AVB FUMES, DROGBA BLOOMS December 6, 2011 Victory provides ‘slap in the face’ for Chelsea’s critics CHELSEA 3 vs VALENCIA 0 CHELSEA manager Andre Villas-Boas launched a blistering attack on perceived media “persecution” after swerving a premature Champions League exit and emerging as surprise winners of Group E. Two goals and a vintage performance from Didier Drogba, plus a third from Ramires, [...]
Blues manager has Roman’s trust December 6, 2011 HE’S FAR from out of the woods yet, but emerging from such a high-stakes match is a monumental boost to Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas. Elimination at the group stage would have represented the club’s worst ever Champions League performance, and would only have amplified calls for the Portuguese rookie to go sooner rather than later. [...]
MATCH ANALYSIS December 6, 2011 KEY MOMENT Tension swirled around this match during the build-up to this must-win clash for Chelsea, but it dissipated after less than three minutes. Daniel Sturridge swung the ball from right wing to back post, Juan Mata, playing against his former side, laid off to Didier Drogba and the evergreen Ivorian drilled past the hapless [...]
FROM LBW TO MBE | Cook’s Royal recognition December 6, 2011 ENGLAND batsman Alastair Cook admitted he was extremely “humbled” to have been presented with an MBE by the Queen yesterday. The 26-year-old was recognised for his outstanding contribution during last winter’s Ashes triumph in Australia, during which he amassed 766 runs in just seven innings. He said: “It’s been a fantastic couple of years. For [...]
Euro naivety cost us dear, says Wenger December 6, 2011 OLYMPIACOS 3 vs ARSENAL 1 ARSENAL manager Arsene Wenger admitted he was “annoyed” after watching his side’s unbeaten run in this season’s Champions League evaporate following an error-strewn performance in Athens. Already through and guaranteed of top spot in Group F, defeat still came at a cost with reserve goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski and first-choice left-back [...]
Mancini riled by Rummenigge City tirade December 6, 2011 MANCHESTER CITY vs BAYERN MUNICH MANCHESTER CITY manager Roberto Mancini has hit back at the criticism of his club from Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge ahead of tonight’s must-win Champions League showdown against the German giants. City have to beat Bayern and hope that Villarreal can earn their first point of the competition at home [...]
Ferguson: Uefa hearing won’t affect Rooney December 6, 2011 BASEL vs MANCHESTER UTD MANCHESTER UNITED manager Sir Alex Ferguson insists striker Wayne Rooney won’t be sidetracked by tomorrow’s Uefa disciplinary hearing into his three-match international suspension and is fully focused on tonight’s Champions League assignment against Basel. Rooney is set to learn whether his appeal against the three-game ban handed down for his dismissal [...]
MPs to grill 2012 bosses over budget December 6, 2011 A HOST of top London 2012 officials face a grilling from MPs next week after a government watchdog warned the Olympics is in danger of exceeding its £9.3bn budget and requiring further taxpayer funding. A National Audit Office report published yesterday highlighted the “real risk” that a drastic reassessment of security costs left little spare [...]
FA to review Suarez gesture December 6, 2011 FOOTBALL: The Football Association is reviewing photographic evidence that appears to show Liverpool striker Luis Suarez making an offensive gesture aimed at Fulham fans following Monday night’s defeat at Craven Cottage. Suarez, who was subjected to “cheat” taunts during the game, is already in hot water with the FA having been charged with making a [...]
O’Neill wants instant impact December 6, 2011 FOOTBALL: New Sunderland manager Martin O’Neill wants an instant reaction from his players so they can drag themselves away from the drop zone. O’Neill took over the manager’s position at the Stadium of Light on Saturday before watching the Black Cats squander lose 2-1 at Wolves. He said: “Sunday’s game against Blackburn is very important [...]