Wilkins blasts Kaka and Villa over Chelsea snubs June 18, 2009 CHELSEA assistant manager Ray Wilkins has hit out at foreign stars who take “the soft option” after the Blues’ high-profile snubs from Kaka and David Villa. Brazil star Kaka rejected Chelsea’s overtures and a chance to link up with his manager at AC Milan, Carlo Ancelotti, in favour of a £56m switch to Real Madrid. [...]
Drogba hit by six match ban as Uefa throw book at Blues June 17, 2009 CHELSEA striker Didier Drogba was last night hit with a huge six-match European ban for his expletive-laden remonstration following last season’s Champions League exit to Barcelona. Defender Jose Bosingwa also received a four-match ban for comments about the referee while Chelsea were handed an £85,000 fine, as governing body Uefa threw the book at the [...]
Hull of a first game for new Chelsea boss June 17, 2009 CARLO ANCELOTTI opens his account as Chelsea manager with a home clash with last season’s strugglers Hull City when the 2009/10 Premier League season gets underway on 15 August. In a relatively low-profile opening five games, Ancelotti’s Blues also host newcomers Burnley and make trips to Sunderland, Fulham and Stoke City before hosting a London [...]
WHAT THE OTHER PAPERS SAY THIS MORNING June 16, 2009 FINANCIAL TIMES NATIONAL EXPRESS IN DEBT TALKSNational Express is in talks with bankers to renegotiate terms on part of its £1.2bn debt amid fears that the bus and rail operator will breach loan conditions in December. The group is expected to pass a key test of whether it is meeting the terms of its debt [...]
Carling Cup first round draw June 16, 2009 FOOTBALL: Football League newcomers Burton Albion have been handed a trip to Championship high-fliers Reading in the first round of next season’s Carling Cup. Fellow promoted side Torquay visit Crystal Palace, while West Brom, relegated from the Premier League last season, visit League Two Bury.
Man Utd and Chelsea face off for 60m star Ribery June 16, 2009 MANCHESTER UNITED and Chelsea are locked in a four-way battle with Europe’s biggest clubs to sign £60m-rated Bayern Munich winger Franck Ribery, the German club said yesterday. United have bid for the France star as a replacement for Real Madrid-bound Cristiano Ronaldo, while Bayern said they had also received a bid from Chelsea, who are [...]
Ace Gerrard rocks Reds with shock quit threat June 16, 2009 STEVEN GERRARD has rocked England by insisting next summer’s World Cup could be his last after admitting he could retire in 2013. The Liverpool captain will be 33 at the end of his current contract, when he says he wants to call time on his illustrious career as a one-club man. Midfielder Gerrard also admitted [...]
Premier League issues warning to Setanta over rights payments June 15, 2009 THE Premier League warned yesterday that it will put the rights held by troubled broadcaster Setanta back up for sale if the Irish group does not pay its next instalment due on Friday. The Premier League said that it would terminate the existing agreement “if Setanta does not meet certain contractual requirements of the Premier [...]
Inter target Carvalho may stay at Blues June 15, 2009 CHELSEA defender Ricardo Carvalho insists he still has a future at Stamford Bridge despite being pursued by former boss Jose Mourinho. The Inter Milan boss has made Carvalho and Blues team-mate Deco his two main transfer targets this summer and has instructed club president Massimo Moratti to do what it takes to lure the Portuguese [...]
Russian billionaire to rescue Setanta June 14, 2009 SPORTS broadcaster Setanta has been rescued by Russian-American industrialist Len Blavatnik, who has offered to put up £20m in return for a 51 per cent stake in the struggling business. Blavatnik’s company, Access Industries confirmed that it had submitted an offer, which is subject to a “number of pre-conditions”. “Access believes that this proposal would [...]