Ancelotti not worried by axe
Carlo Ancelotti says he will "find another solution without problem" if he is sacked as manager at the end of the season and said the Chelsea players would carry on regardless.Ancelotti delivered the Double last season, but the club's disappointing performances in the Champions League have led to speculation over his position and many believe their failure to secure the Premier League title will be the final straw for Roman Abramovich.
It means Sunday's game at home to Newcastle could be Ancelotti's last at Stamford Bridge but he said: "I don't want to think about it being my last [home] game. I am focused to put the best team out, to win, to say thanks to our fans.
"They gave us fantastic support and it's not been an easy season for them. It doesn't matter if it's the last or not. We have to wait and see what happens at the end of the season."
He added: "I don't know what is going to happen about my future, but I'm not nervous. I'm quiet. I'm calm.
"I hope to stay - I've said a lot of times - but if something's changed, I will find another solution without problem."
Captain John Terry this week said Ancelotti retained his full support but, even though he appears to have a strong bond with many of the players, he does not feel they would be unduly affected by his exit.
"I think that I have a very good relationship with the players, but I don't think it would be a problem for next season if I'm not here," he said. "I hope, obviously, to stay here, but there may be another coach and they'll have the same relationship.
"We're speaking about very professional players, players with a lot of experience. Every coach who was here in the past had a good relationship with the players. They gave, all the time, their best."
On the support from the fans, he added: "For me, it's fantastic. To think they appreciate my job and are close to me, continue to say this, it's a good step and aim that I was able to reach in this year."
There have been reports that Ancelotti had been involved in a bust-up with right-back Jose Bosingwa, who will miss the final two games of the season with a knee injury, but the Italian denied that was the case.
"I read that Bosingwa had an argument with me - he didn't have an argument," he said. "I didn't keep him out of the squad because he made a mistake against United [in the Champions League].
"If he was not involved in the game, it was just for his behaviour, not his mistake."
It has also been suggested that David Luiz will be dropped for the game against Newcastle after his early error allowed Manchester United to take the lead in last week's crunch title match.
"I think that he was not responsible for the defeat," Ancelotti said. "It was a collective mistake, not individual. I was a little bit angry against him, but he doesn't have to be afraid about this. He is a fantastic player.
"The defender has to stay focused for 90 minutes, from the beginning to the end. He is very young. He has to improve on his focus."
Torres will cost 50 mill pound sterling
Fernando Torres' move from Liverpool to Chelsea could cost Blues owner Roman Abramovich up to £95 million.
According to reports in the Daily Mail, the Russian is prepared to spend the £50 million needed to activate the Spanish World Cup winner's transfer clause in his contract, and will also pay £175,000 a week to a player, which will come up to a further £45 million.
This will avoid having to include Nicolas Anelka in the deal to bring Torres to Stamford Bridge, as manager Carlo Anceloti is reluctant to part with the Frenchman, given the quality he brings to the Chelsea side.
According to further reports, Torres has just returned from a short break in Spain, and trained alone at Melwood on Sunday afternoon, with his agents close by with updates on his transfer situation.
The Spaniard handed in an official transfer request at the end of last week after hearing of Chelsea's interest in him, and it was also reported that players in the Liverpool dressing-room believe that if he wants to leave Anfield he should be allowed to.
Reality Cech for The Blues
Genuine sporting giants benefit from an aura that intimidates those who dare to cross them and Carlo Ancelotti's Chelsea appeared to be developing that gleaming sheen of invincibility a couple of weeks ago.
Petr Cech concedes Everton's first goal
Scoring goals aplenty and looking solid at the back, the bookmakers were running scared of the blue machine whose progress towards the Premier League title seemed unstoppable after their hugely impressive 3-0 win at Arsenal last month.
Amid such a mood of optimism, Chelsea's Carling Cup exit at Blackburn was a surprise setback and their defeat at the hands of Manchester City last weekend was equally unexpected, yet this team of hardened professionals were unlikely to be rattled by glancing blows that barely wobbled their steady legs.
A Champions League draw with Apoel Nicosia in an unimportant tie on Tuesday mattered little, yet this latest setback against battling Everton may provide Blues boss Carlo Ancelotti with more concern than any of his slip-ups so far this season.
Doubts surrounding the ability of Petr Cech to deal with high balls into his box are long standing and on the evidence of this shambolic performance, the Czech Republic keeper is in danger of allowing his fragile confidence to slip once again.
Ever since his infamous clash with Reading's Stephen Hunt back in 2006, which resulted in Cech fracturing his skull, there has been a feeling that the big number one is unwilling to put his health on the line when dealing with balls into his box. Well, his edginess returned in abundance as he handed Everton a route into a game in which they were outclassed for long periods at Stamford Bridge.
The early signs of trouble were there for Chelsea as Louis Saha was given space to head on goal and his header ricocheted off the post and into the net via the back of a scrambling Cech. While the Everton striker could take some credit for the 12th minute opener, the keeper's sluggish reaction was the primary reason why the Blues fell behind.
What followed was a period of Chelsea power play that could and should have ended this game as a contest as the ever-impressive Didier Drogba fired a delicious equaliser into the top corner after he linked well with Frank Lampard after 18 minutes and then, with Everton creaking, Nicolas Anelka nonchalantly flicked home the Blues' second.
However, Cech was offering the opposition hope and Everton exposed the Chelsea weak link as a one-sided first half finished with an unlikely equaliser. This time Cech was let down by his defenders as they flapped when trying to clear a free-kick and then failed to deal with the follow up as Yakubu made it 2-2.
It was hardly a surprise to see Chelsea concede again as they appeared vulnerable every time Everton threw a free-kick into the box, with skipper John Terry and long-time defensive partner Ricardo Carvalho looking as if they had been shaken by the uncertainty emanating from the man behind them as they floundered in unfamiliar fashion.
Former England manager Graham Taylor suggested Ancelotti's team were defending too high up the pitch for set-pieces as he sipped on his half-time cup of team in the press room and their edginess showed no signs of ending as the second half progressed at a pace.
Few were shocked when Drogba fired Chelsea into a lead after 60 minutes and yet Cech's crumbling confidence continued to offer Everton hope of another equaliser. Their free-kick trick worked again as indecision between Cech and Drogba saw Louis Saha benefit from a touch of luck as the ball looped off his head and into the net.
Once more, Cech was at fault and even though he did his best to blame others as he screamed abuse in Drogba's direction, the Czech Republic stopper was the epicentre of the fault line that had become a Chelsea defensive nightmare.
After his poor performance in the defeat at Manchester City last weekend, Cech looked like a man shorn of self belief and we have seen such a slump from him just a few months before. I was here as Bolton so nearly snatched a draw after going 4-0 down in a game back in April, with Cech again the fly in Chelsea's ointment as Gary Megson's side launched high balls aplenty into the box late on.
Ancelotti will know it is a major issue that he needs to resolve if Chelsea are to challenge on all fronts, but he was keen to avoid any criticism of Cech as he searched for positives in his post-match press conference. "I feel we put in a good performance with excellent intensity for 90 minutes and the only problem is we did not win," he said.
"Okay, we made some defensive mistakes, but his can happen. We lost a game at Aston Villa a few weeks ago due to set-plays and worked hard to improve. Sometimes the positioning in the box was not good against the set-plays and we will work on that again now. I believe we can get it right."
Everton boss David Moyes was full of praise for his team's efforts and reserved special praise for his lead striker. "We came with a positive outlook and started this game ever so well," he said. "Chelsea have great attacking options and we rode our luck at times, but I felt we deserved a draw for the terrific effort we put in.
"They had some difficulty dealing with our delivery into the box and we stuck to our task well and to get back into the game after they went 3-2 ahead. We had a few people unavailable for this game and to get a result here was something special. Louis Saha was fantastic for us today and the rest of the boys backed him up so well."
Everton have every right to be delighted after earning their point, but the scars left on the reputation of Petr Cech and Chelsea may be the most significant inflicted to date in this season's Premier League title race.
Chelsea to appeal FIFA transfer ban to 2011
Gael Kakuta up against Aston Villa's Moustapha Salifou on August 25Chelsea will launch the "strongest appeal possible" after FIFA banned them from signing any players until January 2011.
World football's governing body revealed on Thursday they would prevent the Blues from registering players for the next two transfer windows after being found guilty of inducing French teenager Gael Kakuta to breach his contract with Lens.
The 18-year-old winger joined Chelsea from the Ligue 1 side in 2007, after which the French club lodged a complaint with FIFA.
FIFA's Dispute Resolution Chamber (DRC) has finally passed their decision on the contractual dispute and handed down a hefty ban and substantial fine to the Blues.
Chelsea hit back at the ruling by issuing the following statement on their official website: "Chelsea will mount the strongest appeal possible following the decision of FIFA's Dispute Resolution Chamber over Gaël Kakuta.
"The sanctions are without precedent to this level and totally disproportionate to the alleged offence and the financial penalty imposed. We cannot comment further until we receive the full written rationale for this extraordinarily arbitrary decision."
FIFA will now send official documentation to Stamford Bridge and upon receipt of those notification papers Chelsea will have 10 days in which to lodge an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). Given the severity of the punishment, it is almost certain the club will take that course of action.
A statement from FIFA read: "The DRC found that the player had indeed breached a contract signed with the French club. Equally, the DRC deemed it to be established that the English club induced the player to such a breach.
"As a result the player was condemned to pay compensation in the amount of €780,000, for which the club, Chelsea, are jointly and severally liable.
"A restriction of four months on his eligibility to play in official matches has been imposed on Kakuta. Chelsea are banned from registering any new players, either nationally or internationally, for the two next entire and consecutive registration periods following the notification of the present decision.
"Furthermore, the club, Chelsea, have to pay Lens training compensation in the amount of €130,000."
Back in July 2005, Italian club Roma were similarly banned from signing players for a period of one year over the controversial signing of defender Philippe Mexes from French club Auxerre. However, on appeal the CAS later ordered FIFA to cut its ban to cover a single transfer window.
Swiss club FC Sion also found themselves in trouble in April 2009 when FIFA banned them from conducting transfers until the end of the 2009/10 season due to their capture of Egyptian goalkeeper Essam El Hadary, who was still under contract with Al-Ahly. FC Sion have appealed to the CAS, with their punishment frozen until the case is concluded.
An interesting twist would therefore surround the timing of Chelsea's appeal. It will be a number of weeks before the official papers are delivered to Stamford Bridge, from which time the club will have those 10 days to appeal. It then takes at least three months for the CAS to hear a case and that means it is highly possible Chelsea will be able to sign players for some or all of the January window.
This was the case with Roma when, after the CAS agreed to hear an appeal, their ban was suspended on August 8, 2005, allowing them to sign players for the remainder of that summer window. It took the CAS four months to hear Roma's case, and if the same happened to Chelsea it is likely that they would be unaffected in January.
Chelsea have been in trouble before over their transfer dealings and in June 2005 were found guilty of 'tapping-up' Arsenal defender Ashley Cole by the Premier League. The Blues were fined £300,000, Cole was fined £100,000 and then manager Jose Mourinho was fined £200,000.
Lille-born Kakuta, a skilful left-footed winger, is viewed as one of Chelsea's most promising young players, although injuries have blighted his time at Stamford Bridge. An excellent first season ended with the Frenchman being voted the Academy's Scholar of the Year after he emerged as the youth team's top scorer with 12 goals in 24 appearances, including six goals in Chelsea's Youth Cup run.
The 2008/09 season was a frustrating one for the France Under-17 international, who managed just seven appearances in total during an injury-curtailed campaign.
He overcame early-season hamstring problems to turn in a string of lively performances but his campaign was brought to a halt when he suffered a double ankle fracture in a friendly against the Glenn Hoddle Academy.
Kakuta's rehabilitation from the serious injury remains ongoing, although what kind of career awaits him at Chelsea on his return is now open to speculation.
Drogba Leaves It lates
Didier Drogba celebrates after bagging the winnerDidier Drogba kept Chelsea's faint title hopes alive with a late winner to secure a 1-0 victory against Portsmouth at a rain-soaked Fratton Park. The Ivorian pounced to convert a low cross from Jose Bosingwa to hand interim coach Guus Hiddink his fourth straight win.
Didier Drogba kept Chelsea's faint title hopes alive with a late winner to secure a 1-0 victory against Portsmouth at a rain-soaked Fratton Park.
The Ivory Coast international pounced to convert a low cross from Jose Bosingwa to hand interim coach Guus Hiddink his fourth straight win as Chelsea boss.
It leaves them four points behind leaders Manchester United who still have two games in hand on the Blues.
But Chelsea were made to battle all the way by Pompey who remain just two points off the relegation places at the foot of the Barclays Premier League.
The home side had Chelsea rocking from the off when a free-kick from Glen Johnson provided Hermann Hreidarsson with a clear chance but his effort from eight yards was deflected wide.
The game was being played in atrocious conditions with rain sweeping down onto the Fratton Park playing surface.
The pitch was extremely slippery and made ball control difficult for both sets of players.
In the 16th minute, Chelsea should have taken the lead but Drogba was inches away from putting the finishing touches to a drilled cross from Ashley Cole.
The Ivorian flung himself at the ball but missed it by inches at the far post.
Moments later a clever ball by Frank Lampard put Drogba through but the Chelsea striker's shot was charged down by the onrushing David James.
Chelsea continued to have the better of the exchanges and in the 21st minute Florent Malouda flashed an angled 20-yard drive beyond the far upright.
Seconds later Chelsea were unable to take advantage of an error by James. The Pompey goalkeeper allowed a cross from Malouda to slip out of his grasp in the wet conditions but Pompey's Sean Davies cleared for a corner.
The Blues had goalkeeper Petr Cech to thank for keeping the scoreline level in the 28th minute when he dived to his right to keep out a powerful low drive from Davis.
A foul by John Terry on Peter Crouch on the edge of the penalty area brought Pompey a free-kick but Johnson smashed his effort straight into Chelsea's defensive wall.
James failed to hold Lampard's 20-yard drive in the 34th minute but again Chelsea were unable to make the most of it as the ball bounced out of his hands.
Chelsea were now beginning to assert some consistent pressure for the first time in the game but the conditions were preventing them from playing the neat passing game they rely on.
Long passes through the middle for Drogba to chase also had little effect with the ball skidding off the surface and out of play on numerous occasions.
Three minutes before the break a goalmouth scramble from a Pompey corner ended in relief for the visitors when Cech pounced to grab the ball inside the six-yard box.
Chelsea almost broke the deadlock in injury time but Michael Ballack's header was just over the bar.
In the 59th minute Chelsea had Cech to thank again as a header from Crouch put David Nugent clear but the Pompey striker's shot was pushed away by the Czech Republic keeper.
Chelsea made two quick changes with Ricardo Quaresma replacing Salomon Kalou and John Obi Mikel making way for Juliano Belletti.
Both sides had increased the tempo but had little luck in the worsening conditions.
A shot from Belletti was well-held by James as it skidded across the turf.
The Blues remained in overall control though and in the 66th minute a cross from Quaresma was headed just over by Drogba who managed to get ahead of Sol Campbell.
Quaresma was providing an excellent service from the right flank and another cross had to be cut-out by Campbell as Drogba lurked inside the six-yard box.
Portsmouth had become penned in their own half and Davis presented the Blues with a free-kick opportunity in the 68th minute when he brought down Lampard.
Lampard, normally deadly from 20 yards, sent the free-kick into the ball and Campbell's clearance sent Crouch racing clear into the Chelsea half.
The England striker crossed for Niko Kranjcar but the Pompey midfielder sent his effort just wide.
But Ivorian Drogba settled the contest when he drilled home a cross from Bosingwa with 11 minutes remaining.
Guus Please Player Have GutsGuus Hiddink celebrated his fourth straight win as Chelsea's interim coach by insisting that the desire for success within the squad is driving them on to try to catch Manchester United."What is good in this team, is that they react when there are difficulties,'' said Hiddink.
"Many players react in a way I normally don't like but this team is not happy when things are not going well and they make an extra effort to get their rewards."I notice there is a desire to have success and we have some key players who are demanding a lot from themselves and also from the other ones, which is key for big players with a big status.
"They challenge each other and it is very open. It shows the team is not fed-up and has desire."In difficult circumstances we are satisfied with a win. It was a tough win. The first half was equal and we tried to push on in the second half because we have to win if we want to put pressure on the number one team in the league.
"It didn't happen until late in the game but we have to admit we are very happy. Petr Cech, at the end, when they played all or nothing, made one or two fine saves."It was very important to get three points because if we want to keep up the pressure, we have to win. United have games in hand and they have a buffer. They are an experienced team but that is why it is good that we keep on winning."It keeps the pressure on.
It is good for everyone in this championship to keep the pressure on the number one team.''Drogba's season at Chelsea has been hampered by injury, suspension and a personality clash with former boss Luiz Felipe Scolari.
He was axed by the former coach after their 3-0 hammering at Old Trafford in January but Hiddink says he has seen nothing wrong with his attitude since taking charge.Drogba ran to the bench to celebrate his goal and Hiddink added: "He is very happy with his goal. He knows he has not scored many goals this season."It gets rid of a bit of tension. When a player is playing in that position and not scoring, then it comes to such an emotional explosion."If you are a striker you like to score.
They live to score and to assist.''Portsmouth's caretaker boss Paul Hart lost his first game in charge since taking control from the sacked Tony Adams to leave Pompey still fighting to avoid relegation.But his disappointment was tempered with knowledge that he has been appointed as manager until the end of the season.
Hart declared: "It is definitely a disappointing result but I thought it was a tremendous performance. We had a strategy and the boys kept to it. We created chances on the back of that but against the top teams you have to stick them away."I think we could have won but two saves by Cech were outstanding. I thought we deserved at least a point.
There are a lot of disappointed players in the dressing room but they know they put in a performance that merited a little bit more."It is how we respond to that now. We have a difficult period of the season to come.
We can take heart from the way we played.''Hart admitted he was very pleased the board had given him the job until the end of the season as it means he and assistant Brian Kidd and focus even more on keeping them in the top flight.
"I am very pleased,'' said Hart. "I think it is good for all concerned the club and the players, because there has been a decision made and we can plan a little bit further on now."Hopefully we can do what the job is about and that is to stay in this division.
It has only been three games but in those games the players have shown magnificent determination and response."If we maintain that spirit we will be a very difficult to beat.''
Chelsea's Drogba denies getting Scolari the Sack
Chelsea striker Didier Drogba has strenuously denied he was part of a player conspiracy to get Luiz Felipe Scolari the sack.
Drogba, Michael Ballack and Petr Cech were alleged to have been the instigators behind the decision by owner Roman Abramovich to axe the Brazilian coach.
The trio were accused of complaining about Scolari's methods when Abramovich met the players at their Cobham training ground.
But Drogba declared: ''No, no, it's not true. The thing is, the boss was there all week and he spoke to all the players.''
He added in an interview with Observer Sport Monthly: ''It's wrong to say Ballack, Petr Cech and me were having a meeting to decide about the future of one manager. It was a board decision, not the players' decision.
''We were all surprised that he went when he did, but everyone could see it was a bad situation and something had to change for the good of the team.
Scolari cuts a lone figure in training.''I guess if you look at the results over the last two months it was clear to see something wasn't working.''
Scolari axed Drogba after his insipid performance during the 3-0 defeat by Manchester United at Old Trafford in January. The Brazilian pointed to a loss of confidence by the Ivorian hit man but Drogba disagrees.
''I've never had a problem with my confidence,'' he added. ''It's not about my confidence, it's still high. I know what I can bring to our team. I don't really agree with what he said. This is his opinion, but everyone has opinions.''
Scolari's replacement, albeit on a temporary basis, has already benefited from the old Drogba magic.
Guus Hiddink has guided Chelsea to three straight wins since he agreed to take charge of the side until the summer and Drogba's matchwinner against Juventus in the Champions League in midweek was testament to his rejuvenation under the Dutchman.
''He (Hiddink) has sent us very positive messages and I think he wants us to believe and win games and that's the thing we have to concentrate on now,'' said Drogba.
''It's finished now and we have to think about the future. His CV is fantastic, it's something we have to respect. I hope he'll see I need some games to be fit, that I'm not 100%. The only thing I wanted was to be ready to help the team.''
Blues leapfrog Liverpool
Frank Lampard kept Chelsea's title hopes alive with a stoppage-time winner against Wigan. John Terry had put Guus Hiddink's side in front in the 25th minute with a thunderous volley but Olivier Kapo looked to have killed of Chelsea's title hopes with an 82nd-minute equaliser.But England midfielder Lampard headed a vital winner to put Chelsea into second place on goal difference above rivals Liverpool.
lampard Saved The BluesFrank Lampard kept Chelsea's title hopes alive with a stoppage-time winner against Wigan.
John Terry had put Guus Hiddink's side in front in the 25th minute with a thunderous volley but Olivier Kapo looked to have killed off Chelsea's title hopes with an 82nd-minute equaliser.
But England midfielder Lampard headed a vital winner to put Chelsea into second place on goal difference above rivals Liverpool.
But Chelsea remain seven points behind leaders Manchester United, who have a game in hand on the Blues.
The contest began with a flurry of niggling challenges but referee Lee Probert refused to issue a yellow card until Chelsea defender Alex lunged at Paul Scharner in the ninth minute.
The niggling fouls continued to interrupt the football and Probert found himself having quiet words with Michael Ballack and Wigan's Michael Brown after the pair clashed off the ball.
Chelsea had goalkeeper Petr Cech to thank for keeping them on level terms in the 17th minute.
Mario Melchiot's ball was helped on by Amr Zaki to put Scharner clean through with just Cech to beat.
However, the Wigan midfielder saw his low shot pushed around the post by the Czech Republic international.
Moments later Terry was booked for a foul on Zaki as Wigan continued to press for an opener.
Chelsea then survived a double scare when Ashley Cole cleared a Titus Bramble header off the line and Terry did likewise seconds later with a Charles N'Zogbia shot.
But Chelsea hit back and Chris Kirkland saved superbly to deny John Obi Mikel.
The Nigerian midfielder let fly with a 25-yard shot that Kirkland did well to tip over the crossbar.
But Chelsea went ahead against the run of play in the 25th minute. Emmerson Boyce partially cleared a cross by Lampard and captain Terry smashed home a volley on the edge of the penalty area to become the highest scoring defender in the club's history.
Lee Cattermole was lucky to escape with just a yellow card in the 28th minute when he left Mikel writhing on the ground with a reckless challenge.
Chelsea were now dominant for the first time in the game and Nicolas Anelka was just wide with a header from Lampard's 31st-minute corner.
Chelsea should have gone further ahead in the 35th minute but Lampard failed to finish when found superbly in the area by Salomon Kalou.
Lampard's shot was kept out by Kirkland and Michael Ballack was then deemed offside when his header from the rebound was cleared off the line by Bramble.
A shot from Didier Drogba was well-saved by Kirkland but when the ball rolled out to Terry, the Chelsea captain was too high with his shot.
In the 43rd minute Kapo brought down Drogba and Lampard tried his luck with the free-kick even though it was some 40 yards from Kirkland's goal.
However, the England midfielder managed to lift the ball over the defensive wall and get it to bounce awkwardly in front of the Wigan goalkeeper.
In the 47th minute, a long ball by Terry was handled by Bramble as Drogba looked to cash-in.
Bramble atoned for his error though minutes later when Lampard put Drogba in the clear.
The Ivorian striker's shot beat the advancing Kirkland but the retreating Bramble acrobatically cleared the goalbound effort.
Wigan were finding it hard to keep pace with Chelsea but they occasionally managed to threaten.
In the 61st minute Cattermole sent a low drive wide of the target from 20 yards but generally, they could not rekindle the form they displayed in the early stages of the game.
The biggest cheer of the second half arrived when Chelsea fans learned of Middlesbrough's second goal against Liverpool.
New caretaker boss Hiddink had complained that Chelsea tired in the second half of their Champions League win over Juventus and there were similar signs as Wigan began to find more space in midfield.
A quick break in the 68th minute ended with the visitors winning a free-kick 25 yards from goal.
But substitute Hugo Rodallega's effort was charged down by Chelsea's defensive wall.
In the 78th minute Wigan wasted a chance to equalise when a cross from Maynor Figueroa was headed over by Scharner. Seconds later Zaki sent a curling effort just wide as Chelsea faded badly.
The inevitable happened in the 82nd minute when Figueroa's cross was turned in by Kapo at the near post.
But with three minutes of injury time to be played, a long clearance was flicked on by Ballack and Lampard got ahead of Melchiot to loop a header over Kirkland for the winner.Hiddink vows to chase UnitedHiddink promised Manchester United a fight to the finish. The Dutchman has now guided Chelsea to three straight wins since he agreed to become caretaker coach until the end of the season."I am realistic and we have to win our games first,'' said Hiddink.
"Hopefully they will be a little bit more comfortable than today."Man Utd are in a good seat but as long as we have a possibility and it is not decided, we will fight and that is what the team showed at Villa last week and again against Wigan."As long as the team is keeping up this fighting spirit, we keep on going for the things that can be reached.''Hiddink gave much credit to a spirited Wigan side that forced Chelsea into two goal-line clearances before Terry struck but he also paid tribute to his team's fighting qualities."The team reacted well after we conceded,'' added Hiddink.
"It is always difficult to get into the next game after playing at European level in midweek."But Wigan deserve a lot of respect for the way they played. they are hard-working and disciplined and play decent football. They caused us lots of problems."They scored the equaliser but the reaction of our team was good in getting the winner in the 90th minute."When you are dominating in the first period we like the game killed.
But I am happy and satisfied for the win."But the way we gave away the control in the second-half is not super-satisfying. I have to be happy but also critical as to where we need to improve.''Wigan boss Steve Bruce claims referee Lee Probert failed to spot a push by Lampard on Mario Melchiot before he headed the winner, but Hiddink was non-plussed.
"There was a lot of pushing in both boxes,'' said Hiddink. "There was a challenge in the box but there was not a lot of contact between Frank and Mario Melchiot."But a couple of seconds before you could say that Michael Ballack was pushed in the area before heading the ball to Frank. But we don't dispute either of these situations.
"I am satisfied with the attitude of the whole team. The leading guys from this house not just Frank and John but also the guys who have been here for two or three years, stood up and reacted. That was good to see.''Meanwhile Bruce was adamant that referee Probert had cost them the chance of their fourth successive draw.
"I thought we deserved something but we didn't get it unfortunately,'' said Bruce."In my opinion the referee has made a poor decision. He is only 15 yards away from it
. Frank has obviously got his hand in Mario's back and he has turned him round as he's gone to head it."It is obvious that he has got that one wrong and it has gone against us. That is a big shame because I thought the team deserved to get something from the game.
"We don't seem to get these decisions in big games, on a big stage."We need the referee to be strong and not to get influenced. But it seems to happen all the time. We can go to Anfield and Stamford Bridge and it doesn't seem to matter against little Wigan. It is very frustrating and disappointing as you can imagine.''
Hiddink Hails Drogba After Battling Performance
Didier Drogba rekindled Chelsea's Champions League ambitions with a first-half matchwinner as Juventus were beaten 1-0 at Stamford Bridge. It gives Guus Hiddink's side a slender advantage ahead of their last-16 second leg in Turin in a fortnight.Guus Hiddink insists he has never had a problem with goal hero Didier Drogba's commitment or motivation since taking over as interim coach at Stamford Bridge.
Mauro Camoranesi of Juventus gets away from Ashley Cole
Drogba, his season hampered by injury, suspension and a fall out with former boss Luiz Felipe Scolari, looked back to his predatory best when he pounced to fire the 12th-minute winner in the 1-0 Champions League last-16 first-leg triumph over Juventus tonight.
The Ivorian was axed by Scolari amid suggestions of a personality clash between the pair but Hiddink, in charge of his side at Stamford Bridge for the first time, has had no concerns with the striker or any other members of the squad.
Drogba's goal provided Chelsea with a slender advantage ahead of the second leg in Turin in a fortnight and Hiddink was full of praise for his efforts.
"I cannot and will not talk about the past because I was not here to judge, but what I normally ask from professional players is to be very committed," said the Dutchman.
"There has not been one player that I have had to motivate. If I had to motivate a player, then I think I start fighting with him or neglecting him, generally speaking.
"I have not had this problem at all with Drogba. From the first day I was here, he enjoyed training and worked hard. He worked hard against Villa and again tonight. So I don't have any problems with under-motivated players."
Chelsea began the game at an exceptionally high tempo but Hiddink accepted that his side faded badly in the second half.
But while they managed to prevent Juventus from scoring an all-important away goal, the Dutchman concedes the tie is far from over.
"I am satisfied with a narrow 1-0 win but overall I am not satisfied," he added.
"We cannot be satisfied. In the first part we started very good and opened our attacks through the wings. We were dangerous in the first 15 or 20 minutes.
"But after the goal we dropped back and allowed some distance between our attack, midfield and defence, so Juve could play the ball in between.
"If we had continued to play the way we did in the first 20 minutes, we could have scored another goal.
"We had some attacks in the second half but Juventus dominated. But although they created danger they did not have one open chance for an equaliser.
"It is good to have a clean sheet. Juventus now have to try and score. We will try to score there. But it will be difficult. Juve are smart and are always dangerous around the box. It will be hard."
Meanwhile, former Chelsea boss Claudio Ranieri was delighted with the warm reception he received from the home fans before the kick-off but rued the lack of an away goal.
Ranieri never won a trophy in his four years in charge at Stamford Bridge but received a louder round of applause than Hiddink.
"I have to say I was extremely happy with the reception, because it showed they had not forgotten me," said Ranieri. "I spent four years here and I enjoyed them."
"I would like to thank them for the reception. But scoring an away goal in a match like this would have been better for us.
"We knew going into the game that it would be difficult. That's why it was important for us to try and get a goal.
"The players are happy with the performance and Gianluigi Buffon is saying that it is our best against an English side, but perhaps it would have been better to play not so well and get a result."
Ranieri, who left the Blues in the summer of 2004, was pleased with the display and relieved Juventus kept the margin at 1-0.
"We wanted to be playing at a high tempo from the beginning but it just didn't happen. Chelsea prevented it from happening to a certain extent," he added.
"I felt that we shut them down and went on the attack. Had we conceded a second goal it would have made our task even harder."
Milan Boss Ancelotti plays down Chelsea link
AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti has dismissed reports linking him with the manager's job at Chelsea next season.
Ancelotti's twin Champions League wins make him Abramovich's principal target.Ancelotti has been continually linked with a possible move to Chelsea with Guus Hiddink not expected to stay on at Stamford Bridge on a permanent basis and the Italian is thought to be one of Chelsea's top targets if they need a new manager in the summer.
Ancelotti, who has found himself under pressure at Milan this season, has distanced himself from reports of an exit: "That's news to me," he told Sky Italia.
However, speaking after his team defeated Cagliari 1-0 to cement their third position in Serie A, Ancelotti said the whistles from the fans towards him and match-winner Clarence Seedorf showed signs of a possible crack in relations.
"I think there is a bit of intolerance towards me, but that is only normal," he said. "We have been together for so long and to see the same face over and over again, you need a lot of patience.
"All I can say is that my relationship with the club is still the same after seven years. I feel the same levels of esteem and affection from the club."
His future remains the focus of intense speculation in Italy and the name of Leonardo has already emerged as a potential replacement.
However, the Brazilian, who played his last game as a professional under Ancelotti in 2003 and now works as a scout and official for the Serie A club, said he had no interest in succeeding Ancelotti.
"I am not a candidate and am happy with the position I occupy," he said. "I have a great relationship with Carlo and I hope he succeeds in qualifying for the Champions League and wins the UEFA Cup.
"I am sorry to hear the rumours which are circulating at present."
Anelka : Drogba partnership could have saved Phil
Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka has suggested that he and Didier Drogba could have saved Luiz Felipe Scolari's job had the Brazilian played them in tandem.
Scolari was sacked as Blues manager a week ago after a run of poor results and performances, with Anelka and Drogba fighting for a single striking role under the former Portugal boss.Anelka scored a 15-minute hat-trick in Saturday's 3-1 FA Cup victory over Watford when the Ivorian was brought on alongside him and believes that had they been given the chance to shine, their goals could have turned the club's form around.
''Of course we can work as a partnership for Chelsea,'' Anelka told The Sun. ''I have said it before and so has Didier but Scolari never tried playing us together.
''It was me scoring this time, but it might be Didier next time. That's good for Chelsea.''
The Ivorian has been dogged by injury problems so far this season but when asked whether he could get back to his best, Drogba said: ''I hope so. When you are sidelined for four months like I was, and then you return and get injured again, it isn't easy.
''The important thing for me now is simply to be on the pitch. It is up to me to show that I deserve to be on the pitch. I hadn't lost my instincts, I just lacked matches.
''If you want to improve your condition, it is better to be on the pitch. Training is all well and good but playing for 90 minutes is better.''
Scolari tended to operate with a lone striker but Drogba admits the pressure is now on him and Nicolas Anelka to prove they can work as an attacking partnership.
''There is something between us,'' Drogba told French sports newspaper L'Equipe. ''We are both quite intelligent players who know how to play together and create spaces for one another.
''It is a long time since he scored and then he scores three, three real striker's goals. I hope that will provide him with a boost, because the team needs him.''
Robinho : Chelsea was wrong to sack Scolari
Robinho believes Chelsea were wrong to sack Luiz Felipe Scolari after just seven months in charge.Scolari was dismissed on Monday following a poor run of results which left the Blues with only a slim chance of claiming the Premier League title.
One of Scolari's first acts as Chelsea manager last summer was to try to sign Brazilian compatriot Robinho, although Manchester City swooped in to capture the forward in a last-minute deal.
Robinho does not think Scolari was given enough time in the role, while he has been surprised by stories that a number of Chelsea players found it difficult to work under him.
"I know Scolari very well and he talks a lot with the players. I don't understand why some Chelsea players have not accepted him and that has been the key to irregular results of recent weeks," Robinho told The People.
"I did not expect the sacking of Scolari but so many unexpected things happen in English football.
"Felipe is a great coach and he showed that with Brazil and Portugal. They have not given him the necessary time at Chelsea.
"It is another club and I should not get too involved, but I think they have got it wrong."
Wilkins tips Hiddink to stay on
Chelsea coach Ray Wilkins believes Guus Hiddink will stay on as the Stamford Bridge boss after the summer - and insists captain John Terry is going nowhere. Wilkins, who picked the team that beat Watford in the FA Cup fifth round, feels Hiddink will love the Premier League and eventually want to remain in his role.
Terry Stayin at Chelsea after City interest leaked
Chelsea captain John Terry has dismissed speculation over his future by declaring he remains committed to finishing his career at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea and Terry moved swiftly to reject the latest speculation linking him with a move to Manchester City in the summer - although the London club confirmed City made an enquiry late last year.
Media reports suggested that Terry was 'disillusioned' at the club and while the Blues recognised City had expressed interest, Chelsea made it plain they were not willing to sell.
Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon said: "We made it very clear that John was not for sale. We did not entertain any further conversation on the subject and nor will we in the future. John is our captain and the captain of England. He is part of the heart and soul of Chelsea.''
Chelsea have been waiting to put an end to speculation over Terry's future for some time and decided to issue the statement after the latest media reports.
Terry had been kept fully informed of City's interest but the defender made it clear to the club at the time that he had no intention of moving on.
Now the England captain hopes his latest comments will end any notion of him leaving.
"Chelsea told me what had happened with the enquiry as a courtesy,'' said Terry. "I was very happy with their reaction as mine would have been the same.
"I have always said that I want to end my career at the club which I love and we all see no reason why that cannot happen.
"Given recent events I am more determined than ever to make Chelsea successful again.''
The club issued their latest accounts last Friday and recorded a loss of almost £66million. As a result players are likely to be sold to fund new additions to the squad in the summer.
However, Chelsea are adamant that whatever the financial situation at Stamford Bridge, Terry is not for sale at any price.
The defender was suspended for yesterday's 3-1 victory over Watford in the fifth round of the FA Cup but is set to return for interim coach Guus Hiddink's first game in charge at Aston Villa next weekend.
Chelsea coach Ray Wilkins believes Guus Hiddink will stay on as the Stamford Bridge boss after the summer - and insists captain John Terry is going nowhere.
Wilkins, who picked the team that beat Watford in the FA Cup fifth round, feels Hiddink will love the Premier League and eventually want to remain in his role.
Hiddink has a short-term contract until the end of the season, and will continue as Russia boss in the meantime.
Wilkins said on BBC Five Live's Sportsweek: "I would have thought that there will be a large body of people who will want Guus to stay if he does well from now until the end of the season.
"He has come in with a fresh attitude and wants the players to work extremely hard. I would agree that Guus would want to stay once he has sampled the Premier League.
"Any manager coming into our league, if he is half successful, would want to stay involved. The crowds are fantastic. That's week in, week out. Foreign managers really enjoy the pace and atmosphere.''
Wilkins believes former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho will one day return to the Premier League - but not necessarily at Chelsea.
"Football is a strange game. I would love to see Jose back in the Premier League, whether it was with Chelsea I have no idea,'' Wilkins said. "He is a fantastic character and he would be good for the Premier League.''
Jose Says he'll return to Chelsea one day
Jose Mourinho believes he will return to Chelsea sometime in the future. The London club, have put Russia coach Guus Hiddink in charge until the end of the season after sacking Luiz Felipe Scolari on Monday but the Portugese boss, sacked in September 2007, seemingly believes he has unfinished business at Stamford Bridge."If you ask me if one day I think I will return to Chelsea, I will tell you yes I think so, I think so because we were so happy together," Internazionale boss Mourinho told a news conference ahead of Sunday's derby against AC Milan. "But when I say one day, I am not saying to you when."
"I am not there, I am just a supporter from the outside," he continued. "I'm somebody who wishes them good because it's a special club for me, I have special friends there.
"I belong to their story, they belong to my story so I am not enjoying this period where they have had several managers in one year and a few months.
"I hope they find stability and go back to (winning) trophies."
Inter team have a seven-point lead at the top of Serie A, said he was not surprised to see England midfielder David Beckham doing well during his loan spell at AC Milan from Los Angeles Galaxy.
"I knew in advance all the fears people had about him were not fair," said Mourinho. "I knew he was a top professional, he arrived in great condition with great ambition.
"He has adapted very well, he is playing very well. He is giving different kinds of qualities to his team and I hope he stays for the good of the league."
Hiddnk arrives
Posted on: Thu 12 Feb 2009Guus Hiddink arrived at Cobham this afternoon to meet the players and watch his first training session.
The Dutchman, whose appointment was confirmed by the club on Wednesday, arrived at the training ground shortly before 1pm when he was greeted by Peter Kenyon. The pair took a tour of the main building and met some of the players in the treatment room.
Next, Kenyon introduced the 62-year-old to staff, before continuing to the first team dressing room where the chief executive introduced him to the remaining players.
Those who had played major roles on international duty undertook their recovery session in the state-of-the-art swimming pool, while Hiddink accompanied chairman Bruce Buck out on to the training field to watch the main session, led by Ray Wilkins and Paul Clement. They were later joined by Roman Abramovich and director Eugene Tenenbaum.
Wilkins, who will lead the team against Watford in the FA Cup on Saturday, chatted with the new coach while Clement oversaw a warm-up and then a sprinting and agility exercise.
Possession games followed under Wilkins' direction as Hiddink continued to observe the mix of first team and reserve players, and the session finished with a junior versus senior game on a half-pitch, with both sides limited to three touches, encouraging quick decision making.
Hiddink has outlined his intention to begin work on the training field on Monday, after the trip to Watford. You will be able to hear more from Ray Wilkins on that game tomorrow, while Chelsea TV will be carrying an exclusive interview with Guus Hiddink this evening.
Hiddink Takes Over
Chelsea Football Club is delighted to confirm Guus Hiddink will become temporary coach until the end of the season. He is due to meet the players later this week.
The club would like to take this opportunity to thank the Russian Football Union for their understanding and cooperation.
The 62-year-old has been with the Russian national team since 2006, guiding them to the semi-finals of Euro 2008, a competition they qualified for at the expense of England.
During that qualifying campaign, Russia beat an English side in Moscow that included Frank Lampard, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Joe Cole. Captain John Terry was absent through injury.
During the summer tournament, Hiddink's Russia excelled, cruising through the group stages with wins against Greece and Sweden, before quarter-final victory over his native Holland.
It was that 3-1 extra-time victory that made everyone sit up and take notice of the Russians' attacking vigour, before defeat to eventual champions Spain saw them eliminated.
The Russian role is Hiddink's fourth at international level, following successful spells with Australia, where in 2006 he led the country to its first World Cup Finals since 1974, South Korea, where he guided the co-host nation to fourth place in 2002, having earlier in the tournament secured their first ever win in the tournament, and Holland, who also reached the last four of the World Cup in 1998. It was a Michael Ballack goal that spoilt Korean dreams at the semi-final stage.
Despite this success, Hiddink's mark on the club stage is equally impressive. Upon leaving the South Korean post in 2002 (having been awarded honorary citizenship) he returned to Holland and PSV, for whom he had played during the early 1970s, and coached to a European Cup victory and a hat-trick of Eredivisie titles in the late 1980s. Included was a domestic and European treble in 1988.
His second spell at the Eindhoven club, which he combined for a time with the Australian national coach role, brought more success. Three more league championships in four years, coupled with a semi-final appearance in the Champions League, at a time when domestic Dutch football has lost some of the weight it used to enjoy, was a mighty achievement.
It was only an 89th minute goal by AC Milan that took the Italians past PSV to play Liverpool in the 2005 Final in Istanbul.
Hiddink's initial spell in Eindhoven was followed by a one-season stay in Turkey at Fenerbahçe before an association with Spanish league football that would occupy him for the greater part of the 1990s began.
Three years at Valencia, in which the club twice finished fourth, were brought to an end by the offer of the Dutch national job but when Hiddink returned to the Iberian peninsula, it was to the Bernabéu and the top job with Real Madrid.
The World Club Cup was won but the capital's famous club proved impatient when domestic results didn't immediately match that triumph and he left after just half of the 1998/99 season, moving quickly south to take charge of Real Betis.
He remained in Seville until the end of the 1999/00 season when his career path turned back towards international management and the South Korea challenge where a reputation for producing attacking, high-tempo football was further enhanced.
Speaking about the appointment, Hiddink said: '[Roman] Abramovich does so much for Russian football that I wanted to do something back.'
'There are two scenarios: it goes bad and they say "go back east" or it goes well, but I'm not thinking that far ahead.'
Essien's involvement
There was good news from the training field on Wednesday as Michael Essien took part in his first group session since sustaining a serious knee injury in September.
The Ghanaian ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament on international duty in the early stages of this season, and has since been working hard on the lonely road to recovery, mainly with rehabilitation physio Thierry Laurent.
Having recently undertaken some physical ball work outside at Cobham, today was the first opportunity for Essien, 26, to join in with his team-mates, albeit in a non-contact session lacking many of the first team squad due to their own international commitments.
It is standard at this stage of rehab for a player to begin exercising with other players, and Essien has not yet returned to full training, the aim for which has always been at the end of February, with a view to getting him playing again by the middle to end of March.
During the session, again led by Paul Clement and Ray Wilkins, there were a series of small-sided games, played with a high intensity much like Tuesday's session. Returning to the group were the reserve team players who figured heavily in Monday's match against the Glenn Hoddle Academy.
Unsettled Chelsea striker Didier Drogba has admitted that the club are finding things ''a little difficult at the moment'' but has cooled talk of a potential move away from Stamford Bridge and vowed to help the Blues get back on track.
It has been a season to forget so far for Drogba with injury, poor form and suspension seeing him fall out of favour with Chelsea boss Luiz Felipe Scolari, a fact which many Blues fans feel has contributed to the club's recent string of disappointing results.
Scolari left Drogba out of the starting line-up for Saturday's 0-0 home draw with Hull City and when the Brazilian coach decided to introduce the Ivory Coast striker in place of Ricardo Quaresma sections of an increasingly disillusioned Stamford Bridge taunted Scolari with calls of 'You don't know what you're doing'.
Being held to a goalless draw at home by Hull - a team in terrible form (only Portsmouth and Middlesbrough are on worse runs) - coupled with other results over the weekend has seen Chelsea slip to fourth in the Premier League table, seven points behind leaders Manchester United who have game in hand all-but ending the club's title ambitions.
However, despite their current form and the current standings Drogba is confident both he and the west London outfit will overcome their current troubles.
''It's a little difficult at the moment, but we will find ways to return,'' the 30-year-old told L'Equipe. ''I hope in the Champions League we will do well. You can't have a 10-year career where everything is great. I am in a period like that - a little less good.
''Is this difficult to experience? If I say no, people will say I am not ambitious. If I say yes, people will think I am demoralised when it is really not the case.
''It is not easy but it is not the end of the world. The main thing is that I am in good health physically.''
The striker, who stopped off in France en route to linking-up with his Ivory Coast team-mates ahead of Wednesday's friendly international away to Turkey, played down talk he could be interested in a return to Olympique Marseille, the club he left to join Chelsea in 2004.
''Nino (Sylvain Wiltord) is there and Brandao has just arrived. Let's trust these people rather than talk about Drogba,'' he said after watching his former team beat Bordeaux 1-0 at the Stade Velodrome on Sunday night.
LAMPS - 400 NOT OUT
Tonight Chelsea TV celebrates Frank Lampard's fantastic milestone of 400 games in a blue shirt.
Our vice-captain, who first joined the club in 2001, personally celebrated his 400th appearance with a dramatic, stoppage time winner against Stoke City last month, and now joins the Chelsea TV team to look back over his quadruple-century.
'Out of all the goals and all the performances, that's probably not far off being as elated as I have been from a goal and from a result,' explained Lampard as he looked back at that home win over Stoke.
'It was a nice way to cap your 400th I suppose, because it was in the last minute, after all the stick we had been under.
'We deserved to win the game, we looked like we were going to lose it and I popped up with the winner and went and gave the manager a cuddle.'
Starting at 7pm, 400 Not Out is an hour-long interview with one of the greatest midfielders in the world and a man born for Chelsea.
Lampard has been an integral part of the Blues from the moment he arrived, and has changed the outcome of hundreds of games, all of which he looks back over this evening.
From that crucial goal against Barcelona in the Champions League to the more recent penalty against Liverpool last year, Super Frank reminisces on it all while regaling fans with tales from the changing rooms.
One of the most important parts of his career with the Blues is his relationship with our captain John Terry, a friendship cemented through football, but Lampard has seen many greats come and go during his time at the club, from Eidur Gudjohnsen to Emmanuel Petit, he talks about them all in this exclusive and unique insight into the life of the country's most revered midfield man.
There is one name that stands out in terms of influence though, and you can watch Lampard talk all about another Chelsea great, Gianfranco Zola.
'What a man, what a player,' explained Lampard: 'The best player I've played with and that's because of how he held himself and what he gave to the young players around him.'
If any fans miss the first viewing of 400 Not Out, do not despair, as the exclusive interview will be repeated later on this evening at 10.30pm.
Chelsea Sacked Scolari
The Brazilian, who joined the Premier League club last summer, was expected to reinvigorate the club's fortunes and lead them to titles at home and in Europe, but after a poor run of form the axe has fallen.
Avram Grant, the man Scolari replaced, has emerged as one of the candidates on Chelsea's shortlist to replace the World Cup-winning manager. The other name thought to be on Chelsea's list is Russia's national team coach, Guus Hiddink though the bookmakers' favourites are a dream team of Gianfranco Zola and Steve Clarke.
Much of the talk among Chelsea fans already revolves around the combination of club legend Zola and former Blues player and coach Clarke, who left the Bridge to join up with his former team-mate at West Ham. Messages on banners unfurled at Stamford Bridge on Saturday demanded the end of Scolari's reign and the appointment of Zola and Clarke.
Ray Wilkins replaces Scolari on a temporary basis until a full-time replacement can be appointed.
A statement on the Chelsea website read: "Luiz Felipe Scolari has been dismissed as manager of Chelsea Football Club today (Monday) with immediate effect. The Chelsea board would like to place on record our gratitude for his time as manager.
"Felipe has brought many positives to the club since he joined and we all feel a sense of sadness that our relationship has ended so soon. Unfortunately the results and performances of the team appeared to be deteriorating at a key time in the season.
"In order to maintain a challenge for the trophies we are still competing for we felt the only option was to make the change now. The search for a new manager has already started and we hope to have someone in place as soon as possible."
One name to be discounted is Roberto Mancini, according to his agent. Mancini, who is unemployed since being sacked by Inter Milan last summer, has been linked with a move to the London club in recent months.
However, his agent Giorgio De Giorgis has had no contact with Chelsea.
De Giorgis said to the Italian media: "No-one has contacted us, hence, I exclude the possibility that Mancini will go to Chelsea. We are aware of Scolari's sacking but they would have contacted us in the case they had though about him (Mancini). Instead, they have contacted others."
Drogba not part of loan deal
Inter Milan sporting director Marco Branca has not ruled out a summer move for Didier Drogba and has insisted the club's transfer targets have yet to be identified. Inter loaned Ricardo Quaresma to the Blues after he endured an unhappy time in Italy since his £20million move from Porto last year.
If Quaresma is a success at Stamford Bridge there is every chance coach Luiz Felipe Scolari would want to make the switch a permanent one next summer.
"Chelsea strongly wanted Quaresma, there was no hidden agenda, we only wanted to give him a chance to play more and grow, then next year we will decide what to do with him," said Branca.
Drogba has struggled to find his best form during a season hampered by injury and suspension.
The Ivorian was recently axed from the first-team squad by Scolari after a number of sub-standard performances.
He has been consistently liked with a move to rejoin former Blues boss Jose Mourinho in Serie A but Branca added: "Drogba? At the moment we don't have clear objectives, we know that most probably we will need to buy one or two new players next season, but only of the highest quality."
Quaresma himself is looking forward to his new challenge after such a torrid time at San Siro: "I don't regret going to Milan as sometimes things happen that you can't really control. These things happen in football.
"Players can't really prove anything, if they don't have the opportunity to show what they can do.
"Mr Scolari gives you lots of confidence so I am confident I will give my best for Chelsea. I want to show Chelsea my appreciation and joy on the pitch.
"Each coach has their own ideas and we have to respect that. I don't think I have to prove anything to anybody.
"You get criticism everywhere, some people like you, some don't - that is natural in football and life.
"I don't care about that. What I care about is working hard and helping Chelsea achieve their goals and that's it.
"I heard from Mr Mourinho that Inter were thinking of loaning me to a club and when I heard about Chelsea, I didn't think twice."
Quaresma will remain with Chelsea until the end of the season but the winger is unsure as to whether his spell could lead to a permanent deal in the summer.
"At the moment I am a Chelsea player," said Quaresma. "I signed a very short contract and I am going to show my best qualities. After that I don't know."
REACTION: ANXIETY ATTACK
Ray Wilkins was man from the Chelsea dressing room who reflected on a Saturday afternoon when frustration was felt all around Stamford Bridge.
It was an afternoon that took the dropped points at home total to 16 for the season, and the assistant first team coach admitted a record like that is having an impact on the players' belief.
'There seems to be a little anxiety with the lads when the goal doesn't come early on,' Wilkins said.
'We had a chance very early on with JT but unfortunately he didn't put it in. Had that gone in I am sure it would have settled the boys down and they would have gone on to win comfortably.
'We are immensely disappointed we didn't pick up three points. We huffed and we puffed, created a lot of chances but unfortunately have not been able to put the ball into the back of the net.
'We managed to claw it back against Stoke,' he added, recalling last month's dramatic turnaround, a victory that begun a run of three home wins prior to the Hull visit.
'We gave the same endeavour as we did against Stoke but unfortunately we couldn't pull off those bits of clinical finishing that would have finished it off.'
For all Chelsea's chances, the captain's included, Wilkins didn't deny that Hull had their moments too, and increasingly so as the clock ticked on.
'Hull gave us another tough game because they are extremely well organised and in the last 15 minutes when we were pressing for that winning goal, they had a couple of chances themselves.'
'We could have nicked it,' agreed Hull manager Phil Brown. He was not the first manager to leave the Bridge this season commending his team's work rate. He had lined his side up in with a five-man midfield and had made a late decision to include his star of the early season, Geovanni, who became less impressive as the Tigers' form began to slide. The Brazilian was detailed to keep close to John Mikel Obi.
'Ours was a game plan designed on hard work, riding luck in front of both goals,' said Brown.
'We did that successfully in the first minute when John Terry put one over the bar from a yard. Slowly and surely in the second half the tide was turning, we were playing good counter-attacking football and the best chances fell to us.
'We hit the post through a Kevin Kilbane header and Craig Fagan on a good day could have walked away with a hat-trick.'
Frustration in the stands as the game remained goalless turned into audible comment when debutant Ricardo Quaresma was taken off just after the hour.
'Quaresma is short of match fitness and you could see that he was waning after an hour,' explained Wilkins. 'So that change had to be made, that was enforced upon us.
'He will get better, he will get fitter. He showed especially in the first 20 minutes that he has quality.
'It is unnecessary and I don't think it should be heard around the stadium,' he said on the chanting that followed the substitution.
'I think it would have been a minority chanting it, kicking it off, and then people get on the back of that and that is their prerogative because they pay their money.
'They pay a lot of money to watch football and if they want to boo, by all means come and boo, but to say someone doesn't know what they are doing when he [Luiz Felipe Scolari] has achieved all he has achieved in the game, is a tad out of order.
'I think you will find that second, third and fourth places from here on in will change on numerous occasions,' Wilkins said, widening his thoughts to the remainder of the season.
'It will be tough for everyone to catch Man United but we will give it a damn good go.
'Away to Watford in the Cup will be on a pitch that will be quite unusual to what these guys are used to playing on so that is going to be a bit of a test for us. Away at Aston Villa, who had another fantastic result today, will be tough and then we have the might of Juventus. But when the Champions League comes round, that is when really big players come to the fore.
'We are looking forward to the challenge and we just have to keep plugging away.
'Second is not good enough for Chelsea because over the last few years we have been a power in the Premier League so we strive to be number one. We are working extremely hard in training and hopefully we will turn the corner.'
QUARESMA: ONLY LOOKING FORWARD
New arrival Ricardo Quaresma is confident that with more chance to play than he was afforded in Italy, he will show the form that twice led him to be named Portuguese Player of the Year.
Having left Porto in the summer, the winger was selected for 13 league games and six Champions League matches in his spell at Inter before his loan move on Monday.
'I don't want to dwell much about the past,' Quaresma said after receiving his number 18 shirt from Luiz Felipe Scolari. The manager has put his new player in the squad to face Hull.
'I am very happy to have the opportunity to come to one of the greatest clubs in the world and I am really happy that I am going to have the opportunity to show my qualities,' continued Quaresma.
'I am not regretful that I went to Inter. Things happen that sometimes you can't really control and I am very happy that I am here.
'I don't think I have to prove myself to anybody,' he added. 'All I have to do is work hard to show my best football and qualities on the pitch.'
Quaresma refutes any suggestion that he fell out with his compatriot José Mourinho during his Serie A spell.
'Each coach has their own ideas and we have to respect that.
'These things happen in football, but you have to think that players who don't have many opportunities to show their game, they can't really prove anything or show anything.
'So I am very happy that I have the opportunity at Chelsea. I am really confident tomorrow that I am going to be on the pitch and give my best.'
The 25-year-old is guaranteed a warm reception from the Stamford Bridge crowd, mirroring the one he has enjoyed at Cobham. It will contrast with his last few games in the San Siro, although he finds it easy to shrug off his reception there.
'Criticism you get everywhere. Some people like you, some people don't. That is natural in life and in football. I don't care about that. All I care about is to work hard, and to show the qualities I know I have.
'I heard from Mr. Mourinho that Inter were thinking of loaning me to another club and when I heard about Chelsea, I didn't think twice. Chelsea was my first option to come.
'It is always difficult to start in a new team but we are talking about a great group of players and I am sure my colleagues will help me to adapt fast.
'My colleagues have been showing me lots of support and welcomed me very nicely. Hopefully I will do enough to make the supporters happy.'
BOSINGWA APOLOGISES
José Bosingwa has reflected on events at Anfield where Chelsea lost on Sunday afternoon, including an incident in the closing moments involving our right-back and Yossi Benayoun.
Bosingwa's out-stretched leg pushed the Liverpool player over near the corner flag as the ball was being shielded, an action he regrets.
'I apologise for what I did and it was never my intention to hurt him. I know it was wrong and I apologise,' he says.
Bosingwa was one of 10 men in blue left on the pitch for the final half-hour after Frank Lampard's sending off and is disappointed with what became an uneven contest.
'It could have been very different with 11 players than with 10, it could have been easier,' he argues. 'But we never know.'
'It's always frustrating to lose big games and especially in this way. It was important to get points and not let Man United go. That didn't happen, so we are upset, but now we have to think about the next game.'
That next match is a home fixture on Saturday against Hull who are eight games without a win in the Barclays Premier League. Chelsea were 3-0 winners on Humberside back in October. Then after FA Cup action at Watford, the team travel to Aston Villa who currently share the same points total.
Chelsea boss BLOCKS defender exit
The England Under-21 international has enjoyed a sensational first half of the season at Wolverhampton Wanderers, which earned him a call up to Fabio Capello’s full squad. Mancienne is now back at Stamford Bridge but he has a number of admirers who want to take him on loan, but Scolari insists the player will be staying in his first team squad. “Mancienne has come back and will stay with me,” said the Brazilian coach. “He won’t go out any more on loan. I have given him time to grow up. Now he’s better than before.”
Tranfer Speculation
Hatem Ben ArfaClub From: Marseille Club To: Chelsea Transfer Amount: £10millionConfirmed: NoReports in France claim Hatem Ben Arfa could be on his way to Chelsea for £10million – just six months after he left Lyon for Marseille in a £9.5million deal.
Wayne BridgeClub From: Chelsea Club To: Manchester City Transfer Amount: £12millionConfirmed: NoManchester City have agreed a fee of £12million for Chelsea fullback Wayne Bridge. Mark Hughes said: "My understanding is the clubs have agreed a fee.”
Florent MaloudaClub From: Chelsea Club To: Bayern Munich Transfer Amount: £8millionConfirmed: NoChelsea star Florent Malouda is being tipped to move to Bayern Munich for £8million.
Joe ColeClub From: Chelsea Club To: Tottenham Transfer Amount: £12million Confirmed: NoTottenham Hotspur are plotting a £12million bid for Chelsea’s Joe Cole in the summer
AlexClub From: Chelsea Club To: PSV Eindhoven Transfer Amount: Bid rejected Confirmed: NoPSV Eindhoven have failed with a loan bid for Chelsea’s Alex. PSV director told De Telegraaf: “They don't want to let him go under any circumstances.”
West Ham star claims £8m Chelsea interest
Valon Behrami's agent says his player will probably move on in the summer
Since arriving at Upton Park from Lazio in the summer, the Swiss star has been linked constantly with a return to Serie A.Now though interest in the player has grown both in England and Spain.Agent Alessandro Beltrami said: "We have received offers from Chelsea, Juventus and Sevilla. "Valon will probably move to a top club during the summer."
Club Articles
Terry: Chelsea can still win the TREBLE
The Blues have fallen three points behind Liverpool in the Premier League and need a replay to get past Southend United in the FA Cup, whilst Italian giants Juventus await in the UEFA Champions League."I'll tell you what we need and want more than anything in 2009," said Terry. "Firstly we must all stick together. We take on the world as one - us players, management and staff and especially the supporters."Secondly, we want some winners' medals. We didn't get any in 2008 and we need to put that right. So far this season we are not doing badly. Going out of the Carling Cup on penalties (to Burnley) was a sickener.“And we've drifted three points off Liverpool in the Premier League and we have got the FA Cup. We can win the FA Cup. We can win the Premier League and the UEFA Champions League too."We need to be more consistent, we need to play better and sometimes we need to be together more, including the fans, but we can certainly do all that."
Scolari frustrated with lacklustre Chelsea
The Blues dominated against Southend United in the FA Cup and were heading through thanks to a single Salomon Kalou goal, until the League One minnows nicked a late equaliser. With Kalou joined in the Stamford Bridge attack by Joe Cole and even Didier Drogba, Scolari left the ground a frustrated man as a replay at Roots Hall adds to their fixture congestion. "I need to teach to my players more concentration when they arrive in front of goal," said Scolari. "This is my job every day. Maybe it is confidence when they arrive in front of goal, maybe pressure. “They need to score more goals and get more confidence. Only this. If they are not together, they would not create 15 chances. We played very well and created 15 chances but only one goal."Southend played hard and very spirited for a draw. They got a draw but only had one shot on goal. Carlo Cudicini didn't make one save. Not scoring is our mistake. The players feel the same as me."
Lampard confident of Chelsea title bid
Frank Lampard is sure Chelsea Football Club will still win the Premier League.
The Blues dropped two more points in a 2-2 draw at Fulham on Sunday to fall three points behind leaders Liverpool, but Lampard remains convinced of his side’s ability. "There's three points in it and we've got a very good squad of players," the midfielder told the Evening Standard. “If we can get real consistency going, we can win the League."You can only win titles with never-say-die in your team. That is what Chelsea are all about. We've had it for the last few years and we've still got it."
Chelsea & United in £19million midfielder BATTLE!
Chelsea and Manchester United are ready to go head-to-head for Axel Witsel.
The 19-year-old Standard Liege starlet has emerged as one of the brightest midfield prospects in European football, and has a growing number of admirers. According to a report in the Daily Star, these admirers include Luiz Felipe Scolari and Sir Alex Ferguson, who are looking to take the player when the transfer window reopens.However, Witsel will not come cheap. Standard would prefer to keep the player for the rest of the season but could be prepared to listen to offers in the region of £19million, which is within the budget of both Premier League sides.
Mikel pleased with Chelsea responsibility
With Michael Essien out of the Blues side with a long-term injury, Luiz Felipe Scolari has turned to the Nigerian youngster to anchor the midfield in the absence of the Ghanaian. "The coach said to me 'you are this team - when you don't play well, the team doesn't play well'," he said "So I felt big pressure but it means I go out there to make sure the team plays well and wins."It puts pressure on me but good pressure because I think it shows he's pleased with me and thinks I can live up to the task. All I have to do is keep going and keep doing the right things."And at the end of the season, I can look back and say 'I didn't disappoint him'. Football is all about belief and I think Luiz Felipe Scolari has belief in me."
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