Chelsea FC - Supporters' Rally

[Glen2712]

PRE-MATCH BRIEFING: VALENCIA V CHELSEA


It's Matchday Two in Valencia's Estadio Mestalla and club historian Rick Glanvill and statistician Paul Dutton prepare the way for a massive European night.


The Champions League always offers a welcome and inspiring break from the humdrum of the league. That's especially the case when goals and points have been so hard to come by.


We're probably all in need of a pick-me up right now, and the most welcome return - other than a top player or two - would be that of the indomitable team spirit of recent years.


There were few better examples of the dynamic resolve of José Mourinho's all-conquering Chelsea sides than our most recent meeting with Valencia, in the quarter-finals of this tournament five months ago.


Missing key wide players Mourinho opted for a narrow-looking formation to exploit the gaps and block the passes between the Spaniards' two banks of four and to isolate their strikers David Villa and Fernando Morientes.


He didn't want the repetition of the freedom allowed to the likes of Joaquin and David Silva in the first leg at the Bridge, which had left the knockout tie balanced at 1-1.


Back in Spain Morientes, present at three previous Champions League heartbreaks for Chelsea with Monaco and Liverpool, opened the scoring just past the half-hour when Lassana Diarra slipped up.


It was a rare opening for the home side, who were stifled by the powerplay of the Chelsea team, particularly Michael Essien, returning from injury after six matches out and performing like three men.


With typical decisiveness Mourinho removed Diarra at half-time and put the Ghanaian to right-back: he was simply amazing that night.


After the Blues deservedly equalised through Andriy Shevchenko they piled forward for a winner. As the minutes ticked away Shevchenko set up an unlikely opening for Essien who steamed in from the wing and thumped a low shot past keeper Cañizares (a doubt for tonight's game) at his near post.


The noisy fans of Los Ché were almost in awe of the Chelsea performance and graciously applauded us off the pitch at the end. Their players weren't far off the same.


'They were playing away from home and this is a difficult place to do well,' said Morientes afterwards, 'but in the second half they kept the ball really well and we simply couldn't get near enough to their goal to create good chances. They are a very good side indeed.'


In fact Chelsea became the first English side to win at Mestalla, and it would surely be inconceivable that an evening back in April could be the last hurrah of the celebrated, record-breaking Chelsea machine. But it must be said there have been signs of sawdust in the works in the last month and nothing like the extraordinary team organisation of that night has looked in evidence since the Aston Villa match.


Of course, Frank Lampard, Michael Ballack and Ricardo Carvalho all featured in that famous win last season and their absences have been keenly felt this campaign. Who knows if one of them will be back again for this difficult trip to Spain?


What we can say is that Valencia themselves have had a mixed start to 2007/8 too.


Their league form of played six, lost one, won five belies several underwhelming performances, particularly against newly-promoted Almeria and Valladolid. They laboured to a 1-0 win over 10-man Recreativo de Huelva on Sunday evening, 24 hours after Chelsea had endured a disappointing goalless draw at home to Fulham.


Manager Quique Sánchez Flores has been under pressure to produce more from his set of players, and has been criticised, much like Rafael Benítez in England, for an excessively 'rotating' team selection. For the league match prior to last year's meeting, he rested seven first team players; Mourinho fielded a full strength side.


Flores's desire for solidity and consistency over entertainment is not finding favour locally. 'The coach and the supporters are no longer in love,' as a Spanish friend put it recently.


In Morientes, Villa and Silva they still have the flair to switch rapidly from constricting defence to sudden attack. It was such an instance that shocked Schalke in the previous round of matches. While Chelsea were struggling to a 1-1 draw against whipping boys Rosenborg, the Spanish put the Germans to the sword with Villa's 63rd-minute strike.


Beyond that, the visitors simply pressed over two-thirds of the pitch and stifled their hosts with great success. It was only as they tired and Schalke took more risks that the Germans created several late chances that they should have converted.


Naturally Valencia have viewed events at Stamford Bridge and the departure of a coach they feared and respected with some delight. Despite what they might reasonably view as a chance to 'have a go' and avenge last season's 1-2, it seems unlikely they will depart from their usual conservative approach, but will aim to snatch a goal or two against a midfield and defence that has been surprisingly porous in September.


Defeat for Chelsea at the hands of Los Ché could make it a very difficult task to qualify from the group stage - something we have never yet failed to do. John Terry is setting the right example by wanting to play even if it requires wearing a mask to protect his fractured cheekbone. And if ever there was a time for the machine to start grinding again, it is now.

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[Glen2712]

PRE-MATCH BRIEFING: VALENCIA V CHELSEA END


VALENCIA V CHELSEA - Paul Dutton with the Europeann stats.


Chelsea and Valencia go into battle for only the second occasion in our history just five months after the first.


Chelsea's record in Spain

1965/66 Fairs Cup semi-final Barcelona L 0-2, play-off L 0-2

1994/95 Cup Winners' Cup semi-final Real Zaragoza L 0-3

1997/98 Cup Winners' Cup quarter-final Real Betis W 2-1

1998/99 Cup Winners' Cup semi-final Real Mallorca L 0-1

1999/00 Champions League quarter-final Barcelona L 1-5 aet

2004/05 Champions League Rd of 16 Barcelona L 1-2

2005/06 Champions League Group stage Real Betis L 0-1

2005/06 Champions League Rd of 16 Barcelona D 1-1

2006/07 Champions League Group stage Barcelona D 2-2

2006/07 Champions League quarter-final Valencia W 2-1


Valencia's last five years in Europe

2002/03 Champions League - quarter-finals

2003/04 UEFA Cup - winners

2004/05 UEFA Cup - round of 32 (having transferred from the Champions League, group stage)

2005/06 Intertoto Cup - finalists

2006/07 Champions League - quarter-finals


Valencia finished fourth last season, ten points behind champions Real Madrid. They have won La Liga six times the last in 2004 and the Spanish National Cup also on six occasions. Their European honours include the UEFA Cup in 2004, the Cup-Winners' Cup in 1980, the UEFA Super Cup in 1980 and 2004 and the Fairs Cup in 1962 and 1963.


They were Champions League finalists in successive years losing out 3-0 to Real Madrid in 2000 and Bayern Munich on penalties after a 1-1 draw in 2001.


Mestalla has a capacity of 50,583 all seated.


Valencia entered this season's Champions League at the third qualifying stage following their fourth place in La Liga last season.


Valencia's Champions League results this season

3rd qual 1st leg Elfsborg (h) W 3-0

3rd qual 2nd leg Elfsborg (a) W 2-1

Group B

Matchday 1 Schalke 04 (a) W 1-0

Team: Cañizares, Miguel, Albiol, Helguera, Moretti, Angulo (Joaquin 75), Marchena, Albelda (c), Silva, Morientes (Arizmendi 80), Villa (Sunny 90). Scorer: Villa (63)


Junvetus coach Claudio Ranieri provides a link between our teams, as he was the predecessor for José Mourinho and Quique Sánchez Flores.


Valencia's European Cup/Champions League record is played 79, won 40, drawn 22, lost 17.


Valencia's La Liga results

Aug 26 Villarreal (h) L 0-3

Sep 2 UD Almeria (a) W 2-1

Sep 15 Real Valladolid (h) W 2-1

Sep 23 Real Betis (a) W 2-1

Sep 26 Getafe (h) W 2-1

Sep 30 Recreativo (a) W 1-0


Valencia travelled to southern Spain on Sunday to play Recreativo and registered their fifth successive league win and seventh in all competitions. David Villa scored the only goal. They lined up as follows: Hildebrand; Miguel, Helguera, Albiol, Moretti; Angulo, Marchena (Albelda 80), Baraja, Arizmendi (Joaquín 62); Silva, Villa (Morientes 82). The referee booked 10 including six from Valencia and sent off a player - and a coach - from Recreativo.


Valencia are third with 15 points from six games, equal on goal difference with second placed Villarreal and one point ahead of fourth placed Barcelona. Real Madrid top La Liga with 16 points.


Chelsea's overall record in European competition is played 131, won 70, drawn 33, lost 28. This is our 11th season in succession in Europe.


Chelsea have won three (Anderlecht, Levski Sofia and Valencia) and lost three (Liverpool, Real Betis and Werder Bremen) of our last 10 away Champions League games. The draws were against Liverpool, Barcelona twice and Porto.


This season is our sixth appearance in the Champions League. We have been semi-finalists in 2003/04, 2004/05 and 2006/07, quarter-finalists in 1999/2000 and the last 16 in 2005/06.


Chelsea have played 59 games in the Champions League proper (excluding qualifying games). We have won 29, drawn 16 and lost 14. Valencia's record is played 65, won 32, drawn 19, lost 14.


John Terry is due to become only our second player to reach 50 European games when he plays on Wednesday. Peter Osgood still is our record goalscorer in European competition with 16 followed by Lampard 13 and Didier Drogba and Tore André Flo on 12.


Paulo Ferreira, if selected, is due to make his 100th start for the club.


Ricardo Carvalho and Claudio Pizarro are both on 49 career Champions League appearances. Congratulations to Claudio who celebrates his 29th birthday on the day of the match.


UEFA club competition all time top scorers
Gerd Muller (Bayern Munich) 62, Filippo Inzaghi (Parma, Juventus, AC Milan) 60, Andriy Shevchenko (Dynamo Kiev, AC Milan, Chelsea) 60, Raul (Real Madrid) 59, Eusebio (Benfica) 56.


European Cup / UEFA Champions League all time top scorers
Raul (Real Madrid) 57, Andriy Shevchenko (Dynamo Kiev, AC Milan, Chelsea) 56, Ruud van Nistelrooy (PSV, Man Utd, Real Madrid) 54.


Chelsea old boy Asier Del Horno moved just before the transfer deadline from Valencia to his first club Athletic Bilbao on a season long loan.


The referee is 40-year-old Italian Roberto Rosetti, who was in charge when we beat Porto 2-1 in this competition earlier this year.


There are no suspensions for either side. Albelda, Marchena, Moretti (Valencia) and Essien are on one booking. Three yellow cards will result in a one-match ban. The domestic suspensions of Didier Drogba and John Mikel Obi do not apply in Europe.

The Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow will host the 2007/08 final of the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday 21 May. It is the home of Torpedo Moscow and has a capacity of 84,745 covered seats. It is one of few major European stadiums to use an artificial pitch, having installed the UEFA-approved FieldTurf surface in 2002 to withstand the effects of the freezing winters, although a new natural grass pitch will be laid for the final.


There havs been 15 Champions League finalists since the start of the FA Premier League and UEFA Champions League in 1992/93
AC Milan 6, Juventus 4, Real Madrid 3, Ajax 2, Barcelona 2, Bayern Munich 2, Liverpool 2, Valencia 2, Arsenal 1, Bayer Leverkusen 1, Dortmund 1, Manchester United 1, Marseille 1, Monaco 1, Porto 1.


LAST SEASON'S QUARTER-FINAL SECOND LEG

Valencia 1 Chelsea 2 (won 3-2 on aggregate)

UEFA Champions League, Tuesday April 10th 2007 at Mestalla Stadium, Valencia, Spain.

Valencia (4-4-2): Cañizares; Miguel, Ayala, Moretti, Del Horno; Joaquín, Albiol (Hugo Viana 71), Albelda (c), Silva; Villa, Morientes (Angulo 66).

Manager: Quique Sánchez Flores.

Booked: Del Horno, Albelda, Ayala, Moretti.

Scorer: Morientes (31).

Chelsea (4-1-2-1-2): Cech; Diarra (J Cole h-t), Carvalho, Terry (c), A Cole; Mikel; Essien, Lampard (Makelele 90+1); Ballack; Shevchenko (Kalou 90+1), Drogba.

Manager: José Mourinho.

Booked: Essien, Ballack.

Scorers: Shevchenko (51), Essien (90).

Referee: Kyros Vassaras (Greece)

Crowd: 47,280.

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[Glen2712]

Gorgeous through pass from Joe Cole in the middle of the park; approx. 40m all the way to Drogba and SCORED!!!!!!!!!!! Chelsea leads 2-1 to Valencia with 20 odd more mins to go...... :Optimistic:

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[Glen2712]

Valiant Performance!!!! Chelsea Win it!!!!

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[Glen2712]

MINUTE DETAIL: VALENCIA 1 CHELSEA 2

Valencia v Chelsea


Champions League


8.45pm kick off


Champions League Group Stages, matchday 2 at the Mestalla Stadium, Valencia. October 3rd


Valencia(4-4-2) Hildebrand: Miguel, Albiol, Helguera, Moretti: Joaquin (Arizmendi 88), Albelda (c) (Baraja 75), Marchena, Silva: Morientes (Zigic 68), Villa


Manager: Quique Sanchez Flores


Chelsea (4-3-3): Cech; Ferreira, Carvalho, Terry (c), A Cole: Mikel (Alex 88), Makelele, Essien (Sidwell 83): J Cole, Drogba, Malouda (Kalou 84)


First team coach Avram Grant


Referee Roberto Rosetti


Environment Clear and warm at kick off, 8.45pm kick-off, live on Sky Sports.


Kit Valencia - White shirt, black shorts, white socks. Chelsea - blue shirts, shorts and socks.


First-half

Kick-off Chelsea

4 Save Cech comfortably collects a Villa shot from 35 yards out.

7 VALENCIA GOAL Villa picks up a stray ball and takes it past Carvalho before tapping it beyond Cech's reach.

17 Save Cech saves an awkward shot drilled in low by Joaquin from ten yards out.

14 Shot Drogba releases a screaming shot from 12 yards out which goes inches wide of the post.

20 CHESLEA GOAL J Cole out reaches Moretti to score from a Malouda pass across the face of goal.

Stoppage time 2 mins


Half-time Valencia 1 Chelsea 1


Second-half

Kick-off Valencia

53 Escape Morientes heads the ball down from a corner narrowly missing his target as the ball goes wide.

56 Disallowed goal Villa judged offside after finding the back of the net when a Morientes move allows him the space for the shot.

68 Substittution Zigic comes on to replace Morientes up front for Valencia.

70 CHELSEA GOAL Drogba scores from a scorching run down the centre to release the shot that finds the back of the net.

74 Escape Zigic receives at long pass at the left post but doesn't manage to keep his shot on target.

75 Shot Silva takes a shot from 30 yards out which rises over the bar.

75 Substitution Albelda leaves the field and is replaced by Baraja.

78 Abused Marchena receives a yellow card after knocking Carvalho to the ground in a harsh challenge.

83 Substitution: Sidwell joins the midfield after he is brought on to replace Essien.

84 Substitution: Kalou comes on to replace Malouda.

86 Shot Marchena lauches a shot from 30 yards out which goes comfortably wide.

88 Substitution Arizmendi replaces Joaquin for Valencia.

88 Booking Mikel is shown the yellow for taking too long to leave the field for substitution.

88 Substitution Alex comes on to strengthen the Blues defence, replacing Mikel.

90 Shot Kalou receives from Drogba in the box to put a shot just over the bar.

Stoppage time: 4 mins.

Unused subs Valencia: Canizares, Angulo, Alexis, Sunny Chelsea: Cudicini, Belletti, Shevchenko, Pizarro


Shots on target: Valencia 2 Chelsea 3

Corners: Valencia 3 Chelsea 5

Fouls: Valencia 14 Chelsea 15

Offsides: Valencia 2 Chelsea 1


Comment: Tonight saw the return of Ricardo Carvalho who played alongside John Terry for the first time this season, with both players participating in their 50th European game in their careers.


The Blues retain their unbeaten run on Spanish soil, the last game of which was also in the Mestalla Stadium with another 2-1 defeat for Valencia only six months ago. Referee Roberto Rosetti last governed a Chelsea game in another 2-1 win against FC Porto at Stamford Bridge earlier this year.


Whilst Paulo Ferreira made his 100th appearance for Chelsea in a game that seemed to show Valencia maintaining possession during the first twenty minutes. Although the game evened out once Joe Cole scored his first Champions League goal of the season, and when Chelsea came out after the half time break it us who began to control the situation.


This was confirmed on the 71st minute when Didier Drogba smashed the back of the net after receiving a brilliantly timed pass by J Cole. Chelsea will be happy to take a well deserved three points away from this fixture.

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[Glen2712]

TOP DROG

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[Glen2712]

MATCH REPORT: VALENCIA 1 CHELSEA 2

Group B is wide open again after goals from Joe Cole and Didier Drogba complete a comeback performance of high merit.


With Schalke winning away at Rosenborg, Chelsea now top the table thanks to the third win in our history in Spain.


It was a proper test of Avram Grant's side with Valencia at times carving out some fine attacks - but the new first team coach was aided by being able to pair Carvalho and mask-wearing Terry together for the first time this season in the starting line-up.


Ahead of them was a solid-looking midfield of Mikel, Makelele and Essien with the attack to be carried by Drogba flanked by Joe Cole and Malouda in a 4-3-3 shape.


The were a couple of early attacks by both sides - Silva blasting wide and Essien's diagonal low cross skimming across the danger area.


But then on eight minutes, fortune favoured the home side and an early opener was theirs.


David Villa it was who found the net, his initial run defended by Ferreira but as the right-back, preferred on the night to Belletti, cleared, the ball ricocheted back into the path of Villa who raced through to slot low past Cech.


Chelsea responded with a couple of bright pieces of play, Joe Cole involved, but then it took Cech to prevent a second from Joaquin's shot after Morientes had deceived Terry.


But Chelsea continued to go forward and were rewarded on 20 minutes. Malouda took a pass from Drogba and smashed the ball low into the six yard area where it was diverted into the net.


Initially there was a question mark over whether Joe Cole or Valencia left-back Moretti turned it in, the answer not helped by a muted Cole celebration, but replays confirmed the credit goes to the Chelsea man.


The equaliser had taken 19 minutes and soon after, Droba fired over while it took determined blocks from Ashley Cole to deny Morientes and Villa.


The latter was wasteful soon after when the ball ran his way following a Joaquin run.


As the half-hour mark passed, Valencia were enjoying the superior possession but Chelsea were holding firm. A clever, delayed through ball by Essien was almost collected by Drogba who would have been in the clear so both sides made it through to the break with no further damage done.


In the context of an early setback and some confidence-denting recent results, the Blues must have been reasonably satisfied with the first-half showing.


Chelsea began the second-half with two corners, the second nodded wide by Terry. On 53 minutes Valencia won their first corner of the game, Morientes also heading a deep ball wide.


On 56 minutes Joaquin's good ball was collected by Morientes who burst through the backline, only for Villa to take the ball off his toes and plant it in. The celebration was curtailed, a flag was up. The scorer had been offside in the move. Chelsea breathed again.


With Chelsea's extra-man in central midfield keeping that area tight and Valencia's wingers kept in check, the home side were starting to look a little frustrated.


On 68 minutes they made a change, the impressive Morientes making way for 6ft 8in of Serb striker - Nikola Zigic. Before he could even touch the ball, our physical presence up front had lashed in the second goal.


Joe Cole's superb ball had sent Drogba away and in front of his marker, he was uncatchable as he finished low past Hildebrand on 70 minutes.


Drogba saw a 25-yard free-kick pushed away by Hildebrand who had retained his lace in goal despite the return to fitness of Canizares.


The first booking of the game was Marchena on 58 minutes for a chop at Carvalho.


Villa air-kicked in front of goal and Marchena blasted wide as the final five minutes began with Valencia still searching for an equaliser.


Both sides were making the most of their substitutions but with two minutes remaining, Mikel became Chelsea's only booking for taking too long to trot off when his number came up.


In stoppage time, Kalou could have taken the game out of reach but curled a left-foot shot wide after a Drogba burst had ended with the ball falling his way.


Despite a late penalty claim by Valencia and Cech stopping a Baraja shot with the last kick of the game, the Blues had no need to regret that miss.


Chelsea rather like life in the Mestalla!


Chelsea (4-3-3): Cech, Ferreira, Carvalho, Terry (c), A Cole; Essien (Sidwell 83) Makelele, Mikel (Alex 88); J Cole, Drogba, Malouda (Kalou 84).

Scorers: J Cole 20, Drogba 70.

Booked: Mikel 88.


Valencia (4-4-2): Hildebrand; Miguel, Albiol, Helguera, Moretti; Joaquin (Arizmendi 88), Albelda (c) (Baraja 74), Marchena, Silva; Vill, Morientes (Zigic 68).

Scorer: Villa 10

Booked: Marchena 78

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[Glen2712]

REACTION: WIN IS FIRST STEP OF THE WAY

As he was nearing the end of his reflections on a night of victory in Valencia, Avram Grant joked about it being his best game in the Champions League as Chelsea manager.


In a more serious moment, he announced that the morale-boosting win in his fourth game in charge was the first step on a new pathway for the club that employs him.


'I am happy with the winning but I am more happy with the way of the winning,' he declared before leaving the Mestalla for a flight back to London.


'People tell me it was one of the best games away for Chelsea in Europe. I am very pleased with this result because I think it is the start of a new good way.


'I am not surprised. I told everyone before that I was very happy with the attitude of the players in the last two weeks during a very difficult time. We played well in the last two games in the league but this time we finished with 11 players,' he said.


It was certainly one of Chelsea's best nights away in Spain, following last season's win in the same stadium and a 1998 Cup Winners' Cup success against Real Betis as only our third triumph on Spanish soil.


And with the four games in Group B so far this season failing to throw up a single home win, the Champions League qualification campaign is right back on track with Chelsea now a point ahead of Valencia and Schalke.


For Valencia, the inquest has begun on how the same opposition could have scalped them in their own stadium for a second time in quick succession.


'This game was different from the one in April because in that one, we could not reach the goal during the last half of the game,' explained Quique Sanchez Flores, the defeated coach.


'But there are similarities, especially because one team dominates the first-half and the other team the second-half.'


It was home side that Flores believed had enjoyed the clear upper hand before the break. But he bemoaned their inability to 'neutralise' Chelsea's game in the move for our second goal and their failure to finish the game when in the lead, something that he believed Chelsea had done.


'Maybe we could have won the ball back better off their midfield but Chelsea have managed to neutralise our game, and we could not rely on the physical conditions. Players like Makelele and Essien are not made everyday and we cannot compare ourselves to them.


'Even though we have studied Drogba and know how he is playing, he can be lethal. He plays for others, not only himself so he manages to change the situation on the pitch.'


'Didier is a good striker but I don't think that is news for anyone,' said the winning goal scorer's own coach.


'I don't need to tell anyone what we said between us when we talked recently but I was very happy with his attitude. He is willing to give everything to Chelsea and you saw that today.


'We have been trying hard for the last two weeks,' continued Grant. 'Not just me but my assistant Steve Clarke who has been doing a very good job, and all the other staff including the medical staff.


'It has not been easy for them with all the new injuries but we have tried to make things very calm for the players because we know they know how to play football.


'Then when we see the players in the last game, we know their attitude is good but we wanted to keep that, so we needed also a good result.'

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[no_faith]

Avram Grant will likely be Chelsea's long term manager.

[ANDYSIAO14]

Ajax agree Ten Cate release

Ajax have have reached an agreement with Chelsea for the release of Henk ten Cate, who is expected to join Avram Grant's coaching team if he can agree personal terms with the English club.

Ten Cate is poised to agree to a three-year contract with the Blues and team-up with Grant and assistant Steve Clarke.

After being given permission to talk to Chelsea, Ten Cate was involved in detailed negotiations with the Blues on Monday.

A statement issued by the Dutch club on their websit read: 'Ajax have reached agreement with the English club about the immediate transfer of Henk ten Cate.

'After being approached by Chelsea, Henk ten Cate asked the Ajax management last week for permission to start negotiations with the Premier League side. After internal deliberations, Ajax granted permission.

'It is now up to Chelsea and Henk ten Cate to finalise the deal together. Ajax do not expect this to take much time.'

Grant is still looking for a fitness coach, a goalkeeping coach and a scout, but Clarke and Ten Cate would be the two men responsible for first-team affairs under him.

The 52-year-old Israeli has always worked with two assistants and confirmed last Friday he was hoping for a European coach to work with Clarke - citing Ten Cate as one of the men he had identified as a possible addition to his backroom staff.

However, Ajax fans will not be sad to see the back of Ten Cate even though they lie second in the Dutch league.

It is in Europe where they have suffered most after losing to Slavia Prague in Champions League qualifying before going down to Dinamo Zagreb in the UEFA Cup first round.

Sunday's 2-2 draw at Sparta Rotterdam saw fans abuse ten Cate as they struggled to gain a point.

Ten Cate, who previously worked under compatriot Frank Rijkaard at Barcelona, defended his time in charge which saw him win last season's Dutch Cup and the Dutch Super Cup.

He said: 'Under my leadership we have played 41 games, gained 92 points and scored over a hundred goals.

'I can't say if I was sitting on the Ajax bench for the last time. That's not up to me. It's now something between Ajax and Chelsea.

'I don't know more than that the clubs are speaking. And if they don't come to an agreement I will gladly be coach of Ajax until the end of the season. And if they reach a deal I will go to Chelsea.'

Meanwhile, Frank Lampard's first match since the team's last league victory over Portsmouth on August 25 helped Grant to his debut win as boss in the Premier League.

Salomon Kalou scored the decisive goal over Bolton at the Reebok Stadium and Lampard said: 'It was very important for us to follow up the Champions League result.

'Our form has been poor and it's important we turned the corner sooner rather than later.

'It's always a difficult place to come and we showed all the qualities we needed to win the game.

'There's a long way to go, we need to be up there like the last three seasons. We need to be challenging for the league rather than talking about being in eighth place or sixth place. It's very important we win, and then talk about turning corners.

'We need to stick a run of wins together - five, six or seven - and hope other teams slip up.

'We've been in positions before where we're up there and you always fear teams coming from behind and putting a run together, and we have to be that team.'

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/st...471105&cc=4716

[no_faith]

although ajax did not qualify for CL under him but they were whacking teams in the Eredivisie.

he might be coming to join Chelsea but sumhow i dunno why im interested to know who will be the one to bring the fallen giant Ajax into glory days again.

[Glen2712]

The Bosman ruling killed Ajax. Seedorf, Davids, De Boer Bros, Kanu and Kluivert. That team was formidable.

P.S: List Of UPPEES is not in full due to the capacity limitation of the signature function (not be longer than 300 characters excluding BB Code markup). Rest assured I've all ur nicks n u'll be awarded. If I do missed u, kindly PM me.


Appreciate the PM, Bro David_Ginola, Bro Rw6828, Bro Myo_Swee, Bro XboxSG, Bro Best123, Bro Ahnook78 and Bro bhoven!

[WRX_STI]

SBF Chelsea fans can join the fun

www.sgchelseafc.com

[apwd007]

Sheva has a habit of fustrating me, he still seems half a yard off pace and he just isnt anticipating situations. I watch him and sometimes think, Drogba would of had that, Drogba would of got that ball and scored.

I am willing to give him another season like I gave Didier. Mabe so much expectation surrounds Sheva. But I would swap him for Crespo any day. Pizzaro has shown quite abit to me and I like him he has played 5 times 3 as sub and 1 goal, I guess a bit early to compair him with Sheva.

[Arctic Ice]

Oh what short memories we ALL have. A few seasons ago a charming man called Claudio Ranieri was the manager of Chelsea. He spoke very poor English and yet was known as the gentleman of football at the time. He was sacked! Again people players talked of leaving in protest - they did not and the rest is history as they say. Money talks and B******* walks.

One thing is for sure Chelsea will become the poisoned chalice of football management as long as R.A is the owner. A man with his background of total under privilege who has reached the top as one of the world's leading oligarchs must be utterly ruthless and he will never be satisfied with Chelsea unless they win every damned trophy including the Champions League; for him less than that will just not do.

Given that scenario who in the long term would want the job? Players at Chelsea earn huge weekly salaries, to leave would mean overseas clubs because no Premier League one can afford them,anyway it's all nonsense because the transfer window is shut until January so unless they want to be unemployed they will have to grin and bear it.