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Carlo Ancelotti turns translator for a moment. ‘In Italian the word is riconoscenza,’ he says. ‘When people remind you of what you have done in the past. What you have achieved. Recognition, you say. In football there is no recognition. The past is the past. In football there is nothing like that.’

He is responding to the suggestion that, whatever happens between now and the end of the season at Chelsea, he has credit in the bank. A League and Cup double in his first season as a manager in English football, a remarkable feat that surely offers him protection. Judging by Ancelotti’s answer, he is not so sure.

A better translation for riconoscenza would be gratitude. But because the last few months at Stamford Bridge have been so difficult, the pressure would appear to be on. The gratitude would seem to have gone. (continue reading…)

Speaking to reporters after the match, the former AC Milan boss conceded it will be difficult to win the title and that retaining a Champions League place for next season is the priority.

“Now is to fight, our aim is to play game by game how we played tonight, using spirit, using attitude,” he told reporters.

“Obviously it is difficult to come back and fight but we have very important games to reach until the end and also in the FA Cup.

“We have to come back quickly to get fourth place in the Premier League so we don’t have time to think it is too much to be too far behind Manchester United. The most important thing is to finish in fourth place and I think we will be able to do this.

“I am an optimist and I have confidence. I try every time to be objective and I think that the football played tonight was good and we have to continue.” (continue reading…)

Chelsea Football Club is delighted to announce the signing of defender David Luiz from Benfica for an undisclosed fee.

Luiz, who has signed a five-and-a-half year contract, joins Chelsea as the third Brazilian in the current squad, linking up with former Benfica team-mate Ramirez  and fellow central-defender Alex.

He said: ‘I am delighted to be joining a big English club, and I know very well the quality that Chelsea has.

‘It is a major challenge for me but I am determined and confident in my ability to adapt to this excellent league, and I look forward to meeting my new-team mates.’

Now 23, David Luiz Moreira Marinho was born on April 22, 1987 in Sao Paulo and began his career with Esporte Clube Vitoria in Bahia where he made 47 appearances. (continue reading…)

Chelsea will try to push through the signing of Fernando Torres on Monday with a stunning £95million transfer package they believe will trigger an escape clause in the Liverpool striker’s contract.

Roman Abramovich is ready to commit the staggering sum to secure the service of Torres, with £50m needed to activate the clause they are now confident exists.

A further £45m will be guaranteed to the 26-year-old in a five-year deal that would see him earn £175,000 a week.

Liverpool were already preparing for life without the World Cup and European Championship winner on Sunday night.

Having signed Luis Suarez, they will also try to land Ashley Young from Aston Villa and Blackpool’s Charlie Adam before the transfer window closes at 11pm on Monday.

Villa manager Gerard Houllier has already said Young is not for sale, and the club are trying to secure him on a new contract. However, that has not stopped new Anfield co-owner John W Henry contacting Villa owner Randy Lerner in a bid to mitigate the loss of Torres.
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14th place Everton take their eye off the league campaign on Saturday as they host fellow Premiership side Chelsea in the 4th Round of the FA Cup at Goodison Park.

The cup game comes at a good time for Moyes as Everton have just the 1 league win in the 5. The club has been struggling virtually throughout the season and confidence can’t be high, looking further back only 2 wins have been obtained in the last 13 games! Maybe a cup tie with no points involved will help restore some confidence for the Merseysiders, the only problem is they face a side that beat them two years in the FA Cup final and it’s the current holders of the cup Chelsea.

The club has recently departed with Yakubu on loan to Leicester and Pienaar permanently to Spurs, but the biggest loss has been Cahill to the Asia games. Whilst Everton still were struggling with Cahill, it’s clear to see that just his presence alone inspires the side, the Aussie is a goal threat and his never quit attitude brings out the best in his teammates. His loss will majorly hamper Everton on Saturday and it’s going to be a very tough game for Everton to win.

The sides have already met once in the year, a league game at Stamford Bridge when a late Beckford goal cancelled out a 42nd minute Drogba penalty as the sides drew 1-1. Everton has a decent record at Chelsea unbeaten in the past 3 or 4 encounters so if they can avoid defeat at the Bridge they can certainly hold them at home. I’m not convinced on a home win purely because the side is out of form and their other key player Arteta looks a shadow of his former self right now. Moyes is a great manager and his side can certainly knock out the holders but given the form and absentees it doesn’t appeal.

Team news is that Cahill is absent and that defender Jagielka is in contention to start following his return from injury. Up front Saha should start after playing 45 minutes last time out against West Ham, the striker scored against Chelsea last year in the league and his return is important to the side. Elsewhere the side should remain unchanged in a strong Everton looking lineup. (continue reading…)

Last 5 Bolton games at home : W3-D2-L0 F12-A5

Owen Coyle has transformed Bolton from a “route one” direct side to a side that plays free flowing attacking football with lots of passes on the ground. As a result Bolton are flying high in 8th place and a win on Monday will move the Trotters into the top 7 and a European place is not out of the question for this talented side.

Unbeaten in 6 games at the Reebok this side is high on confidence and will not fear Chelsea despite losing the last 6 games against them at home. The sides are completely different now compared to then as Bolton were no way the force they are today and Chelsea has gone from sitting in the top 2 for a few years to fighting for 4th. Its a real case of regression against progression and right now Bolton is looking a really solid side and Chelsea looks awful.

Back to the home form, despite draws against Wigan (1-1) and Blackpool (2-2) Coyle’s side has registered wins over WBA (2-0), Blackburn (2-1), Newcastle (5-1) and Tottenham (4-2). The side scores a lot of goals and has only failed to score twice at home all year on the opening day and then against Liverpool on Halloween. As we can see since then there is goals in abundance for this side and they currently average nearly 2.5 goals a game at home based on the last 5 home games! (continue reading…)

Tottenham welcomes Chelsea in an all London derby clash here. Chelsea are coming into this match in third spot after a poor run of form and Tottenham will aim to inflict more damagae to Carlo Ancelotti’s side.

But a win for Chelsea would bring them back to the top of the standings as Manchester United and Arsenal do not play until Monday Night Football. But a defeat could see them drop further down especially since Manchester City have won to go joint top of the standings and Tottenham would close the gap to them.

As it stands now Tottenham are currently four points behind Chelsea in the table and they know a win here would give them a great chance of closing the gap.

Harry Redknapp’s side, who won 2-1 in this fixture last season, are unbeaten in seven games in all competitions and were most recently involved in a 3-3 draw against FC Twente in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday.

As for Chelsea they are expected to make changes after the midweek 1-0 defeat to Marseille. They have now gone four matches since winning their last match. (continue reading…)

Form is temporary, class is permanent. That’s what we are told, and it is exactly what every Chelsea fan in the country is hoping following the recent run of poor form that has seen us slip from the top of the table.

There is at least one high-profile believer in Didier Drogba, who himself has not scored in six matches - a barren run for someone who netted 37 times last season.

That this spell has coincided with the striker’s bout of malaria is no coincidence, and as he sits down to discuss the situation it is obvious from his laid-back demeanour that the self-belief is still intact.

‘I am improving, I am improving,’ he nods when asked about his form. ‘I really feel good because a few weeks ago I was in a poor condition, I was sick, and now I can make runs and create some good opportunities. It’s just the goals that are missing and they will come.

‘I am doing everything right, I am not worried because I know I’ve been sick. What I had is not common, it is not something like flu where you have it and a week after you feel good.

‘I know normally, the best scenario is for me to be ready in two months. Normally with malaria you are out for two months,’ he points out. For the record, Drogba missed two games in four days in October, and a third in November with the virus.
‘I have lost weight, my body has not recovered fully yet but I am much better. I am not worried because I know what malaria is, and normally it takes a long time to recover, but I think I am a few weeks ahead of where I should be so I am really happy. (continue reading…)

Liverpool’s rejuvenation continued as two moments of brilliance from Fernando Torres sunk Premier League leaders Chelsea at Anfield.

Torres, who has struggled for form and fitness since the 2010 World Cup finals, was back to his best to torment Chelsea once more, ensuring the champions’ lead at the top of the table remained at two points and Liverpool rose into the top 10 with a third successive league victory.

The Spain striker opened the scoring early on with a finish of rare finesse and added his second a minute before the break with a magnificent curling effort past Chelsea keeper Petr Cech to make it seven goals in eight games against the west Londoners.

Reds boss Roy Hodgson’s side then defended their lead doggedly in the face of a renewed challenge from the visitors after the break, helped by the belated introduction of Didier Drogba, who had been suffering from a fever and was restricted to the substitutes’ bench in the first half. (continue reading…)