Anelka clinches Chelsea group win on the nod

November 26, 2009

A second half header from Nicolas Anelka handed Chelsea victory in Champions League Group D on Wednesday, securing a 1-0 win over Porto to clinch top spot.

Anelka had been the Portuguese side’s assassin in the opening match in the group and once again the Frenchman made the difference, launching himself to connect with Florent Malouda’s cross from the left after good approach work from Yuri Zhirkov, the Russian making a rare start.

The 69th-minute effort, Anelka’s third goal of the competition this season, left Chelsea as clear group victors with 13 points though Porto had already ensured qualification with the nine points they had racked up beforehand to secure a spot in the last 16.

Chelsea skipper John Terry said the win underpinned the English Premiership leaders’ confidence ahead of a tricky weekend match against Arsenal.

“We’ve done what we had to do today and that was get the win. We’re playing with confidence at the moment,” Terry told Sky Sports.

Anelka’s strike partner Didier Drogba was also ebullient, noting that “it was important for us to finish top of the group.”

Coach Carlo Ancelotti, determined to lead the Londoners to their first title, echoed the Ivorian.

“To finish top of our group was our objective, it was the most important thing. This means we could have a good draw. It is not easy to come here and win. The Champions League is our aim.”

In the same group, Atletico Madrid had to come from behind to draw 1-1 at minnows APOEL Nicosia, likewise winless to date.

Chelsea were good value for their win in a tight encounter which saw the visitors settle quickly.

Michael Ballack fired an early deflected effort wide as the visitors settled quickly and Drogba then sent a header from a Deco cross off target.

But Porto came close to taking the lead on 21 minutes when Petr Cech saved well from Fernando Belluschi, who then hit the bar with a rasping drive after latching on to a pass from Silvestre Varela.

Drogba started despite Ancelotti hinting beforehand he might rest the Ivorian, suspended for the opening three pool games following his outburst at the referee of the Blues’ semi-final against Barcelona last season.

Ancelotti also handed a start to Deco, in place of Joe Cole. The Brazilian-born Portuguese lifted the trophy with Porto under Jose Mourinho in 2004.

Porto Jesualdo Ferreira left Brazil striker Hulk on the bench and also had to field second choice keeper Beto after regular Helton failed a fitness test on an ankle problem.

Deco fired inches wide following a probing Anelka run down the left as Chelsea came out in attacking mode after the break.

Porto responded as Ferreira withdrew Varela, giving Hulk half an hour to prove his worth and add to his two-goal tally in the competition.

Hulk – who won his first two Brazilian caps in their recent friendlies against England and Oman – put himself about but a late close-range drive was well smothered by Cech.

The home fans roused themselves for a belated cheer as Deco made way for Cole with minutes remaining.

PORTO (AFP)

Tags: approach work, Barcelona, brazil, carlo ancelotti, champions league group, Cole, England, english premiership, fernando belluschi, florent malouda, frenchman, ivorian, Joe Cole, john terry, Jose, londoners, Michael Ballack, minute effort, Nicolas Anelka, Nicosia, Oman, Petr Cech, PORTO, Silvestre Varela, Sky Sports, taking the lead, target, victors, yuri, Yuri Zhirkov

Drogba has United in his sights

November 7, 2009

An in-form Didier Drogba is capable of ruffling the feathers of even the most confident defences.

So it will be with some trepidation that Manchester United, whose back four has been looking decidedly shaky of late, pitch up for Sunday’s Premier League summit meeting with a Chelsea side whose confident start to the season has been underpinned by Drogba’s return to his battering-ram best.

The Ivorian’s late double in the Champions League win over Atletico Madrid in Spain took his tally for the season to 12 in all competitions and team-mate Florent Malouda has never seen the striker looking more driven.

“Didier is really happy and enjoying his form at the moment,” Malouda said.

“He always believed in himself, even in the second division in France he was dreaming about it and preparing himself. Even at this level he is working harder and harder.”

United have not won at Stamford Bridge since April 2002 and the manner in which Sir Alex Ferguson’s side capitulated at Liverpool last month and then conceded three goals to CSKA Moscow at Old Trafford on Tuesday will not have encouraged fans to believe that particular seven-year itch is about to be scratched.

Chelsea have won all nine of their domestic and European fixtures at home this season, scoring 25 goals in the process while conceding only one.

But Ferguson is counting on the chastening impact of the defeat at Liverpool to act as a galvanising force for his players.

“It’s always a hard game at Chelsea, but we’ll deal with it better than we did at Anfield, I’m sure of that,” the Scot predicted.

With Rio Ferdinand unlikely to be involved because of the latest recurrence of a troubling a calf injury, Ferguson will be relieved to have Serbian centreback Nemanja Vidic available again.

Dimitar Berbatov and Ryan Giggs, who also missed the 3-3 draw with CSKA, are also on track to return from injury while Wayne Rooney, who started on the bench in midweek, will return to the starting line-up looking for a goal to celebrate the birth of his baby boy, Kai Wayne.

With either one or both of the top two destined to drop points on Sunday, Arsenal will seek to close the gap on them by taking maximum points from Saturday evening’s trip to Wolves.

“If we want to challenge for the title this is the kind of game we have to win,” acknowledged Robin van Persie, whose form has been every bit as significant for the Gunners this season as Drogba’s has for Chelsea.

Manchester City, whose early season momentum has been stalled by a run of four draws, will welcome back Emmanuel Adebayor for the visit of Burnley to Eastlands, much to the relief of manager Mark Hughes.

“You always want players that can produce moments of magic when the team is not dominating proceedings as you would like,” Hughes said.

“Those type of players have the ability to change the game in your favour. Ade has that capability and having the option of him this weekend will be a bonus for us.”

Liverpool have to wait until Monday, when Birmingham visit Anfield, to try and bounce back from a week which has left the club’s chances of progressing in the Champions League looking extremely slim, and placed manager Rafael Benitez under more pressure than at any time in his five-year reign.

Benitez however is not under quite as much pressure as the Hull manager Phil Brown, who knows he could find himself out of a job if his players fail to produce a positive result in Sunday’s home clash with Stoke.

In Saturday’s other games, Tottenham entertain Sunderland, Aston Villa are at home to Bolton on Saturday and bottom side Portsmouth travel to Blackburn, who slipped into the relegation zone as a result of West Ham’s midweek win over Villa.

Wigan take on Fulham at the DW Stadium on Sunday, which will also see West Ham attempt to build on the win over Villa, their first at home this season.

Fixtures (1500 GMT unless stated)

Saturday

Aston Villa v Bolton, Blackburn v Portsmouth, Manchester City v Burnley, Tottenham v Sunderland, Wolves v Arsenal (1730 GMT)

Sunday

Chelsea v Manchester Utd (1600 GMT), Hull v Stoke (1330 GMT), West Ham v Everton, Wigan v Fulham

Monday

Liverpool v Birmingham (2000 GMT)

LONDON (AFP)

Tags: alex ferguson, atletico madrid, battering ram, calf injury, Drogba, ivorian, malouda, manchester united, midweek, old trafford, rio ferdinand, ryan giggs, starting line, summit meeting, team mate, trepidation, wayne rooney

Ferrara interested in Arsenal duo Eboue and Sagna

November 6, 2009

Juventus boss Ciro Ferrara is said to have set his eyes strongly on Arsenal pair Emmanuel Eboue and Bacary Sagna for a swap during the January transfer window.

The Italian reports state that Zdenek Grygera’s inconsistent form and the persistent injury problems of first choice defender Jonathan Zebina has left Ferrara with no choice but ponder alternatives in the European market.

Sagna has made the right-back spot under Arsene Wenger his own since arriving in the Premier League from Auxerre for £6.5million in 2007, and would surely be unlikely to leave the Emirates Stadium given his position in a progressive side.

Eboue, also 26, however, has been linked with a move away from the Gunners before, having endured an unhappy spell last season, which resulted in sections of the Emirates booing him.

The Ivorian has reportedly been a target for Barcelona, Fiorentina and Atletico Madrid in the past, and having failed to secure a regular spot in the Gunners’ side, may favour a move to Italy.

The report claims Italy’s ‘Old Lady’ may make an ambitious double raid on the pair in January, although Arsene Wenger is unlikely to entertain the idea of selling either of his players, let alone both.

Anurada Bhat

Tags: arsenal, arsene wenger, atletico madrid, auxerre, Barcelona, emirates, Emirates Stadium, emmanuel eboue, favour, fiorentina, first choice, gunners, Italy, ivorian, jonathan zebina, MADRID, old lady, persistent injury, premier league, progressive side, sagna, target, Zdenek Grygera

United, Chelsea eye next phase but Real must improve

November 3, 2009

Compared to the domestic and European woes of five-times European kings Liverpool, life is bliss for Manchester United and Chelsea as Premier League glory and the knockout phase of the Champions League beckon.

Liverpool, six defeats in seven games, have run into a brick wall in the Premier League where a first title in 20 years already looks beyond them.

Failure to win at Lyon on Wednesday could derail their Champions League ambitions after defeats to the French side and also Fiorentina.

Meanwhile it’s been relatively plain sailing for United and Chelsea, both at home and abroad.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s 2008 European champions are just two points off the Blues in the league while in Europe both sides have posted three wins already.

Despite veterans Ryan Giggs and Rio Ferdinand both being ruled out of Tuesday’s game United will expect to polish off rivals CSKA Moscow at Old Trafford having already secured full points in Moscow.

Chelsea, having already humiliated Atletico Madrid at Stamford Bridge, will be confident they can get the point they need to advance from Group D, particularly with Didier Drogba having completed the three-match ban imposed for an on-pitch outburst after last season’s semifinal loss to Barcelona.

Frank Lampard says the Ivorian is the true ace in the pack.

“Having Didier back in the Champions League this week will be great for us. It’s a big boost, he’s a top-class player in great form,” the England midfielder said, dubbing Drogba the best striker in the world.

“He’s neck and neck with Fernando Torres in the goals chart, but for me Didier is the best in the world because of his all-round game.”

Nine-times champions Real Madrid should ultimately emerge from Group C even if AC Milan, with seven titles, complete the double Tuesday over the expensively reconstituted ‘Meringues’ at the San Siro.

Both sides have six points from three games but Real will again be without the world’s most expensive player Cristiano Ronaldo as he has not recovered from a nagging right ankle injury.

Veteran midfielder Guti will also miss the game after falling out with coach Manuel Pellegrini during last week’s humiliating 4-0 Spanish Cup defeat at third division Alcorcon.

Assuming Milan – already shocked at home to Zurich before redeeming themselves in Madrid – qualify along with the Spanish giants, whose last crown came in 2002, that would mean the end of the road for Marseille, the 1993 champions, who should nonetheless beat Zurich at the Stade Velodrome.

Also teetering on the brink are four-times winners Bayern Munich, who are labouring to make an impression in Group A where Bordeaux are setting the pace after beating the Bavarians in France.

With Italian former champions Juventus unbeaten in the same group and a point clear of Bayern, the latter cannot afford to drop points against Laurent Blanc’s Bordeaux as Juve will expect to pinch full points at Israel’s Maccabi Haifa.

Bayern team manager Uli Hoeness admits the struggle will be an uphill one if neither of their playmakers, Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben, can shrug off injuries in time.

“Bayern without Franck Ribery or Arjen Robben is not the same team. When they return, we will return very quickly to a higher level.”

Ribery will miss out with a knee injury though Robben may make thew date at the Allianz Arena as he has recovered largely from a knee operation at the start of last month.

Bayern Munich will be without banned pair Daniel van Buyten and Thomas Mueller after their dismissals during the loss in France.

Champions League fixtures (1945 GMT)

Tuesday:

Group A

Bayern Munich (GER) v Bordeaux (FRA)

Maccabi Haifa (ISR) v Juventus (ITA)

Group B

Manchester United (ENG) CSKA Moscow (RUS)

Besiktas (TUR) v VfL Wolfsburg (GER)

Group C

AC Milan (ITA) v Real Madrid (ESP)

Marseille (FRA) v FC Zurich (SUI)

Group D

Atletico Madrid (ESP) v Chelsea

Apoel FC (CYP) v Porto (POR)

PARIS (AFP)

Tags: ac milan, alex ferguson, brick wall, Drogba, european kings, Fernando Torres, frank lampard, french side, ivorian, liverpool life, meringues, plain sailing, real madrid, rio ferdinand, ryan giggs, semifinal loss, stamford bridge, true ace

Eredivisie: McClaren sent off, as Twente are held to 1-1 draw by Feyenoord

August 31, 2009

Former England coach Steve McClaren was sent off on Sunday in FC Twente’s 1-1 draw by Feyenoord at Feijenoord Stadion in the Eredivisie.

Former Bayern Munich star Roy Makaay scored an injury-time penalty after Nicky Kuiper’s 74th-minute goal in a game dominated by McClaren’s ejection.

The FC Twente coach was dismissed for storming onto the field to protest referee Roelof Luinge’s decision to caution Cheick Tiote after the Ivorian midfielder’s 58th-minute foul on Karim El Ahmadi.

Twente and Feyenoord, both unbeaten after five rounds, are tied with PSV Eindhoven in second place with 11 points, one less than AZ Alkmaar, which beat Willem II 2-1 Saturday.

Abhimanyu Rajput

Tags: abhimanyu, ahmadi, alkmaar, Bayern, bayern munich, coach steve mcclaren, Eindhoven, England, fc twente, feyenoord, injury time, ivorian, Karim, Karim El, kuiper, minute goal, referee, roy makaay, stadion, Steve McClaren, time penalty, willem ii

Chelsea braced for Sunderland test

August 18, 2009

John Terry’s confident claim that Chelsea have emerged from the summer break stronger than their top four rivals will be severely tested at Sunderland.

Blues skipper Terry has spoken confidently about the club’s title chances this season after seeing the Premier League’s other leading teams lose key players while Carlo Ancelotti’s squad has remained largely untouched.

Stability, Terry believes, can be the key in the coming months.

But his assertion looked less than convincing during a stuttering opening day performance against a Hull City side widely tipped as one of the favourites to go down.

Didier Drogba proved the difference in that game with the Ivorian’s two goals confirming his importance to Ancelotti’s plans of forging a title-winning side in his first season since arriving at Stamford Bridge from AC Milan.

And his match-winning display suggested that Chelsea’s success in securing the forward’s future with a new, three-year contract could be their best piece of business of the close-season break – better even than convincing Terry he should reject the overtures of Manchester City and stay at the club.

Florent Malouda and John Mikel Obi have also agreed new deals with England left-back Ashley Cole set to follow.

By contrast, Manchester United have lost Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez, Xabi Alonso has left Liverpool and Arsenal have been weakened by the departure of Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Adebayor to Manchester City.

And while Ancelotti is intent on changing the team’s shape, Terry is convinced a dressing room full of familiar faces could prove the difference this season.

“We have re-signed Didier which is massive,” Terry said. “He’s just brilliant and a winner and that has been important to Chelsea. Malouda and Mikel have signed too.

“The hunger among the boys this year to win the Premier League title is a strong as ever.”

That squad now looks unlikely to be bolstered by the major signing the club promised ahead of the current transfer window, particularly in the light of Franck Ribery’s determination to remain at Bayern Munich despite interest from Chelsea, Real Madrid, Barcelona and Manchester United.

“I can’t stop clubs making offers,” said the France international.

“What I can tell them is today I am still at Bayern. That door was well and truly closed. My bosses really want me to stay.”

Drogba’s added-time winner against Hull suggested there is nothing wrong with Chelsea’s spirit, but the overall display was flawed and against a better team, they would have been fortunate to collect three points.

Ancelotti’s decision to replace Mikel at half-time with Michael Ballack was an admission that his midfield hadn’t gelled and the German international will almost certainly start at the Stadium of Light against Steve Bruce’s re-shaped Sunderland.

Their opening day victory at Bolton confirmed that this year’s Sunderland is a very different model to the one that flirted with relegation during a dismal campaign last season.

Bruce’s decision to spend 10 million pounds on Tottenham striker Darren Bent brought immediate reward when the England international headed the winner at the Reebok Stadium and the acquisition of Lee Cattermole had added steel to a previously flimsy midfield.

Lorik Cana, the Alabania international, fitted in well alongside Cattermole but with Steed Malbranque and Kieran Richardson both struggling for fitness ahead of the visit of Chelsea, Bruce’s side may lack invention and creativity in the final third.

“I’ve had a couple of good tussles with Chelsea from my Charlton and Tottenham days and I’ve scored a couple of goals against them,” said Bent.

“They are one of the best teams in the world and we will have to work doubly hard to get something from the game. But the way we played against Bolton showed we can match anyone.”

SUNDERLAND, England (AFP)

Tags: ac milan, ashley cole, carlo ancelotti, carlos tevez, Drogba, emmanuel adebayor, familiar faces, florent malouda, hull city, ivorian, john mikel obi, john terry, kolo toure, manchester city, manchester united, overtures, stamford bridge, title chances, winning side, xabi alonso

Chelsea´s Ancelotti still has work to do

August 16, 2009

Carlo Ancelotti admits his new-look Chelsea side remain a work in progress after they spluttered to a 2-1 victory over Hull City on the Premier League’s opening day.

Ancelotti marked his first league game since taking charge with three points thanks to a stoppage time winner from Didier Drogba after the Ivorian had earlier cancelled out Stephen Hunt’s 27th minute opening goal at Stamford Bridge.

But the Italian acknowledged Chelsea’s performance was less than convincing, with the reshaped midfield diamond failing to deliver the creative sparkle needed to break down Hull’s defences.

Although Ancelotti was quick to excuse his players their teething troubles against Hull, he warned things must quickly improve if they are to avoid the possibility of losing early ground in the title race.

Ancelotti said: “I don?t know how long it will take for the players to get used to the system. I don’t know the precise time, hopefully soon.

“But we like to think we will still have to improve because there is no such thing as the perfect season.

“For sure we have to improve because we didn’t play well at times in this match. We made some mistakes but this is normal. But after one month we have to improve our play.”

Chelsea’s play at times looked sluggish but Ancelotti refused to blame the demands of the midweek international programme for the performance.

Some of his key players – notably Frank Lampard – looked below their best, but the manager claimed his side’s problems were caused by Hull’s efforts in closing down and not by the round of national call-ups three days before the season kicked off.

Lampard, along with skipper John Terry, had played the full 90 minutes of England’s 2-2 draw with Holland, while left-back Ashley Cole was replaced just six minutes from time.

And Ancelotti said: “I didn’t speak with Fabio Capello about the players before the England game. I want to help his work, give him players in good condition.

“It’s not a problem because Ashley, John and Frank have come back without injuries. A lot of players have played for their countries. The most important factor against Hull was the lack of space.

“Frank was playing in a difficult position because when the opposition plays a solid defensive line it’s more difficult for him to play.”

Drogba’s contribution proved the difference between the two teams and prevented Hull repeating their success of last February when they claimed a point a Stamford Bridge.

The Ivory Coast striker has recently signed a new three-year contract and Ancelotti is under no illusions that Drogba’s form will have a major influence on Chelsea’s chances of success this season.

“We played well at times and Didier Drogba showed why he is such an important player for us,” Ancelotti said.

“He wasn’t always fit last season but he has signed a new contract and looked very good.”

Hull manager Phil Brown believes his side’s performance confirmed his belief that they should not be regarded as relegation favourites.

He remains convinced they can repeat last season’s success of staying up, especially if he can complete the signing of a new striker this week.

Brown said: “Of course we’re disappointed but we played better than we did last season when we got a point.

“We had a game plan and that worked. We were organised and we worked hard to neutralise their quality.

“We know we need more goals and we hope the arrival of a new striker will solve that problem for us. Hopefully we will bring someone in quickly.”

LONDON, Aug 16, 2009 (AFP)

Tags: ashley cole, Brown, carlo ancelotti, CHELSEA, Cole, defences, Drogba, England, england game, fabio capello, Frank, frank lampard, Holland, HULL, hull city, ivorian, john terry, league game, london, midfield, opening day, perfect season, precise time, premier league, six minutes, stamford bridge, Stephen Hunt, stoppage time, time winner

Hannover sign Ivorian Konan-Ya

August 12, 2009

Bundesliga side Hannover 96 have signed 25-year-old striker Didier Konan-Ya from Norwegian club Rosenborg.

The Ivorian international has signed a contract which will keep him at the club until 2012.

Konan-Ya is set to fill the gap left in Hannover’s attack by Jan Schlaudraff, the former Bayern Munich forward who has been suffering with a groin problem.

“We’ve signed him reinforce our frontline. He’s extremely quick and a decent finisher,” explained Hannover Sporting Director Jörg Schmadtke.]

The former Rosenborg player began his career at homeland club ASEC Abidjan, and later made a switch for the Norwegian giants, making 40 appearances and scoring 27 goals in the process.

Abhimanyu Rajput

Tags: abhimanyu, Abidjan, ASEC, attack, Bayern, Bundesliga, frontline, gap, giants, groin problem, hannover 96, ivorian, jan schlaudraff, norwegian club, rosenborg, striker, ya

Toure happy to leave leaderless Gunners

August 2, 2009

Defender Kolo Toure insisted Sunday he made the right decision in swapping Arsenal for Manchester City because his former club have lost too many big names.

The Ivorian believes the failure to replace a host of star players has made the club a less attractive proposition than Mark Hughes’ City.

The 28-year-old said: “I came to Man City because when you look at Arsenal you see all the great players have left the club and are now in the past.

“Look at what has happened there. Thierry Henry has gone, Patrick Vieira has gone, Ray Parlour has gone.

“These were the players that brought success to Arsenal and I believed it was right at this stage of my career to also move on.

“We lost too many leaders at Arsenal. When we were winning the league title the spirit was fantastic, we were like a band of brothers.”

Toure also defended City’s spending policy, which has seen them criticised in some quarters for distorting the market.

“The best teams are at the top only because they have the best players and to get those players you have to spend a lot of money,” he said.

“You can’t be successful in football without money. This is the football business. City have a project to build a big team and so it is natural it is going to cost money.”

MANCHESTER, England (AFP)

Tags: arsenal, band of brothers, business city, Defender, England, failure, football business, gunners, ivorian, man city, Manchester, manchester city, manchester england, Mark Hughes, patrick vieira, quarters, ray parlour, right decision, spirit, star players, thierry henry

Toure close to Man City switch

July 29, 2009

Arsenal defender Kolo Toure is reported to have passed a medical on Wednesday ahead of his proposed transfer to Manchester City.

The 28-year-old Ivory Coast international left Arsenal’s training camp in Austria earlier this week after City obtained permission to talk to him about a 15 million pounds move.

Reports in England claim Toure has now completed a medical at Eastlands and he is expected to seal his move once financial details have been agreed with Arsenal.

City manager Mark Hughes turned to Toure after Chelsea captain John Terry rejected a move to Eastlands and Gunners boss Arsene Wenger, who signed Belgian defender Thomas Vermaelen from Ajax in June, decided to accept the bid.

If Toure’s move goes through he will earn around 100,000 pounds a week and become City’s sixth signing of the close-season, joining former Arsenal team-mate Emmanuel Adebayor, Carlos Tevez, Roque Santa Cruz, Gareth Barry and goalkeeper Stuart Taylor.

Toure struggled to find his best form last season after returning from the African Nations Cup and found himself played at right-back before being briefly dropped.

The Ivorian, who arrived at Arsenal in 2002, was a member of the ‘Invincibles’ team that went through the entire 38-game Premier League campaign in 2003-04 without losing a match.

MANCHESTER, England (AFP)