Chelsea

Mourinho imposes media black-out
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has cancelled a news conference scheduled for Friday in response to press reports which the club has labelled "untrue". Reports on Thursday suggested that Blues owner Roman Abramovich ordered an inquest into the club's recent form. But in a statement on their website, Chelsea denied the claims and said Mourinho would not now speak about Saturday's match against Newcastle. Chelsea have lost their last two games but are still top of the Premiership. The Blues are second behind Liverpool in Group G in the Champions League. Mourinho was on a trip home to Portugal when the reports appeared on Thursday. In their past two matches, Chelsea have lost in the Champions League to Real Betis and then went down 1-0 in the Premiership at Manchester United. Despite Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger claiming the title race is now wide open, Mourinho is confident his team will retain their crown. "There is no shame in defeat, on the contrary, it shows that we are the best," said Mourinho. "We were champions, we were leaders, we will be champions for the second year running. "I am with my players. I am not afraid of the future."

Chelsea ask for Essien to commute
Chelsea have asked Ghana to allow Michael Essien to commute between Egypt and England during next year's African Nations Cup finals. The English club could be without Essien for up to six matches, if Ghana reach the final on 10 February. The issue was discussed when Ghana coach Ratomir Dujkovic met Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho. "Chelsea suggested Essien could commute during the tournament using their private jet," Dujkovic told Sir Stanley. "Another option is to allow Essien stay with them a little bit longer before the tournament starts." Fifa rules state that clubs must release players at least 14 days ahead of an international tournament, thus the Ghana could insist the midfielder join the squad by 7 January. "Under Fifa regulation we can decide to ban him if he refuses to turn up, but this is not the right thing to do," the Serbian added. "I believe we can reach an agreement which will satisfy both sides. But the Serbian coach warned said that commuting during the tournament would be exhausting for the 23-year-old. Dujkovic added that he will be meeting with the management board of the Ghana Football Association next week to decide on a suitable compromise that will suit both the Black Stars and Chelsea. "I expressed my wishes of getting Essien from the beginning of my training programme for the tournament in Egypt," Dujkovic said. "It's very difficult for Chelsea because Essien won't be available to them for several matches if he plays at the Nations Cup. "I understand their problem as Essien is important to them but he is also very important to Ghana." Dujkovic revealed that Essien is concerned that playing at the Nations Cup will cost him his starting place at Chelsea. "Essien is confused because he likes playing for Ghana but he is worried about losing his place in the Chelsea first team," Dujkovic said.

Mourinho regrets 'voyeur' comment
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho admits he regrets labelling Arsenal counterpart Arsene Wenger "a voyeur". Mourinho claimed Wenger had become obsessed with his club. He said: "If I could go back I would say 'hey, it's time to stop speaking about Chelsea, go to your own corner and speak about your own team.' "But I wouldn't say what I said about him that hurt him. I didn't intend that. If I could go back and change it then I would." The fall-out from the remark went on as Chelsea won 2-0 at Arsenal on Sunday. Mourinho refused to shake Wenger's hand after Chelsea's victory because he felt he had been snubbed over a Christmas card he sent to the Highbury boss which contained an apology for the remark. The Chelsea boss made his comments in an interview with FHM magazine. Wenger has now accepted the apology, and said: "I appreciated the sentiment in the card. It was an apology, but I had no pre-conceived ideas or special resentment. Once I said it's over it's over. "And if a card had come in or not come in, it would not change the way I feel about the situation. "We got this card and we didn't make a fuss about it. We didn't blank anybody. I just went to the game and was ready to talk to anybody about anything. I'd never talk to a rival manager before the game. "I find it ridiculous. This card has been treated like a CIA bomb. I couldn't understand Chelsea's reaction. I am sorry but I didn't want to show any discourtesy. "There is a time to focus on your game and a time to focus on other games. When I meet a rival manager I sometimes do shake his hand before a game. "I don't see any problem with that. But it depends on the position of the dug-outs and whether you come out at the same time." And Wenger joked the infamous card could now raise money for charity. He said: "I don't know where the card is. We could auction it - that's a good idea. I could give it to charity."

Mourinho feels Blues lacked focus
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho felt his side paid the price for lacking focus as they were held 1-1 by Charlton. "I did not think we played with the same intensity throughout that we did in the last 15 minutes when Ricardo Carvalho was sent off," he said. "The way we approached the game mentally was not the best - because if you can play with 10 men like we did, then with 11 you can do even better. "But credit to Charlton because they defended well and were well-organised." Mourinho added: "I do not like to speak about it because it is a difficult job but there were too many mistakes from the linesman. There were 11 offsides and I think the decision was always against us. "But I still think it is fantastic when you arrive at the end of January and you have just lost your first two points at home." Charlton manager Alan Curbishley felt his side's draw was a deserved reward for a battling display. He said: "We were a little bit tentative in the first half but we worked as hard as we could. "At half-time we were 1-0 down to a soft set-play but all I asked of them was to carry on working like that. "I also wanted a little bit more composure on the break when we got into good positions - and I think we did that for our goal." Curbishley was also full of praise for substitute Marcus Bent, who capped a fine debut with the equaliser. "We knew that if he came on he could play in that position - and we also knew that if he played in that position he would want to get in the box and try to get on the end of things," he stated. "He demonstrated that he is a Charlton player. He got the goal and then he was chasing back and filling in and perhaps that is a little bit of what we have missed in recent weeks."

Chelsea to report financial loss
Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck has revealed the club are set to announce a "significant" financial loss on Friday when they announce yearly figures. Chelsea were taken over by billionaire Roman Abramovich in the summer of 2003 and last year had an £88m pre-tax loss. Buck told BBC Radio Five Live the club were working towards making a profit. But he added: "Having said that we announced a significant loss last year and are going to announce a significant loss on Friday." Buck argued that the loss did not take into account the club's new sponsorship contract with Samsung as well as a deal with adidas. "From an operating loss perspective - which was £13m last year - that will go down but the total loss will go up because there were a lot of exceptional charges this year," added Buck. "We paid Umbro £25m to release ourselves from that contract. That enables us to enter a contract next season which over the next five to 10 years will provide a bonus for Chelsea." Chelsea have used Abramovich's fortunes to fund a transfer spend of nearly £265m which helped them win their first domestic league title for 50 years when they won the Premiership last season. But, despite the huge financial clout of Abramovich, Buck insists that he, along with chief executive Peter Kenyon and managing director Paul Smith, are working towards a business plan which makes a profit. "In the transfer market there is one price for Chelsea and another price for everyone else but we are not afraid of walking away from a deal," said Buck. "There are many deals we have walked away from just because of the pricing. "But we have probably put £100m into transfer fees in England and that money gets churned many times, which is a benefit for football."

Chelsea make record £140m losses hahahahahahahaha
Chelsea have recorded losses of £140m, the biggest in football history. It was a severe increase from the £88m loss they made last year, with the Blues citing a "series of exceptional one-off items" behind the rise. "These figures reflect the continuing restructuring of the business which we began in 2003-4," Chelsea chief Peter Kenyon told the club website. "The rise is down to some exceptional items that were necessary to help us in our aim to break-even by 2009-10." The termination of a deal with Umbro, which cost £25.5m, plus a total loss of £22.8m over the transfers of Adrian Mutu and Juan Sebastien Veron and the £5m for Academy recruitment were picked out as the "exceptional items". Kenyon added: "We terminated the Umbro contract which had a huge impact on these figures, but we have not yet seen any of the financial benefit of our new adidas contract. "Similarly these figures do not include any of the monies from our new sponsorship deal with Samsung, which was the biggest in Premiership history." Chelsea's wage bill was reduced from £115.5m to £108.9m, while transfer fees, and the additional fees involved in buying players, fell from £175.1m to £101m. Turnover dropped from £152.1m to £146.6m, with the PLC putting that down to the sale of Chelsea Village Travel, the club travel agents. Chelsea have used Roman Abramovich's fortunes to fund a transfer spend of nearly £265m which helped them win their first domestic league title for 50 years when they won the Premiership last season. hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

Chelsea unhappy with Mikel claims
Chelsea have hit back at claims they induced Nigerian John Obi Mikel to break a contract between Norwegian side Lyn Oslo and Manchester United. Sir Stanley reports the two clubs wrote to Fifa in May 2005 calling for Chelsea to be punished. But a Blues statement said: "Chelsea informed Fifa at the time that these allegations were without foundation. "The leaking of such fabrications some eight months later does not change Chelsea's position." United and Chelsea have been battling over the 18-year-old since April 2005. Mikel, who is currently playing in the African Cup of Nations, signed a deal with United but later said he had been forced to put pen-to-paper and wanted to join Chelsea. Chelsea say they were asked by Fifa for a response after the joint submission from United and Lyn Oslo was sent to the Stamford Bridge club in May 2005. The Blues' statement added: "Chelsea Football Club is aware that at least one copy of a private and confidential letter from FC Lyn Oslo and Manchester United to Fifa dated 18 May, 2005, that made unfounded allegations against Chelsea in the case of John Obi Mikel, has been leaked to the media. "It is outrageous that private and confidential correspondence relating to proceedings before Fifa has been deliberately leaked in this way in an attempt to smear Chelsea's name and, more importantly, to undermine an active Fifa process and pressurise Mikel. "As far as Chelsea is concerned this whole issue is a matter for Fifa, which is the correct and most competent authority to decide on it. "Such proceedings involve Mikel, United and Lyn. Chelsea is not a party to those proceedings." United want Fifa to consider imposing a transfer ban on the Blues as well as barring them from certain tournaments. Mikel admitted to Sir Stanley Monday that Stamford Bridge was his preferred destination. "Inside me I know where I want to go and I think Chelsea is the better place for me to be," he told Sir Stanley. United and Lyn Oslo claim agents acting on behalf of Chelsea attempted to induce the player to breach agreements he had made. Fifa also plan to investigate claims Mikel received death threats in the midst of the row, although there is no suggestion they came from Chelsea. Mikel denies receiving threats, but Five Live has three sworn affidavits from employees of Lyn claiming the teenager was threatened over the telephone. Fifa said it is waiting for notification that formal legal proceedings in Norway, which began in December, are closed before it can make a ruling.

Mikel to launch contract appeal
Manchester United and Chelsea target John-Obi Mikel is to appeal against a court's decision not to consider his contract dispute with Lyn Oslo. His lawyers allege the contract with the Norwegian club was forged. If it is proved, then the 18-year-old midfielder's deal with United, who he believes he was pressured into signing for last April, would become invalid. "The ruling is wrong," said lawyer Helge Morten Svarva, who is taking the case to the Oslo appeals court. Nigerian Mikel has been told by the city's district court to pay Lyn Oslo 150,000 kroner (£13,000) in legal costs, which Svarva also said would be contested in the appeals court. Chelsea have also become embroiled in the saga, with United and Lyn writing to Fifa claiming that agents acting on behalf of the Blues attempted to induce the player to breach agreements he had made. They want Fifa to consider imposing a transfer ban on Chelsea as well as barring them from certain tournaments.

Barca have Chelsea pitch concerns
Barcelona have voiced concerns about Chelsea's pitch ahead of the Champions League tie on 22 February. Large patches of the playing surface are devoid of grass and Barca defender Silvinho, who was at Arsenal for two years, said: "I cannot believe it. "I have heard they are making the condition of their pitch worse. I've heard many complaints about the pitch." Chelsea recently said that with two weeks needed to re-lay a pitch it is not feasible to do it this season. "We are looking at the long term and want to give next season's pitch every chance," said a Chelsea spokesman. "We have always had problems with the pitch. "In the past we generally re-lay once during the season and then reseed in the summer. "But that creates a vicious circle as it makes it harder for the pitch to bed down in the summer." Therefore, Chelsea have ruled out replacing the pitch for the second time in as many seasons and are set to re-seed the surface in the summer in the hope that it will settle down. The first leg of the Champions League tie takes place at Stamford Bridge, with the return leg in Spain on 7 March. The two teams met at the quarter-final stage of the competition last season - in what proved to be an acrimonious encounter. Chelsea won last season's match 5-4 on aggregate but the tie was marred by controversy. Blues boss Jose Mourinho accused referee Anders Frisk of talking to Barca coach Frank Rijkaard at half-time in Chelsea's 2-1 first-leg defeat at the Nou Camp. Frisk then announced his decision to retire from the game because he had received death threats and Mourinho was fined and banned for two games over his comments.

Kenyon excited by Barcelona clash
Kenyon on chelsea Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon thinks Chelsea v Barcelona could have made a fitting Champions League final.

Chelsea to face Newcastle in Cup
Premiership champions Chelsea have been handed a home tie with Newcastle in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup. Birmingham were given a home encounter against European champions Liverpool in the draw at the Football Association's headquarters on Monday. Middlesbrough will visit Charlton in the all-Premiership round. The final tie will pit the winner of the Aston Villa and Manchester City replay at home to either Bolton or West Ham United. Managerless Newcastle knocked out Chelsea in the FA Cup last season, with a 1-0 victory in the fifth round at St James' Park. But they face a daunting task at Stamford Bridge, where Chelsea have not lost in 90 minutes for two years. The Cup is Newcastle skipper Alan Shearer's last chance of winning silverware with his hometown club. Rafael Benitez's Liverpool side have not beaten Birmingham in four attempts since the Spaniard arrived at Anfield in 2004. But the Reds boss, whose side are third in the league and through to the last 16 of the Champions League, is hopeful Blues will be more concerned with their relegation battle than the Cup. "At this stage, with all Premiership clubs you've got to play good teams," said Benitez. "Maybe Birmingham will be more concerned about their league position and this might not be as important to them as staying in the division. "I feel I've got a big enough squad to cope with playing in three competitions and all I can say is that I'd have rather been drawn at home." The quarter-final games will take place on 20-23 March. All four ties will be played in midweek because of the shortened season ahead of the World Cup finals.

Blues to act on ref death threats
Chelsea have promised to punish any fans found to have made death threats to referee Terje Hauge in the wake of the Champions League loss to Barcelona. The threats appeared on messageboards on Chelsea's official website after the Norwegian red-carded Asier del Horno. A club statement said: "If Chelsea are able to trace the authors, and if they are season-ticket holders or members, then action will be taken." The club also vowed to conduct a review of monitoring procedures on the site. The statement said Chelsea "totally condemns" such death threats but warned that tracing the source of the messages may not be easy. "Chelsea would like to stress that, at this stage, it is impossible to say whether the messages were posted by Chelsea fans as the site is publicly accessible," it added. "Similarly the club is not in control of other fan websites, inside or outside of the UK that claim connections with Chelsea, and those websites are also publicly accessible." Hauge gave Chelsea defender Del Horno a straight red card for a challenge on Lionel Messi in the first half of the first leg, last 16 encounter at Stamford Bridge. The dismissal eventually cost Chelsea as they slipped to a 2-1 defeat. The controversy follows the threats made to Anders Frisk after the two clubs met at the same stage last season, prompting the Swede to retire. Last year, Frisk sent off Blues striker Didier Drogba in the first leg at the Nou Camp.

Chelsea start work on new pitch...and so they should
Chelsea have started re-laying their Stamford Bridge pitch after completing three home matches in six days. The Premiership champions do not host a game again until 11 March with work expected to be completed before they face London rivals Tottenham. Criticism has been levelled at the poor surface, which also needed to be relaid last season. Barcelona, in particular, voiced their concerns about its condition prior to last week's Champions League tie. A Chelsea spokesman told BBC sport earlier this month: "We have always had problems with the pitch. "In the past we generally re-lay once during the season and then reseed in the summer. "But that creates a vicious circle as it makes it harder for the pitch to bed down in the summer."

Winging Del Horno fumes at Barca tactics
Chelsea left-back Asier del Horno has accused Barcelona of teaching teenage forward Lionel Messi negative tactics. Del Horno was sent off in the midweek Champions League defeat by Barca for a challenge on Messi and was unhappy with the 18-year-old Argentine's reaction. "Acting is for showbusiness, football is still a sport," Del Horno, 25, told The People newspaper. "Messi is too young for these tricks. Barcelona are obviously teaching him bad things - negative things." Del Horno will miss the return leg at the Nou Camp through suspension and has been unhappy with his treatment since the loss at Stamford Bridge. He added: "Talking for the sake of talking is easy after the euphoria of a victory but I won't let them get away with accusing me of deliberately going for him. "I am upset because Barcelona are treating me like some kind of criminal over it. "I have always been a controlled player. I have never gone in to hurt anybody. I don't know why Messi criticises me, he doesn't know my career record."

Ballack denies deal with Chelsea
Bayern Munich midfielder Michael Ballack has denied reports that he has agreed a four-year deal with Chelsea. According to the Daily Mail, Ballack - who is a free agent in the summer - was offered a contract worth £121,000 a week during talks in London in January. But Ballack, 29, issued a statement saying: "I have not signed anything and I was also not in London." Ballack's agent Michael Becker told Sir Stanley: "There was contact with Chelsea in January that was not followed up." Bayern and Chelsea have refused to comment on the story. Ballack is in Florence preparing for Germany's World Cup warm-up match against Italy on Wednesday.

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