakes to Chelsea title charge
February 3, 2010
Didier Drogba celebrated his return to Premier League duty with a first half equaliser at the KC Stadium to cancel out Stephen Mouyokolo’s earlier effort on a frustrating night for Carlo Ancelotti’s Chelsea.
Drogba struck his 20th goal of the season on 43 minutes to haul the Premier League leaders level after Hull defender Mouyokolo had headed Phil Brown’s Hull City side into a surprise lead with his first ever goal for the top flight strugglers.
But despite Drogba coming to the rescue it wasn’t enough to help Chelsea secure the win they so badly needed to restore their four point advantage over Manchester United at the top of the table.
The London club now have a lead of just two points and United manager Sir Alex Ferguson will be thankful to Hull for holding his great rivals to a draw to blow the title race wide open.
Ancelotti had the luxury of recalling Drogba for the first time since he departed for the African Cup of Nations over four weeks ago, while England internationals Joe Cole and Ashley Cole had to be content with a place on the bench.
John Terry also maintained his place in the side despite the on-going pressure on him to resign as England captain following his off-field problems while Deco was recalled to the starting line-up.
Brown, meanwhile, made just one change to the side which was held to a disappointing draw with Wolves last weekend, recalling Craig Fagan on the right wing in place of Bernard Mendy. The Hull manager resisted the temptation to hand a full debut to new loan signing Amr Zaki.
Hull had gone nine games without a victory and found themselves entrenched in the relegation zone. Considering Manchester City were the next visitors to the KC Stadium then the immediate future looked bleak.
But Chelsea struggled to find their rhythm from the start and seemed to make Hull’s evening easier than expected.
Frank Lampard worried Boaz Myhill with a swerving drive inside nine minutes which the Hull goalkeeper could only palm straight to Nicolas Anelka but the French striker stubbed his shot badly wide with the goal at his mercy.
It wasn’t until the 24th minute that Chelsea threatened again when Branislav Ivanovic sent over an inch-perfect cross for the waiting Michael Ballack but all the German midfielder could do was power his diving header straight at Myhill from close range.
The longer the game went on the more Hull seemed to grow in confidence but it still came a surprise when they took the lead with their first real attack of the game.
Terry was nowhere to be seen as Stephen Hunt swung over a corner and Mouyokolo rose the highest to head past the helpless Petr Cech.
But Hull’s lead always looked fragile and it lasted just 13 minutes before Drogba levelled the scores with a powerful free kick into the bottom corner of Myhill’s goal.
Hull could have restored their lead on the stroke of half time when Tom Cairney’s free kick found the head of the unmarked Anthony Gardner, but the defender could only direct his effort over the crossbar.
Yet Chelsea always carried a threat and Myhill had to be at his best to keep the scores level with a fine double save just before the hour mark.
First he got down sharply to tip wide a skidding drive from Florent Malouda before producing an even better stop to keep out Drogba’s downward header from Malouda’s cross as Brown’s men hung on for a point that is of much more use to them than Chelsea.
HULL, England (AFP)
Tags: african cup of nations, alex ferguson, Anthony Gardner, ashley cole, bernard mendy, Boaz Myhill, Brown, carlo ancelotti, CHELSEA, Cole, Craig Fagan, didier drogba, England, england internationals, frank lampard, frustrating night, HULL, hull city, Joe Cole, john terry, kc stadium, london, london club, Manchester, manchester city, Michael Ballack, Nicolas Anelka, Petr Cech, phil brown, point advantage, premier league, relegation zone, sir alex ferguson, Stephen Hunt, Stephen Mouyokolo, Terry, Tom Cairney, ZakiRelated posts
Chelsea’s Essien out for six weeks
January 22, 2010
Chelsea and Ghana midfielder Michael Essien will be out of action for up to six weeks after returning from the African Nations Cup with a knee injury, his club announced.
Essien, 27, damaged cartilage while training in Angola and although the injury has not proved as serious as first feared, he is unlikely to return before early March.
“He had a tear in the meniscus, and he has to stay out for four to six weeks,” Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti revealed. “I hope four.”
The lay-off means Essien will miss Chelsea’s potentially pivotal Premier League meeting with Arsenal and the first leg of the club’s Champions League second round tie against Inter Milan in Italy.
An ankle problem has meanwhile ruled Ashley Cole out of Chelsea’s FA Cup fourth round tie at Preston on Saturday.
Yury Zhirkov will deputise while Hilario will get a rare start in goal with Petr Cech rested for the meeting with opponents struggling in the bottom half of the Championship.
LONDON (AFP)
Tags: african nations cup, Angola, ashley cole, carlo ancelotti, cartilage, champions league, CHELSEA, FA Cup, ghana, inter milan, knee injury, london, meniscus, Michael Essien, midfielder, Milan, opponents, Petr Cech, premier league, Preston, six weeks, yury, Yury ZhirkovRelated posts
Magnificent seven boosts Chelsea title push
January 17, 2010
Chelsea reasserted their credentials as Premier League title favourites on Saturday with a 7-2 demolition of Sunderland that manager Carlo Ancelotti hailed as their best performance of the season.
Manchester United, who have played a game more than the leaders, remained one point off the pace after a 3-0 win over Burnley at Old Trafford.
But it was another frustrating day for Liverpool, who conceded a last-minute equaliser at Stoke and wasted an opportunity to close the gap on Manchester City and Tottenham in the battle for top-four places.
With City going down to a 2-0 defeat at Everton, their first loss since Roberto Mancini took over as manager last month, Spurs were able to edge them out of the Champions League qualifying places thanks to a goalless draw at home to Hull.
Chelsea were irresistible at Stamford Bridge, where Nicolas Anelka and Frank Lampard both scored twice on an afternoon when they might easily have reached doube figures.
Florent Malouda, Ashley Cole and Michael Ballack also found the net with Boudewijn Zenden and Darren Bent providing consolation efforts for Steve Bruce’s outclassed side.
Ancelotti was delighted to see his side prove they could thrive in the absence of Didier Drogba, Michael Essien, John Mikel Obi and Salomon Kalou, all of whom are away at the African Cup of Nations.
“I’ve always said we have a fantastic squad and today we have done a good job,” the Italian said.
There were no such fireworks at Old Trafford, where the Manchester United faithful had to wait until the 56th minute before Dimitar Berbatov broke Burnley’s resistance.
Wayne Rooney’s 16th goal of the season and substitute Mame Biram Diouf’s first for the club made sure that Brian Laws’s first match in charge of Burnley ended in defeat.
Ferguson praised Senegalese striker Diouf, who joined from Norwegian club FC Molde.
“He’s got great spring, he’s quick and he looks to run behind the defenders all the time and he’s very good in the air,” said the United boss.
A second-half goal from Sotirios Kyrgiakos had looked like it would be enough to ease the pressure on Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez following the club’s FA Cup exit to Championship side Reading earlier in the week.
But the defensive frailty that has hampered Liverpool throughout the campaign was exposed again in the 90th minute when Robert Huth scrambled in an equaliser after the visitors had failed to clear a corner.
Having been denied what appeared to be a clear penalty in the first half, Liverpool suffered further frustration when Dirk Kuyt headed against the post in the fifth minute of injury time.
“It feels like a defeat,” admitted Kuyt. “We aren’t playing the best football at the moment, but I thought we fought really hard for this result, and to concede in the last minute and even miss a great chance in the last minute is unbelievable.”
The draw left Liverpool languishing in seventh place, although the failure of Tottenham and Manchester City to win limited the damage for Benitez’s men.
City had begun life under Mancini with four straight wins but they flunked their first serious test at Goodison Park.
A Steven Pienaar free-kick and a Louis Saha penalty earned Everton a thoroughly deserved victory and lifted David Moyes’s side into the top half of the table for the first time this season.
Wigan pulled away from the relegation zone with a 2-0 win at fellow strugglers Wolves in a match both teams ended with ten men.
Wolves defender Richard Stearman received a second yellow card when he conceded a first-half penalty. Marcus Hahnemann saved Hugo Rodallega’s spot-kick but Wigan made their numerical advantage count though James McCarthy on the hour.
The numbers were evened up when Wigan midfielder Hendry Thomas was ordered off shortly afterwards but Charles N’Zogbia made sure of the points for the visitors.
LONDON (AFP)
Tags: african cup of nations, ashley cole, berbatov, biram, didier drogba, Diouf, frank lampard, great spring, john mikel obi, manchester united, Michael Ballack, Michael Essien, Nicolas Anelka, norwegian club, old trafford, roberto mancini, Salomon Kalou, stamford bridge, wayne rooneyRelated posts
Ancelotti backs under-fire Lampard and Cech
December 8, 2009
Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti has backed goalkeeper Petr Cech and Frank Lampard to bounce back from being blamed for the club’s defeat to Manchester City at the weekend.
Cech was criticised for allowing Carlos Tevez to score City’s winner from a 25-yard free-kick while Lampard has been under the spotlight for having an 83rd-minute spot-kick saved by Shay Given.
But Ancelotti shrugged off both incidents as minor blips and insisted Chelsea had played reasonably well at Eastlands.
“This season, I think Cech did very well,” the Italian said. “I like him. He takes the responsibility and likes to come out and catch the ball in the box.
“He could do better if you ask me about the free-kick on Saturday. I think the goalkeeper has to stay on his post and, if the player puts the ball over the wall and in, we have to congratulate him.
“Even a good goalkeeper can make a mistake sometimes but this season Petr has been doing very well.”
Ancelotti added: “I can say that, at our training ground, Lampard is the player who practices penalties more than any other player.”
With Chelsea having already won their group in the Champions League, Ancelotti has the option of resting key players for Tuesday’s clash with Apoel Nicosia.
Captain John Terry could be allowed to rest a sore knee while Michael Ballack and Ashley Cole are struggling with ankle and knee problems respectively.
APOEL have yet to win a match in group D but their coach, Ivan Jovanovic, insisted they have learned from their experience amongst Europe’s elite this season.
“Chelsea are the best team in this group,” said Jovanovic. “They are certainly one of the teams capable of winning the tournament.
“We will try our best as we have done in every game we have played this season.
“My team has exceeded itself. We will try and do the same tomorrow and hope for the best possible result. Our progress in the last six months is what we will take out of this Champions League experience.
“We will try to do everything to be here again next year. It is the greatest recognition we have had.”
LONDON (AFP)
Tags: ashley cole, blips, captain john, captain John Terry, carlo ancelotti, carlos tevez, champions league, CHELSEA, clash, Cole, free kick, ivan, Ivan Jovanovic, john terry, Jovanovic, knee problems, league experience, london, manchester city, Michael Ballack, Nicosia, Petr, Petr Cech, shay, Shay Given, sore kneeRelated posts
Faithless Ferguson sounds a familiar tone (Updates with ban)
November 13, 2009
Thursday update: Nothing to do with this incident, of course, but worth noting that Ferguson has been banished to the stands, receiving a two-match ban and a fine of 20,000 quid for the comments he made about Alan Wiley in October.
So, the FA has decided to get tough with the United boss. Are they right to do it? Read the full story here.
You might think Alex Ferguson would have realised, after half a century in the professional game, that the view from the manager’s dug-out is rarely objective or entirely accurate.
And if a referee does happen to make a mistake, which he is bound to do in the high-speed hurly-burly of a Premier League match, the Scot might also have come to the conclusion that venting your spleen at the powerless fourth official is a waste of everybody’s time.
But no, it seems not. Week after week, month after month, season after season, barely a match passes without Ferguson complaining about something that didn’t go United’s way.
On Sunday, when he might have been questioning his decision to play only one striker in a cautious approach to the showdown with Chelsea or berating his walkabout defence for failing to defend the key free kick, he found three reasons why John Terry’s goal should not have stood.
The initial foul on Ashley Cole by Darren Fletcher should not have been given, he said. Wes Brown was impeded in trying to defend the subsequent Frank Lampard free kick and Didier Drogba was offside and obscuring Edwin van der Sar’s view of the ball when it went in.
Of the hat-trick, the initial one appeared to have the most merit but any number of aggressive tackles are deemed fouls these days and Cristiano Ronaldo used to benefit as much if not more than anyone else in that regard.
The marginal contact between Drogba and Brown is also small beer in the current climate where wrestling in the box ahead of free kicks and corners has become an established part of the game. Rest assured that when Steve Bruce was patrolling the centre of United’s defence he would not have allowed himself to so easily be taken out of the game at a vital moment.
TV replays were inconclusive over Drogba’s position and, even if all three moans were justified, people have surely just stopped listening.
“You lose faith in refereeing sometimes, that’s the way the players are talking in there — it was a bad one,” he said, with Wayne Rooney chipping in by apparently mouthing “12 men” at a TV camera as he trudged off at the end.
PHOTO: Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson reacts during their English Premier League soccer match against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in London November 8, 2009. REUTERS/Eddie Keogh
Tags: alan wiley, alex ferguson, ashley cole, cautious approach, CHELSEA, Cole, darren fletcher, didier drogba, Eddie Keogh, Edwin van der, edwin van der sar, frank lampard, free kick, free kicks, half a century, hat trick, john terry, Manchester, offside, premier league, professional game, rest assured that, ronaldo, Scot, small beer, spleen, Steve Bruce, van der sar, wayne rooney, wes brownRelated posts
England hit by Lampard injury ahead of Brazil clash
November 12, 2009
England’s preparations for their friendly clash with Brazil suffered a serious setback on Thursday when Frank Lampard was ruled out of the match with a thigh injury.
The Chelsea midfielder suffered a strain to his left thigh while training in temperatures above 30 degrees on Thursday morning.
After a lengthy assessment by England’s medical staff, it was decided he would leave Qatar and fly back to London immediately for further treatment.
Head coach Fabio Capello decided against calling up a replacement for Saturday’s meeting with the five-times world champions in Doha’s Khalifa International Stadium.
Lampard’s withdrawal further depletes an England squad which was already missing half of Capello’s first choice line-up.
Full-backs Glen Johnson and Ashley Cole, Rooney’s United team-mate Rio Ferdinand, Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard, goalkeeper David James and Aston Villa striker Emile Heskey were all unable to travel to Qatar because of various injuries.
Capello is also without Theo Walcott and Aaron Lennon and lost the services of David Beckham after his club, LA Galaxy, made the Major League Soccer play-offs.
The injury to Lampard could mean an opportunity for Tottenham’s Tom Huddlestone to make his first appearance for England, although Manchester United’s Michael Carrick represents a more experienced option for Capello to slot in alongside Gareth Barry in central midfield.
Jermaine Jenas is another possibility for that place while Shaun Wright-Phillips, James Milner and Ashley Young are all vying for roles on the flanks.
DOHA (AFP)
Tags: Aaron Lennon, ashley cole, central midfield, choice line, coach fabio capello, David Beckham, Gareth Barry, James Milner, jermaine jenas, la galaxy, Major League Soccer, Michael Carrick, rio ferdinand, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Steven Gerrard, striker emile heskey, theo walcott, thigh injuryRelated posts
Chelsea´s Ancelotti has eyes only for first place
October 22, 2009
Carlo Ancelotti warned his Chelsea stars that only first place will do after Salomon Kalou and Frank Lampard inspired a 4-0 Champions League rout of Atletico Madrid.
Ancelotti’s side moved within touching distance of a place in the last 16 thanks to their clinical display against the woeful Spaniards at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday.
But, more importantly for Ancelotti, the Blues are top of Group D at the halfway stage and he wants them to stay there as it guarantees a home second leg against one of the group runners-up in the first knockout round.
“We are in control of the group now. Our aim is to arrive in first place because it is important for the rest of the Champions League,” Ancelotti said.
“That is not certain yet and we need more points. It has not been easy without Didier Drogba but all the players have done well in this competition.”
Chelsea travel to Atletico and then Porto in their next two matches before finishing at home to Apoel Nicosia and two wins from those three games would guarantee top spot.
Ancelotti will have Drogba back as the Ivory Coast striker has now served his three-match European suspension.
But even without the powerful targetman, Chelsea were far too strong for Atletico.
Kalou made amends for a bad miss when he opened the scoring with a cool finish from Ashley Cole’s cross in the 41st minute.
He added a second soon after half-time with a header from a corner by Lampard, who notched the third himself with a fine low strike for his first goal from open play this season.
Luis Perea’s headed own goal in stoppage time completed a miserable experience for struggling Atletico.
Although Kalou has generally been consigned to the bench when Drogba and Anelka are fit, Ancelotti believes the erratic forward can play an important role in Chelsea’s push for honours.
“Kalou is an important player for us, especially when (Didier) Drogba is out,” he said.
“He started the game badly and made a big mistake but that gave him a good motivation to play well. For him it is very important to score. He played a good match.”
Ancelotti was also full of praise for Lampard, who ended a 10-game drought to score his 133rd Chelsea goal – taking him past Jimmy Greaves into fifth place in the club’s all-time scorers’ list.
“I am happy for him for sure. Lampard is not just important for goals, he is important because he is working for 90 minutes for the team,” Ancelotti added.
“He is a generous, unselfish player. If he scores it is better, but I want to speak about Lampard for his work.”
Ancelotti could also take heart from Chelsea’s improved defending at set-pieces after they conceded two goals from corners in Saturday’s defeat at Aston Villa.
The Blues are yet to concede a goal in Europe this season and Ancelotti said: “I think we defended better on the set-plays and we also scored two goals from them.
“It means we have good jumpers and possibilities to score from set-pieces. For us this is important.”
While Ancelotti can look forward to a sustained challenge in Europe, Atletico coach Abel Resino could be facing the sack after his side’s latest humiliation.
Atletico have just one point from three games and are also struggling in La Liga, but Resino has no intention of quitting.
“It’s not for me to say who is to blame. My job is to find solutions,” he said.
“The thing to do is keep calm, not panic and work hard to prepare for the next game.
“I am a fighter. I never give up. I am not going to throw the towel in. With one result the confidence will begin to change. There have not been many games when we haven’t created chances.”
LONDON (AFP)
Tags: Abel Resino, apoel nicosia, ashley cole, atletico madrid, bench, carlo ancelotti, champions league, CHELSEA, Cole, Drogba, Europe, frank lampard, Ivory Coast, Jimmy Greaves, knockout, london, Luis Perea, MADRID, miserable experience, Nicosia, rout, runners, Salomon Kalou, spaniards, stamford bridge, stoppage time, striker, three gamesRelated posts
Chelsea face test of progress
October 17, 2009
For all the progress Chelsea have made under Carlo Ancelotti, doubts over their away form continue to hang over them ahead of a difficult trip to Aston Villa.
Just 24 hours after the club were scheduled to lodge an official appeal against a FIFA-imposed transfer ban until January 2011, in light of the manner in which they induced Gael Kakuta to the club from Lens in 2007, Chelsea travel to Villa Park aiming to prove their recent showings on the road were no more than a minor blip.
The transfer issue will linger behind the scenes at Stamford Bridge until Christmas, at least, and on the field manager Ancelotti must ensure his players keep their focus.
A 2-0 success over title rivals Liverpool before the international break helped them remain ahead of Manchester United at the summit of the Premier League, yet the trip to the Midlands poses the latest question over this side’s character.
Chelsea’s last domestic away fixture resulted in a 3-1 defeat at Wigan. The scoreline led to captain John Terry calling on his teammates to show a better work ethic.
Since then, Chelsea have beaten Apoel Nicosia in the Champions League, but even that display in Cyprus was unconvincing.
Over the international break Ivory Coast forward Salomon Kalou and Brazilian defender Alex have agreed new contracts.
They join Terry, Ashley Cole, Didier Drogba and Michael Mancienne in committing their long-term futures to Chelsea, and the spirit within the side is clearly a strength Ancelotti is attempting to turn into one of his main assets.
Keeper Petr Cech believes there are enough signs to suggest Chelsea are moving in the right direction but that confidence will be quickly shattered if they slump to a second league defeat, particularly as United are expected to claim maximum points at home to Bolton
“When you have a good start, even in the games you don’t play particularly well in, you manage to win the games and that’s a good sign,” Cech said.
“After the Wigan game, when we didn’t play well and lost, we had a great reaction against Liverpool and now we’ve got Villa away which is always a difficult game.
“If we can get three points we’ll have another advantage.”
Villa’s Stephen Warnock, meanwhile, admits the style of Chelsea’s football this season has made the London club more formidable opponents than the side that fell short of matching United last year.
Warnock believes the diamond formation allows Ancelotti’s side to be more fluid in their attacking play and, as a left-back, is bracing himself for a testing 90 minutes.
“In the diamond they’ve got Michael Essien moving out wide and Nicolas Anelka and Jose Bosingwa go out there too,” said Warnock.
“So I won’t be getting much sleep at all the night before. It will be the same as usual when I come up against Chelsea.”
The main issue surrounding the home side surrounds the future of forward Emile Heskey.
During the international break he made it clear that he will seek a move away from the club in Janaury, in order to enhance his chances of being involved in the World Cup with England.
Heskey has started just once in the Premier League for manager Martin O’Neill this season, and Villa are likely to start with Gabriel Agbonlahor and John Carew in attack against Chelsea.
After a shaky start to the campaign, Villa are up to seventh place in the table, but Ashley Young (foot), Curtis Davies (shoulder) and Stewart Downing (ankle) all remain absent.
Chelsea, meanwhile, can call on fit-again Joe Cole, while Cech is available following suspension.
BIRMINGHAM, England (AFP)
Tags: alex, ashley cole, Birmingham, blip, captain john, captain John Terry, carlo ancelotti, CHELSEA, Cole, didier drogba, emile, gabriel agbonlahor, Ivory Coast, john terry, Jose, kakuta, Liverpool, Martin O'Neill, maximum points, Michael Essien, Michael Mancienne, moving in the right direction, Nicosia, Petr Cech, premier league, salomon, Salomon Kalou, scoreline, stamford bridge, stephen warnock, stewart downing, term futures, terry ashley, transfer ban, villa park, work ethicRelated posts
Chelsea hand Alex new four-year deal
October 13, 2009
The spate of new contracts for Chelsea’s current squad continued Wednesday with Brazilian centreback Alex signing a new four-year deal at the English Premier League leaders.
The 27-year-old has been sidelined recently following surgery on his groin but resumed full training this week.
“I am very happy to start again to train and feel no pain, and to sign for four more years,” Alex said.
The defender is also targetting a return to the Brazil side in the run-up to next year’s World Cup finals in South Africa.
“To go back into the national team is important to me,” he added. “Also the Chelsea team started very well this season, is at the top, and this season to win the Premier League is important to me. Now I want to play.”
Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti said he was delighted to tie Alex down to a long term deal.
“He is just returning from injury and surgery but he is a player I know well,” Ancelotti said. “I am familiar with all of his fantastic qualities, so I am delighted he will be with us for another four years.”
Alex, who has made 80 Chelsea appearances and scored seven goals since signing from PSV Eindhoven in 2007, is the second Chelsea player to commit to a new contract this week.
Ivory Coast forward Salomon Kalou signed a new deal on Monday and Didier Drogba, John Terry, Ashley Cole, John Mikel Obi, Florent Malouda, Hilario and Michael Mancienne have all penned new contracts since the end of last season.
Chelsea have been keen to tie down their current players after being banned from signing any new players until January 2010 as a result of being found guilty of inducing teenager Gael Kakuta to breach his contract with Lens two years ago.
LONDON (AFP)
Tags: alex, ashley cole, brazil, carlo ancelotti, CHELSEA, Cole, didier drogba, Eindhoven, English Premier League, florent malouda, four more years, groin, hilario, Ivory Coast, john mikel obi, john terry, kakuta, league leaders, london, Michael Mancienne, new contract, new deal, premier league, salomon, Salomon Kalou, South Africa, spate, terry ashley, world cup finalsRelated posts
Kalou gets new Chelsea deal
October 13, 2009
Salomon Kalou has become the latest Chelsea star to agree a new long-term deal, with the Ivory Coast striker signing a contract that will keep him at Stamford Bridge until 2012.
Kalou is in his fourth year at Stamford Bridge and has made 93 starts, 66 substitute appearances and scored 31 goals for the club.
Blues boss Carlo Ancelotti predicted a bright future for the striker, who has followed Didier Drogba, John Terry, Ashley Cole, John Mikel Obi, Florent Malouda, Hilario and Michael Mancienne in extending his stay in west London.
“I am very pleased that Salomon has signed a new contract with us as he is an important player for this club,” said Ancelotti.
“He is always well motivated and works hard at his game at all times. Because of this I am sure that Salomon will become an even more important player for Chelsea in the future.”
Chelsea had allowed Kalou to come within eight months of becoming a free agent, suggesting the club’s commitment to keeping him was not as great as Ancelotti’s comments imply.
The bargaining power of players on the current staff has however been increased by the fact that Chelsea are banned from signing any new players until January 2010 as a result of being found guilty of inducing teenager Gael Kakuta to breach his contract with Lens two years ago.
According to English media reports, Kalou’s new deal gives him a salary of 60,000 pounds a week.
LONDON (AFP)
Tags: ashley cole, bargaining power, carlo ancelotti, CHELSEA, chelsea star, Cole, current staff, eight months, florent malouda, fourth year, hilario, Ivory Coast, john mikel obi, john terry, kakuta, london, Michael Mancienne, new contract, salomon, Salomon Kalou, stamford bridge, terry ashley, west londonRelated posts
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