Chelsea

Leeds agree to Chelsea settlement
Leeds have agreed a settlement with Chelsea and have dropped a complaint that the Premiership champions tried to poach three of their academy scholars. Leeds chairman Ken Bates accused his former club of breaking youth development rules to sign teenagers Tom Taiwo and Michael Woods. He claimed Chelsea had also tried to persuade a third youngster to sign. Chelsea will examine their procedure for recruiting youth players but are not thought to have admitted liability. The Premier League and the Football Association launched a joint investigation into the issue. In a joint statement, the two governing bodies said they considered the matter closed.

Sheff Utd 0-2 Chelsea
Sheffield United paid the price for a first-half penalty miss as champions Chelsea coasted to a comfortable win. Henrique Hilario had little difficulty in saving Danny Webber's poorly-taken spot-kick after Didier Drogba was adjuged to have fouled Claude Davis. Frank Lampard put Chelsea in front just before the break, with a swerving free-kick that fooled Paddy Kenny. Early in the second-half Lampard crossed for Michael Ballack, who made it 2-0 with a powerful far-post header. If Webber had scored the course of the game might have been different, but once he had missed, Chelsea steadily assumed control. Jose Mourinho's side had the better of the possession and in Lampard and Ballack, players who were able to turn that dominance into goals. The one worry for Chelsea, who play Barcelona in midweek in the Champions League, was that the in-form Drogba did not emerge for the second half due to a foot injury. United also lost a player in the first half, Michael Tonge limping off early on, after he fell awkardly on his ankle after tackling Joe Cole. Before Drogba's withdrawal the Ivory Coast striker had a busy time of it - unusually in his own penalty area. Drogba did well to slide in ahead of Claude Davis after Alan Quinn's cross had got past Hilario. Soon after Drogba again found himself marking Davis, though this time referee Martin Atkinson ruled the Chelsea striker fouled that the United defender for a penalty. To Chelsea's relief, Hilario comfortably saved Webber's underhit spot-kick. Either side of Webber's penalty, both teams claimed they should have been awarded spot-kicks. Ricardo Carvalho might have been penalised for using his arm to stop Rob Hulse's jump, while after Webber's miss Chelsea appealed when Paulo Ferriera tumbled following a Davis challenge. It was not until the latter stages of the opening half that Chelsea began to create clear chances. A cross from Ballack almost saw Chris Armstrong put the ball into his own net as he tried to clear under pressure from Arjen Robben. Kenny did well to quickly to push away Lampard's close-range header, though soon after the United keeper's reactions proved altogether slower. Lampard's long-range free-kick swerved marginally and with Kenny diving too early, the ball ended up in the middle of the net. Lampard's goal might have had an element of fortunte about it, but there was nothing lucky about Chelsea's second. Some slick combination play between Robben and Lampard provided the space for the England international to hang up a cross that Ballack forcefully headed in. With a two-goal cushion, Chelsea should have won more comfortably, but Lampard shot over from a good position, while Robben was denied by Kenny after the United defence was carved apart. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sheffield United boss Neil Warnock: \"We are a little bit naive. Their players sometimes go down where we stumble on. We have to learn what to do in certain situations. \"We will be looking to add some quality in January but we need to stick in there in the meantime. \"We are easy to referee because we never try to convince him.\" Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho: \"Hilario is amazing. He is cool and comfortable in goal and I think the penalty save was a three-point save. \"If Hilario doesn't save it maybe we are in trouble.\"

Tottenham v Chelsea
Tottenham centre-back Michael Dawson is a doubt after picking up a hip injury in the Uefa Cup win over Club Bruges. Midfielder Paul Stalteri and defensive duo Calum Davenport and Lee Young-Pyo are definitely out of the derby. Chelsea striker Andriy Shevchenko is pushing for a return having sat out the last three games with a thigh injury. As well as deciding on his attacking formation, coach Jose Mourinho has choices at the back with Carlo Cudicini pushing Hilario for a start in goal. Chelsea (from): Hilario, Cudicini, A Cole, Makelele, Essien, Carvalho, Terry, Shevchenko, Lampard, Boulahrouz, J Cole, Drogba, Ballack, Geremi, Robben, Bridge, Diarra, Ferreira, Kalou, Wright-Phillips. Tottenham (from): Robinson, Cerny, Chimbonda, Dawson, Gardner, King, Assou-Ekotto, Davids, Jenas, Lennon, Huddlestone, Ziegler, Murphy, Defoe, Mido, Keane, Berbatov, Zokora, Ghaly. BIG-MATCH FACTS TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR would dearly love to remember, remember the fifth of November, not so much for gun powder, treason and plot, as for the day they beat Chelsea for the first time ever in the Premier League. It would be fitting two years to the day when Martin Jol took over from the swiftly-departed Jacques Santini, and on the day he selects a side for the 75th Premiership match since being permanently in charge, that the Dutchman should mastermind a maximum over Tottenham's bogey club. It would be especially welcome when Spurs have equalled their worst start in nine seasons to disappoint fans expecting so much from the perennial under-achievers. That's to take nothing away from a tremendous home victory in the Uefa Cup on Thursday night, which maintained their 100% record in Europe's junior club competition. Spurs have not beaten Chelsea in 32 League meetings, since a 1-2 victory at Stamford Bridge on 10 February 1990, when Gary Lineker famously notched the winner. They've also failed to win any of the last 17 home League clashes since their last maximum over the Blues at White Hart Lane. Nico Claesen scored in a 1-0 triumph on 22 August 1987. CHELSEA returned to the capital with a point from a stormy 2-2 draw with Barcelona, which has all but secured their place in the knock out stages of the Champions League. They go to White Hart Lane on a 13-match undefeated run in all competitions, in pursuit of a fourth successive Premiership victory and a fifth in a row on the road. Jose Mourinhos' side have bagged more than double as many points as Spurs already this season (25 to 12), scored almost three times as many goals (17 to six) and conceded half as many (five to 10). The Blues have gained one more Premiership win on the road than Spurs have managed at the Lane. The Blues travel in search of their 50th League victory over Tottenham, and fourth in a row at White Hart Lane. They've kept clean sheets in four successive League visits to the north London venue.

Drogba signs new Chelsea contract
Chelsea striker Didier Drogba has signed a new four-year deal running until 2010. The 28-year-old joined the club for £24m in July 2004 and has been in fine form this season with 10 goals in 15 games to his credit. The Ivory Coast international told Chelsea's television station: \"I am not playing well just because I wanted to sign a new contract. \"I'm playing well as I feel good and I am happy to train with my friends.\" There were doubts cast over Drogba's first-team chances at Chelsea when manager Jose Mourinho landed striker Andriy Shevchenko in the summer. But Drogba has risen to the challenge while Shevchenko has struggled for form. Drogba scored a last-gasp equaliser against Barcelona in a Champions League match on Tuesday as well as netting the winner when the two clubs met in the reverse group game. His collection of goals so far during the campaign also saw him grab an exquisite winner when Liverpool visited Stamford Bridge. Drogba added: \"I want to say thank you to Jose for believing in me since the beginning and now we will be together for a long time. The best period of my career I think. \"I am happy because when I came here it wasn't easy for me to say I would be signing a new contract with Chelsea, because everybody knows the first year was difficult. \"The second one was okay but I knew I could do better.\" Drogba has been linked with possible moves to either Italian side AC Milan and Lyon of France but Mourinho believes the signing of a new deal will put any speculation to bed. \"It is good for Chelsea, Didier deserves a big contract. \"Now he can go to Milan for shopping and no-one can say he goes to sign a contract. \"His friend from Lyon can call and people don't say he is calling to sign him. It's fantastic.\"

FA investigates Cole ref claims
The Football Association is looking into comments attributed to Chelsea's Ashley Cole about referee Graham Poll in the Blues' defeat at Tottenham. Poll booked six Chelsea players, sent off John Terry and disallowed a Didier Drogba goal during Sunday's match. \"We are communicating with the four match officials as well as Chelsea, Ashley Cole and Frank Lampard regarding the claims,\" said an FA spokesman. \"The priority at this stage is to gather information.\" Left-back Cole was one of the Chelsea players who was yellow-carded and he was quoted as saying: \"With my booking, I said to him, 'I'm more than 10 yards. Why should I go back if I am more than 10 yards?' \"And he said, 'Because I said so.' I said, 'But I'm more than 10 yards', and that was it. Yellow card. No warning or explanation. \"I'm not moaning, I'm really not, but we shouldn't lose a game like that. \"Once again we scored a goal that was fine. I've seen it on TV and the referee has robbed us because if we had gone to 2-0 then the game would have been dead.\" Cole was quoted as saying that he believed that Chelsea, like his previous club Arsenal, are now being singled out by referees because of their success. He added: \"When I was at Arsenal and we started to win things, the referees started to question our discipline and give us yellow cards. I have come to Chelsea and it's exactly the same. \"It's definitely to do with the team that's winning most. Chelsea are not a dirty team. It's crazy. We have to stick together, put this game behind us, look forward to the next one and win it.\" Referees' chief Keith Hackett will investigate Chelsea's claims that official Poll said they \"needed to be taught a lesson\" at Tottenham. Newspaper reports alleged Poll made the remarks and suggested he told Chelsea: \"Your discipline is out of order\". Hackett told SSB: \"I have very serious doubts that one of our most experienced and world-class refs would make that kind of comment.\" \"It is disappointing. It puts doubt in the public's mind about the integrity of one of my referees but it will be investigated.\" Hackett, head of the Professional Game Match Officials Board, also revealed that all the officials were on open microphones - and his initial inquiries led him to believe Poll had not made the comments. He added: \"The player who has made the comments should be aware that the referee, along with his assistant referees, were all wearing microphones. \"My assessor can hear from before kick-off to the end what is being said. If anything untoward was said I will be able to discuss it with Graham's colleagues on the day. \"Already having spoken to one of his colleagues, who was listening, it has been flatly denied.\" Hackett has told Poll not to make a public comment about the match while the matter is being investigated. Terry also added to the controversy by claiming Poll gave him two differing reasons for his dismissal. He said: \"On the pitch, Graham Poll said to me the second yellow card was for the barge on Hossam Ghaly where I kept running. \"After the game he said it was for the fall when Ledley King and I fell. I am just really disappointed that it is my first time sent-off for Chelsea.\"

Chelsea v Aston Villa
Chelsea will be without captain John Terry as he serves a one-match ban for his red card against Tottenham. Striker Andriy Shevchenko has returned to training following a leg muscle problem and is available. Aston Villa defender Liam Ridgewell has recovered from illness but might struggle to displace the fit-again Martin Laursen. Villa boss Martin O'Neill must decide whether to continue with Chris Sutton or recall Milan Baros. Chelsea (from): Hilario, Ferreira, Carvalho, A Cole, Makelele, Essien, Lampard, Ballack, Robben, Drogba, Shevchenko, Cudicini, Boulahrouz, J Cole, Wright-Phillips, Kalou, Geremi, Diarra. Aston Villa (from): Sorensen, Hughes, Mellberg, Ridgewell, Laursen, Bouma, Agbonlahor, Davis, Petrov, Barry, Angel, Sutton, Baros, Taylor, Davis, Cahill, Osbourne.

Chelsea 4-0 Watford
In-form Didier Drogba fired a brilliant hat-trick as champions Chelsea outclassed Watford at Stamford Bridge. Drogba opened the scoring after 27 minutes when he finished from close range after Geremi's cross. The Ivorian made it 2-0 after a one-two with Andriy Shevchenko before providing the pass for his strike partner to round the keeper and tap home. And Drogba capped another impressive individual display on 69 minutes when he converted another Geremi cross. It took Drogba's tally for the season to 14 and saw him overtake Portsmouth's Kanu as the Premiership's top scorer. The margin of victory also helped the Blues close the gap in goal difference to Premiership leaders Manchester United - and the four-goal hammering was nothing more than they deserved. Before kick-off, a laughing Jose Mourinho bore the air of a man who fully expected his team to run out winners, and his players mirrored that attitude. They stroked the ball around with supreme confidence and while a bustling Watford side did their best to break the champions' rhythm, they never really looked like causing an upset. Drogba had already had a couple of half-chances before he eventually opened the scoring. Shevchenko miskicked Geremi's cross but the ball ran through for the Ivorian to stab home from six yards. Seven minutes later, the champions could afford to switch to cruise control when Drogba snatched his second. Dan Shittu failed to track Drogba's run after he laid the ball off to Shevchenko and the striker was free in the box to tuck away the return pass. A rush of blood to the head from Michael Ballack almost gave Watford an unexpected lifeline before half-time. The German midfielder inexplicably clattered into Jordan Stewart with the ball long gone and from the free-kick, Shittu saw his shot cannon off Carlo Cudicini's feet. To their credit, Watford continued to commit players in attack after the break and Ashley Young saw his cross flash across goal beyond the reach of Darius Henderson. But normal service was quickly resumed as Chelsea effortlessly extended their lead. Drogba and Shevchenko were involved again, this time the Ivorian providing a fabulous pass for his strike partner to round Foster and tap into the empty net. With Watford's players demoralised, Chelsea began to create more and more chances and it was no surprise when Drogba completed his hat-trick - his second of the season. Geremi escaped down the right and as Watford's defence stood and watched, Drogba stole in to convert the cross and complete a miserable day for the Hornets.

Hedman offered Chelsea contract
Chelsea have offered former Sweden goalkeeper Magnus Hedman a contract until the end of the season. \"We've an agreement,\" the 33-year-old Hedman told Swedish television channel TV4's website. Hedman, a former Celtic and Coventry City goalkeeper, has been working as a pundit for TV4 since retiring in 2005. With Petr Cech out for some time after fracturing his skull, Chelsea will use Hedman to provide cover for Carlo Cudicini and Henrique Hilario. Czech international Cech had two metal plates inserted into his head after fracturing his skull in a league win at Reading last month and is not expected to return to training until late January. Previous third-choice Hilario has deputised for Cech and Cudicini, who was also knocked unconscious at Reading but returned for Chelsea's League Cup win over Aston Villa. According to TV4's website Hedman is on his way to London to sign the contract

Drogba bullish over title defence
Didier Drogba is confident Chelsea will win a third successive league title with the striker intent on becoming the best striker in the country. Drogba told the News of the World: \"I want to finish this season recognised as the best striker in the country. \"Many times I thought about leaving, but I'm a warrior, so that was impossible. One thing I am sure of - Chelsea will win the Premiership again. \"Our draw at Old Trafford last week has stopped all the euphoria there.\" Chelsea trail leaders Manchester United by six points, but have a game in hand over Sir Alex Ferguson's side. Drogba, together with Portsmouth forward Kanu, is the Premier League's joint top scorer with eight goals. The Ivory Coast striker's form has provided a sharp contract to that of £30m close-season signing Andriy Shevchenko, who has netted just three times in the league. \"Andriy is the key to my success,\" added Drogba. \"Without him defenders search for me all over the field, but with him in the side I have more freedom. \"I am not the coach but I would not leave him out.\"

:wink: please inform me why drogba is a cheat :?

For diving (alot!!) earlier in the season :wink: :lol: but he has been playing well for sometime :wink:

Blues boss backs Wright-Phillips
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho insists winger Shaun Wright-Phillips has a future at the club. West Ham want to sign the 25-year-old, who scored his first goal for the club in Tuesday's 2-0 win over Levski Sofia. \"I want him to stay. We know the squad is good in quality but short on numbers,\" said Mourinho. \"We cannot lose players. We have 19 outfield players for the four competitions we are still involved in - we need every player.\" He added: \"If the answers from him are positive ones then that is good for me, the team and for the boy. His future does not depend on a goal he scored.\" New West Ham chairman Eggert Magnusson has publicly stated he will discuss the possibility of signing Wright-Phillips with Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon as the January transfer window looms. The England international, who moved to Stamford Bridge for £21m in July 2005, could be sold for £10m. But Wright-Phillips does not appear ready to leave after stating he is keen to continue to prove his worth and become more of a first-team regular for the Premiership champions. He said: \"I don't want to leave - so why should I want to go anywhere?\"

Chelsea deny Shevchenko reports
Chelsea have denied reports that Andriy Shevchenko is ready to leave the club if manager Jose Mourinho decides he does not fit into his plans. The 30-year-old, who signed for £30.8m in May, was quoted as saying his \"game doesn't suit Mourinho\" and he is \"ready to pack his bags\" and go back to Italy. But a Chelsea statement insisted the comments were misinterpreted from an interview in a Russian magazine. The Ukraine striker has been linked with a return to AC Milan. Shevchenko was reported to have said: \"I feel at home and it's felt like my team for a long time but unfortunately my game doesn't suit Mourinho. \"Roman Abramovich is my friend but all he could do was insist on a loan deal instead of me being sold,\" he said. Shevchenko, who scored his first European goal for Chelsea in Tuesday's 2-0 Champions League win over Levski Sofia, added he had not discussed his future with the club. \"But if it happens, I am ready to pack my bags,\" he said. \"I'm a completely self-confident person. If I don't suit somebody then I'll go back to Italy and prove how good I can still be.\" Chelsea owner Abramovich lured the forward to Stamford Bridge on a four-year contract in May in the belief that he would provide the goals to win the Champions League. Shevchenko is still considered a hero by AC Milan fans after he helped them win European club football's greatest prize in 2003. However, the former European Footballer of the Year has yet to find the dazzling form that persuaded Chelsea to break the British transfer record.

Chelsea v Arsenal
Chelsea will recall Ashley Cole to face his former club after he was rested for the Champions League tie in midweek. Claude Makelele, John Terry and Ricardo Carvalho will also return after missing the game, while keeper Carlo Cudicini is a doubt with a leg muscle injury. Arsenal defender William Gallas has not recovered from a thigh injury in time to face his ex-club and is out along with striker Thierry Henry (neck). Johan Djourou (hamstring) is fit but defender Kolo Toure is suspended. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger: \"It is a big test for them and us. We are in good form and played well in our last two games - when we beat Tottenham and drew with Porto. \"These two results have given us confidence and we want to show that attitude on Sunday. \"We will give them a good game. We will go there and try to beat them and I believe we can do that.\"

Cech to begin training in January
Chelsea keeper Petr Cech wants to return to full training in January. The 24-year-old Czech international is making good progress after fracturing his skull in a collision with Reading's Stephen Hunt in mid-October. \"We're looking very positive and very well,\" Cech told Chelsea TV in an interview to be aired later on Tuesday. \"The skull fracture has not healed yet, so I must be patient but it looks like the middle of January is when I will be able to start training in goal.\" Cech, who is already working out with weights, playing tennis, swimming and running, has also done some gentle ball work and says he is beginning to shake off the effects of tiredness related to the injury. \"I feel better, improving every day. I can start training a little bit in the gym and the swimming pool so it makes me feel a lot better,\" he said. \"It has been a great week, the last week, because I could start working. I could even start to play tennis. \"Of course I am tired when I do the training session because my body is still a little bit tired. \"But this has improved massively because I can work twice a day and at the end of the day, I am tired but I am tired because of the work, not just because of the walking. \"Everyone is asking if I am afraid when I am back. But Carlo (Cudicini) said the main thing: 'How can I be afraid of something I don't even remember?' \"That is exactly what it is going to be with me, because I don't remember anything from the game. I don't even remember the injury. \"I woke up three days later and I had already 30 stitches on my head and it was difficult for me. But that game I don't remember so I don't think I am going to be afraid. \"Last week I spent a whole day in Oxford with the surgeon for some consultations and some tests. We are still waiting for the report from that but as far as I am concerned, we are looking very positive and very well. \"The brain is working very well and I haven't lost anything I had so for the moment it is looking very well.\"

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