morning papers rosenborg away

The TimesNovember 29, 2007
Brilliant Didier Drogba sends Chelsea through with something to spare
Rosenborg 0 Chelsea 4
Matt Hughes in Trondheim
In his quieter moments Avram Grant has been known to reflect that he was lucky to end up as the first-team coach of Chelsea, although not half as fortunate as he remains in being able to call upon Didier Drogba.
With a typically powerful demonstration of his art, the Ivory Coast striker fired Chelsea into the knockout phase as group B winners last night, scoring two early goals to set them on course for a comfortable victory. Alex, the Brazilian who resembles an old-fashioned English defender, and Joe Cole, the Englishman who plays like a Brazilian, scored the others to finish off limited opponents in style.
Grant’s improved fortunes since he was putting out the cones at Portsmouth are not all down to luck, however, and the quietly-spoken Israeli deserves considerable credit for transforming a traumatised set of players into a team who have remained in contention in all competitions.
Chelsea have scored 30 goals in winning ten and losing only one of his 14 matches in charge – the first, at Old Trafford – while playing with greater freedom than they were afforded under José Mourinho. Greater challenges await, but Grant is confident enough to suggest that he could yet give Roman Abramovich a dream Champions League final in Moscow in May. “This is one of our targets, maybe the main target, because we want to be a big club,” Grant said. “One of the things to achieve is to get to the final. I hope we will do it and we will do it.”
Given Drogba’s antipathy towards Grant’s appointment, it is a testament to the striker’s professionalism that he has recovered so quickly not only to stabilise but to strengthen a regime that looks capable of fighting for honours on all fronts. Drogba scored the surprise match-winning goal against Valencia last month that convinced many doubters of Grant’s credentials, so it was fitting that he should seal Chelsea’s qualification with another authoritative display.
Grant’s only concern was a jittery performance by Carlo Cudicini, whose poor positioning and vulnerability under crosses emphasised how important it is for Chelsea that Petr Cech recovers from a calf injury as soon as possible. Drogba was too hot to handle on a freezing night in Norway in a performance that underlined his case for individual honours.
The World Player of the Year award will be presented at a gala dinner in Zurich next month and although Fifa’s obsession with Champions League winners means that it will be won by Kaká, of AC Milan, Drogba deserves to feature in the top three. His dominance was all the more startling given that Vidar Riseth, the Norway centre back, had boasted beforehand of formulating a cunning plan to contain him after working with John Carew, the Aston Villa striker, on international duty; it proved to be as effective as one of Baldrick’s schemes.
“Didier is a very good striker,” Grant said. “We won without him [against Derby County on Saturday], but we wanted him to play. It’s easier with him in the side. It won’t be easy without him in January [when he will be at the African Cup of Nations], but we cannot change him.”
Grant had joked during the build-up to this match that his players would need to run around more than usual to combat the cold conditions and in an energetic opening they appeared to take him at his word. Chelsea could have opened the scoring on three occasions before Drogba finally did so in the eighth minute, with the Ivory Coast striker twice shooting wide before finding Michael Essien with an intelligent header from which he volleyed over the bar.
With Drogba at his rampaging best, it was only a matter of time before he was rewarded with a goal, although he was reliant on the brilliance of one of his teammates. After collecting the ball in his own half, Joe Cole embarked on one of those mazy runs that used to be his trademark before Mourinho stifled such creativity.
The England midfield player beat three opponents before unleashing a swerving shot from 25 yards that was saved by Lars Hirschfeld. Unfortunately for the former Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper, he followed the example of one of his successors, Paul Robinson, by failing to clear the ball from the danger area and Drogba was on hand to sweep home from close range.
In this sort of mood, Drogba is unstoppable and he put the match beyond Rosenborg 12 minutes later. The 29-year-old had sought treatment for a back injury moments earlier, but he showed no ill-effects as he bundled home his ninth goal of the season.
Shaun Wright-Phillips found Essien in the penalty area and the Ghana midfield player held off two defenders, giving Drogba time to pounce with a left-foot finish. Chelsea’s dominance was such that they allowed Alex to score with a free kick in the 40th minute, before Cole added a fourth in the second half, to which Andriy Shevchenko, a substitute, even contributed. The Ukraine striker remains a peripheral figure under Grant, but many will seek to avoid his liberated team in the knockout phase.
How they lined up
Rosenborg (4-1-3-2): L Hirschfeld – F Stoor, B Kvarme, V Riseth, M Dorsin (sub: C Basma, 86min) – A Tettey, P Skjelbred, M Sapara, A Traoré (sub: R Strand, 56) – S Iversen, Y Koné (sub: D K Ya, 63). Substitutes not used: A Lund Hansen, M Koppinen, O Storflor, A Nordvik.
Chelsea (4-3-3): C Cudicini – J Belletti, Alex, J Terry, A Cole – M Essien, C Makelele, F Lampard (sub: C Pizarro, 77) – S Wright-Phillips (sub: S Kalou, 68), D Drogba (sub: A Shevchenko, 68), J Cole. Substitutes not used: Hilário, J O Mikel, W Bridge, T Ben Haim. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Telegraph:
Didier Drogba double helps Chelsea throughBy John Ley in Trondheim
Rosenborg (0) 0 Chelsea (3) 4
With Christmas less than a month away Chelsea banished the ghost of managers past with another hugely impressive performance, to move into the knockout stages of the Champions League with a game to spare. Norway traditionally gift Trafalgar Square a Christmas tree; last night, Christmas came early for Chelsea in Norway.
Jose Mourinho's last act as Chelsea manager was to see his side stumble to a draw with Rosenborg on the opening day of the competition, but two goals from Didier Drogba and a third by Alex before half-time confirmed a stimulating victory. Joe Cole's second-half goal extended their advantage and even Chelsea's fans got into the festive spirit early, singing "Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle all the way, Oh what fun it is to see Chelsea win away". On that September evening Chelsea's Champions League aspirations took a jolt in what was to prove Mourinho's final game. A half-empty Stamford Bridge saw a lack-lustre performance and, at the time, it was hard to imagine Chelsea in the position they found themselves on a considerably colder night.
Mourinho left, Avram Grant was controversially appointed and, in Norway, he confirmed Roman Abravomich's decision was a prudent one by steering Chelsea a step closer to their Holy Grail with a hugely impressive performance.
The Scandinavian snow had relented but it was still bitterly cold with a slippy surface made worse by rain earlier in the day. With both sides needing a win, the stakes were high and the atmosphere in the Lerkendal Stadion tense.
Chelsea were still without key figures such as Petr Cech, Paulo Ferreira, Ricardo Carvalho, Florent Malouda and Michael Ballack. But Drogba, missing when these teams met two months ago, was back in place of Andrei Shevchenko while Claude Makelele, Cole and Alex returned, for Steve Sidwell, Salomon Kalou and Tal Ben Haim.
Having beaten Valencia home and away, Rosenborg should have started confidently, but the Norwegians appeared nervous and after a succession of early attacks, Chelsea took the lead.
Drogba had already troubled Rosenborg, finding the side- netting with a first-minute effort and shooting narrowly wide soon afterwards. And, in the eighth minute, Cole's strongly-hit attempt was only parried by Lars Hirschfeld, the former Spurs goalkeeper. The ball fell to Drogba, albeit at an acute angle, but the striker responded with a marvelous half-volley over the Canadian.
Chelsea continue to improve under Grant and this was the perfect start. Rosenborg responded, for the first time, with a speculative long-range shot from Marek Spara which bounced off the chest of Carlo Cudicini but the Chelsea goalkeeper gathered at the second attempt.
Chelsea were soon taking advantage of midfield mistakes and Michael Essien tested Hirschfeld again, the goalkeeper diving to his left to save. But, by the 20th minute, Drogba had extended Chelsea's advantage.
A long ball into the Rosenborg area caused confusion and after two failed attempts to clear Drogba seemed to push Essien out of the way before firing the ball high into the net with another exhibition of sublime finishing.
Drogba took his tally in 38 Champions League games to 21 goals and Chelsea were almost three goals to the good in the 28th minute when Frank Lampard attempted an audacious chip that Hirschfeld just saved on the line, juggling the ball precariously before taking it under his control.
Fellow England John Terry international made a tremendous challenge on Steffen Iversen at another brief Rosenborg flurry, but Chelsea finished the half in overall control, with Alex securing the third goal before the interval.
In the 40th minute Cole was fouled by Alexander Tettey and Alex was allowed to send a low, right-foot free-kick from 30 yards through a crowd area and into the left-hand corner.
Cole claimed the fourth, in the 73rd minute, finishing off a a move after Essien's shot had been parried by Hirschfeld---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Indy:
Rosenborg 0 Chelsea 4:Drogba in regal form as Chelsea win group By Jason Burt at Lerkendal Stadium In the city of the kings, Chelsea made a regal procession. It's still to Trondheim, as ancient custom dictates, that the Norwegian sovereign comes for his blessing and last night the kings of the King's Road, with Didier Drogba at their head, made their own serene progress into the last 16 of the Champions League as winners of their group.
Drogba didn't so much overwhelm Rosenborg as humble them, taking control inside the first minute. The Ivorian, known as "King Drogba" in his homeland, struck twice in the first-half – he now has 21 goals in 38 appearances in this competition – to make a mockery of the pre-match claim by the home side's veteran defender Vidar Riseth that they had "devised" a plan to stop him. Some plan.
Drogba himself had said that Chelsea needed to win this Group B tie last night to prove they are contenders for the European Cup. Well, on that criteria, the case is proven although whether or not Rosenborg can be regarded as a litmus test is doubtful. In plunging temperatures they duly froze.
The 21,600-seat stadium could have sold out twice over and the build-up of chanting from the vertiginous stands promised a stern examination. It proved wholly illusionary. Rosenborg may have been buoyed by back-to-back victories over Valencia, and the draw at Stamford Bridge which ended Jose Mourinho's regime, but they played more like players who have just finished fifth in the Norwegian league – which they have – than equals with the continent's top teams.
Chelsea can count themselves among those with manager Avram Grant declaring of their performance and the conditions: "I was freezing but I was warm in the heart." It's now 13 games undefeated under him – 10 victories and three draws – with Grant admitting that winning this competition now represented the priority for Chelsea. "This is one of our targets, maybe the main target," the Israeli said. "We want to do it and we will do it. Hopefully we will do it this year. It's not just that we win games, it's that we progress and play better with good attacking football."
The importance of Drogba to that "project" cannot be underestimated. When he was replaced by the leaden Andrei Shevchenko it only served to highlight how crucial he is. Chelsea will have to contend without him early next year, with the African Nations Cup, with Grant admitting it will "not be easy" to cope.
Drogba set the tone immediately when he reached Ashley Cole's flick-on, ahead of Riseth, only to steer the ball the wrong side of the post. If that served as a warning then so did a fierce shot just three minutes later that whistled past Rosenborg goalkeeper Lars Hirschfeld and narrowly wide.
The Norwegians poured forward but were doused by a counter-attack which ended with Michael Essien spooning a shot, from Drogba's header down, over the bar when he should have scored.
Moments later and Chelsea struck. Another strong run by the impressive Joe Cole carved a hole in the Rosenborg defence and gave him a clear sight of goal. His powerful drive was palmed out by Hirschfeld but the ball fell to Drogba who, from an acute angle, slammed his right-footed shot high into the net. Quickly he struck again by darting into the area to take the ball from Essien after Shaun Wright-Phillips' astute pass. With the defenders regrouping, the striker instantly steered the ball beyond Hirschfeld.
It deflated the Norwegians and that continued when Hirschfeld blundered. After Joe Cole was fouled, the former Tottenham goalkeeper was all too easily beaten by Alex with a low grass-cutter of a free-kick from almost 40 yards. The ball went straight through the Rosenborg wall.
The home side were booed off at half-time but immediately after the re-start they almost fell further behind as Wright-Phillips' rising shot only just cleared the bar.
Essien then broke away and his powerful drive was blocked by Hirschfeld only for Joe Cole, one of three on-rushing Chelsea players, to bundle the rebound home. Given his vibrant, clever contribution it was a deserved reward for the midfielder. And crowned an impressively-assured performance.
Rosenborg (4-3-1-2): Hirschfeld; Stoor, Riseth, Kvarme, Dorsin ( Basma, 86); Skjelbred, Tettey, Traoré (Strand, 56); Sapara; Kone (Ya, 63), Iversen. Substitutes not used: Lund Hansen (gk), Koppinen, Storflor, Nordvik.
Chelsea (4-3-3): Cudicini; Belletti, Alex, Terry, A Cole; Essien, Makelele, Lampard (Pizarro, 76); Wright-Phillips (Kalou, 68), Drogba (Shevchenko, 68), J Cole. Substitutes not used: Hilario (gk), Mikel, Bridge, Ben Haim.
Referee: O Benquerenca (Portugal).---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Drogba double shows his value in Blues cruise
Dominic Fifield at Lerkendal StadiumThursday November 29, 2007The Guardian
The Champions League was supposed to have done away with mismatches like this. Chelsea claimed Group B at a canter last night, ripping a floundering Rosenborg side to shreds and ensuring that, when this competition resumes for the knockout phase in the new year, they will be paired with a runner-up rather than a group winner. Avram Grant's conviction that a first European Cup can be secured in Moscow next May remains unswayed.
This was a frighteningly comfortable evening against this season's supposed surprise package. The locals had arrived in this arena braced for temperatures to plummet to around -6C. In the end, they departed just grateful that their side's goal difference had not quite followed suit.It is hard to believe that these two teams could not be separated at Stamford Bridge back in September, when Jose Mourinho selected his last Chelsea line-up and Grant still peered out from the back of the dug-out. The Israeli can now survey this group from the summit.
Yet, poor as Rosenborg were, Chelsea were admirably ruthless. Crucially, Didier Drogba had been absent injured for the section's opening fixture. Last night, recovered from a knee complaint, he was simply irresistible to leave the home side gasping at the gulf in class. The Ivorian spent much of the first period either clutching his back or hobbling around the turf watching his team-mates dominate possession but, just as a Gordon Greenidge limp invariably signalled an imminent century, so Rosenborg should have known Drogba was in the mood.
He might have scored after 58 seconds and could have secured a hat-trick in the first 20 minutes. By then he had managed two splendid goals, however, the first battered into the roof of the net to set the tone after Lars Hirschfeld could only palm away the excellent Joe Cole's fizzed attempt from distance. When Shaun Wright-Phillips and Michael Essien combined midway through the half, Rosenborg's defenders crumpled in an untidy if obliging heap and Drogba curled a second into the corner.
Drogba will be missed in the new year when the African Cup of Nations takes him away for up to a month. "Ask me how to replace him in January when it comes to December. We'll lose four very important players from our squad for a long time. It won't be easy, but we cannot change it. There was a lot out there to please us. We scored four good goals and created plenty of other chances."
Others were just as impressive. Joe Cole tormented dithering markers all night, his fine run proving to be the prelude to Drogba's opener, and the England man eventually earned his own reward by tapping in the rebound when the overworked Hirschfeld could only palm out Essien's drive 17 minutes from time. The Ghanaian and Frank Lampard dominated central midfield throughout, Claude Makelele harrying at their backs, with Wright-Phillips a busy presence on the right. The winger clipped the woodwork early in the second half, but by that time the game was already won.
Some five minutes before the interval Alex stepped up to slap a low free-kick from 35 yards which scuttled across the icy turf and beyond the unsighted goalkeeper's delayed dive.
That was a goal more in keeping with the popular 1990s computer game Sensible Soccer than a Champions League tie, but it rather summed up the Norwegian side's glaring deficiencies. Rosenborg may have drawn the group's opening fixture in London, but they are a side who could finish only fifth in their domestic league this time around. Now they need to avoid defeat when they travel to Schalke on December 11 to reach the last 16.
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Drogba makes it a Chelsea stroll
Rosenborg 0 Chelsea 4
By NEIL ASHTON
Two months ago, Rosenborg's remarkable draw with Chelsea put Jose Mourinho out of a job. Last night, it was simply job done.
The temperature here fell to minus five but that figure could end up being Rosenborg's goal difference in Group B after Chelsea inflicted a beating.
This was ruthless, right out of the old Mourinho school of magic. Avram Grant, more Mafia don in his black turtleneck sweater and long overcoat, really is getting to grips with management.
"I had to wear the jacket because it was freezing in the second half, but the performance warmed me up," said Grant. No one can argue with that.
Two goals from Didier Drogba, along with strikes by Alex and Joe Cole, secured Chelsea's right of passage to the next phase. It should have been more. They certainly deserved it.
Rosenborg, who finished fifth in the Norwegian league, froze on their big night and Chelsea, 13 games unbeaten, are through to the next round with a game to spare. Happy days, indeed.
This handsome victory means next month's visit of Valencia is a dead rubber, a chance to throw in the likes of Hilario, Claudio Pizarro and maybe Andriy Shevchenko.
"It's a long way until May but reaching the final is one of our targets, maybe even the main target," admitted Grant.
"We want to be considered as a 'big' club and to do it we have to reach the final. Hopefully, we can do it this season."
There is a chance, especially in this mood. Drogba could have put Chelsea ahead after just 58 seconds but they did not have to wait long before they took the lead.
The opener owed much to the ingenuity of that little ferret Joe Cole, darting down the left whenever he had the ball or cutting inside and driving past Rosenborg's static defence.
Cole shrugged off challenges from four Rosenborg players before electing to shoot. Lars Hirschfeld, the hero when these two teams met at Stamford Bridge, could only parry and Drogba lashed in the rebound with eight minutes on the clock.
This was a mismatch. Rosenborg second in the group? Astonishing. Embarrassing even. The gulf between these teams is as wide as the North Sea and it was a matter of time only before Rosenborg were scrambling for the life rafts.
Their domestic season finished two weeks ago and it showed. They were leggy, lethargic and lazy. Chelsea's wingers were electric, flashing one way then the other, and took full advantage.
Shaun Wright-Phillips is always eager to please and Chelsea's bundle of energy down the right deserves enormous credit for playing a significant role in their second goal.
He refused to give up a lost cause and finally battled his way past the Rosenborg defence before slipping a pass to Michael Essien.
Drogba timed his run, Essien found his man and the Chelsea striker did the rest.
Drogba was at his best last night.
Infuriating when he was sent off against Fulham at the beginning of Grant's regime, he illuminated this desperately one-sided game with a glorious performance.
He acted as the pivot at the head of Chelsea's attack, holding off Rosenborg's defenders with an arrogant swagger and waiting for his team-mates to join him in assault after assault. The heavy artillery was in Trondheim and Rosenborg had nowhere to hide.
Chelsea players should have spent the interval signing the match ball for Drogba but Hirschfeld finally came to Rosenborg's rescue when the striker attempted to chip him for a hat-trick.
"Didier is a very good striker," added Grant. "We won without him at Derby last week but it is easier for us when he is in the side.
"We will lose four very important players in January when they go to the African Nations Cup. It won't be easy but we cannot change it."
Crucially, Drogba will be back in time for the second phase of the Champions League but he deserves a pat on the back for this performance.
A third goal was coming and when it came it was right out of the top drawer. Chelsea are scoring goals at will — 30 in 14 games under Grant — and there was a smile on the face of Alex when his 35-yard free-kick found its way past the Rosenborg defence.
Wright-Phillips hit the post after the break, Essien had yet another opportunity to get on the scoresheet but Joe Cole sealed this special win with a 73rd-minute strike.
Essien, who will miss Saturday's clash with West Ham through suspension, had another effort blocked but Joe Cole finished off another sweeping move to stab in the rebound.
Try as they might, Chelsea finished one goal short of their record result in the competition — a 5-0 win over Galatasaray in 1999 — but this team is right in the groove.
Watch out, West Ham.
ROSENBORG (4-3-3): Hirschfeld 5; Stoor 5, Kvarme 6, Riseth 5, Dorsin 5 (Basma 84); Skjelbred 5, Tettey 4, Traore 5 (Strand 55min, 5); Iversen 5, Sapara 5, Kone 5 (Ya 63, 5).
CHELSEA (4-5-1): Cudicini 7; Belletti 7, Alex 7, Terry 7, A Cole 7; Wright-Phillips 7 (Kalou 68, 6), Makelele 7, Lampard 7 (Pizarro 76), Essien 7, J Cole 7; Drogba 8 (Shevchenko 68, 6).
Man of the match: Dider Drogba.
Referee: Olegario Benquerenca (Portugal). ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Mirror:
Grant: My Euro vision GROUP B: ROSENBORG 0 CHELSEA 4 'WE MUST WIN CHAMPS LEAGUE' Neil Mcleman From Trondheim 29/11/2007
Avram Grant claimed the Champions League was Chelsea's main target this season because they want to become a "big club" after coasting into the knockout stages last night.
The inspirational Didier Drogba caught Rosenborg cold with two ice-cool finishes in the first 20 minutes on a freezing night and stretched Chelsea's red-hot unbeaten streak to 13 games.
Alex added another before the break with Joe Cole rounding off the scoring. But such were the number of chances created by Grant's side - they had 21 shots in all, including 10 on target - they could have surpassed the eight goals scored by Liverpool against Besiktas earlier this month.
It was a very different story from the last time these sides met in September when the Norwegians' stubborn display in a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge proved to be Jose Mourinho's last game in charge.
But the style of the performance, as well as going through the group stages undefeated away from home, confirmed Chelsea as genuine Champions League contenders again this season.
And after two Premier League titles in the Roman Abramovich era, the new coach said the club was now focusing on European domination.
"It's a long way until May, but Chelsea have never been in the final," said Grant. "This is one of our targets, maybe the main target, because we want to be a big club.
"One of the things to achieve that is to get to the final. I hope we will do it, and we will. Hopefully this year. We want to play positive, attacking football and I'm very happy with what's happened up to now. We've not just won games, but played better from game to game, good attacking football."
Admittedly, Rosenborg were the worst outfit to represent Norway since the last time they got nul points in the Eurovision Song Contest. But Chelsea were wonderfully in tune in a simply superb opening 45 minutes.
In a frantic opening five minutes, Drogba shot wide twice and Michael Essien scooped over to set the tone for the evening. When 60 seconds later Joe Cole's mazy run ended with a shot which former Spurs keeper Lars Hirschfeld could only parry, Drogba clipped home the rebound.
On 20 minutes Essien exchanged passes with Shaun Wright-Phillips to slice through the home rearguard and Drogba converted.
The Norwegian league season, where Rosenborg finished fifth, ended on November 3 and the home team had not played since a win in Valencia three days later. Last night it looked like it.
Alex put the game beyond the hosts on 40 minutes with a 30-yard free-kick. Wright-Phillips hit a post and Essien saw a shot cleared off the line before Joe Cole completed the rout on 73 minutes.
After this success in the land of mackerel, Chelsea have bigger fish to fry in Europe.
Rosenborg: Hirschfeld 7, Stoor 5, Riseth 4, Kvarme 4, Dorsin 5, Sapara 6, Tettey 5, Skjelbred 5, Traore 4 (Strand, 55), Iversen 4, Kone 5 (Ya, 63).
Chelsea: Cudicini 6, Belletti 7, Terry 8, Alex 8, A Cole 7, Makelele 5, Wright-Phillips 8 (Kalou, 68, 4), Lampard 8, Essien 8, J Cole 7, Drogba 9, (Shevchenko, 68, 6).
48% POSSESSION 52%
3 SHOTS ON TARGET 10
7 SHOTS OFF TARGET 11
0 OFFSIDES 2
6 CORNERS 3
7 FOULS 10
0 YELLOW CARDS 0
0 RED CARDS 0
ATTENDANCE: 21,582
Man Of The Match: Drogba ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------