Drogba dazzles but injury mars milestone victory September 20, 2009 CHELSEA manager Carlo Ancelotti insists his side can cope without Didier Drogba after the talismanic striker was carried off in the win over London rivals Tottenham. Drogba continued his impressive early season form, setting up Ashley Cole for the opener and scoring himself to seal a club-record 11th successive Premier League victory that keeps Chelsea [...]
Chelsea can continue amazing home record September 17, 2009 CHELSEA vs TOTTENHAMSunday 4pm, Sky Sports 1 CHELSEA V BOLTON, Saturday 13th December 2003, won’t resonate with most football fans, but that was the last time Chelsea tasted defeat in the league at Stamford Bridge against non Big Four opposition. They are now unbeaten at home against such teams in an astonishing 91 Premier League [...]
United easier without Ron, taunts Micah September 17, 2009 MANCHESTER CITY defender Micah Richards has fanned the flames ahead of Sunday’s local derby by insisting Manchester United miss Cristiano Ronaldo. United sit second in the Premier League but have yet to find top gear this season, since selling £80m winger Ronaldo to Real Madrid over the summer. And Richards believes that makes them ripe [...]
SPORT IN BRIEF September 17, 2009 Four-midable Hagen marches onCYCLING: Norway’s Edvald Boasson Hagen swept to his fourth successive stage win to extend his lead in the Tour of Britain. The Team Columbia finished ahead of Martin Reimer and Britain’s Russell Downing to claim the sixth stage, from Frome to Bideford to extend his overall lead to 19 seconds. Stage seven [...]
Early hurdles cleared just September 16, 2009 IT’S crucially important to get a good start in the Champions League group stages, but it is also devilishly difficult – as English teams ably demonstrated this week. All won, but by a single goal, and all made heavy weather of games that, on paper at least, looked straightforward. Arsenal particularly will analyse their poor [...]
Blues chief exec Kenyon to leave role next month September 16, 2009 CHELSEA chief executive Peter Kenyon will leave his full-time role at the end of October, after six years at the forefront of the most successful spell in the club’s history. The Blues said yesterday that Kenyon, 55, would retain a role as non-executive director and continue to represent the Premier League leaders on European committees. [...]
Ancelotti laughs off European pressure September 14, 2009 CHELSEA manager Carlo Ancelotti insists his survival at Stamford Bridge does not depend on delivering the club’s first European Cup. Ancelotti, who has lifted the trophy twice as a player and twice as a coach, begins his first Champions League campaign as Blues boss tonight against Porto. The Italian’s European pedigree was one of the [...]
Top-flight clubs approve tougher financial rules September 14, 2009 CLUBS could be banned from making transfers if the Premier League judges them to be in danger of falling into administration, under sweeping financial changes announced yesterday. The new rules, which were agreed by top-flight chairmen this week and are already in effect, require clubs to submit annual audited accounts and future financial plans. If [...]
KP still has open wound but hopeful over SA tour September 13, 2009 ENGLAND batsman Kevin Pietersen insists he is still hopeful of playing a part in the tour of South Africa in November. Pietersen has been ruled out of the Champions Trophy, which takes place in the same country from next week. But he is optimistic the Achilles injury that also kept him out of the last [...]
Agbonlahor claims derby spoils for Villa September 13, 2009 ASTON VILLA manager Martin O’Neill talked up Gabriel Agbonlahor’s World Cup credentials after the England striker snatched a late victory in the Birmingham derby. Agbonlahor nodded past Blues goalkeeper Joe Hart from close range with just five minutes remaining, after John Carew had flicked on Ashley Young’s free-kick. It took Agbonlahor’s tally to three goals [...]