ChelseaFC88 - Moments of The Champion

CHELSEA 6 MANCHESTER CITY 0(27/10/2007)

2007-10-29T04:22:00.000-07:00

MATCH REPORT: CHELSEA 6 MANCHESTER CITY 0

Chelsea have simply annihilated high-flying Man City to record our first ever 6-0 home win in the Premier League.

Brilliant midfield domination built on solid defence and an attack that had City chasing shadows sent the Stamford Bridge crowd home with huge smiles on their faces. They had witnessed two goals from, who else, Didier Drogba plus strikes from Michael Essien, Joe Cole, Salomon Kalou with substitute Andriy Shevchenko also joining the party.

Chelsea, chasing our 68th consecutive league game at home without a losing, made three changes to the team that beat Schalke midweek today, with Kalou in attack instead of Florent Malouda.

Juliano Belletti started at right back instead of Paulo Ferreira who moved to left back instead of the injured Ashley Cole, and suspended Wayne Bridge, whilst John Mikel Obi returned to the midfield.

Sven-Goran Eriksson's side arrived at a cloudy and overcast Stamford Bridge for the Premier League clash that would see Manchester City attempt their first win at the ground in 13 years.

Today's match was Chelsea's official event during Kick It Out's week against racism and discrimination in football.

To mark the occasion the Blues warmed up in Kick It Out T-shirts whilst Stamford the Lion motivated the crowd in one of the campaign's garments, all to the accompaniment of Didier Drogba and Michael Essien's charity single 'Skin'.

After Man City had kicked off, the first 10 minutes seemed like the game could go either way, but one thing was for sure, it was going to be a cracker.

It wasn't until the 13th minute that Cech was called into action by saving a screaming Samaras shot from 20 yards out after Alex failed to clear the ball from an awkward position with the Greek striker collecting the rebound.

In the 14th minute, Cole took a corner which fell to Lampard after an attempted clearance. Lampard's subsequent shot was blocked, sending the ball out for another corner which was punched out of the area by Hart.

However, the ball did not stray too far and another attack into the box led to a third corner which Alex reached with his head, only to send the ball over the bar.

It seemed inevitable that the next attack was going to be on target. A job achieved by Michael Essien when, in the 17th minute, the Ghanaian fed off a Lampard ball, firing a shot across the face of goal and finding the bottom left corner.

Chelsea had now started as we meant to go on when only minutes later Kalou narrowly missed the chance of sending his header into the back of the net after reaching Drogba's cross.

In the 20th minute, Mikel brought down Elano to give Man City a chance from 30 yards out, Petrov launched a scorching shot towards the top right corner which forced Cech to pull off a fantastic save, his second of the game.

Essien was then booked in the 25th minute after stealing the ball from Brumer Elano, however the free-kick didn't give City any advantage as the counter-attack allowed Kalou to release a through ball which Drogba got on the end of, narrowly missing from his first shot of the game.

We then saw some controversy when Richards ruthlessly tackled Lampard. The subsequent scuffle resulted in yellows for both the City defender and Chelsea's captain, but it didn't take long for Lampard to get his own back.

He released a through ball for Drogba which slipped straight in front of Richard's path. Drogba latched onto the pass in the area and found the back of the net from his second touch, spinning the ball under Hart's body. Chelsea were now controlling the game.

It wasn't until the 37th minute that Man City could revive their fans when Stephen Ireland's shot went wide, leaving Cech unmoved by from the midfielder's very good chance.

Three minutes before half time and Chelsea were at it again which a speedy attack down the right from Cole allowing the ball to enter the box.

However, Drogba never managed to reach the pass as he was tripped entering the area, Mike Riley failed to award the penalty though and the ball was sent out for a corner.

When the teams went in at half time it could have seemed realistic for the City fans to hope for a fight back despite possession being controlled by Chelsea, but after the half time whistle Chelsea came out as we had gone in, with three straight attacks - only narrowly missing out with shots on goal.

In the 55th minute Chelsea were onto our third when Kalou and Lampard were both denied a goal and Drogba attached himself to the rebound after Hart failed to collect. He then blasted the ball into the back of the net from only five yards out.

Chelsea were now calling the shots and it wasn't long before we got our fourth. J Cole put his name on the score sheet in the 60th minute when he latched onto a Drogba header and calmly drilled the ball along the floor from his right foot into the bottom corner.

Chelsea continued to keep the possession with a few chances going astray, Lampard came closest in the 73rd minute forcing Hart into action again.

In the 75th minute, Kalou made it five when Essien played a clever through ball into the box allowing the Ivory Coast striker to calmly knock the ball across the face of goal and into the bottom left corner.

The run of play was still all Chelsea's and in the 90th minute, Shevchenko scored his first league goal of the season after an Essien, Pizarro one-two set him up in the box where he fired home his shot, making it 6-0.

Chelsea showed we are truly back in the championship fight today after thumping Eriksson's Manchester side. Cech was hardly called into action thanks to the strength of our back line despite missing John Terry. Great game, brilliant result.

Chelsea (4-3-3): Cech: Belletti, Carvalho, Alex, Ferreira: Mikel, Essien, Lampard: J Cole (Shevchenko 66), Drogba (Pizarro 80), Kalou
Goals Essien (17), Drogba (30, 55), J Cole (60), Kalou (75), Schevchenko (90).
Booked Essien (25), Lampard (29).

Man City (4-4-2): Hart; Corluka, Richards, Dunne (c), Garrido; Johnson, Hamann (Ball 65), Petrov, Ireland (Vassell 63); Elano (Bianchi 71), Samaras.
Booked Richards (29).

REACTION: THAT'S WHAT WE WANT

It may not have been obvious from his expression on the touchline, but Avram Grant was more than satisfied following Saturday's 6-0 win over Manchester City.

Prior to the game, many had anticipated a close game between an improving Chelsea team and a high-flying Manchester City, off to their best start to a season for 37 years, but after 90 minutes, the margins were far greater than anyone would have expected.

Grant was delighted with the team's display, pointing to Frank Lampard in the middle of the pitch as a key ingredient in the flowing football that wowed the Stamford Bridge crowd.

'In each game, Frank is better than the game before, and he has a great attitude as a player,' Grant said. 'In the last three games we have seen fantastic assists he made. He is very important for us. We moved the ball very well, and he is a very clever player.'

Despite not scoring, Lampard was the architect for many of Chelsea's goals, and provided the focus for many of our attacks, watching on as Essien, Drogba, Cole, Kalou and Shevchenko found the net.

The nature of victory is what Grant has been talking about since he took over the reigns from José Mourinho, and today provided the perfect example of what the Israeli is after.

'I know that we cannot do it in all the games, but in modern football people come to have fun, and the way of winning is very important.

'I'm smiling now; I enjoyed the winning, and the way of winning. We are in the middle of a process and we continue to do it step by step. Today it's two steps, and it will continue,' Grant confirmed.

'I must say the players have great attitude, and are the main stars here. I have a very good staff, including my two assistants who did a great job.

'We're concentrating on attacking football, how to move right, how to behave right, and how to make them better. That's what we want from the players, but it's more important that they ask it from themselves to make it easier.'

There was also praise for substitute Andriy Shevchenko, who netted his first league goal of the season in the closing stages of the game.

'Shevchenko is a great player with a great attitude. When you see him train you see he is doing his best,' Grant explained, adding: 'It's not easy for a big star to sit on the bench but he is doing it and he scored a very typical goal for Sheva.'

Left out of the 16 today were Shaun Wright-Phillips and Florent Malouda, but Grant insists there are no problems with either player, simply a decision made on the requirements for Manchester City, vindicated by the result.

On Wright-Phillips, he said: 'He is a very good player. In Chelsea there are 25 players in the squad. 95 per cent are internationals and very good players. We can play only with 11 and 5 subs, so each game seven or eight very good players are on the side.

'This is the life in a big team with a big squad. In the last two games Shaun was not in the squad, the next game it can be others. If Malouda was in and others were not you would ask about them. There is no regular starter, what's important for me is the style of the team.'

BOLTON WANDERERS 0 CHELSEA 1 (7/10/07)

2007-10-08T22:11:00.000-07:00

MATCH REPORT: BOLTON WANDERERS 0 CHELSEA 1

There were plenty of smiles at the Reebok as the Blues followed up the win in Valencia by recording a first league victory under Avram Grant.

An afternoon that began well with Frank Lampard returning to the side became even better when Salomon Kalou found the net as half-time approached. Against a struggling Bolton side who had their moments, mostly involving a troublesome Kevin Davies, that single strike was always likely to be enough.

We climb the table to sixth place and enter the international two-week break with spirits high.

Although there was the boost of Lampard back, Essien, available in Spain midweek, was again ruled out so with Mikel suspended, Sidwell was given another start in midfield.

Belletti and Ferreira continue to alternate under Grant, the new Brazilian chosen at right-back on this occasion while up front in a three-man attack, Salomon Kalou was the man selected to fill Drogba's boots.

The Ivorian planted a header on target from a Joe Cole cross as early as the first minute, held by Jaaskelainen.

Bolton responded with a Gardener run and cross from the left that needed some scrambled defending at the far post to prevent Davies from capitalising.

Then when the Bolton centre-forward escaped down the right and shot hard, Cech's fisted block fortuitously fell for a colleague to clear rather than a white shirt to fire back at the target.

Bolton, nominally playing 4-3-3, were withdrawing all but Anelka deep when Chelsea had possession, making the midfield a packed place to be.

From a deep position, Lampard unleashed his first shot of the game on 16 minutes, low but straight at the keeper and a minute later, Campo was booked for sliding in on Joe Cole in the centre-circle, the quick-footed Chelsea man having been dumped on the turf by an illegal Diouf challenge minutes earlier.

On 20 minutes came the best chance of the game so far, and it fell Chelsea's way. Joey O'Brien failed to cut out a Kalou pass but although he had time to set his sights, Malouda blasted off target.

Diouf became the game's second caution when he tripped the escaping Malouda who had outsmarted O'Brien.

Malouda did a lot better than his earlier effort on 27 minutes when his snap shot was palmed wide at the base of the post by Jaaskelainen.

Bolton matched Chelsea just a minuite later when Cech was forced to push a Campo shot round the post after Diouf had charged past Makelele and crossed. There was plenty going on to keep the Reebok crowd's attention.

It was Cech again to the rescue on 33 minutes, Anelka's shot catching his legs after Guthrie had intercepted a Lampard pass and sent the Frenchman away to slice through the Chelsea backline.

Seven minutes later, the Chelsea goalkeeper turned into an attacking weapon as the Blues made the breakthrough. His long punt upfield was headed on by Malouda and as Miete allowed Kalou to slip the wrong side of him, the Chelsea striker flicked the ball up and as it fell, rifled it into the net.

Scored at his side's favourite end of the stadium, it was the Ivorian's first league goal of the season.

Just before the break, the home fans were shouting loud, accusing Sidwell of handling as he midjudged a chest trap in the penalty area. Replays suggested they had a case.

There was a Chelsea switch at half-time and it was the goalscorer who came off, Pizarro Kalou's replacement.

Anelka had a heading chance in the first minute after the restart but under pressure, it lacked the power to trouble Cech.

On 53 minutes McCann made it three Bolton bookings to none for Chelsea with an ugly lunge at Lampard.

That moment did not hide the fact that Chelsea were enduring our toughest patch of the game. It needed Terry, Carvalho and co. to be at their blocking best to keep the white-shirted offensive at bay.

Chelsea broke out on 68 minutes for Joe Cole to fire a couple of yards over and then Carvalho became Chelsea's first caution for taking Anelka out from behind. Davies then followed into the book for a foul on Ashley Cole.

Shevchenko was introduced with just over quarter-of-an-hour to go in place of Malouda, a direct replacement wide left.

Bolton were presented with a free-kick chance right on the edge of the area in a central position when a Sidwell handball was spotted. To Chelsea supporter cheers, Anelka planted the chance high into the away end.

Chelsea had weathered the best Bolton had to throw at us and were looking the stronger as the game entered its final stages. Joe Cole shot at Jaaskelainen, his last impact on the game before being replaced by Ferreira with Belletti moving into midfield.

The closing minutes were seen out with just one more moment of concern, substitute Stelios heading onto the top of the crossbar after Anelka had chipped over a cross.

Chelsea had done enough. A fifth straight win had been achieved on what is fast becoming one of our happiest hunting grounds.

Chelsea Cech; Belletti, Carvalho, Terry (c), A Cole; Sidwell, Makelele, Lampard; J Cole (Ferreira 84) , Kalou (Pizarro h-t), Malouda (Shevchenko 73).
Scorer Kalou 40.
Booked Carvalho 68.

Bolton Jaaskelainen; J O'Brien (Stelios 84), A O'Brien, Meite, Gardner; McCann, Campo, Guthrie; Davies (c), Anelka, Diouf (Wilhelmsson 66).
Booked Campo 17, Diouf 24, McCann 53, Davies 72, Jaaskaleinen 90+

REACTION: MISSION ACCOMPLISHED

It might not have been a perfect performance, but with three points taken from a Premier League game for the first time since August, Avram Grant insists we met our targets as we earned a 1-0 win up at Bolton.

'Sometimes you need the points, especially when you play away, and especially after a long time. The target today was to take the three points,' Grant said.

'It was an important three points after a long time in the league. The second win away from home in four days. I think we deserved to win, created more chances. It was not an easy game to play against a team that play direct, with physical players, but again, a clean sheet and three points, that's what's important.'

On the team's style of play, Grant conceded that the flowing football did not quite come, but this will be a gradual transition as the players become acquainted with his coaching methods.

'It will take time. I think we need to see how we develop from month to month, and the target for long term is to build a style and play good football,' he said.

Grant, when questioned on the matter, again reiterated that it is he who is in charge of the team, saying: 'They pay me to be in charge, I have to be in charge and take the decision for the present and the future. I came to take the team forward and it's good to do it through winning.'

Andriy Shevchenko started the game on the bench, and was introduced with just over a quarter of an hour remaining. Grant was keen to stress this signified nothing but the right tactics on the day, and there is no pressure from the owner to play any individuals.

'We have a long season. Every player has good times and bad times. Sheva is trying hard and I'm sure he will be a great player for Chelsea. In this game we used other players, but again it's a long season.

'When I got the job at Chelsea nobody said to me the friends of Peter Kenyon need to play. I need to make the decision for the good of Chelsea. We have a big squad and need all the players, including Sheva.'

He also conceded that the job of being Chelsea's first team coach brings with it great pressure, but this is something he craves in the job.

'I don't want to live in football without pressure. When you're at a big club, you always have pressure to achieve the best. This is a good pressure.

'It's a big responsibility but I like it. I like to make pressure on myself, but the name of the game in football is pressure from everywhere, so it's not a game for weakness,' he said.

Salomon Kalou's 41st minute strike was enough to give us the points at the Reebok Stadium, our fifth consecutive win there, but the Ivorian was forced off at half-time with a hamstring problem. Grant suggested the substitution was precautionary, saying: 'I don't know yet. We will see.'

There was good news though as Frank Lampard played 90 minutes on his return from injury, and John Terry came through unscathed in his face mask.

Regarding Lampard, Grant said: '[It was his] first game after six weeks, I'm very happy. Of course we don't play with the full squad, and even today we miss a lot of players, but I'm happy we have a big squad. Frank especially, after a few weeks to play 90 minutes it was good for us and good for him.'

There was also praise for his captain: 'I must tell you about JT that I've never seen him not okay, he's always fit to play for Chelsea, for England. I see how he behaves, and he is always available.'

Finally, there was welcome news for England fans, as Grant insisted he would not deny injured winger Shaun Wright-Phillips the opportunity to join up with the national side, as long as he proves his fitness.

'He is almost fit but we need to see tomorrow. I will not stop him playing for England. I was a national coach, and respect very much the national team. He needs to be fit to play. If he is I will not stop him, even though he didn't play the last two weeks,' Grant said.

REACTION: WE NEED A RUN OF WINS

Frank Lampard and goal hero Salomon Kalou have been giving their thoughts on the victory at Bolton yesterday, and both believe it was vital to pick up three points as soon as possible.

It was Lampard's first appearance since the team's last league victory, the 1-0 win over Portsmouth on August 25, and Kalou's first league goal since netting against Wanderers at Stamford Bridge back in late April.

Lampard had kind words for his team-mate, whose 41st minute goal was enough to seal the win.

'I was very pleased with him, he's very quick, very direct and it was a great finish,' said the midfielder.

'In the first half we created many decent opportunities, which could have killed the game. At 1-0 you always fear them coming back into the game.

'If you don't battle here you probably lose points. At times our football was pretty good and we created enough chances to be in the lead, two or three good chances and Salomon stuck one of them away.

'When you come here you have to mix it up, and Sala showed great composure. He's a talented, quick young player who wants to learn,' he added.

'It was very important for us to follow up the Champions League result. Our form has been poor, and it's important we turned the corner sooner rather than later. It's always a difficult place to come and we showed all the qualities we needed to win the game,' Lampard said.

After the win, we are back up to sixth in the table, but Lampard insists this is still not good enough for what we have come to expect from Chelsea.

'There's a long way to go, we need to be up there like the last three seasons. We need to be challenging for the league rather than talking about being in eighth place or sixth place. It's very important we win, and then talk about turning corners.

'We need to stick a run of wins together, five, six or seven, and hope other teams slip up. We've been in positions before where we're up there and you always fear teams coming from behind and putting a run together and we have to be that team.'

Kalou was pleased to be back among the goals, but also pleased to contribute to a winning team.

'I scored last year against Bolton and this year again, but everyone had a good game, and the most important thing is to come back with this winning spirit and it was good for the international break,' said the Ivorian.

'Last time I scored we drew at home and today we won, so it's positive and I hope it's a good time for us. It was a long ball from Petr, it dropped after the last defender and the keeper came out.

'I felt like I could have the ball before him and flicked it up. I could go down for the penalty, but it's always better to score my first goal than the penalty,' he smiled.

Kalou was forced off at half-time with a slight hamstring strain, which he hopes is nothing serious, but Lampard was able to play the full 90 minutes, which left him satisfied with his part in the win.

'I was pleased to get through the game, I haven't trained too much at the intense level of Premier League football so to get through 90 minutes is very pleasing and it was important for Chelsea to get back to winning ways.'

It was our first league win since Lampard's last involvement, but he was able to admit it wasn't simply down to his presence.

'I'd like to take credit for it but it's great being back with the lads and I'll try and give us much as I can to help us win games. Things haven't been going so well and I wasn't able to contribute, so to be able to do that is good', he said.

Lampard now joins up with the England squad for matches against Estonia and Russia, while Kalou's hamstring problem leaves him a doubt for Ivory Coast's friendly against Austria.

Valencia 1 Chelsea 2 - Champion League 2007

2007-10-04T04:47:00.000-07:00

MATCH REPORT: VALENCIA 1 CHELSEA 2

Group B is wide open again after goals from Joe Cole and Didier Drogba complete a comeback performance of high merit.

With Schalke winning away at Rosenborg, Chelsea now top the table thanks to the third win in our history in Spain.

It was a proper test of Avram Grant's side with Valencia at times carving out some fine attacks - but the new first team coach was aided by being able to pair Carvalho and mask-wearing Terry together for the first time this season in the starting line-up.

Ahead of them was a solid-looking midfield of Mikel, Makelele and Essien with the attack to be carried by Drogba flanked by Joe Cole and Malouda in a 4-3-3 shape.

The were a couple of early attacks by both sides - Silva blasting wide and Essien's diagonal low cross skimming across the danger area.

But then on eight minutes, fortune favoured the home side and an early opener was theirs.

David Villa it was who found the net, his initial run defended by Ferreira but as the right-back, preferred on the night to Belletti, cleared, the ball ricocheted back into the path of Villa who raced through to slot low past Cech.

Chelsea responded with a couple of bright pieces of play, Joe Cole involved, but then it took Cech to prevent a second from Joaquin's shot after Morientes had deceived Terry.

But Chelsea continued to go forward and were rewarded on 20 minutes. Malouda took a pass from Drogba and smashed the ball low into the six yard area where it was diverted into the net. Initially there was a question mark over whether Joe Cole or Valencia left-back Moretti turned it in, the answer not helped by a muted Cole celebration, but replays confirmed the credit goes to the Chelsea man.

The equaliser had taken 19 minutes and soon after, Droba fired over while it took determined blocks from Ashley Cole to deny Morientes and Villa.

The latter was wasteful soon after when the ball ran his way following a Joaquin run.

As the half-hour mark passed, Valencia were enjoying the superior possession but Chelsea were holding firm. A clever, delayed through ball by Essien was almost collected by Drogba who would have been in the clear so both sides made it through to the break with no further damage done.

In the context of an early setback and some confidence-denting recent results, the Blues must have been reasonably satisfied with the first-half showing.

Chelsea began the second-half with two corners, the second nodded wide by Terry. On 53 minutes Valencia won their first corner of the game, Morientes also heading a deep ball wide.

On 56 minutes Joaquin's good ball was collected by Morientes who burst through the backline, only for Villa to take the ball off his toes and plant it in. The celebration was curtailed, a flag was up. The scorer had been offside in the move. Chelsea breathed again.

With Chelsea's extra-man in central midfield keeping that area tight and Valencia's wingers kept in check, the home side were starting to look a little frustrated.

On 68 minutes they made a change, the impressive Morientes making way for 6ft 8in of Serb striker - Nikola Zigic. Before he could even touch the ball, our physical presence up front had lashed in the second goal.

Joe Cole's superb ball had sent Drogba away and in front of his marker, he was uncatchable as he finished low past Hildebrand on 70 minutes.

Drogba saw a 25-yard free-kick pushed away by Hildebrand who had retained his lace in goal despite the return to fitness of Canizares.

The first booking of the game was Marchena on 58 minutes for a chop at Carvalho.

Villa air-kicked in front of goal and Marchena blasted wide as the final five minutes began with Valencia still searching for an equaliser.

Both sides were making the most of their substitutions but with two minutes remaining, Mikel became Chelsea's only booking for taking too long to trot off when his number came up.

In stoppage time, Kalou could have taken the game out of reach but curled a left-foot shot wide after a Drogba burst had ended with the ball falling his way.

Despite a late penalty claim by Valencia and Cech stopping a Baraja shot with the last kick of the game, the Blues had no need to regret that miss.

Chelsea rather like life in the Mestalla!

Chelsea (4-3-3): Cech, Ferreira, Carvalho, Terry (c), A Cole; Essien (Sidwell 83) Makelele, Mikel (Alex 88); J Cole, Drogba, Malouda (Kalou 84).
Scorers J Cole 20, Drogba 70.
Booked Mikel 88.

Valencia (4-4-2): Hildebrand; Miguel, Albiol, Helguera, Moretti; Joaquin (Arizmendi 88), Albelda (c) (Baraja 74), Marchena, Silva; Vill, Morientes (Zigic 68).
Scorer Villa 10
Booked Marchena 78

REACTION: WIN IS FIRST STEP OF THE WAY

As he was nearing the end of his reflections on a night of victory in Valencia, Avram Grant joked about it being his best game in the Champions League as Chelsea manager.

In a more serious moment, he announced that the morale-boosting win in his fourth game in charge was the first step on a new pathway for the club that employs him.

'I am happy with the winning but I am more happy with the way of the winning,' he declared before leaving the Mestalla for a flight back to London.

'People tell me it was one of the best games away for Chelsea in Europe. I am very pleased with this result because I think it is the start of a new good way.

'I am not surprised. I told everyone before that I was very happy with the attitude of the players in the last two weeks during a very difficult time. We played well in the last two games in the league but this time we finished with 11 players,' he said.

It was certainly one of Chelsea's best nights away in Spain, following last season's win in the same stadium and a 1998 Cup Winners' Cup success against Real Betis as only our third triumph on Spanish soil.

And with the four games in Group B so far this season failing to throw up a single home win, the Champions League qualification campaign is right back on track with Chelsea now a point ahead of Valencia and Schalke.

For Valencia, the inquest has begun on how the same opposition could have scalped them in their own stadium for a second time in quick succession.

'This game was different from the one in April because in that one, we could not reach the goal during the last half of the game,' explained Quique Sanchez Flores, the defeated coach.

'But there are similarities, especially because one team dominates the first-half and the other team the second-half.'

It was home side that Flores believed had enjoyed the clear upper hand before the break. But he bemoaned their inability to 'neutralise' Chelsea's game in the move for our second goal and their failure to finish the game when in the lead, something that he believed Chelsea had done.

'Maybe we could have won the ball back better off their midfield but Chelsea have managed to neutralise our game, and we could not rely on the physical conditions. Players like Makelele and Essien are not made everyday and we cannot compare ourselves to them.

'Even though we have studied Drogba and know how he is playing, he can be lethal. He plays for others, not only himself so he manages to change the situation on the pitch.'

'Didier is a good striker but I don't think that is news for anyone,' said the winning goal scorer's own coach.

'I don't need to tell anyone what we said between us when we talked recently but I was very happy with his attitude. He is willing to give everything to Chelsea and you saw that today.

'We have been trying hard for the last two weeks,' continued Grant. 'Not just me but my assistant Steve Clarke who has been doing a very good job, and all the other staff including the medical staff.

'It has not been easy for them with all the new injuries but we have tried to make things very calm for the players because we know they know how to play football.

'Then when we see the players in the last game, we know their attitude is good but we wanted to keep that, so we needed also a good result.'

Chelsea 0 Fulham 0 (29/9/07)

2007-09-30T04:54:00.000-07:00

MATCH REPORT: CHELSEA 0 FULHAM 0

It was a fourth league game without scoring for Chelsea as we were held at home today by west London neighbours Fulham.

The returning Didier Drogba was sent off with just over a quarter of an hour remaining for a second yellow card, and we were made to rue several missed chances and a persistent lack of creativity.

To their credit Fulham achieved what they came for, and rarely threatened Petr Cech's goal until the closing stages, when they could, and maybe should have snatched the win.

The Blues welcomed Drogba back after four weeks out, but were without the creative Wright-Phillips and combative Essien in midfield, both injured in midweek.

Salomon Kalou, scorer of a brace at Hull, kept his place in the side, but moved to a left midfield berth to accommodate the returning Drogba and birthday boy Shevchenko in attack.

It was a lively atmosphere that greeted the two sides, and within moments of the start Joe Cole had raised the noise higher, twisting and turning through the Fulham defence, but his cross, aimed for Drogba, was poor.

In the third minute came the sort of event impossible to plan for, as captain John Terry and Fulham's Clint Dempsey clashed heads on the edge of the Blues box.

Terry lay crumpled for some time, but eventually got back to his feet and was fit to continue. It looked like being a dramatic derby day in SW6.

The first opportunity of the game fell after 13 minutes to Clint Dempsey, as the American found an inch of space from Terry, but his downward header fell a foot wide of Petr Cech's left hand post.

Chelsea's first meaningful effort was registered in the 20th minute, as Shevchenko was fed by Makelele, directing a low shot towards goal from 20 yards. Kasey Keller held comfortably.

Joe Cole was the next to test the American, one of three in Fulham's ranks, but his left-footed drive was as weak as Shevchenko's effort, and no real danger to Keller.

In the 33rd minute Chelsea almost went in front, as the Ukraininan and Kalou combined down the left channel.

Kalou left Chris Baird for dead, and pulled back from the byline for Shevchenko at the near post, but his side foot fell inches the wrong side of the upright.

A minute later and Cole fired a low cross into the Fulham goalmouth that evaded everybody, including Drogba who felt he had been impeded. Referee Martin Atkinson booked the Ivorian for his protests.

There was little else of note before the interval, though Terry had penalty appeals waved away after Dempsey again made contact, this time in the Fulham six-yard box.

Chelsea were on top, with all the stats supporting that view but there had been no breakthrough against a solid Fulham unit.
At half-time Terry was forced off with his facial injury, and so Avram Grant brought on Alex in his place. Drogba took over the captain's duties.

Less than a minute after the restart the Blues had hit the post, via the palms of Keller, who had saved spectacularly from Kalou inside the six-yard box, after Drogba had released Cole down the right.

With still no breakthrough eight minutes into the second half, and Fulham coming more into the game, Grant made a further change as Shevchenko was replaced with Pizarro

Drogba forced another save from Keller, striking a shot that seemed to move sideways in the air, but again the American beat the ball away and behind.

On the hour Pizarro found Ashley Cole marauding forward down the left, and his cross was perfect for the oncoming Kalou, who should have scored.

His header was a yard wide, a real let off for the visitors, whose defence seemed to have taken leave.

The young Ivorian made it two chances spurned after 68 minutes, again a header, again missing the post by a yard, this time from Makelele's inswinging free kick at the far post.

Within a minute Joe Cole was one-on-one with Keller but could only poke the ball whiskers wide after Kalou's intricate through ball.

After 73 minutes Drogba paid the price for his previous indiscretion. As he turned to control a high ball, he lifted his foot up, just as Fulham's Baird approached to head the ball.

For his bravery, Baird received an unfortunate kick to the head, and Drogba was given his second booking of the day, for dangerous play.

Down to ten men, the Blues rallied, and Grant made his final substitution to chase the victory. Florent Malouda replaced Ashley Cole down the left, making a 3-4-2 formation with Kalou and Pizarro in attack.

Despite huffing and puffing, chances had become few and far between. Smertin was replaced by recent signing Danny Murphy for the Cottagers as the game entered its final ten minutes.

It was Fulham who nearly stole it, as Konchesky made the most of a misunderstanding between Joe Cole and Alex, nipping in to go through on goal. Cech did well to narrow the angle, and saved with his feet.

That was the visitors' first shot on target, registered after 84 minutes, but served as a warning to the Blues not to be too gung-ho in the final few minutes.

As the clock ticked to 88 minutes, Alex made an interception, and played a clever pass into Kalou on the edge of the box. He spun and shot, but it was too high.

We almost paid the ultimate price for wasted opportunities when Kamara went through at the very end of normal time. Makelele and Ben-Haim forced him wide, and his hesitation denied him an optimal shooting angle. He flashed the ball across goal, but with Cech beaten, and Bouazza sliding in, the ball just flashed wide.

To see highlights of the game, you can visit Chelsea TV Online, or for the full 90 minutes, you can tune in to Chelsea TV, both from midnight tonight.

Chelsea (4-4-2): Cech; Belletti, Ben-Haim, Terry (c) (Alex 45), A Cole (Malouda 76); J Cole, Makelele, Sidwell, Kalou; Shevchenko (Pizarro 53), Drogba.

Goals
Booked Drogba 34
Sent Off Drogba (two yellows) 73

Fulham (4-4-2) Keller; Baird, Hughes, Bocanegra, Konchesky; Davies, Davis, Smertin (Murphy 81), Seol (Bouazza 72); Dempsey, Healy (Kamara 67).

Goals
Booked Davis 81

REACTION: WE NEED TO SCORE

It was a feeling of disappointment for Avram Grant as the team failed to find the elusive goal that would have provided us with three points at home to Fulham on Saturday.

Grant felt that the side created enough chances to win the game, but lacked a killer instinct against our dogged west London neighbours.

'I think we made seven or eight chances for goals today, so from this point it is good but we didn't score,' he said. 'I can't say anything about this because the last four or five games we didn't score enough except against Hull.

'It was not our best game, and we need to improve this but again we created the chances to score.'

It is now four games without a league win, and in that period we have not scored a goal, losing two and drawing two of those fixtures.

It's a frustrating position for the new first team coach to be in, and he admits a win is important, before the gap with leaders Arsenal becomes insurmountable

'First we need to score, then we need to win. I can't argue with this,' he conceded. 'Even with this gap, anything can happen. For this we need to score goals and play better. I think the players want to play better, they give everything they can, but need to improve a few things.'

Grant also refused to criticise Didier Drogba for his sending off for two bookable offences, and was also diplomatic when questioned about Clint Dempsey's challenge that led to John Terry's departure.

On both incidents, Grant said: 'These things I like to watch on TV, I will watch again and then decide.'

JT was forced off with a depressed fracture of the cheekbone at half time after Dempsey's early aerial challenge had left the skipper in a heap on the floor. He bravely continued, but Grant refused to risk further damage.

'He's going to have a scan and then I will have more information. We will have to wait and see.

'He didn't complain, he wanted to continue but we didn't want to take the risk. For me if you have a doubt, if it's something in the head I don't like to take the risk.'

Fulham boss Lawrie Sanchez believes the injury was accidental, saying: 'Clint's a strong player, so is John Terry. These things happen in football. I'm sure it wasn't malicious; Clint isn't that type of player.'

Sanchez was also frustrated that his side hadn't stolen the points. Despite being under pressure for much of the game, Fulham wasted two opportunities, with Petr Cech saving well from Paul Konchesky and then Diomansy Kamara dragging a shot wide in the dying stages.

He said: 'Anybody would settle for a point at Chelsea before they come, but when you're that close to knocking over their record you think let's take it. We're four games undefeated in the league, and haven't really got just desserts with the points we've accumulated.'

With Valencia to face on Wednesday, possibly without captain Terry, Grant is hopeful that Michael Essien may return.

'He has a small tear, I think he will be available for Wednesday,' he said, adding: 'As you know the Champions League is something different. For that we always play a different way, so we could be in a better shape, and we'll give all we can.'

Hull City 0 Chelsea 4 (26/9/2007)

2007-09-27T03:58:00.000-07:00

MATCH REPORT: HULL CITY 0 CHELSEA 4

First Chelsea goals from Scott Sinclair and Steve Sidwell and the first strikes of the season from Salomon Kalou ensured a safe passage to the next round of the Carling Cup as banana skins were avoided on Humberside.

It was a satisfying opening victory for Avram Grant who did opt to rotate his team for this competition, Sinclair and Carlo Cudicini the most notable additions to the team for the first time this season and with Pizarro and Sidwell also back in the line-up.

Shevchenko was on the bench so Kalou was the other striker in a 4-4-2 shape and among the subs also was the pleasing sight of Wayne Bridge, involved for the first time since his summer hip operation.

The KC Stadium had little to mark it from many of the recently constructed stadia up and down the country but it was a decent arena and a good pitch and Chelsea were soon into gear, forcing three corners in the first two minutes, the second cleared off the line when Kalou shot on target.

Hull then enjoyed a good couple of minutes off their own, registering one corner and only stopped from threatening goal by some good covering by Belletti when Livermore ran from deep.

The rest of the first 20 minutes was without much the warm the crowd on the chilliest night of the season so far, a Wright-Phillips wayward shot and an effort by Kalou that was saved quiet comfortably apart.

Chelsea had a very healthy shout for a penalty turned down when Sinclair collected a pass in the box with face to goal and appeared to be shoved to the ground from behind.

With Sidwell playing the odd clever ball and Wright-Phillips and Kalou taking on opponents in and around the box, Chelsea were on top but were not looking totally watertight at the back.

Pedersen headed a presentable chance wide from six yards out with the half-hour approaching and then there was a scramble on the line after Cudicini spilled the ball under a Pedersen challenge. The referee took his time but eventually whistled up the foul.

Terry was then at his best to intercept a highly dangerous cross and for a while the easy ride into the next round the game became looked a long way off.

On 36 minutes, Chelsea broke out with the move of the game so far, Sidwell storming forward and releasing Belletti who found Wright-Phillips overlapping, the keeper doing well to close and block.

Within seconds however, the Blues did take the lead and what a fine strike and a fine moment it was for Scott Sinclair, sweeping in Wright-Phillips's cross that had threaded a way through a crowd with a sweet connection for his first Chelsea goal.

Chelsea needed to survive one more scare before the break, McPhee on the turn hooking Okocha's pass wide.

Just two minutes into the second-half, the Blues pretty much made the game safe when Kalou scored the second. It was his run and ball wide that took Chelsea into area, Pizarro then teeing it up for the Ivorian to head in from almost under the crossbar. It had been a razor sharp incision into Hull's hopes.

Not everything was going Chelsea's way - an injured Wright-Phillips had to be replaced by Joe Cole before the game could begin again.

With the next attack it became 3-0, Sidwell smacking a 25-yarder that the keeper touched but could not keep out. There were more joyous celebrations for another maiden Chelsea goal.

Hull immediately made a double substitution but with little improvement in their fortune until substitute Garcia broke free down the left and Cudicini saved an angled drive well with his legs. It was the home team's first shot on target.

Chelsea's second switch came on 64 minutes, Bridge back in action, Ashley Cole naturally making way.

Ashbee. the Hull captain, headed a chance over and when his counterpart, Terry headed a corner on target, Livermore nodded off the line.

Jay-Jay Okocha of course was still a threat from set-pieces and he curled a free-kick very close on 71 minutes, the ball landing on the roof of the net.

The fourth goal on 80 minutes was a textbook example of counter-attacking play, Sinclair involved early on, Bridge then joining in to find Joe Cole. Kalou was picked out by the England man and the ball was slammed home from 15 yards.

The recently goal-shy Blues had found no problem finding the net against lower league opposition. Now more of the same in the top flight on Saturday is the order.

The draw for the Carling Cup fourth round is Saturday lunchtime.

Hull City (4-2-3-1): Myhill; Ricketts, Turner, Brown, Delaney (Dawson 52); Ashbee (c), Livermore; Pedersen (Featherstone 72), Okocha, Elliott (Garcia 52); McPhee.
Booked Ashbee 75.

Chelsea (4-4-2): Cudicini; Belletti, Ben-Haim, Terry (c), A Cole (Bridge 64); Wright-Phillips (J Cole 48), Essien (Makelele 72), Sidwell, Sinclair; Kalou, Pizarro.
Scorers Sinclair 36, Kalou 47, 80, Sidwell 51.

Manchester United 2 Chelsea 0 - Under Avram Grant Guidance

2007-09-24T04:50:00.000-07:00

MATCH REPORT: MANCHESTER UNITED 2 CHELSEA 0

Chelsea went down to a strong Manchester United team at Old Trafford this afternoon, leaving the side three league games without a win.

The Blues battled away but were always on the back foot against a United team that had the fortune of key decisions going their way, notably the choice by Mike Dean to send John Mikel Obi off after half an hour, and then award United a penalty in the closing stages.

The game started as it would go on, with the home team on top while Chelsea struggled, missing key players, to come to terms with their opponents, who provided a constant threat.

Within two minutes Petr Cech had shown the very best of himself, stretching and full length, and some, to divert Wayne Rooney's goalbound curling effort around the post, after Ben-Haim had slipped to allow the England man an opening.

Seconds later it was Michael Carrick's chance to make sure the goalkeeper was alert, flicking Rooney's cross on, but in typical fashion Cech was able to hold on comfortably.

It took eight minutes for Chelsea to register our first meaningful effort of Avram Grant's tenure, as Andriy Shevchenko turned inside on to his right foot, but fired narrowly wide of Edwin Van Der Sar's net.

There was then a prolonged period of United pressure, as Rooney buzzed around menacingly and Ronaldo showed glimpses of the form that earned him two player of the year awards last season.

It was another United forward who tested Cech next though, as Tevez fizzed a show low after a quickly taken free kick. The goalkeeper did well to hold it.

Cech would have had little chance with the next shot though. After a poor clearance from Michael Essien, Rooney crossed to Giggs, in space at the far post, but the United captain could only volley over from a tight angle.

Shortly after, with just over half an hour played, disaster struck as Mikel and Evra contended a 50-50, with the Nigerian cleanly winning the ball.

Referee Mike Dean saw something altogether different, and without hesitation, produced a red card for Mikel, who was visibly both puzzled and distraught. There had been little appeal from United's players.

With a man advantage, the home side were able to pile more pressure on to a so far sturdy Blues backline, and from Giggs' free kick, Vidic headed towards goal. United supporters rose to their feet as they anticipated a second goal in as many Premier League games for the Serbian, but Cech was more than equal to it, and falling to his left, held on to the ball.

United's better share of the play, and fortune, eventually paid off in the third minute of first half injury time. The fourth official had only indicated there would be two, but when Giggs' corner eventually came back to him, he deftly crossed with the outside of his left foot, and Tevez was on hand to convert a diving header at Cech's near post.

It was the worst possible timing, and so it was that the quiet Old Trafford crowd was lifted to create a cacophonous noise as the players departed down the tunnel for the break.

The second half began in a similar fashion, with United having more of the ball, and Chelsea trying to win it back, often looking bereft of ideas, particularly going forward.

Giggs had a second opportunity, only slightly different from his earlier one, but the result was the same as he blasted over Cech's bar when he had both the time and space to pick his spot.

To freshen things up, Grant replaced Shevchenko with Kalou, and then Malouda with Wright-Phillips as we operated a flat 4-4-1, but there still appeared little sign of a breakthrough.

After 74 minutes Ashley Cole reached the byline for the first time, pulling back for Wright-Phillips to tee up for Essien, but the Ghanaian's half volley was a yard over. It did though show we weren't buried yet, and Grant subsequently gave his last throw of the dice, bringing on Pizarro for Joe Cole, who had just been booked for a lunge on Ronaldo.

Frustrations had started to show, and Terry was the second Blue to see yellow, diving in on Rooney 30 yards out.

Ronaldo, by now in full flow, struck a powerful shot that bounced wickedly in front of Cech. The Czech number one did well to hold on.

For the last ten minutes the tide had begun to turn, as Chelsea started to turn hard work into territorial gain, but that slice of luck and composure for the final ball was elusive.

To add salt to the wound, Uniteds were awarded a penalty two minutes from time when Saha tumbled under a challenge from Ben-Haim. Again, without hesitation Dean pointed to the spot, despite replays showing minimal contact.

The Frenchman tucked away the penalty, straight down the middle as Cech dived to his left.

A spirited Blues display, in the hardest of circumstances, had produced no luck and no points, leaving new manager Grant plenty to think about ahead of Wednesday's trip to Hull.

To see highlights of the game, you can visit Chelsea TV Online, or for the full 90 minutes, you can tune in to Chelsea TV, both from midnight tonight.

Man United (4-4-2) Van Der Sar; Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra; Ronaldo, Carrick, Scholes, Giggs (c); Rooney; Tevez (Saha 78).

Goals Tevez 45+2, Saha (pen) 88
Booked Rooney, Brown

Chelsea (4-3-3): Cech; Ferreira, Ben-Haim, Terry (c), A Cole; Essien, Makelele, Essien, Mikel; J Cole (Pizarro 75), Shevchenko (Kalou 59), Malouda (Wright-Phillips 68).

Goals
Booked J Cole, Terry
Sent Off Mikel

REACTION: REF'S THREE ERRORS COST US

Avram Grant has expressed his disappointment with the defeat at Old Trafford, but is proud of his players' efforts and believes referee Mike Dean made some costly mistakes.

Grant was speaking after he had seen midfielder John Obi Mikel dismissed with a straight red card, United score a goal in the third minute of injury time at the end of the first half, when only two had been signalled, and the home team then awarded a penalty when Louis Saha went down easily when challenged by Louis Saha.

'The referee tried his best,' Grant said. 'He made three mistakes only, the red card, the goal after time, the penalty.

'Alex Ferguson can be very happy from the referee today. He can be more than happy that Rooney wasn't sent off with a second yellow card, from the red card, the goal after additional time, the second goal,' he added.

Grant, who has been in charge just three days, was satisfied with the team's efforts, and believes they stuck well to the game plan, until Mikel's dismissal upset the game's balance.

'The decisions were strange because they were all in the same game, one two, three. For me it's a little bit strange but I prefer to look at the future, and not think why or how.

'I think except the first five minutes we played well in this game. It was a good game, Man United was not better than us. Even when we played ten against eleven until they scored the goal it was an okay game.

'For us it was a game we wanted to do, and after what's happened this week, after the three games we didn't win, the most important thing was to see the spirit of the players and now we can move forward from here.'

The club has since announced that we will be issuing an appeal to the Premier League over Mikel's red card. The decision will be made prior to Wednesday's game at Hull.

We are now five points behind the champions, but this is not something that fazes the new man at the helm, who points to last season as an indicator that gaps can be cut.

'I remember when last year, the difference between Man U and Chelsea was 12 points, then nine and everybody said Chelsea would be champions so five points is not a problem. We were fifth place before this game, we need to win games and then to think about things. We can have a good season,' insisted Grant.

He also played down any significance in his substitution of Andriy Shevchenko, saying that: 'I know if Shevchenko plays it's because someone told me, if he doesn't play you say I want to show I'm in charge. Shevchenko and any other, if they are good, will play, if they are not good they will do their best.

'I am very proud of the players in the last three days. It's not easy for them, also it's not easy for me. We need to adapt very quickly, they behaved like professionals, with good spirit.'
Despite the frustration at the afternoon's events, Grant did manage to find some time for humour, speaking with reference to Sir Alex Ferguson's statement that he will miss his biannual bottle of wine with José Mourinho.

'I told Alex before the game I want to bring him good wine but I didn't have time, so next time I promise to bring him some,' he joked.

He also had kind words for the supporters, and their relationship with his predecessor.

'I like the attachment of supporters for José who was here before me. I remember supporters cried when Ranieri left, it just shows we have very good supporters. Me, I'm only here three days, I don't think they have songs for me, maybe in one or two years.'

New Chelsea manager remains positive despite loss to Man Utd

MANCHESTER, England (AFP) — Avram Grant, Chelsea's new manager, insists he is confident he will prove a successful replacement for Jose Mourinho despite a debut defeat against Manchester United.

Two controversial goals - from Carlos Tevez and a Louis Saha penalty - coupled with the first half dismissal of John Obi Mikel saw Grant's first game end in misery at Old Trafford on Sunday.

But Grant shrugged off that catalogue of disasters and declared himself happy with his players' efforts, claiming it was evidence there is a united dressing room over his appointment.

"Except for the first five minutes, we played well in this game," said the Israeli. "I am very proud of how the players have behaved the last three days. It has not been ideal for them or for me. We have had to adapt very quickly but they behaved professionally and gave me very good support."

Grant also clearly has a task ahead of him to win over Chelsea supporters who sang Mourinho's name and unfurled a banner bearing his name, although Grant insisted: "It was very easy for me today.

"I like the attachment of the supporters with the coach, for Jose who was before me. He did good things here. They remember that and it shows our supporters are very good supporters. For me, I have only been here three days so they have no songs for me yet. Maybe after two years they will!"

Despite the uncertainty surrounding Grant's future, Chelsea have confirmed they have no concerns that he will be prevented from taking the post on a long-term basis because he does not own the necessary coaching qualifications, the UEFA Pro Licence.

Under Premier League rules, Grant has a 12-week grace period and the club are understood to have applied for special dispensation because of Grant's experience and seniority and the fact that Israel, where he has spent most of his coaching career, does not have the equivalent licence.

Grant said: "I don't see any problem. It is a process, an arrangement which we are going into now."

Referee Mike Dean showed Obi Mikel a harsh red card in the 31st minute for a lunge on Patrice Evra then played 30 seconds over the additional two minutes shown at the end of the first half to allow Tevez's opening goal.

Then, with two minutes left in the contest, he awarded Saha a spot kick even though TV replays showed no contact from Chelsea defender Tal Ben-Haim.

"The referee tried his best but he made three mistakes," said Grant. "One was a red card, one was a goal after time and one was the penalty. Besides that, he was good.

"Alex Ferguson can be very happy with the referee, he can be more than happy. Those three decisions were strange. If it was one, okay, but one, two, three? For me, it's a little bit strange but now I prefer to look to the future."

Chelsea also confirmed that they have lodged an appeal over Obi Mikel's dismissal although Ferguson was more concerned with the red card that Dean did not show, expressing his outrage with a cynical foul by Joe Cole on Cristiano Ronaldo that was only punished with a yellow card.

"When you see Joe Cole's tackle on Ronaldo, that should have been a straight red," said Ferguson. "It's the kind of tackle that puts players out of the game, a kick from behind right on his Achilles, which is the sort of thing he's getting time and time again.

"He got a yellow card simply because he had sent a player off in the first half. I think it was a balancing out by the referee.

"I thought we should have had a clear penalty kick in the first half but then the game changed with the sending off.

"That was harsh and the second penalty kick seemed a bit harsh but in games like this, referees make quick decisions and can get it wrong."

Chelsea Appeal Over Mikel Red

Chelsea Football Club have lodged an appeal with the Football Association over the sending off of John Obi Mikel on Sunday.
In a fiery encounter at Old Trafford Manchester United ran out 2-0 winners over Chelsea on Sunday.

The complexion of the game changed on the half hour mark, with the scores level, Mikel was given his marching orders after a challenge on Patrice Evra.

TV replays suggested the ruling was harsh, with the midfielder neither going in with two feet or with his foot above the ball. Mikel did, however, show studs.

Referee Mike Dean felt the challenge was worthy of a red, Chelsea boss Avram Grant certainly didn’t, and even United manager Alex Ferguson felt the decision was harsh.

The Scot felt that Joe Cole’s x-rated second-half challenge on Cristiano Ronaldo was far more worthy of the maximum punishment, but the England international escaped with a yellow.

At the post-match news conference a Chelsea spokesperson confirmed that the club will lodge an appeal with the FA over the Mikel sending off.

Drama as Jose Mourinho leaves Blues

2007-09-20T08:43:00.000-07:00

Chelsea are searching for a new manager after Jose Mourinho sensationally left Stamford Bridge by mutual consent on Wednesday night.

Mourinho joined the Blues in June 2004 after guiding FC Porto to Champions League glory.

In his three full seasons with Chelsea he won five major trophies - two successive Premiership titles, two Carling Cup successes and victory against Manchester United in last season's FA Cup Final.

However, he failed to guide the club past the semi-finals of the Champions League and his final game was Tuesday's grim 1-1 draw with Norwegian side Rosenborg.

Without the injured Didier Drogba in recent weeks, Chelsea had looked toothless in attack and the draw against Rosenborg followed a defeat at Aston Villa and goalless stalemate with Blackburn.

Mourinho left after the club held a crisis meeting on Wednesday to discuss the side's indifferent start to the new season

His relationship with Blues owner Roman Abramovich has been poor for some time and he had been tipped to leave the club at the end of last season.

Mourinho, who still had three years left on his contract, texted several senior players on Wednesday night to confirm his departure.

Former Israel coach Avram Grant, recruited in the summer as director of football, is expected to take charge of the side for Sunday's Premier League clash with Manchester United.

Former Chelsea player Didier Deschamps has already been linked with the Stamford Bridge vacancy as has Russia manager Guus Hiddink and Sevilla coach Juande Ramos.

Mourinho took charge of 185 games during his time with the Blues, winning 124, drawing 40 and losing 21. Chelsea are currently unbeaten in their last 60 Premier League games at Stamford Bridge under Mourinho's guidance.

Jose Mourinho
Club: Chelsea
Appointed: 02/ 06/ 2004
Date of Birth: 26/ 01/ 1963
Previous Clubs: FC Porto
Uniao de Leiria
Benfica
Honours:
Chelsea
2005-06 Barclays Premiership Champions
2004-05 Barclays Premiership Champions
League Cup Winners

Jose Mourinho was appointed as the new manager of Chelsea on June 2nd 2004, just two days after Claudio Ranieri's dismissal from the post at Stamford Bridge.

Mourinho arrived at the west London club as one of the most highly-rated young coaches in Europe, having just won the Champions League with Porto after a 3-0 victory over Monaco in the final.

That was the icing on the cake for the determined young boss, who had also steered his side to a successful defence of their Portuguese League title in 2003/04 after guiding them to an amazing treble the previous year of a domestic league and cup double and the UEFA Cup, beating Celtic in a dramatic final.

The son of famous Portugal goalkeeper Felix Mourinho, Jose never played professionally but always had his sights set on a career in coaching. He first came into the spotlight as Bobby Robson's translator at Sporting Lisbon in the early 1990s, having held low-profile positions at Portuguese clubs Estrela Amadora and Vitoria Setubal prior to that.

Mourinho became increasing involved in training under the former England boss and went with him to Porto in 1993, helping the club to two league titles in three years.

In 1996, Robson again took Mourinho with him, this time appointing him as assistant coach at Barcelona, and though Robson left the following year, his number two remained at the Nou Camp to take up a new role under new boss Louis van Gaal.

In 2000, Mourinho took up his first job as a head coach, at Benfica, but he was there for just nine game before he resigned due to problems in the boardroom. Shortly after that, he was appointed coach at little-known club Uniao de Leiria and guided them into the top five of the Portuguese league midway through the 2001/02 season before returning to Porto as head coach.

Mourinho took over at Porto in January 2002 and was able to transform their fortunes immediately, helping them to overcome a poor start to the season to take them to third in the league.

In his first full season in charge, he then delivered three trophies: Portuguese league and cup, and UEFA Cup.

The following season, with the league title already secured once more, he then achieved what most people considered to be an unlikely feat of guiding Porto to glory in the Champions League, beating Manchester United with a last-minute goal at Old Trafford along the way.

Having stated immediately after Porto's victory over Monaco that he expected it to be his last game in charge, as he had promised an English club that he would be their manager the following season, it seemed inevitable that Mourinho was heading for Stamford Bridge.

With the manager's job at Liverpool also up for grabs, his name was linked with Anfield, but it looked more likely that he would be succeeding Claudio Ranieri at Chelsea, and on June 2nd that was confirmed.

After his appointment had been officially announced, Mourinho said: "Chelsea represent a fantastic challenge for me. It is a great club with a world-class squad of players. The plans and ambitions for Chelsea excite me and I am sure they will do the same for the fans whose incredible support I have already witnessed.

"The English Premiership is recognised as the best league in the world and I am really excited at the prospect of competing week in, week out at the highest level in England as well as in Europe."

Meanwhile, Chelsea's chief executive Peter Kenyon said: "The appointment of Jose Mourinho is all about building on the foundations which we have already established at Chelsea. He represents the new generation of football coaches and we are convinced he can take us to the next level, both in England in Europe. His record of sustained success makes him perfect for what we want to achieve at Chelsea."

Mourinho's role as a 21st century team boss is facilitated by the fact that he speaks several languages, and he has also adopted a scientific view of coaching, sometimes asking his players to study videos of their own performances at home, while also working closely with dietary specialists. He also incorporates American-style management techniques into his coaching, giving pep-talks using 'buzzwords', and asking his players to sacrifice their personal ambitions for the success of the team.

His first season in charge of the team was eventful to say the least. After putting Roman Abramovich's money to good use by signing several high profile players, he made a name for himself as a highly composed, if controversial, manager. Despite suffering defeats in the Champions League semi-final and FA Cup Fifth Round, he steered his team to a Carling Cup victory and their first Championship in fifty years, losing only one match and securing the record for most points won in one year.

However, the season was marred by several high-profile disputes. In the Champions League Quarter-Final Second Leg, he accused Barcelona boss Frank Rijkaard of 'influencing the referee' during the half-time break. This lead to a touchline ban during both leags of the semi-final against Bayern Munich. On the domestic front, meanwhile, he was accused of taunting Liverpool fans after his team took the lead in a tense and tight affair at the Millenium Stadium. No action was taken.

The most controversy, however, was reserved for a 'tapping up' scandal in the latter half of the season. After an FA inquiry into Chelsea's alleged unauthorised discussions with Arsenal's Ashley Cole, both Mourinho and Cole, along with the Chelsea board, were handed hefty fines.

Controversy aside, Mourinho's self-confidence, coupled with a large transfer kitty saw his side claim a second successive Barclays Premiership trophy in 05/06. However, success in the FA Cup and, more to the point, the Champions' League still eluded Mourinho as he watched his side crash out in the semi-finals and second round of the competitions respectivly.

Trouble again followed as the Portuguese boss called Arsene Wenger a "voyeur" and the Blues didn't always look the impenetrable force they had been in 04/05, losing to Manchester United, Middlesbrough and Fulham.

The summer captures of Andriy Shevchenko and Michael Ballack bode well for Mourinho's already talented team, but the new additions failed to settle in leading to much criticism of Mourinho from both the press and - allegedly - club owner Roman Abramovich.

Indeed, the 2006/07 season was a mixed one by Mourinho's high standards. On the one hand, he watched his side claim the Carling and FA Cups, beating Arsenal and Manchester United in the finals, but his team also relinquished the Premier League title to their Mancunian rivals and, just as in 2005, fell to defeat in the Champions' League semi-finals to Liverpool.

2007/08 started indifferently for Chelsea, with Mourinho under pressure to deliver style as well as substance, and after a defeat to Aston Villa, a draw against Blackburn and a draw against Rosenborg, he left the club in shock fashion in September 2007.
FC Porto
2003-04 Portuguese League Champions
UEFA Champions League Winners
2002-03 UEFA Cup Winners
Portuguese Cup Winners
Portuguese League Champions

Jose Mourinho - We Love You !

Roman is wrecking Chelsea

KEN BATES has blasted Roman Abramovich for ripping off Chelsea's fans and destroying the club he built.

Bates enjoyed 22 years in charge at Stamford Bridge before selling up to Abramovich in 2003.

But the Leeds chairman admits the Blues are no longer anything like the outfit he saved from going out of business in 1982.

And he fears they will never deliver the kind of football Abramovich craves.

Bates said: "When Roman Abramovich came in he knew nothing about football, he's more interested in making money.

"They haven't treated the supporters very well. They've jacked up the prices so much they've alienated the real fans.

"Fans want to see good football. For the prices Chelsea charge you want the type of football Real Madrid, Barcelona or Arsenal play."

Bates also believes Abramovich has made a mistake by sacking Jose Mourinho.

He added: "If you appoint football men you've got to let them get on with it.

"I was never a fan of Mourinho personally but you can't deny he gets results.

"The difference with Arsenal is the board have left Arsene Wenger to get on with it. I am an admirer of Wenger."

Altough success was limited under Bates, Chelsea fans enjoyed a great era with Glenn Hoddle, Ruud Gullit and Gianluca Vialli ushering in their brand of sexy football.

Dan Petrescu, Roberto Di Matteo and Gianfranco Zola helped the Blues win the FA Cup, the League Cup and the European Cup Winners' Cup under Vialli's leadership.

The Italian's achievements were eclipsed by Mourinho's yet Bates agrees with the critics who claim the Portuguese coach failed to deliver attractive football.

He said: "We had sexy football when I was there — but all those players got the boot, they've all gone."

Chelsea 1 Rosenborg 1 - Champions League 18/9/2007

2007-09-18T22:05:00.000-07:00

First Half Highlight

Second Half Highlight

MATCH REPORT: CHELSEA 1 ROSENBORG 1

Andriy Shevchenko's first goal for Chelsea since his one away to Valencia in April was not enough to prevent a possibly damaging points loss against the group's lowest seeded team.

The Blues struck the post twice in the search for a winner but having gone behind midway through the first-half, we laboured to turn overwhelmingly superior possession into on-target attempts. The stuttering start to the season goes on.

There were just two changes from the side that were frustrated by Blackburn at the weekend.

The French internationals returned, former Champions League winner Makelele in for Sidwell and another player with much experience in the competition, Florent Malouda, replacing Wright-Phillips.

Andriy Shevchenko and Salomon Kalou remained the attacking pair with home debutants on Saturday, Alex and Belletti, retaining their places.

On the bench was Lee Sawyer, fresh from 76 minutes in the reserve team midfield just one night before. He turned 18 ten days ago and was on the first team bench once at the end of last season.

Kalou was at the centre of the early action as the play was all Chelsea's. He had one shot from 20 yards blocked and a header from a Joe Cole cross looped onto the roof of the net.

That was on nine minutes and two minutes later, Shevchenko flicked onto Essien who took one touch and then blasted a right-foot shot into the side-netting when well-placed.

On 17 minutes Rosenborg came close to presenting Chelsea with an opener, Koppinen misjudging an interception, leaving Shevchenko free to raid down the right.

The Ukrainian did the right thing in pulling back to Malouda but the French winger's shot failed to find its way through the defences assembled on the line. Strand cleared.

When a follow-up chance fell Malouda's way, he hooked his shot wide.

There had been little to suggest the Norwegians could trouble Chelsea in the opening quarter of the game but there remained the lurking menace of set-pieces, especially as the French referee was favouring the non-contact version of the sport.

There had already been nine free-kicks by the time Rosenborg were awarded another out on the left on 24 minutes.

The ball came in from Sapara and centre-back Koppinen nipped across Terry to loft the ball over Cech from four yards out.

An already quiet Stamford Bridge was stunned.

The quest for an equaliser was on. Alex headed a Malouda cross wide, Joe Cole drilled a shot five yards off-target and then Kalou went very close with a cross shot after a good Cole ball, all in the space of four minutes.

On 37 minutes, Shevchenko spun his marker as he received Malouda's pass but he too rolled his effort wide of the target.

Chelsea were packing the box and the area in front with bodies, the two wide men almost additional central midfielders to outnumber the Norwegians' central three. As a consequence, full-backs Ashley Cole and Belletti were asked to bomb on

Before the whistle, there was a heated exchange after Sheva inadvertently backed into and fell over an injury-prone opponent in a slapstick moment.

Rosenborg took exception and a pushing match began. You couldn't help suspecting the visitors were happy for the Blues to take their mind off the football.

The Rosenborg player initially involved, Basma, was replaced at the break by ex-Liverpool stopper Kvarme.

Within 43 seconds of the restart the new man had Joe Cole running towards him at pace but a 20 yard effort swung wide of the near post.

But before long Chelsea had to survive a scare. From a cross, the ball was laid back to centrally placed Koné who drove too high with Ashley Cole desperately diving in to block.

Finally, on 52 minutes, some of the tension eased. There was no sign of immediate threat when Malouda floated in another deep cross but it fell perfectly for Shevchenko to head past a committed keeper. It took our number seven to within two goals of Gerd Muller's all-time European record.

Belletti came dangerously close to diverting a low cross into his own net just moments later.

Just past the hour mark, Malouda surged into the area and let fly - but his shot cannoned off the post. Shevchenko was the recipient of the rebound 20 yards out but his attempt struck Kvarme as Rosenborg rode their luck.

The game's 21st foul resulted in its first booking - Dorsin punished for a challenge on Essien but astonishingly the Chelsea man was also cautioned for what the ref decided was a deliberate trip on an opponent as he fell.

It took two brave stops to prevent Chelsea netting a second on 72 minutes, the first on Joe Cole after Kalou had done well, the second by Strand as Belletti seemed certain to make it count.

There immediately followed a double swap involving the two Coles: Wright-Phillips for Joe, Ben-Haim for Ashley.

The changes didn't stop there. John Terry went up front with Shevchenko operating in midfield where he soon won the ball.

Advancing 20 yards, he slipped the ball wide to Kalou who cut in and struck the post with a left-foot shot.

The young Ivorian found too many bodies between him and goal when received Belletti's cross and shot with four minutes remaining.

Kone was booked in the 89th minute for a foul on Belletti but by this stage Chelsea were desperate for a goal, not a caution. It didn't come.

Chelsea Cech; Belletti, Alex, Terry (c), A Cole (Ben-Haim 72); J Cole (Wright-Phillips 72), Makelele, Essien, Malouda; Kalou, Shevchenko.
Scorer Shevchenko 52
Booked Essien 65

Rosenborg Hirschfeld; Strand, Basma (Kvarme h-t), Koppinen, Dorsin; Sapara (Ya 68), Riseth, Tettey; Skjelbred (Iversen 84), Koné, Traoré.
Scorer Koppinen 24
Booked Dorsin 65, Koné 89

REACTION: 20 TO 1 SHOT NO WINNER

Faced with a third straight game without a win, José Mourinho had little trouble identifying the problem behind the latest set-back.

It was a conversion rate in front of goal that fell far below the standard set that troubled our manager, even if unlike the Villa and Blackburn games, the target was found at least once.

'The history of this game is 20 chances, one goal - so to score two goals we need maybe 40 chances and to score three, we need maybe 60!' he said just a few minutes after the final whistle has sounded on a 1-1 draw against Rosenborg.

'In 90 minutes, you don't normally have the time to create 40 chances and 20 were not enough.

'It is not my strikers, it is my team,' he was quick to emphasise.

'We played against a team that played like the smaller teams do when they play the better teams and come to defend. Rosenborg were well organised and they have my respect.

'But I think I am not wrong when I say we produced 20 chances and 15 were not even on target.'

From his words, it didn't take a genius to work out that the absence of last season's two top scorers is proving a difficult handicap to overcome. Mourinho could offer little comfort on that.

'Drogba and Lampard mean more than 50 per cent of goals Chelsea score. The news I want is that players train tomorrow and that news is not coming.

'I am not happy because we cannot score goals and I have no good news from the medical department. I don't think those players can play at the weekend.'

Even Andriy Shevchenko's solitary strike in the second-half would have been enough had Chelsea not conceded from a free-kick on 24 minutes.

'Every player has known for three days what his responsibility is at a set-piece and somebody made a mistake. I am not going to say who,' Mourinho commented.

Rosenborg coach, Knut Torum, revealed that his team had identified this possibility as their most likely source of joy.

'If the top players are a little bit down mentally in their head, then it often shows in the box and at set pieces,' the Norwegian said.

'The last 10 minutes was long, of course. We were tired. We tried to do smart substitutions, and they did a very good job, but the last 10 minutes was tough. If Chelsea had scored we would have just had to congratulate them, but today we did enough.'

Alongside all the specific analysis of the game, there was a wider Champions League group stage picture at which to look. Mourinho gave his view on the early running.

'Of course it is more difficult for us now because normally this is the game you have to win, when you play at home against the team that normally should be the weakest.

'But we are not scared of the situation. Schalke lost at home so maybe it is more difficult to be first now. We need to win something like four points from Valencia for that, but in relation to the second position, Schalke also had a bad result.'

Chelsea 0 Blackburn Rovers 0 - 15/9/2007

2007-09-18T06:35:00.001-07:00

MATCH REPORT: CHELSEA 0 BLACKBURN ROVERS 0

Chelsea missed an opportunity to gain three points today in a game that we controlled.

Although Blackburn worked hard for their point it was the away side's back four that had to work the hardest. Shevchenko failed to score on his return but still had a good performance beside Kalou.

Blackburn made us work for every ball and eventually went away with the draw, Chelsea were unlucky against a strong team.

Before the kick-off there was a minute's applause in dedication to Ian Porterfield, who died on Tuesday. The Chelsea players wore black armbands throughout the match as a sign of respect for the former Chelsea manager.

Today saw Mourinho select Andriy Shevchenko and Joe Cole in the starting eleven, and also give another start to Steve Sidwell, who hadn't played since Reading near the beginning of the current title attempt.

Mark Hughes fronted his usual Blackburn side with Tugay missing the game due to a suspension for his dismissal when a sub against Manchester City.

Mourinho moved back to his 4-4-2 formation, with Shevchenko leading the attack alongside Kalou.

The Blues fans showed Blackburn how to support their side by erupting into a chorus of chanting at the end of the Ian Porterfield's minute applause.

Bentley tripped Joe Cole just past half way in the first minutes of the game; Cole causing problems for Bentley and Blackburn from the kick-off, obviously still riding the momentum of two faultless performances for England in the week.

Joe Cole's opposite man, David Bentley, was the most exciting Blackburn representative on the pitch during the first half, although it all proved to be nothing Ashley Cole couldn't handle.

Sidwell didn't seem to adapt to his role in centre midfield to begin with but he soon settled into the role, partnered by Michael Essien who was his usual attacking self from the start whilst not neglecting his defensive duties.

After ten minutes, Shaun Wright-Phillips managed to launch a shot across the face of the goal after a Chelsea attack down the left. Blackburn were putting in the infamous strong tackles but this didn't phase Chelsea who returned the sentiment, with Sidwell, Essien and Alex breaking down any Blackburn attacks with equal vigour.

For the first 20 minutes Chelsea were controlling the game, with most of the possession coming down the right side thanks to Belletti.

The full-back released a perfectly timed ball into the box soon after. Shevchenko managed to reach it in the air but the contact sent the ball over the bar.

Belletti continued to show exuberance on the right and fed Kalou plenty of long balls.

On the 26th minute, Joe Cole managed to swerve through three Blackburn players on the half way line to knock the ball up to Essien who launched a screaming shot, which Friedel just tipped over, testing the keeper's skills to the maximum.

Dead on the half hour mark, Joe Cole set up a through ball which Kalou received. He then placed the ball at Shevchenko's feet who took it a step too far in front of himself to get a shot off in time, allowing Friedel to collect on the ground.

Wright-Phillips led an attack shortly after to shoot across the face of the goal once more, although Friedel wasn't much bothered by the attempt, which went comfortably wide.

An Ashley Cole run down the left allowed Chelsea to control the ball around the Blackburn area which permitted Essien a shot that was displaced for a corner, leading to a Joe Cole shot on target which Friedel took to his chest.

Joe Cole continued to create problems for Blackburn by launching a lob that landed just short of Ashley Cole right in front the goal.

When the two teams left the field, for half time, there was nothing separating them on the scoreboard. However had Chelsea controlled the first half without allowing any chances for Blackburn.

Sidwell was substituted alongside Wright-Phillips during the 55th minute. John Mikel Obi replaced Sidwell alongside Essien while Florent Malouda replaced Wright Phillips.

Mourinho then changed to a 4-3-3 formation that allowed the game to open up even more with most of the possession staying in the Blackburn half. Not long after the substitutions, Kalou was disallowed a goal after the linesman controversially judged him offside, despite being behind the ball when Belletti passed across the face of the goal for Kalou to tap in.

Jason Roberts came on to replace Benni McCarthy before the 70 minute mark for Blackburn.

On the 73rd minute, Belletti was shown a yellow card after a questionable foul 40 yards out. Joe Cole had been booked a minute earlier. John Terry's back line stayed focused when the ball arrived in the box to win Cech his goal kick.

By the 80th minute the game had levelled out with Blackburn keeping more possession in the Chelsea half, leading to Robbie Savage releasing a shot that Cech tipped over the line for a corner.

A Blackburn delivery then left Chelsea fans witnessing a dicey few seconds in their own box before a shot hit the side netting.

From Cech's kick, Chelsea had another good chance after a counter-attack left Kalou open on the edge of the box to send a shot inches wide.

In the 84th minute, Shevchenko had his best chance of the game from a Malouda cross which Friedel saved but Christopher Samba's head got on the end of a Shevchenko kick, placing him behind the goal to be attended by medical staff.

Andre Oooijer came on to replace the injured Samba who was carried off the pitch in a neck brace to applause from the crowd.

Ashley Cole was replaced by Tal Ben-Haim in the 87th minute.

The crowd began to chant 'Come on Shevchenko' during the 90th minute to which Shevchenko showed his appreciation for the support by applauding the crowd.

With seven minutes of injury time added, Chelsea only had a few more opportunities to take the lead; Terry took one of those chances on the head, in front of the goal, which went over the bar.

Chelsea deserved to take three points from this fixture after controlling the game and keeping most of the possession in the Blackburn half.

Injury time saw the most frantic minutes of the game with three corners and constant attacking play from Chelsea, but Blackburn managed to hold off Shevchenko and Kalou to take a well earned point from this fixture.

Chelsea (4-4-2) Cech: Belletti, Alex, Terry (c), A Cole (Ben-Haim 87): Wright-Phillips (Malouda 55), Sidwell (Mikel 55), Essien, J Cole, Kalou, Shevchenko
Booked J Cole, Belletti.

Blackburn (4-4-2) Friedel: Emerton, Samba (Ooijer 90), Nelsen (c), Warnock: Bentley, Savage, Dunn, Pedersen, Santa Cruz, McCarthy (Roberts 67).
Booked Savage.

REACTION: ONLY GOOD THINGS TO SAY

Despite dropping two points, José Mourinho was satisfied with his team's performance against Blackburn, and insists we deserved all three.

'We lost two points in a performance where I have only good things to say about my players,' Mourinho said. 'A team without big ammunition, without the two target strikers, Didier, Pizarro and without a top scorer like Lampard.

'The team played well against a good team that fought a lot to keep the clean sheet and go home with a point.'

The main talking point of the game will be the disallowance of Salomon Kalou's goal for offside, when replays suggested the Ivorian forward was onside when the ball was played. Naturally, Mourinho was unimpressed with the decision, and believes the linesman's error cost Chelsea all three points, something he was trying to put across to the fourth official.

'Only the linesman can tell why it is not a goal, only him, nobody else,' said the manager. 'The fourth official has no responsibilities in the game with these kind of decisions.

'This is a sport where technology cannot help. It was so obvious that I think you should try to ask the linesman why, because I cannot understand.'

Despite the disappointment of a second consecutive failure to score, Mourinho is sympathetic to his side's attacking options, given the absence of the likes of Drogba, Pizarro and Lampard.

'For such a dominant team, it's not enough, but again I think Aston villa and Blackburn have some responsibility on that because they defended tremendously well with committed teams to keep a clean sheet,' he said, before cheekily adding: 'Villa were successful and Blackburn only conceded one goal, which is not bad for the attacking Chelsea did.

'To be fair Brad Friedel made two fantastic saves at least. We did what we could, not one striker on the bench, but played well enough with a great spirit and great attitude. Goals will arrive, but today we scored a goal that gives three points but we finish only with one point.'

Although clearly unhappy with the officials' decision to rule Kalou's effort out, Mourinho was full of praise for the opposition, who he said 'came here with a very good attitude to play'.

'They started the game very well, but I think Chelsea pushed them back. If the bus was there it was not because they want, it was because Chelsea press and press and press. They defended because Chelsea pushed them, I respect their performance. I have not one single negative thing to say about Blackburn,' Mourinho added.

Rovers manager Mark Hughes also had kind words for his team, who are unbeaten since defeat to us in the FA Cup semi final back in April.

'I thought we stuck at it today, I think in the first half we were a bit guilty of playing too much in our own half and allowed ourselves to be pegged back,' Hughes said.

The former Chelsea star added: 'I've sensed a different mentality in the dressing room, and the qualities the group is showing at the moment enable you to come to places like Stamford Bridge and get something out of the game people wouldn't expect.'

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Aston Villa 2 - Chelsea 0 09/03/2007

2007-09-02T23:13:00.000-07:00

MATCH REPORT: Aston Villa 2 - Chelsea 0

The Villa Park difficulties continue as Mourinho's men go down to a first defeat of the season, conceding goals just after half-time and a few minutes before the final whistle.

A disjointed performance left the Chelsea side struggling to create genuine chances in the box and despite a whole host of set-pieces in our favour, Scott Carson in the Villa goal had too little to do.

It is loss that raised memories of the game at Middlesbrough early last season and questions will inevitably be raised about the team's ability to function without Frank Lampard. A two week break now awaits before positive answers to those can be given on the pitch.

Mourinho reacted to this rarest of circumstances, his missing vice-captain, by changing the shape of the side.

Chelsea lined-up in 4-3-3 formation with Wright-Phillips and Malouda pushed forward alongside Drogba and Makelele coming into midfield for his first action of the season. Essien and Mikel would also patrol the centre ground.

There was a fresh look to the defence with full debuts for Belletti and Alex whose height would hopefully prove useful against the skyscraping John Carew.

Villa drafted in one of their two new signings, Zat Knight at the back, but there was no involvement for Curtis Davies.

With a minute gone, Chelsea had ever right to feel aggrieved when Wright-Phillips slipped goal side of Laursen and attempted to head for the area with the defender practically hanging off his back. Surely a free-kick on the edge of the box at the very least but referee Clattenburg waved play on.

Malouda had an on-target shot deflecetd wide after Belletti had made his first advance down the wing and seen his cross half-cleared.

That had been a promising start but on six minutes Agbonlahor received Young's pass, turned Terry and smacked a shot in from 15 yards out that Cech beat away with superb reflexes.

Malouda had a second effort saved down low and Terry headed a corner over at the far post as Chelsea steadied the ship.

Wright-Phillips continued the pressure by evading a tackle and spinning a shot across the turf that was tipped wide by Carson.

That was with 12 minutes gone. A minute later there was a nervous moment when the ball ricocheted around the box off the boots of Terry and Alex but Agbonlahor planted a good chance straight at Cech.

Wright-Phillips was seeing plenty of the ball in the early stages. On 19 minutes when he found himself on the left and tricked his marker onto the seat of his pants, the England winger disappointing dragged his shot wide.

Villa were not slow to play the ball forward high to where Carew was locked in a physical tussles with Alex and Terry. A couple verdicts in quick succession went the Chelsea defenders' way, raising just a few complaints from the Holte End.

As half-time approached, Wright-Phillips snatched at a shot after good work by Mikel and Cole but although the away team were getting behind the Villa defence frequently, options were proving limited or weren't being spotted.

The corner count at the break was 8-0 to Chelsea although good chances were more evenly matched.

Chelsea survived one more Villa attack just before the break when Agbonlahor kicked air with an acrobatic effort after Cole had cleared away a Young cross.

Villa were fastest out the blocks after the break, Young curling in a shot which Cech tipped over. It might have been clearing the target anyway.

From the corner, Knight climbed above Drogba, headed down and for once, Cole on the line couldn't pull off a clearance.

The home side were one ahead and the former Fulham defender had a debut goal. After the multitude of corners Chelsea had taken, Villa had scored from their first.

The reaction from the bench was quick with Pizarro introduced for Mikel. The young midfielder appeared to be feeling the effects of a first half kick on the foot. Malouda moved to play deeper and more central. Reo-Coker became the game's first booking for a late challenge on Chelsea's repositioned Frenchman.

Searching for the equaliser, the team stayed pushed up through a series of corners and throw-ins although the delivery was not always up to standard.

A double substitution came on 62 minutes with Joe Cole and Salomon Kalou on for Wright-Phillips and Makelele. Kalou was asked to patrol the flanks.

Cole assumed corner taking duties and from his first attempt, Terry headed over.

Barry was booked on 70 minutes for holding on to an escaping Joe Cole and then Drogba became a first Chelsea caution for showing the mildest disagreement with a free-kick decision against him.

Almost immediately two Villa players followed into the book - Carew for a foul on Essien; Agbonlahor for dissent of his own.

It took a special last ditch tackle by Terry to dispossess a goalbound Carew after an Essien slip as time began to run out. There were 14 minutes left on the clock.

Villa were increasingly a claret and blue wall across their penalty area and were defending as if their lives depended on it. When Chelsea did find a gap after a mistake by substitute, Petrov, Essien found Kalou but the young striker's shot rolled wide.

With two minutes remaining, the killer blow was struck. A pass down the wing was taken up by Young whose driven ball into the area cannoned off Agbonlahor and past a helpless Cech.

Joe Cole rolled a shot onto the post into injury time but by that stage, the end of the 18-game unbeaten Premier League run was unpreventable. The day didn't get any better with the sight of Drogba hobbling away after the whistle, aided by the medical staff.

Chelsea (4-3-3): Cech; Belletti, Alex, Terry (c), A Cole; Essien, Makelele (Kalou 62), Mikel (Pizarro 52); Wright-Phillips (J Cole 62), Drogba, Malouda.
Booked Drogba 68

Aston Villa (4-4-2): Carson; Mellberg, Knight, Laursen, Bouma; Agbonlahor, Reo-Coker, Barry (c), Young; Moore, Carew (Petrov 78).
Scorers Knight 47, Agbonlahor 88.
Booked Reo-Coker 55, Barry 70, Carew 70, Agbonlahor 70.

Reading 1 - 2 Chelsea 15/08/2007

2007-08-25T21:59:00.000-07:00

MATCH REPORT: READING 1 CHELSEA 2

Chelsea maintained a 100 per cent start to the season with a narrow victory at the Madejski Stadium, though we didn't have it all our own way.

It was Reading who had taken the lead half an hour in, as substitute Andre Bikey took advantage of a mistake by Petr Cech, but goals after the break from stand-in skipper Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba were enough to give us the three points.

It's the second time in four days we have come from behind to snatch a victory, which hints at the character in the squad, but manager José Mourinho will be unhappy with his side's first half defensive performance, not helped by injury to Ricardo Carvalho.

Chelsea welcomed Drogba back into the starting line-up following his knee injury, with Pizarro relegated to the substitute's bench, while Ferreira returned in place of Glen Johnson at right back.

Michael Essien's injury kept him out of proceedings, and so Steve Sidwell made his first Chelsea start, returning to the ground where he made his name, and Reading had a familiar face for Chelsea fans at centre back, former Blue Michael Duberry.

A pre-match downpour made conditions treacherous early on, this made evident by a couple of fouls conceded by the boys in electricity yellow.

We started comfortably, with Wright-Phillips weaving magic down the right, supplying Drogba with a perfect cross but the Ivorian was adjudged offside. This proved academic as his volley cannoned off the outside of the post and wide.

It was then Reading's chance to pressurise as they forced a trio of corners, but our defence appeared far more comfortable with set pieces than it had at the weekend.

Both sides had a share of possession and looked as though they could create chances, but in the Chelsea box Ben-Haim cleared well, while at the other end we lacked a killer final pass.

In the 20th minute, Ferreira received the ball on the overlap from Wright-Phillips, but his enticing low cross for Drogba was cut out by the safe hands of Marcus Hahnemann.

Within a minute we had a penalty appeal turned down as Kalou went down under a clumsy looking tackle from Duberry, but referee Mike Dean waved play on.

By now we had a grip on the game, and when Malouda forced a corner, Drogba was waiting at the far post, but his volley uncharacteristically went upwards rather than goalwards.

With 28 minutes on the clock, Duberry was forced off with a groin injury, and it was his replacement Bikey who opened the scoring with his first touch.

Nicky Shorey's long diagonal free kick was headed into the goalmouth by Ingimarsson, and as Cech came for the ball, he found his route blocked, allowing it past him, and the tall centre back an easy finish into the open goal.

More bad news followed as Carvalho was forced off injured, replaced by Glen Johnson who tucked in alongside Ben-Haim.

We were lucky it wasn't two shortly after, when Doyle shot straight at Cech rather than finding a corner.

If we were lucky then, we were even more fortunate when Oster's far post volley came back off the post after Hunt had picked him out.

Chelsea's defence, so sturdy at the start of the game, was suddenly leaky, leaving Mourinho, decked out in a lighter raincoat than we normally see, plenty to think about for the break.

Before he had the chance to get his message across Johnson almost levelled as he headed Lampard's header towards goal, but Hahnemann was equal to it.

The manager clearly wanted to make an impact on his men, and sent them out early for the second period, also replacing Sidwell and Ferreira with Mikel and Pizarro, maintaining a 4-4-2 with Wright-Phillips deployed at right back and Kalou shifting to the right wing.

It worked emphatically. Less than two minutes into the second period and we were level.

Lampard burst through from midfield to slot through the legs of Hahnemann after first Pizarro and then Drogba had flicked on.

Another three minutes and it was 2-1, this time Drogba combined with Wright-Phillips who had surged forward, and curled home an exquisite 25-yarder.

This provided the travelling support with reason enough to copy what their hosts had sung in the first half, with a rousing chorus of 'Sidwell, what's the score, Sidwell, Sidwell, what's the score?'

The stronghold on the game had turned upside down, and Chelsea were on top. Pizarro could have made it three, but, off balance, he could only poke wide after Hahnemann was left grounded.

Having seen their lead turn into a deficit in the blink of a proverbial eye, Reading took time to rally, but gradually pulled themselves back into shape and began to pressurise.

Both Bikey and Doyle found themselves well placed inside our box, but couldn't get shots away. Mourinho's harsh half-time words must have had an effect on the Chelsea defence.

As we gained respite from the pressure Reading put on, Pizarro, playing in a withdrawn free role, could have increased the lead.

Malouda broke and found the Peruvian unmarked. He chested down well, but his left-footed half volley crept past Hahnemann's far post.

You got the feeling the next goal, if there were to be one, would be decisive. What came instead though was the dismissal of Kalifa Cisse, dismissed for a second yellow card after a foul on Pizarro.

Royals' manager Steve Coppell's response was to replace forward Shaun Long with defensive midfielder Brynjar Gunnarsson, and then Korean international Seol for Welshman John Oster.

They could find no further breakthrough though as Chelsea kept possession with some delightful crisp passing, buoyed by Mikel and Lampard who had begun to dominate proceedings in the middle third.

By the closing stages Reading had every man, including goalkeeper Hahnemann in our half as they searched desperately for an equaliser, but it was to no avail.

In the final seconds Lampard tackled brilliantly to keep the lead, and then Hunt fluffed his opportunity with an air kick.

Victory means we sit in third place after two games, behind Everton and Manchester City, the only three sides to have won their two games.

Going into the trip to Anfield on Sunday, there is plenty to work on but Mourinho will be relieved to leave this difficult venue with all three points in the bag, and a plethora of attacking options as Pizarro, Drogba and Kalou again impressed.

Reading (4-4-2) Hahnemann; Murty (c), Duberry (Bikey 28), Ingimarsson, Shorey; Oster (Seol 78), Harper, Cisse, Hunt; Doyle, Long (Gunnarsson 74).

Goals Bikey 30

Booked Long, Cisse, Hunt, Ingimarsson

Sent Off Cisse 71

Chelsea (4-4-2): Cech; Ferreira (Pizarro 45), Ben-Haim, Carvalho (Johnson 30), A Cole; Wright-Phillips, Sidwell (Mikel 45), Lampard (c), Malouda; Kalou, Drogba.

Goals Lampard 47, Drogba 50

Booked Carvalho, Sidwell, Wright-Phillips, A Cole, Mikel

First Torres's Goal Against Chelsea

2007-08-25T21:56:00.000-07:00

MATCH REPORT: LIVERPOOL 1 CHELSEA 1

Two of the Premier League heavyweights went toe-to-toe at Anfield and Chelsea have left the arena the happier having won an away point thanks to Frank Lampard's penalty.

Once again the second-half proved the fertile period of the game for the Blues with the goal coming just past the hour. The home side had taken the lead early on through a special effort by new arrival Fernando Torres.

But although the balance of chances favoured Liverpool, Petr Cech will remember this game as one of the easier he has had at Anfield.

Among the outfield players, Michael Essien was back in the side following his knee injury but not in the position he was expected to play. He took to the field at right-back while further in field was the reassuring sight of John Terry, the skipper ready for his first action of the season.

John Mikel Obi was chosen as Frank Lampard's partner in central midfield as José Mourinho once more selected a 4-4-2 shape with wingers. Salomon Kalou and Didier Drogba remained as the starting line-up strikers. New signing Alex was on the bench for the first time.

Liverpool reverted to the line-up from their first league game having made several changes midweek for a Champions League qualifier. Torres was taking his Anfield bow.

An already significant game was given an extra buzz before kick-off with the news that Man United had lost the Manchester derby earlier in the afternoon, that score greeted with equal glee by both sets of fans.

There was an early shot across the Liverpool bows by Drogba after the Ivorian himself had robbed a slumbering Alonso.

There then followed 10 minutes of holding firm as the home side pressed forward but failed to test Cech during the spell, Gerrard was wayward oj a couple of occasions in his delivery. On 11 minutes Essien became the game's first booking as he slid through Arbeloa on the wet turf near the touchline.

It was down that right side of Chelsea's defence that Liverpool found a way through on 15 minutes. Gerrard's ball with the outside of his boot released Torres who took on Ben-Haim on the outside and had the pace to make it, aiming his shot low past Cech and just inside the far post.

On 21 minutes Alonso went to ground and caught the leg of Malouda to earn a talking to from referee Rob Styles. It was hard to see how Essien's carded foul earlier had been worse. Drogba's free-kick from 25 yards was deflected wide.

Kalou took too many touches when found well-placed by Cole after a breakdown in play and then Drogba flicked a Wright-Phillips cross on the run over. Chelsea were coming back into this game.

Kuyt became Liverpool's first booking for a foul on Lampard, the ref indicating it had been one of a succession of offences. Pennant would follow into the book before the break.

A Lampard free-kick five minutes before the interval was fired into the uncertain area between keeper and defence at the back post and Terry was only an inch or two from a telling contact.

Gerrard was another Liverpool booking for sliding through late on Mikel but although the card count was 3-1 by the break, in goals it was the single Torres strike that was separating the teams.

Kalou was replaced by Pizarro in the one half-time change and a difficult heading chance almost immediately came Mikel's way at a corner but with little time to react, he planted it over.

Then on 48 minutes, Pizarro was found by an excellent Wright-Phillips cross at the far post, but stretching, he nodded wide.

Liverpool then won three corners in quick succession, all dealt with adequately.

Cole caught a flying Torres on the touchline, the Spaniard leaving a trailing leg down for a second contact. The Chelsea left-back was booked.

That was shortly before Alonso gently sidefooted a very presentable chance wide on 58 minutes as Liverpool began to look dangerous again.

But then play switched to the other end and Finnan injudiciously slammed into Malouda as Wright-Phillips's pass was coming his way. It was inside the box and in front of the referee. Lampard confidently rifled the penalty home low - the Wembley miss cleared from his mind.

It was the first spot-kick awarded at Anfield in the league since the one converted by the same player when Chelsea won 4-1 here in 2005. Carragher had been booked for protesting.

The goal came on 61 minutes and shortly after, Ben-Haim became another cautioned player as Styles's book started to fill up.

There was a heart in mouth moment as Riise connected well with Pennant's athletic cross but it flew wide. Lampard was then booked for a kick at Alonso and Terry was cautioned for an off the ball push at Torres who had gone down easily in a challenge as the game increasing felt like it was slipping from the officials' control.

With eight minutes to go, it took a good Cech save to keep the scores level when a fierce cross from substitute Babel fell Riise's way at the far post. There was still much work to do to earn a point. Cech was again alive when he looked to have touched Kuyt's header over although a goal-kick was given.

Alex came on for Malouda with 85 minutes on the clock for his debut, keeping close to the recently-introduced Crouch as Chelsea went five at the back.

Babel blasted for the Chelsea goal from the edge of the area but could only find the sidenetting.

Four minutes of stoppage time passed with no further threats at either end to leave Chelsea second-placed in the early season league table.

Chelsea(4-4-2) Cech; Essien, Ben-Haim, Terry (c), A Cole; Wright-Phillips (J Cole 76), Mikel, Lampard, Malouda (Alex 85); Kalou (Pizarro h-t), Drogba.

Scorer Lampard 61

Booked Essien, A Cole, Ben-Haim, Lampard, Terry.

Liverpool (4-4-2): Reina; Finnan, Carragher, Agger, Arbeloa; Pennant (Babel 67), Gerrard (c), Alonso, Riise (Crouch 83); Torres, Kuyt.

Scorer Torres 15

Booked Kuyt, Pennant, Gerrard, Carragher.

Chelsea vs Portsmouth 1 - 0

2007-08-25T21:47:00.000-07:00

MATCH REPORT: CHELSEA 1 PORTSMOUTH 0

Chelsea made it two from two at home in the league as we edged out a determined Portsmouth side at Stamford Bridge today, with Frank Lampard netting the only goal of the game.

The win takes us to the top of the table as Manchester City lost at Arsenal, and manager José Mourinho will be delighted at his side's first clean sheet of 2007/8, which never looked in too much danger of being breached on this hot afternoon.

There was only one change to the Chelsea side that earned a draw up at Anfield last weekend, with Claudio Pizarro replacing Salomon Kalou up front in a 4-4-2 formation.

The Peruvian started the game in fine fettle, crashing an early shot just wide of David James' post, and then just failing to put Lampard in on goal.

After ten minutes it was Pizarro again at the centre of things, creating space for Malouda after linking with Lampard. The Frenchman's shot found the side netting, but it showed we were already in the ascendancy.

Two minutes later and it was Malouda's turn to tee up Pizarro. His inswinging free kick was perfectly measured, but Pizarro headed over when a goal looked likely.

The visitors' first opportunity came in the 20th minute, as Lauren and O'Neil combined down the right hand side. The Cameroon international crossed low into the six yard box, but Michael Essien, again filling in at right back, was able to cover and clear.

Shortly later Matt Taylor came close, as Kanu laid the ball back, and his right-footed curler was deflected inches wide by the boot of Ben-Haim.

With Portsmouth beginning to take a hold on the game, José Mourinho was an animated figure inside his technical area, in contrast to Pompey manager Harry Redknapp, who appeared to be enjoying the August sun.

It wasn't long though before the Blues were celebrating, as Drogba brought Cech's long ball down and laid to Lampard, whose low shot took the slightest of deflections of the underside of Hreidarsson's outstretched boot, and under James.

Chelsea were one up up, and Drogba, who took a knock from Distin in assisting the goal, was OK to continue.

The goal seemed to galvanise the home side, and within a minute Wright-Phillips had tested James again, firing a hard shot into the keeper's chest that he struggled to hold.

Before half-time there was time for Lampard to try his luck again from a free-kick. Fully 30 yards out, his shot swerved and dipped, but James kept his eye on it and was able to gather at the second attempt.

Just before the break Taylor, again on his weaker right foot, tried a cheeky chip over Cech, but the goalkeeper's judgment was spot on, and the ball fell a foot over the bar.

Both teams emerged unchanged for the second half, and it was Chelsea on the offensive immediately.

Malouda rode two challenges from O'Neil before finding Drogba, whose incisive reverse pass found Wright-Phillips who had tucked into an inside left position, but his shot was off target.

Six minutes into the second half, Sean Davis was booked for a foul on Malouda.

Two minutes later, Davis should have put Portsmouth level. Kanu's strength and trickery inside the Chelsea box found space for the midfielder, but he fired over from eight yards.

It was a timely reminder for the Blues that Pompey weren't going to simply roll over, and if that wasn't enough, the counter attack that followed five minutes later should have been, as O'Neil found acres of space but shot just wide from 20 yards.

That was O'Neil's final involvement as he was replaced on the hour by Zimbabwean Benjani, who took a central role up front with Kanu as Utaka began to operate down the left.

In response, Mourinho replaced Pizarro with Kalou in a straight swap. Moments later Juliano Belletti was given his first taste of action in a Chelsea shirt, as he came on for Mikel, with Essien moving to his favoured central midfield role.

From there Essien was able to take the game by the scruff of the neck, and found Malouda in space.

From a central position, the winger fired a powerful effort, looking for his third goal in a Chelsea shirt, but with James beaten, it flew just wide of the top corner.

It was the Ghanaian who gave the ball away in midfield that allowed the visitors their best chance.

He was dispossessed by international team mate Muntari, whose instinctive pass released Benjani, but he lacked composure and shot over.

Kalou made his first contribution in the 78th minute, as he twisted and turned before striking his shot straight at James.

For now, Chelsea were looking comfortable, and the more likely to score. Belletti, who had been untested defensively, released Drogba, who raced with Campbell and James to get there first, and it was the England centre back who got there first, making a perfectly timed tackle to ensure the deficit remained at one.

Redknapp's final throw of the dice came after 82 minutes as he brought on Pamarot and Nugent for Lauren and Taylor.

It very nearly worked, as from a Muntari corner, Ashley Cole was forced to head off the line from Hreidarsson's goalbound header after Nugent's shot had been blocked.

As full-time approached the Portsmouth pressure increased, and Ben-Haim was forced to hack clear following a Sean Davis free kick.

As it was though, we held on for the three points, and on the balance of play it has to be said it was deserved. Portsmouth, for all their endeavour, had rarely threatened Cech's clean sheet, whereas we had looked dangerous on the attack.

Frank Lampard made it three for the season, taking him to the top of the scoring charts, and with ten points from our opening four games, it's been a very good start to the season.

Chelsea (4-4-2): Cech; Essien, Ben-Haim, Terry (c), A Cole; Wright-Phillips (J Cole 74), Mikel (Belletti 64), Lampard (c), Malouda; Pizarro (Kalou 62), Drogba.

Goals Lampard 30
Booked

Portsmouth (4-4-2) James; Lauren (Pamarot 82), Distin, Campbell (c), Hreidarsson; O'Neil (Benjani 60), Muntari, Davis, Taylor (Nugent 82); Kanu, Utaka.

Goals
Booked Davis, Muntari

Chelsea Top 100 Goals

2007-08-20T03:42:00.001-07:00

Arsenal vs Chelsea Incident

2007-08-20T03:39:00.000-07:00

Deco vs Chelsea - Camp Nou

2007-08-20T03:37:00.000-07:00

Cristiano Ronaldo vs Chelsea (Community Shield)

2007-08-20T03:36:00.000-07:00

Valencia - Chelsea Highlights

2007-08-20T03:35:00.001-07:00

Michael Ballack - Chelsea!

2007-08-20T03:32:00.000-07:00

Chelsea 06/07

2007-08-20T03:30:00.000-07:00

Cheryl And Ashley Cole - Showbiz Wedding of the Year ITN New

2007-08-20T03:29:00.000-07:00

Chelsea FC vs Manchester United 2007 Community Shield

2007-08-20T03:26:00.000-07:00

Chelsea v Bayern Munich 2004/2005 at Stamford Bridge

2007-08-20T03:25:00.000-07:00

Chelsea 4-2 Barcelona UEFA European Champions League 04/05

2007-08-20T03:24:00.000-07:00

Jose Mourinho - The special one

2007-08-20T03:22:00.000-07:00

Moments of Jose Mourinho

2007-08-20T03:20:00.000-07:00

Los Angeles Galaxy 0-1 Chelsea

2007-08-20T03:04:00.000-07:00

Chelsea's Celebration Of The Winning Of FA CUP 2007

2007-08-19T00:53:00.000-07:00

Joe Cole Score Against Liverpool

2007-08-19T00:52:00.000-07:00

John Terry Captain Of Chelsea/England

2007-08-19T00:50:00.000-07:00

Frank Lampard MidField Master

2007-08-19T00:49:00.000-07:00

Chelsea Vs Arsenal Full Match

2007-08-19T00:47:00.002-07:00

Chelsea Vs Birmingham 3-2

2007-08-19T00:47:00.001-07:00

Chelsea Top Goal

2007-08-19T00:45:00.000-07:00

Chelsea & Brazil

2007-08-19T00:44:00.000-07:00

Chelsea Crossbar Challenge

2007-08-19T00:42:00.000-07:00

Chelsea 1-0 Manu England Cup

2007-08-19T00:41:00.000-07:00

Chelsea Vs Tottenham 3-3

2007-08-19T00:40:00.000-07:00

Liverpool Vs Chelsea Penalty Shootout

2007-08-19T00:36:00.000-07:00

Ballack Goal

2007-08-19T00:35:00.000-07:00

Didier Drogba All Goals English Premier League

2007-08-19T00:34:00.000-07:00

Chelsea Football Club GOALS

2007-08-19T00:33:00.000-07:00

Robben Goal

2007-08-19T00:31:00.000-07:00

Chelsea Football Club

2007-08-19T00:30:00.000-07:00

Ronaldinho Vs. Chelsea

2007-08-19T00:29:00.000-07:00

Chelsea & Arsenal Brawl - Carling Cup Final

2007-08-19T00:25:00.000-07:00

Sheva GOAL

2007-08-19T00:24:00.000-07:00

Liverpool Vs Chelsea (UEFA Champions League Semi - Final 04/05)

2007-08-19T00:21:00.000-07:00

Chelsea 3-1 Bayern

2007-08-19T00:20:00.000-07:00

Ciao Shevchenko

2007-08-19T00:18:00.000-07:00

Barca 1-Chelsea 1

2007-08-19T00:17:00.000-07:00

Funny Situation For Steven Gerrard

2007-08-19T00:16:00.000-07:00

Chelsea 2_2 Barcalona

2007-08-19T00:12:00.000-07:00

Didier Drogba 3

2007-08-18T23:55:00.001-07:00

Didier Drogba 2

2007-08-18T23:52:00.000-07:00

Didier Drogba

2007-08-18T23:48:00.000-07:00