TheDailySoccerNews.com

Chelsea will have been boosted by watching Manchester United’s defeat at Everton on Saturday lunchtime, and then they took maximum advantage by beating Wolves to establish a four-point lead in the Premier League.

But Ancelotti knows he must bring his players back down to earth ahead of the Champions League last-16 tie with Jose Mourinho’s Inter Milan on Wednesday. The phrase we always used in our dressing room was that, right up until the point where the trophy is secured, you have won nothing yet. That is the mentality the Italian must instil in his players.
His task is made easier by the fact that their next fixture is in a different competition, while Ancelotti has a further advantage, too, in the form of his counterpart at the San Siro.

Rather than improving Inter’s chances of progression into the quarter-finals, the fact that it is Mourinho facing the club he led to two Premier League titles plays into Chelsea’s hands.

Yes, he will know exactly how to play against Chelsea, all of their weaknesses and idiosyncrasies. The spine of the side – Petr Cech, John Terry, Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba – all blossomed under Mourinho. They are his players, his legacy to the club even after his departure in 2007. The three managers who have followed have added only fringe players, with the exception of Nicolas Anelka, but the players who are the essence of Chelsea are Mourinho’s. Read more…

Owen, 30, who has scored 40 goals in 89 games for England, last played for the national side in March 2008.

Manchester United striker Michael Owen has all but given up hope of making England’s World Cup squad this summer.

“It’s been a long time since I was in the England squad,” Owen told BBC Radio 5 live. “You never give up but it’s probably a long shot in racing terms.”

England boss Fabio Capello has said his players must be first-team regulars but Owen has not held down a United place.

Owen has started only five league games for his club this season following his July move from Newcastle, scoring two goals in the top flight and seven in all competitions.
The former Liverpool forward’s most impressive performance this season came in United’s 3-1 win over Wolfsburg in the Champions League, when Owen scored a hat-trick, but he was back on the bench for United’s next game - the home defeat by Aston Villa.

Capello flew to South Africa on Sunday for Fifa’s World Cup pre-tournament workshop in Sun City after watching in-form Fulham striker Bobby Zamora in the London side’s 2-1 win over Birmingham City.

England play Egypt at Wembley on 3 March, with Capello set to announce his squad for that friendly this weekend.

Fulham manager Roy Hodgson said of Zamora: “I think Capello will have been impressed. I know the fans were chanting his name for England and that was quite right.
“Capello knows football very well and is a person I regard as a friend. I’ve got every faith in his judgement. Read more…

Bari were no match for an efficient AC Milan side who bagged three important Serie A points to erase the recent memory of Champions League defeat.

Milan were hoping to use the game as a chance to recover from the recent loss to Manchester United in the Champions League. For Bari the task was simple, make the misery worse and bag a vital three points.

The first half was a frustrating one to watch. Milan had plenty of the ball but were not doing enough to convert this into a good lead. However, they stuck to their task and stretched the advantage in the second 45, never looking back.

Bari made the slightly better start as Barreto went racing down the wing in the fourth minute. Gattuso was having none of it and raced over to clear the danger and any early chance of a threat against Milan.

Milan struggled in the early moments to find their feet. Passes were going out of play and either too long or short. If Bari could get an early goal then it could help them when Milan improved later in the game.

Ambrosini missed a great chance just before the quarter of an hour mark when he fired over. Pato did well to beat the full back, progress along the by line and cut the ball back before it was sent into row z.

Bari were not to be outdone and a good little move nearly put them ahead. Meggiorini found a little space on the edge of the area but couldn’t get enough power behind his shot as a Milan defender came across to clear. Read more…

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini admitted he does not know when Carlos Tevez will return from compassionate leave having spoken to the striker three days ago.

The Argentina international has been in his homeland for over a week after his wife gave birth prematurely.

With Tevez’s wife Vanesa now out of hospital, although the baby is still in intensive care, Mancini wants the 26-year-old back in England.

However, there is no indication yet as to when the 19-goal striker is due to return - which is a concern for Mancini with an FA Cup replay against Stoke and a trip to Barclays Premier League leaders Chelsea in the coming days.

“I don’t know where Tevez is - I think in Argentina,” said Mancini after the goalless draw at home to Liverpool. Read more…

WAYNE ROONEY may have dominated the pre-match build-up but it was supersubs Dan Gosling and Jack Rodwell who stole the headlines.

The once-precious memories of a teenage Wayne Rooney may be hateful for Everton fans but at least they now have a new prodigy to celebrate.

Yesterday, Rooney stood grim-faced as he watched Jack Rodwell glide past Michael Carrick, hold his nerve and slip the ball past Edwin van der Sar to complete Everton’s well-deserved win.

As the 18-year-old from Southport, a childhood Everton fan, was embraced by a euphoric Gwladys Road End, he stripped off his shirt and revelled in the acclaim.

The poise, the confidence on the ball, the precocity of youth were all familiar; Rooney will remember them well.

Of course, this was a game about much more than 88th-minute substitute Rodwell. For a start there was Dan Gosling, the 20-year-old Devonian and a veritable bundle of energy. Then there was Diniyar Bilyaletdinov’s stunning equaliser on 20 minutes.

Principally, though, there was Landon Donovan, Steven Pienaar and Leon Osman overwhelming Carrick, Darren Fletcher, Ji-sung Park and Antonio Valencia.

‘We were well beaten, simple as that,’ said Sir Alex Ferguson. ‘There’s a possibility that we were tired but we’re going for a championship and you expect Manchester United to respond to the importance of the game. In the second half they were better.’

Rooney was unusually subdued on his return to the club who nurtured him and Dimitar Berbatov was his usual enigmatic self. But perhaps most worrying of all, Jonny Evans and Wes Brown looked an accident waiting to happen. Read more…

Tale of the game

On Tuesday, City went to Stoke and were fortunate to take a point. So, after three straight league wins at the start of his career with City, manager Roberto Mancini has won just two of his next six games, taking seven points from a possible 18.

City are still without Carlos Tévez , back in Argentina for the birth of his second child, while Craig Bellamy and Vincent Kompany undergo tests. They face a Liverpool team still without Fernando Torres and Glen Johnson. When the teams met in November at Anfield, City led 2-1 but Yossi Benayoun levelled for Liverpool to take a point.

Who’s saying what?

Rafa Benitez:
“[Carlos Tevez] is a really good player but Manchester City have a lot of really good players so if he doesn’t play, they will use a player who will try to do the same as him. They are a top side with some really good players. I think it will be a really important game and will be a good game to watch.” Read more…

Tale of the game

In three Premier League games between these teams, Chelsea have won all three, scoring 14 goals. Earlier this season Chelsea won 4-0 at Stamford Bridge, three of the goals coming in the opening 22 minutes. And on their only previous Premier League visit to Molineux, in September 2003, they won 5-0. After losing at Everton, Chelsea face a Wolves side with one defeat in their last four Premier League games.

Wolves are without Stephen Ward, Andy Kightly and Michael Kightly while David Edwards is closing in on a return from an ankle injury. Chelsea should recall John Terry, rested for the FA Cup tie against Cardiff, but Ashley Cole is out. Petr Cech and Nicolas Anelka, also rested for the 4-1 Cup win, should be back. Jose Bosingwa and Michael Essien remain injured and there are tests for Joe Cole, Deco and Juliano Belletti.

Who’s saying what?

Carlo Ancelotti:
“John Terry has returned and trained very well this week. He’s able to play tomorrow and is in good condition. He has very good motivation. We have to stay focused on the matches because they will be very difficult ones. We start tomorrow against Wolves and every game is very important.

“Until the end of the season, we have 90 days. It depends on us what happens at the end of the season. If we do very well in these 90 days, we can have a good result at the end of the season. Read more…

Tale of the game

Sunderland are unbeaten against Arsenal in the last three meetings, home and away, but in their last 10 League visits they have lost eight, drawn two and conceded 24 goals. In the Premier League, they have drawn their last three games and have failed to win in 12, their last victory coming at home to Arsenal in November when Darren Bent scored the winner.

Arsenal are six points off leaders Chelsea after beating Liverpool in what was their first win in four but manager Arsene Wenger will be concerned that his side has managed just two goals in four outings.

Sunderland are without Lee Cattermole and David Meyler, both suspended, while Kieron Richardson, Andy Reid, John Mensah, Fraizer Campbell, Anton Ferdinand and Jordan Henderson are out while Steed Malbranque undergoes a test on a chest injury.

On Wednesday they went to Porto in the Champions League and with an under-strength side were beaten 2-1, with stand-in goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianksi the culprit. Manuel Almunia, William Gallas, Alex Song, Eduardo and Andrei Arshavin were all absent but should all be available.

Who’s saying what?

Steve Bruce:
“The way football is now it is my turn at the minute [to be under pressure], we haven’t won in 12 games and it is there for everybody to see,” he said. In those 12 we have drawn six so we’ve been close, we’ve conceded four times in the last five minutes and that has cost us. Read more…

Tale of the game

United have the chance to return to the top of the Premier League because of the early kick-off and they face Everton on the back of an eight-match unbeaten. In that period, going back to the 3-0 loss at Fulham in December, they have taken 20 points from a possible 24. They miss the suspended Nani – sent-off in the 1-1 draw at Aston Villa – and Rio Ferdinand, also banned, while Ryan Giggs is ruled out with a broken arm. Wayne Rooney will be looking to add to his 21 League goals.

Everton, 2-1 winners over Sporting Lisbon on Tuesday in the Europa League, have won four of their last five League games and have Steven Pienaar available after suspension following his dismissal in the one blip, the 1-0 defeat by Liverpool, their only loss in 11 League games. But Marouane Fellaini is out, as is Tony Hibbert and Phil Jagielka. And, on Tuesday, Tim Cahill injured a calf and looks doubtful.

Who’s saying what?

Sir Alex Ferguson:
“It doesn’t matter where we go at the moment, [Wayne Rooney has] been without a doubt the main player, the star, over the past few weeks. He’s in such great form and that gives us a great confidence. The last few months or so his game has just taken off. Confidence has something to do with it but he has been in absolutely incredible form. Read more…