Chelsea
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Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho insists their Premiership rivals must improve if they hope to even challenge for the title.
The Blues coasted to their first league championship triumph in 50 years last season and also won the Carling Cup as Mourinho made the most of Roman Abramovich's financial backing.
And the Portuguese coach, who won the Champions League with Porto, said the emphasis is on Arsenal and Manchester United now to match the champions.
'This season other teams know how strong we are and they have to improve. If they are the same then they have no chance.
'We have to show the rest of the Premiership that they cannot win at Stamford Bridge. Every fortnight must be three points, three points, three points.
'At the start of the season, I wanted to win everything. I'm frustrated because we did not win everything last season,' Mourinho is quoted in The Sun.
'I don't want people here to remember me as the manager who won the Premiership after 50 years and then had five more seasons of resting on that.
'We know it will be harder for us this season but I always think the most difficult thing is to win the first trophy then defend it.'
Mourinho also admitted his surprise about fans' loyalty in Britain, highlighting the case of Sir Alex Ferguson's United, who were given a standing ovation at Old Trafford at the end of the season despite failing to win a trophy.
'I saw the Manchester United players and manager after their last home game go for a lap of honour after losing to us.
'If they had done that in Portugal they would have had bottles thrown at them,' said Mourinho. -
Chelsea midfielder Alexei Smertin looks set to join Charlton on a year long loan, after spending most of last season on the bench for the champions. Smertin said: "The last two months were painful because I'm not used to sitting on the bench. There were other offers but I wanted to stay in London. My family is settled and it is a fantastic city."
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Chelsea target Michael Essien has pleaded with Lyon to let him join the Premiership champions.
Michael Essien: Chelsea target (AdamDavy/Empics)
The 22-year-old Ghanaian, who joined Lyon two seasons ago from Bastia, has been on the Blues' wanted list all summer but Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas has so far refused to sell him.
However, Essien has now revealed he has no intention of staying with the French champions next season as his heart is already at Stamford Bridge.
'I want to go, I have thought a lot about it during my holidays,' Essien told L'Equipe.
'It is time for me to leave and I will not change my mind. For me, Lyon, it's over.
'I will not go to South Korea [for the Peace Cup] with the team, it is in my interest and the team's that I leave.'
The Blues have already made a €23million (£15.8million) offer for Essien, but Aulas rejected the bid, saying he would not let Essien go at any price.
The player has now begged the club to reconsider their decision.
'I really hope that the president will not prevent me from taking that opportunity,' Essien continued.
'I want to play in England and in Chelsea. In my head I am already in Chelsea. I am dreaming about it.
'I want to go there, otherwise I will regret it all my life. Things go so fast in football. Such an opportunity might not come up again.
'I have done what I had to do with Lyon. I have spent two excellent seasons, learned and progressed a lot but now it's over.
'If I have to stay, I don't know how I will cope with it.'
Essien has won two French titles with Lyon and scored a total of nine goals, including five in the Champions League. -
hai.sad to say but i think our top priority should be a world class striker like adriano.and i hope the john obi mikel saga gets solve soon,i have seen him play for nigeria in the world youth championship and he's damn good.
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i dont understand why chelsea did not approach owen. i am sure RM wants to offload him.
chelsea needs a proven finisher and owen is the perfect choice.
he is young and rightly priced. -
well there were rumours before about owen,but i guess mourinho doesn't just want a finisher like owen who does nothing but finish but prefer a player in the mould of henry,shevchenko those type that runs at defenders and can play make for other players in the team thats why.actually thats the only reason i can think of.
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oh crespo is returning.i hope he can rediscover his best form for chelsea man,be the 25 goal a season striker.
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LYON, France, July 12 (Reuters) - Olympique Lyon midfielder Michael Essien appears set to stay with the club for now after talks between the French champions and Chelsea on Tuesday.
Michael Essien: Chelsea target (AdamDavy/Empics)
Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon met president Jean-Michel Aulas and manager Gerard Houllier after which a Lyon spokesman said: 'The position of both clubs has not changed'.
Ghana international Essien is keen to join Chelsea but Aulas does not want to sell.
Earlier, Aulas told reporters that he had received a lucrative offer from the English champions but was hoping he could convince Essien to stay in France.
'It's difficult to resist but Michael is not for sale,' Aulas said. 'We will do everything to keep him.'
Essien said he wanted a move to the Premier League.
'I want to leave,' the player was quoted as saying by French sports daily L'Equipe. 'I want to play in England at Chelsea.'
Reports in the British media said Essien would be in London for a medical on Tuesday but reporters spotted him in Lyon.
Lyon are due to leave for South Korea on Wednesday to play in the Peace Cup tournament.
Essien told L'Equipe he would not go but Aulas said the player would travel with the team.
'He will come with us and I'll take him to the plane,' Aulas said. Manager Houllier added: 'He will come with us to Korea.' -
Jose Mourinho's Premiership champions started their pre-season campaign with a comfortable win at League Two Wycombe tonight.
Asier Del Horno at Wycombe (AdamDavy/Empics)
First-half goals from Damien Duff and Carlton Cole gave Chelsea a 2-0 interval lead before substitute Arjen Robben came on to score the third goal and set up the final two for Jiri Jarosik.
Mourinho gave most of his big guns some action and the Blues were on top for most of the contest.
After Eidur Gudjohnsen had seen an effort cleared off the line, Nathan Tyson tested Chelsea goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini.
But the Blues were ahead after 33 minutes when Duff's well-struck shot from a Joe Cole cross beat Frank Talia in the Wycombe goal.
Cole doubled the advantage two minutes later, firing home after his header had rebounded back off the underside of the bar.
Mourinho introduced Frank Lampard, William Gallas, Petr Cech, Tiago and Robben for the second period at the Causeway Stadium.
And although Wycombe pulled a goal back through Charlie Griffin's 65th-minute header, it did not take Robben long to make an impression.
The Dutch international winger restored Chelsea's two-goal lead within a minute and then set up Jarosik to volley the fourth.
It was the same story for the fifth goal, with the impressive Robben creating the chance for Jarosik - for the final goal of the contest. -
Manchester City have rejected Chelsea's bid for Shaun Wright-Phillips.
Chelsea were reported to have tabled an offer of £18 million for the England international as they look to lure him away from Eastlands, however it has been confirmed the bid was actually £20 million.
Despite the amount being larger, City still decided to shun the offer.
The Premiership champions have been linked with Wright-Phillips all summer as they look to bolster their squad.
City insists they do not want to sell the exciting winger and they have snubbed Chelsea's offer.
"Manchester City Football Club can confirm that we have received a bid from Chelsea for Shaun Wright-Phillips which has been immediately rejected," read a statement from City.
"We have always stressed that we want Shaun to stay at Manchester City and Shaun himself has always been adamant that he is happy here as the club continue to build on the excellent progress made under the leadership of Stuart Pearce.
"We do not encourage any bids for Shaun and both the club and the player remain firmly focused on our preparations for the new season."
Wright-Phillips only signed a new deal at City last August and they are determined to keep hold of their prized asset.
The 23-year-old has always insisted he is happy at City, but it remains to be seen if Chelsea come back with a new improved offer after having their first bid rejected -
Chelsea have agreed a deal with Le Havre for midfield prospect Lassana Diarra.
The 20-year-old is to clinch a dream switch to Stamford Bridge and become the second of Jose Mourinho's summer buys.
Le Havre were at pains to point out that Chelsea acted very professionally throughout the negotiations and they are pleased that Diarra is joining the Premiership champions as it represents such a great opportunity for the player.
Diarra played for France in the summer Under-20 tournament against England in Toulon and talks have been continuing for some time between the two clubs.
The Paris-born youngster can also play in defence and has previously attracted interest from Nantes.
No transfer fee has yet been disclosed but it is claimed that Mourinho was personally impressed with the Le Havre starlet and moved to add him to his squad ahead of the new season, when Chelsea will defend the Premiership title.
Even though Diarra has been playing at Ligue 2 level, he is highly regarded within France and is viewed as the next Claude Makelele. -
Dun think Chelsea will win the title again.
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Shaun Wright-Phillips looks set to become a key player in Chelsea's title defence after the Premiership champions made a bid for the Manchester City winger.
Wright-Phillips, 23, has been linked with a move away from Eastlands and is now expected to switch to Stamford Bridge following a bid understood to be worth £18million.
Although City value their player at £22million such a bid would ease the debt the club faces, although new boss Stuart Pearce would lose the focal point of his team.
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho already has wingers Damien Duff and Arjen Robben but competing in the Champions League and domestically would require a bigger squad.
Wright-Phillips had been linked with a move to Arsenal - he is the adopted son of former Gunner Ian Wright - although a move to Stamford Bridge now seems more likely. -
hey why did chelsea change their club logo? is it permanant or just for the season coz they won the title?
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Manchester City boss Stuart Pearce insists Shaun Wright-Phillips does not want to leave the club after Chelsea had a bid rejected.
City rejected The Blues' £20 million offer for the England flyer early on Friday and Pearce claims that the 23-year-old remains committed to the club.
Wright-Phillips played for the whole of the second half in City's opeing pre-season clash against Tranmere on Friday evening and Pearce spoke straight after the 1-0 defeat.
"The kid wants to stay here," declared Pearce. "He doesn't want to go anywhere, he wants to stay with me, the club and the supporters.
"I made him aware there was a bid, but he just passed it off and said 'what time is kick-off tonight?'
"He is delighted to be here and that is how it stands at present.
"They are very keen on one of our players, who happens to be extremely talented.
"Every enquiry these days is blown out of all proportion, no matter who it involves, that is the nature of the game.
"The bottom line is we have received an offer for Shaun, just as we have received offers for other players this summer. So far, we have accepted one - Jon Macken - and rejected the rest.
"I have told Chelsea Shaun is not for sale, the chief executive has, the board have and most importantly, so has Shaun." -
They changed? Got Pic?Originally posted by dibilo:hey why did chelsea change their club logo? is it permanant or just for the season coz they won the title? -
yeap they changed it,even the jerseys gonna change too i think because now under adidas..its something like the epl logo with a lion in the middle..Originally posted by SBS9828X:They changed? Got Pic? -
Jose Mourinho heads home to Portugal tomorrow for a high-profile friendly with Benfica needing to decide whether he should adjust his current transfer targets.
Mourinho is rapidly finding out not even Roman Abramovich's wealth can get him everything he wants.
After failing in his attempts to sign Steven Gerrard from Liverpool and having two massive bids for Lyon midfielder Michael Essien turned down, the Chelsea boss has now hit a brick wall in his attempts to lure Shaun Wright-Phillips to Stamford Bridge.
Bolstered by the belief Wright-Phillips has no major desire to leave the club, Manchester City chairman John Wardle almost instantly rejected a £20million offer from Chelsea last night and privately claimed it would take a significant increase in the bid just for it to be put to the 23-year-old for discussion.
It was a brave decision by a man whose club is £62million in debt but he backed up his words with actions by letting Wright-Phillips risk injury in a 45-minute appearance at Tranmere last night, the player having let acknowledgement of a bid pass straight over his head.
'I made him aware there was a bid, but he just passed it off and said `what time is kick-off',' said manager Stuart Pearce, who intends to play Wright-Phillips in today's friendly at Macclesfield and then to Thailand for next week's FA Premier League Asia Trophy.
'The kid wants to stay here,' added Pearce.
'He does not want to go anywhere, he wants to stay with me, the club and the supporters.'
With Chelsea due to depart for their United States tour on Tuesday, time is running out for Mourinho to get Wright-Phillips on board, although the initial suggests are he will be back with an increased offer.
There is also a suggestion that Arsenal, having just sold Patrick Vieira to Juventus for £13.7million, could also enter the market.
Gunners chief Arsene Wenger has stated his admiration of Wright-Phillips publicly and knows his club offers more sentimental attachment to the England man given the status his stepfather Ian Wright is afforded at Highbury.
Nevertheless, Wright-Phillips' bond with the Eastlands outfit is strong.
A product of the City academy, he has never forgotten how the club took him on after he was rejected by Nottingham Forest for being too small and only last night he was handing out prizes at Failsworth High School. His half-brother Bradley is also a team-mate.
The winger certainly did not look too concerned as he signed autographs prior to the game, beaming from ear-to-ear, even though he could be about to spurn the opportunity of expressing his talent on the Champions League stage.
Some City officials have been irritated by Chelsea's approach to the potential transfer, believing the Stamford Bridge outfit have been guilty of conducting their business through the media.
However, Pearce refused to condemn the London outfit.
'They are very keen on one of our players, who happens to be extremely talented,' he said.
'Every inquiry these days is blown out of all proportion, no matter who it involves, that is the nature of the game.
'The bottom line is we have received an offer for Shaun, just as we have received offers for other players this summer. So far, we have accepted one - Jon Macken - and rejected the rest.
'I have told Chelsea Shaun is not for sale, the chief executive has, the board have and most importantly, so has Shaun.'
chelsea has themselves to blame. now everybody expects a massive fee for every player than try to sign.
this is crazy. -
Manchester City winger Shaun Wright-Phillips has asked for permission to speak to Chelsea.
The 23-year-old has made the request after skipping City's friendly with Macclesfield Town on Saturday afternoon.
Wright-Phillips was due to make his second pre-season appearance within 24 hours after featuring in Friday's friendly against Tranmere Rovers.
But despite taking to the pitch with his team-mates an hour before kick-off, Wright-Phillips was accompanied off by Stuart Pearce 10 minutes later.
City had initially claimed that Wright-Phillips was excused from the match due to illness but it now appears as though the wide man wants to discuss a move to Stamford Bridge.
Wright-Phillips spoke to City chairman John Wardle upon leaving Moss Rose and has requested the club reach a compromise with Chelsea regarding a fee.
"Our chairman has spoken to Shaun on the way from the ground and Shaun has asked the club for permission to talk to Chelsea," said a City spokesman.
"Shaun has expressed a desire for Manchester City to reach an agreement with Chelsea over his transfer."
The England international was the subject of a £20 million bid from the Premiership champions on Friday but it was swiftly rejected by City.
Speaking after the game against Tranmere, City boss Pearce revealed the pacey attacker had shrugged off the rumours and was happy to stay at the club.
However, the latest turn of events suggests that Wright-Phillips is seriously considering his future at The City of Manchester Stadium.
With City due to fly out to Thailand on Sunday, they will want the matter resolved quickly to determine whether Wright-Phillips will join the club on the trip. -
viera is a good example. arsenal turned down a 28 million pound offer. now they sold him for only 14 million.
man city should cash in while they can. 20 million pound can help city strengthen their team. they dont need SWP. -
Wright-Phillips asks to speak to Chelsea
Manchester City boss Stuart Pearce has warned Chelsea they will not get Shaun Wright-Phillips on the cheap.
Wright-Phillips: Looks to have played his last for City. (BrynLennon/GettyImages)
The England international dramatically telephoned City chairman John Wardle this afternoon and requested permission to speak with the Barclays Premiership champions, whose £20million bid for the 23-year-old was turned down last night.
Wright-Phillips made his move barely an hour after he had pulled out of today's 1-1 draw at Macclesfield with a stomach bug just 30 minutes before kick-off.
His call stunned Wardle, who sincerely believed the Londoner wished to stay at Eastlands, but Wright-Phillips has already been told he will not be allowed to speak to Chelsea until a fee between the clubs has been agreed.
Although Chelsea have not made any contact with City since yesterday's bid, it would appear virtually certain that confirmation it was still on the table would result in the transfer being pushed through prior to Pearce's side departing for the FA Premier League Asia Trophy in Thailand tomorrow evening.
The fear in the City camp is that Chelsea could reduce their bid as a result of Wright-Phillips' stunning move - although in that case, the winger, who has three years left on his contract, could yet find himself flying to Bangkok.
'What has happened today does not mean we will just cave in,' said Pearce.
'The bottom line is we want the going rate for a player of Shaun Wright-Phillips' ability.
'Whilst we are not in the position of keeping players who are unhappy, Shaun and his advisers need to be acutely aware we need to get our valuation for him.
'If we do not, he has rather a lengthy contract.'
Pearce said nothing would please him more than to see Wright-Phillips boarding the plane at Manchester Airport tomorrow, but realistically he knows it is only a matter of time before a deal is thrashed out.
Although club officials are seething at what they see as Wright-Phillips pressing them into a corner, Pearce refused to condemn the player, insisting he would be an asset to any team he played for.
'If Shaun leaves, I will shake his hand,' he said.
'He will always be welcome at our football club, except on match days when he is a member of the opposition team.
'I am a little bit frustrated with him but not annoyed. I know him inside out and he is a smashing player to manage.
'He will be a massive asset to any football club he represents whether that is Manchester City for another 10 years or somebody else.
'I don't think he is the finished article yet, he can only get better. As someone to work with, he is fantastic and my opinion on that is not going to change.'
The move just proves what pulling power Roman Abramovich has given Chelsea, although with Damien Duff, Arjen Robben and Joe Cole already at Stamford Bridge, Wright-Phillips will face a major test of his ability just trying to force his way into the starting line-up on a regular basis.
He will certainly hope to have more success than Scott Parker, whose international ambitions crumbled following his move across London from Charlton.
For City fans, the news will be a shattering body blow and Pearce will need to act fast to sustain the confidence generated by last season's superb eighth-placed finish.
With Jon Macken now at Crystal Palace and Robbie Fowler, Antoine Sibierski and, in all probability, Wright-Phillips all absent from the Thailand trip, Pearce has no senior striker available to him.
The club have been linked with Robbie Keane, Freddie Kanoute and Peter Crouch in recent weeks but so far, the only new signing has been the deal which saw Kiki Musampa's loan spell extended for a further season.
Defeat at Tranmere last night and a tame 1-1 draw at Moss Rose today, where Yasser Hussein levelled following John Parkin's early opener for the hosts, will not inspire any confidence and as he approaches his first full season in charge Pearce accepts he is facing a major test of his managerial abilities.
'If this deal does go through, it will be my job to re-ignite the players, get some new faces in and move the team on from there.' -
Manchester City have agreed a fee with Chelsea for the sale of midfielder Shaun Wright-Phillips.
The two clubs began discussions after the England winger asked City for permission to speak to the Premiership champions yesterday.
City rejected a £20million offer from Chelsea for the player last week but Wright-Phillips' request forced the club to consider his sale.
The fee for the 23-year-old is believed to be £21million. Wright-Phillips has now withdrawn from City's pre-season tour of Thailand and will meet Chelsea to discuss terms.
'As a result of Shaun's request to speak to Chelsea we have conducted a series of complex negotiations with Chelsea,' said City communications chief Paul Tyrrell.
'A fee for Shaun's transfer has been agreed and consequently we have granted his wish to talk to the other club.'
The likelihood of Wright-Phillips leaving the club grew when he withdrew from yesterday's friendly at Macclesfield.
Wright-Phillips joined City as a trainee after being rejected by Nottingham Forest, making his debut in 1999.
He has since become one of the Premiership's most exciting talents and broke into the England side last year.
City had been determined to resist selling their prize asset, but with debts in the region of £62million the fee received will be welcomed by the Eastlands outfit.
It is thought manager Stuart Pearce will be given half the money to spend on new players with the rest going towards servicing the debt.
Pearce is already closing in on one new recruit with former Manchester United striker Andy Cole at the club's Carrington complex to discuss a move from Fulham.
The parties are close to agreement and Cole is due to undergo a medical. He is set to join the squad in Thailand although personal terms may not be finalised before their departure later today. -
Finally Chelsea makes a " successful " bid for a STAR player .
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actually i hear this news damn depress leh.swp is a damn good and talented player by moving to chelsea,he could end up like scott parker a player who was in the england team but kana kicked out because of not playing regular football.. and chelsea already has 3 wingers in robben,duff and joe cole,i say this move is not good for his career,he should stay one more season in man city for his world cup hopes..
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Chelsea agree price for Wright-Phillips
Shaun Wright-Phillips will be confirmed as Chelsea's newest recruit within 48 hours after the Premiership champions agreed to pay Manchester City £21million for the England international.
Wright-Phillips: Heading south. (BrynLennon/GettyImages)
A dramatic long weekend, which started with City boss Stuart Pearce insisting the 23-year-old wanted to stay at Eastlands, will end with Wright-Phillips agreeing personal terms, then passing a medical before heading across the Atlantic on Chelsea's pre-season tour of the United States.
In contrast, the City squad headed out to Thailand for the FA Premier League Asia Trophy tonight still shell-shocked by the loss of their talisman.
As recently as Friday night, when he signed autographs after what proved to be his final outing in a City shirt at Tranmere, club officials were convinced Wright-Phillips wanted to stay, a major factor behind their rejection of the £20million bid from Chelsea which had arrived hours earlier.
That bullishness evaporated within a 90 minutes on a sunny afternoon at Macclesfield yesterday, when Wright-Phillips pulled out of the Moss Rose friendly with a stomach bug - leaving the visitors team sheet with a blank space alongside the number seven shirt he had been allocated - before telephoning chairman John Wardle as he was being driven home to inform him of his desire to speak to Chelsea.
Wardle, still on his summer holiday, was devastated by the news but recognised the inevitability of the situation.
Although Wright-Phillips was initially refused permission to speak with the cash-rich Londoners, it was only to allow City chief executive Alistair Mackintosh to broker the best possible deal.
Mackintosh managed to prise an extra £1million out of Roman Abramovich's wallet, although it is not known whether he has managed to retain the £17million up front payment which formed part of the first offer.
'As a result of Shaun's request to speak to Chelsea we have conducted a series of complex negotiations with Chelsea,' explained communications chief, Paul Tyrrell.
'A fee for Shaun's transfer has been agreed and consequently we have granted his wish to talk to the other club.'
The fee far exceeds City's previous biggest sale, the £7million received from Fenerbahce for Nicolas Anelka in January, and will help cushion the blow of losing such a popular and brilliant player, who made 150 league and cup starts for the club following his debut in 1999.
Although Wright-Phillips has won just four caps, he is almost certain to be a member of Sven-Goran Eriksson's World Cup squad next summer.
It is thought Pearce will be given half the fee to spend on new recruits, with Robbie Keane, Freddie Kanoute, Peter Crouch and Andy Johnson among those being linked to a squad whose only recognised senior striker - Robbie Fowler - missed the flight to Bangkok with a back complaint.
Pearce had hoped to rush a deal through for former Manchester United forward Andy Cole to fly out with the City party but negotiations were not concluded in time and Mackintosh will stay behind to try to tie up the loose ends of that deal tomorrow.
Early indications suggest the arrival of Cole will not appease the long-suffering City support, who are fearing the worst for the new campaign - the loss of Wright-Phillips compounded a lacklustre defeat at Tranmere and a draw at League Two Macclesfield.
And Pearce, whose presence and drive did so much to ensure City finished last term in eighth place following the departure of Kevin Keegan, admits he is facing a major test of his managerial skills.
'It is my job to re-ignite the players, get some new faces in and move the team on from there,' said Pearce, who claimed he bore no animosity to Wright-Phillips over his conduct.
'He will always be welcome at our football club, except on matchdays when he is a member of the opposition team.
'I am a little bit frustrated with him but not annoyed. I know him inside out and he is a smashing player to manage.
'He will be a massive asset to any football club he represents and I don't think he is the finished article yet, he can only get better.
'As someone to work with, he is fantastic and my opinion on that is not going to change.'
seriously speaking i fear for swp career.i just hope he turned out to be a star and improve under jose mourinho rather den be another scott parker.