CHELSEA SACKS ROBERTO DI MATTEO

STATEMENT ON ROBERTO DI MATTEO

Posted on: Wed 21 Nov 2012

 

Chelsea Football Club has parted company this morning with Manager Roberto Di Matteo.
The team's recent performances and results have not been good enough and the owner and the Board felt that a change was necessary now to keep the club moving in the right direction as we head into a vitally important part of the season.
The club faces a difficult task ahead in qualifying for the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League as well as maintaining a strong challenge for the top of the Premier League while competing in three other cup competitions. Our aim is to remain as competitive as possible and challenge strongly on all fronts.
The owner and the Board would like to thank Roberto for all he has done for the club since taking over in March. Roberto helped guide us to an historic Champions League victory and a seventh FA Cup. We will never forget the huge contribution he has made to this club's history and he will always be welcome at Stamford Bridge.
The club will be making an announcement shortly regarding a new first team manager.

- CHELSEA FC

UCL FIXTURES - 20/11/12 - 21/11/12

 

Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Time	Home		Away	Stage	Venue
20:45	FC Nordsjælland	v	Shakhtar Donetsk	Group E	Parkstadion
20:45	Juventus	v	Chelsea	Group E	Juventus Stadium
18:00	BATE Borisov	v	Lille	Group F	Dynamo Stadium, Minsk
20:45	Valencia	v	Bayern Munich	Group F	Estadio Mestalla
18:00	Spartak Moscow	v	Barcelona	Group G	Luzhniki Stadium
20:45	Benfica	v	Celtic	Group G	Estadio da Luz
20:45	CFR Cluj-Napoca	v	Braga	Group H	Stadionul Dr. Constantin Radulescu
20:45	Galatasaray	v	Manchester United	Group H	Türk Telekom Arena

Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Time	Home		Away	Stage	Venue
20:45	Dynamo Kiev	v	Paris Saint-Germain	Group A	Kiev Olympic Stadium
20:45	FC Porto	v	Dinamo Zagreb	Group A	Estadio do Dragao
20:45	Arsenal	v	Montpellier	Group B	Emirates Stadium
20:45	Schalke 04	v	Olympiakos	Group B	Veltins-Arena
18:00	Zenit St Petersburg	v	Málaga	Group C	Petrovski Stadium
20:45	Anderlecht	v	AC Milan	Group C	Constant Vanden Stock
20:45	Ajax Amsterdam	v	Borussia Dortmund	Group D	Amsterdam ArenA
20:45	Manchester City	v	Real Madrid	Group D	Etihad Stadium

Juventus vs Chelsea: A Win, A Draw A Loss? How it stands

We're playing Juventus today. What'll be required of us to qualify, if we win? Draw? Lose? #CFC

First of all, let's get the most straightforward way on the table: if we win today in Turin, we're through, and we'll just have to play for 1st or 2nd place. Assuming that Nordsjælland'll lose to Shakhtar  (albeit in Copenhagen), we'd then have to beat Nordsjælland and Shakhtar'd have to draw or lose against Juventus, for us to win the group.

This is due to the UEFA rule, that head-to-head results matter more than goal difference - and even though we beat Shakhtar once, they also beat us - and we only scored one goal in Shakhtar, while they scored two at Stamford Bridge.

What'll happen if we draw in Turin? Well, we'd still be almost sure to qualify - we'd just have to beat Nordsjælland at Stamford Bridge, a manageable task. If Shakhtar then drew both against Nordsjælland & Juventus, we'd top the group - naturally, we'd also top it if Shakhtar lost one of their games. (Still assuming we beat Nordsjælland!)
Let me once again remind you, that should Shakhtar win the remainder of their matches, we cannot win the group.

What would then happen if we lost? Well, here's where it gets tricky - and we could only finish 2nd at best. If we lose, Juventus'll be 2 points ahead of us, and assuming Shakhtar beat Nordsjælland, they'll be 3 points ahead of us, and thus unreachable again due to the head to head results.
This would leave us needing a Shakhtar win in their last game against Juventus - and naturally, we'd have to beat Nordsjælland. If Shakhtar and Juventus draw, we are out. Why? Assuming we beat Nordsjælland, we'd be level on points with Juventus & 3 behind Shakhtar - but we've drawn one and (in this scenario) lost one against Juve, thus achieving poorer head-to-head results and leaving us 3rd in the group. A Juventus win in Ukraine, and they'll top the group, us finishing 3rd due to head-to-head results again.

But if Shakhtar beat Juventus - which isn't unlikely - then we'd finish one point ahead of the Italians, again assuming we beat Nordsjælland.

I say let's just avoid all this, and pick up points in Italy tonight! Forza Chelsea!

-Chelsea Rumours

Manchester City: Given Long Champions League Odds, Roberto Mancini Should Hedge

Perhaps unknown to all involved at the time, this may have been the beginning of the end of City's European campaign.

Manchester City's players are right to treat Wednesday's Champions League tilt against Real Madrid as one of the most important matches of the season. Taking the pitch with anything less than full commitment from a player's perspective is a recipe for disaster. Ask Aston Villa for details. (Via the Telegraph.)
Roberto Mancini, however, needs to keep his eyes skyward but his feet planted firmly on the ground.
Star striker Sergio Aguero has the right attitude even despite the absurdly long odds against City qualifying for the knockout stage after City took only two of a possible twelve points from their first four Champions League Group D fixtures—two of them against perceived underdog Ajax.
“We should never give up,” Aguero recently told David Clayton per the club's site. “Where there’s a will, there’s a way, right? Of course, it’s harder now because we’re not just relying on ourselves but also on the other teams’ results." (Via mcfc.co.uk.)
If you hold a ticket to this fixture, those words may be somewhat heartening. It certainly beats hearing Aguero say the equivalent of "look, we know we have already blown any chance of getting out of pool play here, but we are contractually obligated to play this match, so we will do what we can and try not to get embarrassed." Playing at anything less than full speed at the outset against Madrid would surely invite a shaming rout at the Etihad.
So City's players are professionals, and they are not going to abandon the cause until the cause is irretrievably lost. That is good. Mancini, though, should be ready to pull the rip cord before his players do.

 

City's Champions League form thus far could make anyone sick.

Like Aguero, Mancini is saying all the right things in advance of Wednesday's win-or-else contest. As Mancini put it, according to the Daily Mail, "(t)hey are one of the best teams in the world, and to beat them, we will have to give a perfect performance." Mancini reminded those listening that the Sky Blues were up by a goal at the Bernabeu with four minutes left only to lose in heartbreaking fashion.
Unfortunately for Mancini and his side, only two victories and good fortune with the results of the other remaining Group D matches will salvage this apparently stillborn Champions League campaign. To get that far, of course, City must win Wednesday. (Via soccernet.espn.go.com.)
Which is why, ultimately, Mancini must be prepared to abandon this soon-to-be-lost cause earlier than later if City falls behind by, say, two tallies early, or one tally late. A draw would be useless, and there is no benefit to the club to be derived from "protecting the field."
If despite City's best efforts Wednesday the match gets away, Mancini will be best served for the long run to take his most valuable players, whoever he deems them to be, off in substitution. If the allotted substitutions have been exhausted, Mancini should adjust his formation to protect his stars and (to the extent that he can) keep them out of harm's way.
Hardcore fans never want to hear that their team will do anything other than fight to the end of every match, clinging to the slimmest hopes. Even when those hopes are extinguished, there is often talk of "playing for pride" and trying to keep losses close at all costs rather than being humiliated in a lopsided defeat.
Whatever.
Borrowing from American football for a moment, irrational managerial behavior like that is how Rob Gronkowski of the New England Patriots breaks his forearm when his team is ahead by 34 points with less than four minutes left in the game. (Via the Boston Herald.) Or how LeSean McCoy gets concussed when his team is behind by 25 points with less than two minutes left to play. (Via cbssports.com.)
Obviously, there is no fail-safe way to protect players from injury. But there are subtle and not-so-subtle means at Mancini's disposal to protect Aguero, Carlos Tevez, Yaya Toure and the like from missing arguably more important upcoming league ties with Chelsea, Everton and Manchester United due to unnecessary injury sustained chasing a ghost in the Champions League.
Sometimes, if it cannot be avoided, you have to know how to lose.

- BR

Juventus vs. Chelsea: Preview and Prediction

Chelsea travel to Turin knowing that they cannot afford to lose to Juventus.
Roberto Di Matteo has rotated the squad in recent weeks, with an eye on this crucial Champions League match. 
Tuesday's result will be critical as to whether those changes—to a Blues side that was in sensational form at the time—will have been worth it.
Resting Oscar, Ramires and Juan Mata, as well as not risking Ashley Cole against West Bromwich Albion cost them three points and deepened the hole Chelsea have dug themselves in recent weeks.
Juventus have no such worries, despite a frustrating 0-0 draw against an extremely negative Lazio at the weekend. A four point cushion has allowed the Bianconeri to relax somewhat and certainly go for the jugular against Chelsea, even if it would be detrimental to Sunday's match against Milan.
Both sides fully expect Shakhtar to defeat Group E's whipping boys, Nordsjaelland, which would move the Ukrainians onto 10 points. Chelsea currently have seven points, while the Old Lady are a point back.
Defeat for Di Matteo's men would put the group out of their control, due to an inferior head-to-head against both Shakhtar and Juve. In fact, a half-arranged draw between the sides in the final match would put Chelsea out, no matter what the Blues manage to do at home to the Danish champions.

Giuseppe Bellini/Getty Images

Juventus team news
The Bianconeri enter the game with an almost perfect bill of health, with Antonio Conte naming a 25-man squad. This included Mirko Vucinic, who having only returned from injury last week, picked up a bout of flu.
If the Montenegrin cannot pull through, Sebastian Giovinco and Fabio Quagliarella will likely line up in attack.
The only other contention for Conte would be the right-midfield spot. While Mauricio Isla has been superb since returning from a serious knee injury—starting the last three matches—Stephan Lichtsteiner could return to the starting lineup.

Probable lineup: Gianluigi Buffon; Leonardo Bonucci, Andrea Barzagli, Giorgio Chiellini; Stephan Lichtsteiner, Claudio Marchisio, Andrea Pirlo, Arturo Vidal, Kwadwo Asamoah;Sebastian Giovinco, Fabio Quagliarella.

Chelsea team news
John Terry and Frank Lampard remain the only absentees through injury; although Cole should return, it's not a guarantee.
The main dilemma for Di Matteo is whether to continue with Azpilicueta at right-back, or to move Ivanovic back into this role to give the defence more strength and power.
I would imagine that the Serbian will move out to full-back due to the powerful threat of the Ghanaian Asamoah, who would probably overwhelm the Blues' Spanish full-back.
The other concern is whether to field a more defensive winger, such as Ryan Bertrand, which would mean leaving out one of the magical trio, probably Oscar, due to Mata's influence and Hazard's greater reputation.
Fernando Torres continues to struggle and should probably be left out of the starting lineup, but Daniel Sturridge is also frustrating, so I feel Di Matteo will begrudgingly maintain El Niño in his 11.

Probable lineup: Petr Cech, Cesar Azpilicueta, Gary Cahill, Branislav Ivanovic, Ashley Cole; Ramires, Mikel Jon Obi; Eden Hazard, Juan Mata, Ryan Bertrand; Fernando Torres

Prediction
With Juventus knowing that they have to win, I think it is a psychological advantage in their favor. When you combine the home advantage and a quite formidable midfield, the Bianconeri will control this match and edge it by two goals to one.

- BR

UEFA Champions League Preview: Galatasaray vs. Manchester United

Manchester United hope to maintain a perfect record in this season’s UEFA Champions League with a victory over Galatasaray in Istanbul on Tuesday.

The Reds have already secured qualification to the competition’s knockout stages as Group H winners, having earned maximum points from four matches to date. As a result, Sir Alex Ferguson has taken a youthful squad to Turkey with well-publicised plans to rotate.

In contrast, Galatasaray are currently tied for second place with Romanian side CFR Cluj and have everything still to play for. Fortunately, for United at least, the Süper Lig leaders are on a dreadful run of form and have won only three of their last 10 fixtures in all competitions.

On Monday, a number of youthful Reds boarded a flight from Manchester to Istanbul with many first team players, including Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney, left at home to rest. In fact, only six players who featured during last Saturday’s 1-0 defeat to Norwich City have travelled.

Ferguson has already stated that long-term absentee Phil Jones will return from injury and feature at some point, while Scott Wootton should deputise for one of the rested Rio Ferdinand or Chris Smalling. Nani (hamstring), Shinji Kagawa (knee) and Jonny Evans (groin) are also out.

With such an inexperienced team, United should face a stern test against a competitive Galatasaray team that came close to causing an upset at Old Trafford in September, when Michael Carrick’s early goal was all that separated the sides throughout an engaging, if not slightly frustrating, encounter.

The Reds must also be aware of the attacking threat posed by Turkish striker Burak Yilmaz, who has scored 11 of Galatasaray's 34 goals in all competitions this season—including four in this season’s Champions League and a hat-trick against Cluj last time out.

“It's the first time I have scored three goals in a European match,” Yilmaz told UEFA. “And while I don't know if it's the best game I have ever had – I have had many matches for the national team – it's a big achievement and a confidence-booster.”

Of course, 19 years on from a first visit to "hell," United are again braced for the lion’s den that is Galatasaray’s home ground. The Reds were once welcomed by a hostile and intimidating crowd at the Ali Sami Yeni and it remains to be seen if the new Ali Sami Yen Spor Kompleksi will be as "hospitable."

Although the Reds are the only team to have won every group match in this season’s competition, a fifth consecutive victory looks unlikely under the circumstances, and many fans, including this writer, would perhaps already take a draw if it were offered ahead of kick-off.

Such a prediction is not inspired by negativity or pessimism, but simply realism. Sir Alex’s young guns have often shone in difficult situations, most recently at Stamford Bridge in the Capital One Cup, but asking them to gain victory in Istanbul in front of a partisan crowd might be too much.

- BR

REASONS ABRAMOVICH SHOULD KEEP TRUSTING RDM

Another November league fixture, another disappointing result. It’s an all too familiar plight for Chelsea FC fans.
But while some critics may be skeptical of the job done by first-year Blues manager Roberto Di Matteo, owner Roman Abramovich would be wise to remain faithful.
However, nobody could really blame him if he were to have any doubts.
Saturday’s 2-1 loss to West Bromwich Albion dropped Chelsea to 7-2-3 on the season and left them four points behind league-leading Manchester City.
It’s a disappointing turn of events for a club that not too long ago sat atop the league table, four points clear of second place. Now, the Blues stand four points clear of sixth.
Ironically, it’s this same stretch of fixtures that has gotten the best of the club over the last couple of years.
In 2010, the Blues began their league campaign 8-1-1 before slumping to a 1-3-1 mark in five November league fixtures.
2011 was much of the same, as the club began with a 10-2-2 record in all competitions before a November stretch of 2-3-1 served as the catalyst of a midseason disaster.
This season, Chelsea got off to a near-flawless league start at 7-0-1 before going winless in four November league contests thus far at 0-2-2.
The way November has abused the Blues as of late makes you wonder when the club will be demanding for the FA to launch an investigation.
Whatever the case may be, Chelsea are still in the thick of things. However, two crucial matchups—against Juventus on Tuesday in the Champions League and Manchester City on Saturday in the league—provide two early must-win games for the club.
Losing one could prove costly. Losing both could threaten to derail the entire season.
Luckily for the Blues, it’s not too late for the Blues to turn this slump around.
Here are three reasons why Di Matteo should remain at the helm at Stamford Bridge.

- Bleacher Report

SPANISH LA LIGA

	Osasuna	0 - 0	Málaga
	Valencia	2 - 1	Espanyol
	Barcelona	3 - 1	Real Zaragoza
	Real Madrid	5 - 1	Athletic Club
	Deportivo La Coruña	0 - 2	Levante
	Celta de Vigo	1 - 1	Mallorca
	Getafe	2 - 1	Real Valladolid
	Granada	0 - 1	Atlético Madrid
	Sevilla	5 - 1	Real Betis

SWEET SOUR FOOTBALL WEEKEND

ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE 

Last weekend was one with mixed feelings in the English Premier league. Below is the current table and a recap of the results.





TABLE

POS		LP	CLUB	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	PTS
1		(1)	Manchester City	12	8	4	0	25	10	15	28
2		(2)	Manchester United	12	9	0	3	29	17	12	27
3		(3)	Chelsea	12	7	3	2	24	13	11	24
4		(4)	West Bromwich Albion	12	7	2	3	19	13	6	23
5		(5)	Everton	12	5	5	2	22	16	6	20
6		(6)	Arsenal	12	5	4	3	23	13	10	19
7		(7)	West Ham United	11	5	3	3	14	11	3	18
8		(8)	Tottenham Hotspur	12	5	2	5	20	21	-1	17
9		(9)	Fulham	12	4	4	4	25	22	3	16
10		(10)	Swansea City	12	4	4	4	18	16	2	16
11		(11)	Liverpool	12	3	6	3	17	16	1	15
12		(12)	Newcastle United	12	3	5	4	13	17	-4	14
13		(13)	Norwich City	12	3	5	4	9	18	-9	14
14		(14)	Stoke City	11	2	6	3	9	10	-1	12
15		(16)	Sunderland	11	2	6	3	10	12	-2	12
16		(15)	Wigan Athletic	12	3	2	7	12	21	-9	11
17		(17)	Reading	11	1	6	4	14	19	-5	9
18		(18)	Aston Villa	12	2	3	7	10	22	-12	9
19		(19)	Southampton	12	2	2	8	18	30	-12	8
20		(20)	Queens Park Rangers	12	0	4	8	9	23	-14	4
POS		LP	CLUB	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	PTS

*West Ham United vs Stoke City by 21:00 tonight

	Arsenal	5	-	2	Tottenham Hotspur
	Manchester City	5	-	0	Aston Villa
	Reading	2	-	1	Everton
	Liverpool	3	-	0	Wigan Athletic
	West Bromwich Albion	2	-	1	Chelsea
	Newcastle United	1	-	2	Swansea City
	Queens Park Rangers	1	-	3	Southampton
	Norwich City	1	-	0	Manchester United
	Fulham	1	-	3	Sunderland

PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES - 17TH - 19TH NOV, 2012

11/17	Arsenal	v.			Tottenham Hotspur	‎        -1:45 PM
11/17	Manchester City	v.			Aston Villa	‎-4:00 PM
11/17	Reading	v.			Everton	‎-4:00 PM
11/17	Liverpool	v.			Wigan Athletic	‎-4:00 PM
11/17	West Bromwich Albion	v.			Chelsea	‎-4:00 PM
11/17	Newcastle United	v.			Swansea City	‎-4:00 PM
11/17	Queens Park Rangers	v.			Southampton	‎-4:00 PM
11/17	Norwich City	v.			Manchester United	‎-6:30 PM
11/18	Fulham	v.			Sunderland	‎-5:00 PM
11/19	West Ham United	v.			Stoke City	‎-9:00 PM

BACK AND BETTER

Ok, so I've been out for soooo long that many things have happened. First I had malaria then the flu kicked in keeping me out of reach for a while then on resumption of work, I met my table filled with jobs pending. It was a crazy period but for those who know me, I like crazy. Ok, back to football. I'll like to let you know that I'm a Chelsea FC supporter so most of the events I kept tabs on most of the times were those regarding Chelsea FC (I apologize if that seems biased but I can't deny what I am) but I'm sure you all followed the game from so many football sites and blogs. During that period, there was that Chelsea - ManU game at Stamford bridge and I'm sure you all know how that ended and what ensued afterwords (still ongoing tho). After that was another Chelsea - ManU game but this time in the Carling Cup where CFC managed to finally edge out ManU from the competition (not that ManU takes the competition seriously tho or maybe that's what they want us to believe). Oh, I forgot to say that their premier league win over CFC took them to the top of the table, a position they've held on to since then of course with the help of wonderful RVP a player (i must confess) I so much admire (wonder what got into Arsene Wenger's head to sell such a fantastic player). Oh, not to forget the Champions League second leg game against Shaktar (a team of highly talented youngsters) which we narrowly won thanks to  Victor Moses' 94th min' header (a resemblance of Didier Drogba's equalizing goal against Bayern during last season's UCL final). Oh also, then came Lionel Messi's son Thiago. Congrats to him tho. Then came the urgent need to sign a striker in January with Falcao being on every CFC supporter's mind (thanks to our not so good striker). Anyway, I'ld also love that transaction to go through in January cos we sure do need the change. Hmmmm Edin Dzeko to Arsenal? Then Terry's much awaited return to the premier league came but our joy was short lived by his injury (gosh, heaven knows we really need him to coordinate our team). Can't wait to have our captain fantastic back. Oh, then I saw the England game with Sweden last night, that Ibra's 4th goal must be the coolest goal I've seen in a long while or I've ever seen (whichever fits best).

Falcao: Torres + Cash will do the magic - Athletico Madrid

Chelsea may have to offer Fernando Torres back to Athletico Madrid if they are to finally land striker Radamel Falcao, according to the Daily Star.

The European champions have been long linked with the prolific Columbian hitman and were thought to be lining up a £45m bid this January. However, the Star claims that Athletico Madrid would prefer a player swap deal involving Spanish striker Fernando Torres.

Torres scored 91 goals in 243 appearances for the La Liga outfit during a six year stint in Spain before leaving for Liverpool in 2007. After another successful spell at Anfield where he scored 81 goals in 142 games, Torres made a £50m move to Stamford Bridge in 2011.

However, the 28-year-old has failed to settle in London and has struggled to replicate his past form leading to question marks over his futre.

Madrid realise they are going to struggle to hang on to goal-scoring machine Falcao and have been looking at potential replacements, with Manchester United striker Javier Hernandez linked. But as Chelsea prepare to make their interest in Falcao official, Athletico have set their sights on former star Torres and would demand the Spaniard as part of a player-plus-cash deal.

Manchester City and Paris Saint Germain are both monitoring Falcao’s situation but the Blues would be in pole position if they were to offer a ready-made replacement in Torres.

It would be interesting to see how much Madrid would expect as well as Torres if a deal was discussed  No doubt his stock has fallen dramatically since the Blues forked out £50m for him nearly two years ago, and with Falcao rated at almost the same price, it looks like Abramovich is going to have to sign another sizable cheque if he is to land one of the world’s deadliest strikers this January.