African football cup set to impact Premier League

January 5, 2010

The African Nations Cup is due to have a major impact upon events at both ends of the English Premier League table.

Leaders Chelsea have seen Ivory Coast forwards Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou as well as Ghana midfielder Michael Essien and Nigeria’s John Obi-Mikel, all depart for Angola where the 2010 competition starts on Sunday.

Chelsea’s Italian boss Carlo Ancelotti already has one of the best-equipped squads in England’s lucrative top flight and, if needed, can ask the Blues’ billionaire owner Roman Abramovich to bankroll some new signings during the January transfer window.

However, after overseeing holders Chelsea’s 5-0 FA Cup win over Watford, which featured two goals from 20-year-old striker Daniel Sturridge, his first for the London club since a pre-season move from Manchester City, Ancelotti said: “I think that we can do a good January, good performances without the African players.”

There have been seasons where Arsenal, now four points off top spot, would have had as many players on African Nations Cup duty as London rivals Chelsea.

This time around the Gunners will only be without Ivory Coast defender Emmanuel Eboue and Cameroon midfielder Alex Song.

Even so, with Robin van Persie and Johan Djourou both long-term injuries, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger would rather his squad was not disrupted by a tournament which, unlike the World Cup or European Championships, takes place while the English season is in progress.

“On occasions, the players come back affected by a negative experience,” Wenger said.

However, Wenger reduced his African Nations Cup worries with the pre-season sale of both the Ivory Coast’s Kolo Toure and Togo’s Emmanuel Adebayor to Premier League big-spenders Manchester City.

“They play the African Nations Cup every two years and I believe that when you have too many players who go in January, it is a big problem,” Arsenal’s French manager explained.

If any Premier League side is likely to be adversely affected by the tournament, it is basement club Portsmouth.

The cash-strapped south coast side are four points adrift at the bottom of the table and such is their dire financial position, Portsmouth have had a transfer embargo slapped upon them by the Premier League.

In the midst of all their other problems, Pompey are set to lose four players to the African Nations Cup in Ivory Coast international Aruna Dindane, Algeria duo Nadir Belhadj and Hassan Yebda and Nigeria veteran Kanu.

Frustrated Portsmouth boss Avram Grant, said: “I don’t know why FIFA allow this. I don’t know why they have the African Cup of Nations in January.

“The players go two weeks before and need one or two weeks afterwards to recover,” the Israeli added.

“We pay a lot of money, especially the big teams, to players who are not with us for two months,” the former Chelsea manager insisted. “I think FIFA need to think about this.”

LONDON (AFP) -

Tags: african nations cup, Alex Song, Angola, aruna dindane, big spenders, billionaire owner, carlo ancelotti, Daniel Sturridge, Drogba, emmanuel adebayor, emmanuel eboue, english premier league table, ghana, gunners, johan djourou, John Obi, kolo toure, london, manchester city, Michael Essien, Mikel, negative experience, new signings, Portsmouth, premier league, robin van persie, Salomon Kalou, table leaders, term injuries, Togo, Yebda

Settled Anelka making the difference for Chelsea

November 26, 2009

Nicolas Anelka’s arrival at Chelsea in January last year hardly had the fans buzzing amid all the big-money signings since Russian billionaire owner Roman Abramovich transformed the fortunes of the west London club.

The peripatetic France striker seemed like a stop-gap and few expected him to be part of Chelsea’s long-term future.

He had just spent 18 months at Bolton Wanderers after spells at Fenerbahce, Manchester City, Liverpool, Paris St Germain and, following the best piece of business in Arsenal’s history, Real
Madrid who he joined for 23 million pounds.

At none of those clubs, however, did he really settle and deliver the regular match-winning performances that made him such a deadly proposition under Arsene Wenger at Arsenal.

His first half-season at Chelsea produced just two goals and, although he was far more prolific last term with 25 and some excellent displays, there was always the feeling he was second fiddle to Didier Drogba.

This season, however, Anelka seems to have stepped up a gear and gives the impression that not only is he enjoying his football, a rarity for a man nicknamed ‘the incredible sulk’, but he is increasingly the focal point of Chelsea’s attack.

He headed the only goal on Tuesday in the Champions League win at Porto that secured top spot in Group D to maintain his record of vital goals this season having been the sole scorer in the home win over Porto and 1-0 victory at APOEL Nicosia.

He was also outstanding for France in the 1-1 playoff draw with Ireland that secured a World Cup berth, holding the ball up repeatedly with a sure touch and keeping possession despite some tough Irish tackling that previously might have seen him wilt.

“Not only in the Champions League but in all competitions Anelka is having a very good season,” Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti said after Tuesday’s win.

“He is a very important player, sometimes playing as a striker close to Drogba, sometimes helping the midfield. His position is very important for our play.”

On Sunday Chelsea face London rivals Arsenal, where Anelka made his name as a teenage tyro after being nabbed from PSG for a bargain 500,000 pounds by Wenger.

He scored there in last season’s impressive 4-1 triumph and any sort of repeat would be a huge help in Chelsea’s title push.

“It is a very good time for us and we have to keep this going because the players are in good condition, have a good mentality and want to maintain this momentum,” Ancelotti said.

“We know very well that Sunday will be a very difficult match but we know that now is a very good time to play Arsenal,” he added, with their opponents hit by a string of injuries.

Chelsea could be further boosted by an early return for Frank Lampard after a thigh strain. Ancelotti said the England midfielder was in full training and may be fit for Sunday.

PHOTO: Chelsea’s Nicolas Anelka (R) is challenged by Liverpool’s Daniel Agger during their English Premier League soccer match at Stamford Bridge in London October 26, 2008. REUTERS/Stephen Hird

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Tags: billionaire owner, bolton wanderers, carlo ancelotti, CHELSEA, daniel agger, England, France, Germain, Ireland, Liverpool, london, london club, MADRID, manchester city, Nicolas Anelka, Nicosia, owner roman abramovich, paris st germain, peripatetic, PORTO, rarity, real madrid, second fiddle, Stephen Hird, stop gap, striker, sulk, vital goals, Wenger, west london, world cup berth

Too big to go down, too small for the Champions League

July 13, 2009

Champions League qualifying has begun so the new football season in Europe is well and truly underway.

But while Mogren of Montenegro celebrate their victory over Hibernians of Malta in the first qualifying round last week, spare a thought for those famous European sides who are unlikely to grace the competition even in a qualifying tie, let alone the group stage.

I live in London and there’s at least one good example right here. With Martin Jol at the helm, Tottenham Hotspur missed out on fourth spot in the Premier League (and a Champions League qualifying place) in the 2005/06 season by virtue of a defeat by local rivals West Ham United on the final day of the season.

Fans will always blame that on a virus that floored several first team players, but that’s another story…

They finished fifth again the following season but weren’t ever really in with a chance of coming fourth and since then they have reverted to their normal role of mid-table underachievers.

The future promises more of the same: too big to go down, too small to mix it with the big boys in the top four.

Tottenham’s billionaire owner Joe Lewis has the money — £2.5 billion according to Four Four two magazine’s latest annual Rich List (which puts him fourth behind the owners of Manchester City, Queen’s Park Rangers and Chelsea in British football) — but not the inclination to lavish hundreds of millions on transfers every season to bring in the world’s top players.

The club once snatched former England midfielder Paul Gascoigne from under the nose of Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United but it is inconceivable that a player of his class would choose White Hart Lane over Old Trafford today.

Without big-name signings Tottenham are unlikely to ever break into the top four. Finishing sixth to 10th seems their best hope.

There are a lot of other clubs in the same boat, too — not just in the Premier League but around Europe. Sampdoria and Athletic Bilbao are examples in Italy and Spain.

Playing in the Champions League itself probably still feels a long way away for Mogren, but for Tottenham and the like it’s even further.

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Tags: alex ferguson, athletic bilbao, big boys, Bilbao, billionaire owner, CHELSEA, English Championship, Europe, football season, group stage, Hart Lane, hibernians, Italy, joe lewis, london, Malta, manchester city, manchester united, martin jol, mid table, Montenegro, park rangers, paul gascoigne, premier league, queen, rich list, s park, Spain, underachievers, west ham, west ham united, white hart lane

´Let me get on with job,´ says Deschamps

June 24, 2009

MARSEILLE, France (AFP) – Marseille coach Didier Deschamps said on Tuesday he would stay at the French first division club which has been rocked by a management upheaval.

The 41-year-old former France captain – who guided France to both the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000 trophies – insisted he had confidence in the new management.

“I signed here as a coach, and at no time did I ever ask for more from anybody. Now all I want to do is get on with the job and get the most out of the squad,” said Deschamps, who was the captain when Marseille won the 1993 European Cup beating AC Milan 1-0.

Deschamps was hired at the end of last season by then club president Pape Diouf to replace outspoken Belgian handler Eric Gerets, who is now in charge of Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal.

But when Diouf suddenly quit the club last week following a row with billionaire owner Pierre Henri-Dreyfus, the ex-Juventus coach voiced doubts about his future at the Stade Velodrome.

Diouf’s departure caused waves at Marseille, where the former journalist and players’ agent had a lot of support among coaches and fans.

On Monday, Jean-Claude Dassier, until recently the head of information at France’s most popular television station TF1, replaced Diouf as club president.

Tags: ac milan, Al Hilal, billionaire owner, club president, didier deschamps, doubts, dreyfus, eric gerets, euro 2000, France, jean claude dassier, juventus, Ligue 1, Marseille, marseille france, new management, pape, pierre henri, Pierre Henri-Dreyfus, saudi arabian, stade velodrome, television station, trophies, upheaval

Ranieri dreaming of Chelsea revenge

March 11, 2009

TURIN, Italy (AFP) – Juventus coach Claudio Ranieri will be looking to get one over his former employers when the Italian giants face Chelsea in the Champions League here on Tuesday for a place in the quarter-finals.

Juve need to overturn a 1-0 deficit from the second round, first leg at Stamford Bridge two weeks ago and Ranieri would like nothing more than to eliminate the team that sacked him five years ago.

Ranieri enjoyed four years of varying success in west London from 2000 to 2004 before he was fired by billionaire owner Roman Abramovich despite just having led the Blues to their highest league finish in 49 years — second.

Chelsea went from strength to strength under Ranieri’s successor Jose Mourinho but that won’t have come as any solace to the injustice Ranieri will have felt at having been given the push.

One of the reasons for his demise at Stamford Bridge was his constant meddling with his team and formation, something that earned him the nickname ‘the Tinkerman’ in England.

Things haven’t changed in Italy as he rested a host of first choice players for Saturday’s 1-0 derby victory away to Torino and he revealed more changes are possible Tuesday.

"We played three days before (the Torino game) against Lazio and for me it was very important to rotate the players and of course on Tuesday there will be a different team," he said.

"It’s a huge game for us and for Chelsea. We’re the underdogs and they are the favourites but in front of our crowd we will try to do something special.

"We have a lot of respect for the Chelsea team and we’ll keep trying until the end of the match."

Although Juventus have far greater European pedigree than Chelsea, things have changed in recent years to make the Italians the underdogs.

Chelsea have only two European trophies to their name in the now defunct Cup Winners’ Cup while last season was the first time they reached the Champions League final — which they lost on penalties to Manchester United.

Juventus by contrast have played in the final of Europe’s premier competition seven times, winning twice, and have also lifted the UEFA Cup three times and the Cup Winners’ Cup once.

But Juve are a team under reconstruction following their relegation to Serie B in 2006 for their part in a match-fixing scandal.

That saw them lose many top players and although they have rebounded impressively — they finished third in their first season back in Serie A last year and are currently second in this campaign — they cannot call on the same calibre of stars as Chelsea.

"This is a new Juventus, we’re rebuilding the team. It’s not the same Juve as three or four years ago," said Ranieri.

Facing him is a Chelsea team that is unbeaten under caretaker boss Guus Hiddink, the Russia coach.

"Hiddink is a great manager but sooner or later he has to lose," added Ranieri.

"For him it’s not easy but (Luis Felipe) Scolari and Mourinho played like he plays, it’s normal for him to play 4-3-3 so not a lot has changed."

Chelsea have been more solid under Hiddink and they also have the added bonus of Michael Essien coming back to fitness and Didier Drogba returning to form.

Essien played 35 minutes of Saturday’s FA Cup victory against Coventry and Hiddink is considering him for Tuesday.

"I have some hours before kick-off to think about it. He can play but he still hasn’t got the game rhythm of the other players," said the Dutchman.

Drogba, however, is a certainty to start.

"He’s dangerous and I think he’s very good for the team as well. He can still improve and he’s working outside normal training sessions. He likes to do that and it is paying off," said Hiddink.

Ranieri will be without his Mali midfielder Momo Sissoko, who has been ruled out for two months due to a foot injury.

Written by: AFP

Tags: billionaire owner, champions league final, CHELSEA, Claudio Ranieri, coach claudio, cup winners cup, England, English Premier League, Essien, Europe, european trophies, first choice, italians, Italy, Jose, jose mourinho, juve, juventus, lazio, Luis Felipe, mali, Manchester, manchester united, Michael Essien, owner roman abramovich, quarter finals, quot, russia, Serie A, solace, stamford bridge, strength to strength, turin, turin italy, UEFA Champions League, underdogs, west london

Ranieri dreaming of Chelsea revenge

March 10, 2009