The Times
August 25, 2008
Deco makes a difference for Chelsea
Wigan Athletic 0 Chelsea 1
Martin Samuel
Martin Samuel
Scant consolation, maybe, but it is not only English-born footballers who look better for their club than country. Petr Cech did not have the happiest time in goal for the Czech Republic during the European Championship this summer, but he was the reason Chelsea took three points and a place at the top of the Barclays Premier League table yesterday.
After the euphoria of the opening-day demolition of Portsmouth, this was very much business as usual, a slender victory ground out against opposition who were, for large periods, superior but simply lack the financial clout to buy the players who make the difference.
Deco, in this case, whose third-minute free kick was still all that separated the teams some 93 minutes later when Alan Wiley, the referee, brought the contest to a frustrating end for the home side. Beyond the one moment of magic, then, the difference was Cech, who made four excellent saves to deny Wigan Athletic, while at the other end Mike Pollitt, the stand-in goalkeeper after Chris Kirkland suffered a back injury in the warm-up, was largely untroubled.
Cech saved at the near post in the fifth minute after Wilson Palacios – who had an outstanding first half but could not sustain it – cut inside José Bosingwa, then again two minutes later after Jason Koumas had played the ball through to Amr Zaki, a hugely promising forward from Egypt.
In the 25th minute, the move of the match, involving Emile Heskey and Emmerson Boyce, was finished by another shot from Zaki, this time from the edge of the area, which Cech kept out, and with three minutes remaining, near the end of a dire second half, he moved quickly to tip round a shot by Olivier Kapo, a Wigan substitute.
It was a performance that revived memories of Cech at his best, before misfortune left him vulnerable physically, and perhaps mentally. If uncharacteristic mistakes had blighted his summer tournament, here was a goalkeeper at the top of his game, bravely off his line to any cross that strayed within his range, completely in command on a day when his defence looked surprisingly vulnerable.
“If you were listing the greatest goalkeepers in the world, you would say Cech and Gianluigi Buffon, and maybe one other,” Luiz Felipe Scolari, the Chelsea manager, said. “In training, if we are doing one hour, he wants to do two – he has not let us down in any game since I have been here.”
Steve Bruce, the Wigan manager, knew that his team had missed an opportunity. Chelsea’s form against Portsmouth last week was terrifying but Bruce and his players refused to be intimidated, put an extra body in midfield to match Chelsea’s small army and were by far the better team in the first half. John Terry and Ricardo Carvalho were challenged in a way that eluded last week’s strikers, Peter Crouch and Jermain Defoe, and the full backs were not allowed the space to operate as wingers.
Understandably, this level of commitment was tough to maintain and Wigan seemed to hit a wall after an hour, while still producing the only noteworthy chance of the second half. In all, they did enough to win and Scolari knew as much. His team were not inconsistent, he said, Wigan were simply stronger opponents than Portsmouth. “They had good ability, power and they put pressure on us,” he said. “In England, sometimes, to win 1-0 is like winning 10-0, because last can beat first.”
He said that several players are not entirely fit, including Michael Essien, Frank Lampard and Michael Ballack. Bruce saw it differently. “It is getting harder to beat the top teams with each new season,” he said. “Chelsea had a bad day today, but then Deco comes along and changes everything with one kick. If it isn’t Deco it will be Nicolas Anelka, or Joe Cole, or Florent Malouda, one of them is going to do something special – and all big clubs have that string of talent.
“When we first won the Premier League at Manchester United, the team to beat that season was Norwich City. That is never going to happen again. The gap is huge now. A team wins the league and buys four players. Chelsea got to the European Cup final and lost, so they bought two more. We used to laugh at the situation in Scotland with Rangers and Celtic. Not any more.”
It was tough on Bruce, who ended last season by losing at home to Manchester United, another match in which his team had the edge. Wigan have yet to gain a point this season, but impressed with the way they hustled Chelsea, without resorting to roughhouse tactics or the long ball. Palacios was outstanding early on, while Zaki and Luis Antonio Valencia were tirelessly energetic.
What Wigan do not have, and will never have unless football’s finances undergo a radical transformation, is a master like Deco, a player who got one chance all game, and a difficult one at that, and needed no more.
Lee Cattermole handled the ball on the edge of the area, Ballack voiced the sort of appeal that would have rattled even the most flint-hearted taekwondo judge, and the free kick was duly awarded. Deco, with his right foot, lifted the ball over the wall and into the top left-hand corner of Pollitt’s net. If Wigan had only known, the three points were gone.
“Deco is such an intelligent player,” Scolari said. “He waited for one little mistake from the goalkeeper, moving just too far in one direction, and then he adjusted his angle and scored. He thinks about the game. I have watched him in training all week, and he puts them in the other corner – but this is why he is one of the best players in the world.”
Scolari will meet board members at Chelsea tomorrow to discuss the last seven days of the transfer window, which should bring a move to Everton for Shaun Wright-Phillips and the completion of the £28 million deal for Robinho, of Real Madrid.
John Benson, the Wigan general manager, meanwhile, is in Seoul checking on Park Chu Young, the winger, and a £4 million purchase. Park was the Asian player of the year four years ago but has been in and out of the national side. Wigan accomplished a feat to only lose 1-0, really, all things considered.
Wigan ratings
4-2-3-1
M Pollitt 6 M Melchiot 6 E Boyce 6 T Bramble 6 M Figueroa 6 L Cattermole 7 W Palacios 7 L A Valencia 7 J Koumas 5 A Zaki 7 E Heskey 6
Substitutes: D de Ridder 5 (for Koumas, 46min), O Kapo (for Palacios, 79), H Camara (for Melchiot, 84). Not used: C Nash, M Brown, K Kilbane, A Sibierski. Next: Hull City (a).
Chelsea ratings
4-1-3-1-1
P Cech 9 J Bosingwa 5 J Terry 5 R Carvalho 5 A Cole 7 M Essien 7 M Ballack 7 F Lampard 6 Deco 7 J Cole 6 N Anelka 5
Substitutes: S Kalou 5 (for J Cole, 57), W Bridge (for A Cole, 82), F Malouda (for Anelka, 88). Not used: Hilário, B Ivanovic, Alex, J Belletti. Next: Tottenham (h).
Referee: A Wiley.
Attendance: 18,139
After the euphoria of the opening-day demolition of Portsmouth, this was very much business as usual, a slender victory ground out against opposition who were, for large periods, superior but simply lack the financial clout to buy the players who make the difference.
Deco, in this case, whose third-minute free kick was still all that separated the teams some 93 minutes later when Alan Wiley, the referee, brought the contest to a frustrating end for the home side. Beyond the one moment of magic, then, the difference was Cech, who made four excellent saves to deny Wigan Athletic, while at the other end Mike Pollitt, the stand-in goalkeeper after Chris Kirkland suffered a back injury in the warm-up, was largely untroubled.
Cech saved at the near post in the fifth minute after Wilson Palacios – who had an outstanding first half but could not sustain it – cut inside José Bosingwa, then again two minutes later after Jason Koumas had played the ball through to Amr Zaki, a hugely promising forward from Egypt.
In the 25th minute, the move of the match, involving Emile Heskey and Emmerson Boyce, was finished by another shot from Zaki, this time from the edge of the area, which Cech kept out, and with three minutes remaining, near the end of a dire second half, he moved quickly to tip round a shot by Olivier Kapo, a Wigan substitute.
It was a performance that revived memories of Cech at his best, before misfortune left him vulnerable physically, and perhaps mentally. If uncharacteristic mistakes had blighted his summer tournament, here was a goalkeeper at the top of his game, bravely off his line to any cross that strayed within his range, completely in command on a day when his defence looked surprisingly vulnerable.
“If you were listing the greatest goalkeepers in the world, you would say Cech and Gianluigi Buffon, and maybe one other,” Luiz Felipe Scolari, the Chelsea manager, said. “In training, if we are doing one hour, he wants to do two – he has not let us down in any game since I have been here.”
Steve Bruce, the Wigan manager, knew that his team had missed an opportunity. Chelsea’s form against Portsmouth last week was terrifying but Bruce and his players refused to be intimidated, put an extra body in midfield to match Chelsea’s small army and were by far the better team in the first half. John Terry and Ricardo Carvalho were challenged in a way that eluded last week’s strikers, Peter Crouch and Jermain Defoe, and the full backs were not allowed the space to operate as wingers.
Understandably, this level of commitment was tough to maintain and Wigan seemed to hit a wall after an hour, while still producing the only noteworthy chance of the second half. In all, they did enough to win and Scolari knew as much. His team were not inconsistent, he said, Wigan were simply stronger opponents than Portsmouth. “They had good ability, power and they put pressure on us,” he said. “In England, sometimes, to win 1-0 is like winning 10-0, because last can beat first.”
He said that several players are not entirely fit, including Michael Essien, Frank Lampard and Michael Ballack. Bruce saw it differently. “It is getting harder to beat the top teams with each new season,” he said. “Chelsea had a bad day today, but then Deco comes along and changes everything with one kick. If it isn’t Deco it will be Nicolas Anelka, or Joe Cole, or Florent Malouda, one of them is going to do something special – and all big clubs have that string of talent.
“When we first won the Premier League at Manchester United, the team to beat that season was Norwich City. That is never going to happen again. The gap is huge now. A team wins the league and buys four players. Chelsea got to the European Cup final and lost, so they bought two more. We used to laugh at the situation in Scotland with Rangers and Celtic. Not any more.”
It was tough on Bruce, who ended last season by losing at home to Manchester United, another match in which his team had the edge. Wigan have yet to gain a point this season, but impressed with the way they hustled Chelsea, without resorting to roughhouse tactics or the long ball. Palacios was outstanding early on, while Zaki and Luis Antonio Valencia were tirelessly energetic.
What Wigan do not have, and will never have unless football’s finances undergo a radical transformation, is a master like Deco, a player who got one chance all game, and a difficult one at that, and needed no more.
Lee Cattermole handled the ball on the edge of the area, Ballack voiced the sort of appeal that would have rattled even the most flint-hearted taekwondo judge, and the free kick was duly awarded. Deco, with his right foot, lifted the ball over the wall and into the top left-hand corner of Pollitt’s net. If Wigan had only known, the three points were gone.
“Deco is such an intelligent player,” Scolari said. “He waited for one little mistake from the goalkeeper, moving just too far in one direction, and then he adjusted his angle and scored. He thinks about the game. I have watched him in training all week, and he puts them in the other corner – but this is why he is one of the best players in the world.”
Scolari will meet board members at Chelsea tomorrow to discuss the last seven days of the transfer window, which should bring a move to Everton for Shaun Wright-Phillips and the completion of the £28 million deal for Robinho, of Real Madrid.
John Benson, the Wigan general manager, meanwhile, is in Seoul checking on Park Chu Young, the winger, and a £4 million purchase. Park was the Asian player of the year four years ago but has been in and out of the national side. Wigan accomplished a feat to only lose 1-0, really, all things considered.
Wigan ratings
4-2-3-1
M Pollitt 6 M Melchiot 6 E Boyce 6 T Bramble 6 M Figueroa 6 L Cattermole 7 W Palacios 7 L A Valencia 7 J Koumas 5 A Zaki 7 E Heskey 6
Substitutes: D de Ridder 5 (for Koumas, 46min), O Kapo (for Palacios, 79), H Camara (for Melchiot, 84). Not used: C Nash, M Brown, K Kilbane, A Sibierski. Next: Hull City (a).
Chelsea ratings
4-1-3-1-1
P Cech 9 J Bosingwa 5 J Terry 5 R Carvalho 5 A Cole 7 M Essien 7 M Ballack 7 F Lampard 6 Deco 7 J Cole 6 N Anelka 5
Substitutes: S Kalou 5 (for J Cole, 57), W Bridge (for A Cole, 82), F Malouda (for Anelka, 88). Not used: Hilário, B Ivanovic, Alex, J Belletti. Next: Tottenham (h).
Referee: A Wiley.
Attendance: 18,139
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Telegraph
Deco brilliance shades Wigan resolve as steely Chelsea excelWigan Athletic (0) 0 Chelsea (1) 1
By Henry Winter at the JJB Stadium
For Chelsea followers, it was just like watching Germany rather than Brazil this week. After their silky opening-day vanquishing of Portsmouth, Luiz Felipe Scolari’s side showed their steely trait, grinding out victory to frustrate lively opponents in Wigan Athletic.
As in the 4-0 defeat of Pompey, the Brazilian-born Deco was again to the fore, embarrassing another goalkeeper, but his breathtaking free-kick was as far as Chelsea’s advertisement for the Beautiful Game went. Withstanding relentless pressure from Wigan, for whom Amr Zaki excelled, Chelsea tackled and harried, intercepted and cleared and made sure they returned south unscathed. Never mind the quality, feel the quantity of points.
Petr Cech, looking back to his best, pulled off some good saves. Michael Essien anchored diligently. Ashley Cole put in some important tackles. John Terry kept cajoling, ensuring commitment levels never dipped. When Didier Drogba regains enough fitness and sharpness to replace Nicolas Anelka, Chelsea’s 4-1-4-1 shape under Scolari will exude even greater balance and menace.
Chelsea’s character was embodied in Michael Ballack’s willingness to start despite a slight niggle. Frank Lampard, also feeling a small injury, endured a brief battering from the raw but promising Lee Cattermole, even catcalls from Wigan fans, but never wilted. Essien hardly trained for 10 days but returned hungrily to the fray.
“They gave everything and they won,’’ enthused Scolari. “It’s fantastic for Chelsea, for us as a group, because we now have more confidence. It was more difficult than Portsmouth. Wigan played better than Portsmouth. This is the first time I have been to the north of England, so now I know what to expect. In English football, no game is easy.’’
Refusing to comment on Robinho’s seemingly imminent arrival and the prospect of Shaun Wright-Phillips departing to Everton, Scolari was more keen to expound on the mind-set he expects from his players. “It’s not important whether Lampard or Deco scores,’’ the Brazilian said. “This is my philosophy. Chelsea is more important than us [as individuals].’’
Deco symbolises what Scolari craves from his team, technique and character. As well as stirring admiration for the effortless way he guided the ball around Cattermole in the first half, and then nut-megging him for good measure in the second, Deco also impressed with his relish for the physical side of the game. No shrinking violet, the Portuguese international put in a stiff tackle on Antonio Valencia and bulldozed into a challenge on Cattermole. But it was his clever free-kick after four minutes that inevitably guaranteed him the headlines. When Cattermole handled just outside the hosts’ box, Deco stood with Ashley Cole and watched Wigan arrange their wall. In training, Deco has apparently been placing every free-kick to the right. He changed tack here, sweeping it over the wall and in to the left.
“Deco is a very intelligent boy,’’ Scolari explained. “As he ran up to the ball, he saw the keeper made a mistake, move a metre, which left room for Deco. So he went for the other side from what he has been taking in training. That’s why he is one of the best in the world.’’
Wigan were unfortunate that they had lost their first-choice goalkeeper moments before the start, Chris Kirkland aggravating a back problem, but little blame could really be attached to his stand-in, Mike Pollitt. Few keepers would have saved Deco’s free-kick.
“It was another bit of magic, but he does it in training every day,’’ said Ashley Cole, who limped off with a dead leg but will return to training tomorrow, according to Chelsea. Until he departed, Cole experienced a busy afternoon with Valencia and Mario Melchiot constantly running at him.
Jason Koumas and Wilson Palacios also carried the ball deep into Chelsea’s half. Emile Heskey, watched by Fabio Capello, kept showing for the ball long and short, pressuring Terry into a foul and a caution. Zaki, Heskey’s attacking accomplice, twice demanded saves from Cech as Wigan controlled the first half for substantial periods.
Zaki’s deployment by Bruce was interesting. “Chelsea get their width from their full-backs who like to get forward,’’ said the Wigan manager, who told Zaki to drift wide to peg back Jose Bosingwa while Valencia kept Ashley Cole deep. With a little more craft at set-pieces, Bruce’s tactics and his players’ work-rate would have been rewarded with a deserved point. Wigan were far from overawed, Palacios elegantly spiriting the ball away from Bosingwa and Anelka, drawing admiring gasps from the crowd.
As the second half unfolded, Chelsea raised their game. Lampard lifted a superb pass to Anelka, but Emmerson Boyce intercepted. Essien let fly with a long-ranger but Pollitt was equal to the task. Cattermole then slid in to dispossess Lampard in the area.
Bruce’s side finished the stronger. Cattermole shot over. Then Zaki, the striker on loan from Zamalek, embarked on a terrific run, passing Essien and Bosingwa before Ricardo Carvalho intervened. Zaki then set up Olivier Kapo, who was denied by Cech, Chelsea’s best player yesterday. “If you have three goalkeepers in the world, it is Cech, Buffon and another,’’ Scolari said. “He trains for an hour but then wants to train for two hours.’’
Bruce sighed in frustration afterwards. “Chelsea had a bad day at the office but a piece of brilliance won it for them,’’ he said. “We have missed an opportunity. The top two lose only once or twice a season.’’
Wigan’s manager also bemoaned the gulf between the elite four and the rest. “When I won the Premier League with Manchester United [in 1993], Norwich City were the only team we had to beat,’’ added Bruce. “That would never happen now. Smaller teams cannot mount a challenge. We used to mock Celtic and Rangers in Scotland but the gap is enormous in England now. It’s been the [same] top four for some time now.
“It will continue because they can go out and buy two or more players. United haven’t bought this season but they bought four last year for £70 million.’’
Bruce pursues less illustrious players, revealing that Wigan are in negotiation for the FC Seoul striker, Park-joo Young. Chelsea, meanwhile, await Robinho.
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Indy:
Wigan Athletic 0 Chelsea 1:
Wigan Athletic 0 Chelsea 1:
Art of Deco lifts Chelsea to top as Scolari paints picture of new world
Luiz Felipe Scolari has managed in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, he has won a World Cup in Japan and he comes from the remote Rio Grande do Sul in the southern Brazil, but he admitted that, until yesterday, he had never been to that distant, exotic kingdom known as the north of England. Chelsea will have play better on their further visits if they are to win the Premier League this season.
A moment of brilliance from Deco four minutes into the match decided it, a free-kick that swooped into the top corner of Mike Pollitt's goal before he had barely picked out its flight. The rest of the game was not so beautiful although it was never easy for Chelsea, whose second win of the season leaves them top of the Premier League after two games. So far, so good, even if Roman Abramovich chose not spend to his August bank holiday in Lancashire.
Scolari explained how this was the first time that he had ventured north of London but that his grip of geography was improving. "Yes, it's my first time in the north," he said, "and I know that I will have to come here to play Bolton, Manchester United, Manchester City. Here in the north. I understand that now."
Gritty, physical, relentless: Scolari got a view of the other side of football in England that was in stark contrast to the opening weekend when Chelsea passed the ball around Portsmouth in the sunshine at Stamford Bridge. Only the marble-hearted would have begrudged Wigan a point from this game, in which they ran themselves silly in the first half closing down the opposition. Wilson Palacios and Amr Zaki were outstanding but it all felt futile against superstars who need just one chance to pick opponents off.
It will be curious to see how Scolari's teams play away from home this season, especially in the North-West – which Sir Alex Ferguson has often referred to as if it were one rebellious tribe desperate to wreak havoc on any London sides with pretensions to winning the League. Yesterday Scolari paid tribute to the strength of the competition when he said that a 1-0 away win was equivalent to "10-0" in other leagues around the world. "In England," he said, "you always say that first [placed team] playing against the last is not easy."
Up to a point, Felipe, but when you have players in the side like Deco, they can, at times, make the whole thing look as simple as lacing their boots. For the goal, Lee Cattermole handled the ball about 25 yards out and Pollitt, a late replacement for Chris Kirkland who aggravated his back injury in the warm-up, never got close to Deco's resulting free-kick. "Another piece of Deco magic," said Ashley Cole. "He does it all the time in training."
That was the assumption, given that the Portuguese international was even allowed to take the shot – the queue for free-kick status at Chelsea is long and distinguished. But soon Wigan were back in the game, snapping at the heels of Chelsea's midfield, which looked stretched at times with Joe Cole in a more forward position. Palacios and Antonio Valencia, Steve Bruce later noted, played in Mexico for Honduras in midweek, while Zaki represented Egypt in Sudan, and none of them looked rusty.
Two defeats into the season, Bruce talked wearily of beating any one of the big four and the lengths he has gone to source players – he made his trip to Cairo to persuade Zaki to sign sound like he had been asked to find the source of the Nile single-handed. Now he is looking at the Korean striker Park Chu-Young, from FC Seoul. "Chelsea didn't look at any stage like they would rip us apart like they did with Portsmouth," Bruce said. "Chelsea have had a bad day but a piece of brilliance from Deco has saved them. That's why they are at the highest level. If it hadn't been him, they have others who can do that."
Fabio Capello was in attendance and, as usual, he will have left thinking about the non-English players on the pitch. Cattermole was determined for Wigan and Emile Heskey contributed to the move that saw Zaki's shot stopped by Petr Cech at close range, but they struggled to put Chelsea's defence on the back foot. Cech was excellent – that save from Zaki and another from substitute Olivier Kapo were decisive in winning the game.
With Frank Lampard, Michael Ballack and Michael Essien all playing with injuries, and John Obi Mikel out of the game, Scolari declared himself delighted with the performance. "It doesn't mean that much to be top after just two games," he said, "but it's good for the group to have six points." They will, after all, face some tougher tests in this part of the world.
Goal: Deco (4) 0-1.
Wigan Athletic (4-5-1): Pollitt; Melchiot (Camara, 85), Boyce, Bramble, Figueroa; Valencia, Cattermole, Palacios (Kapo, 80), Koumas (De Ridder, h-t), Zaki; Heskey. Substitutes not used: Nash (gk), Brown, Kilbane, Sibierski.
Chelsea (4-1-3-2): Cech; Bosingwa, Carvalho, Terry, A Cole (Bridge, 83); Essien; Ballack, Lampard, Deco; J Cole (Kalou, 58), Anelka (Malouda, 89). Substitutes not used: Hilario (gk), Ivanovic, Alex, Belletti.
Referee: A Wiley (Staffordshire).
Booked: Wigan Cattermole; Chelsea Terry, Carvalho.
Man of the match: Cech.
Attendance: 18,139.
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Deco's gifts leave lumbering Wigan wishing for more
Premier League
Wigan Athletic 0 Chelsea 1 Deco 4
Dominic Fifield at the JJB Stadium
Dominic Fifield at the JJB Stadium
The Guardian, Monday August 25 2008
Luiz Felipe Scolari had known this was coming. Back in the build-up to his Premier League debut, his comments lost amid what appeared to be outlandish suggestions that Manchester City and Portsmouth would challenge for the title, the Brazilian had warned that Wigan Athletic would cause his team "big problems" in his second game in charge. The sight of Chelsea's manager punching the air at the final whistle here was a telling indication that a horribly awkward hurdle had been vaulted.
Where Pompey had been dismissed with scintillating ease, Wigan were held at arm's bay, though never with any sense of comfort. Deco had conjured the game's decisive goal but that free-kick, curled gloriously in from distance after only four minutes, was as swashbuckling as Chelsea could muster. Thereafter, this became a test of resilience. Sir Alex Ferguson has often claimed London sides - apparently as showy as they are flaky - find life difficult in the wilds of the north-west. That may be an urban myth but this was Scolari's first time north of the capital and, even early in his reign, a small psychological blow has been inflicted.
Nothing, as yet, has fazed him about the English game. "I've never been 'north' but I'm at Chelsea for two seasons, so I must get used to Bolton, Manchester United, Manchester City..." said Scolari in the aftermath. "What I expected, I saw today. It was difficult. Winning 1-0 away from home in England is the same as winning 10-0 elsewhere. Wigan played better than Portsmouth and had players who are healthy, have power and pressured us. I know we didn't play as well as we did last week, but I understand the reasons why."
The visitors pointed to the lack of fitness of Michael Essien, Michael Ballack and Frank Lampard, and to the absence of the injured Mikel John Obi. He also lost Ashley Cole to a dead leg but, in truth, the visitors were winded less by their own ailments and more by Wigan's aggressive energy. Steve Bruce had seen his own fan out to various corners of the globe for midweek internationals - his Hondurans Wilson Palacios and Maynor Figueroa were in Mexico, his Egyptian Amr Zaki in Sudan - but they tore into this contest unperturbed. Zaki, outstanding throughout, twice forced Petr Cech to claw away rasping drives. The substitute Olivier Kapo did likewise in the final exchanges.
This team are far better than their current lack of a points' tally suggests. Dominant for long periods while succumbing at West Ham the previous week, they unsettled the title challengers here. They remain without reward but there will be an air of anxiety around this club, but more productive times surely lie ahead. This was actually transformed into the latest lesson on the Premier League's cruel hierarchy. Chelsea rode their luck and scored a blistering goal from an individual flash of brilliance. Wigan merited more but were sloppy from their own dead-ball delivery. "Appalling," said Steve Bruce of his side's free-kicks. "It didn't matter who took them, they kept doing the same frigging thing."
Deco had spent the week practising free-kicks into the right-hand corner only to spot Mike Pollitt - handed an opportunity after Chris Kirkland was ruled out with a back injury in the warm-up - slightly out of position after Lee Cattermole had handled. The shot curled beyond the goalkeeper's dive and Chelsea had their lead on which to cling.
"We've missed an outstanding chance to beat them," added Bruce, who hopes to sign FC Seoul's South Korea forward Park Chu-Young this week. "They've had a bad day, but the piece of brilliance in the game came from Deco. If it wasn't him it might have been from Nicolas Anelka. If not him, Joe Cole. Florent Malouda. They've got a string of talent, and how do you compete? To think that we used to mock Rangers and Celtic being so dominant [in Scotland], didn't we."
Chelsea are likely to become better in the final week of the transfer window. Their chief executive, Peter Kenyon, was present here but will expect to resume talks with Real Madrid over the potential £28m signing of the Brazilian forward Robinho as a resolution edges ever closer. Andriy Shevchenko is due in Milan this morning to undertake a medical ahead of completing a long-term loan move, with a view to a permanent transfer, while Shaun Wright-Phillips is attracting interest from Everton.
The England winger, like the Ukrainian, is surplus to requirements at Stamford Bridge and Scolari will meet Kenyon at Cobham to discuss who will be coming and going. His has been a satisfying start to his career in England. Tottenham Hotspur - pointless to date - will hardly be relishing their trip to Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
Man of the Match Amir Zaki (Wigan)The Egyptian left John Terry and Ricardo Carvalho bruised and battered, and bent Petr Cech's fingers back with two battered first-half attempts. He appears made for this leagueBest moment The slick turn away from Jose Bosingwa tight at his back, as the game lurched towards stoppage time------------------------------------------------------------
Where Pompey had been dismissed with scintillating ease, Wigan were held at arm's bay, though never with any sense of comfort. Deco had conjured the game's decisive goal but that free-kick, curled gloriously in from distance after only four minutes, was as swashbuckling as Chelsea could muster. Thereafter, this became a test of resilience. Sir Alex Ferguson has often claimed London sides - apparently as showy as they are flaky - find life difficult in the wilds of the north-west. That may be an urban myth but this was Scolari's first time north of the capital and, even early in his reign, a small psychological blow has been inflicted.
Nothing, as yet, has fazed him about the English game. "I've never been 'north' but I'm at Chelsea for two seasons, so I must get used to Bolton, Manchester United, Manchester City..." said Scolari in the aftermath. "What I expected, I saw today. It was difficult. Winning 1-0 away from home in England is the same as winning 10-0 elsewhere. Wigan played better than Portsmouth and had players who are healthy, have power and pressured us. I know we didn't play as well as we did last week, but I understand the reasons why."
The visitors pointed to the lack of fitness of Michael Essien, Michael Ballack and Frank Lampard, and to the absence of the injured Mikel John Obi. He also lost Ashley Cole to a dead leg but, in truth, the visitors were winded less by their own ailments and more by Wigan's aggressive energy. Steve Bruce had seen his own fan out to various corners of the globe for midweek internationals - his Hondurans Wilson Palacios and Maynor Figueroa were in Mexico, his Egyptian Amr Zaki in Sudan - but they tore into this contest unperturbed. Zaki, outstanding throughout, twice forced Petr Cech to claw away rasping drives. The substitute Olivier Kapo did likewise in the final exchanges.
This team are far better than their current lack of a points' tally suggests. Dominant for long periods while succumbing at West Ham the previous week, they unsettled the title challengers here. They remain without reward but there will be an air of anxiety around this club, but more productive times surely lie ahead. This was actually transformed into the latest lesson on the Premier League's cruel hierarchy. Chelsea rode their luck and scored a blistering goal from an individual flash of brilliance. Wigan merited more but were sloppy from their own dead-ball delivery. "Appalling," said Steve Bruce of his side's free-kicks. "It didn't matter who took them, they kept doing the same frigging thing."
Deco had spent the week practising free-kicks into the right-hand corner only to spot Mike Pollitt - handed an opportunity after Chris Kirkland was ruled out with a back injury in the warm-up - slightly out of position after Lee Cattermole had handled. The shot curled beyond the goalkeeper's dive and Chelsea had their lead on which to cling.
"We've missed an outstanding chance to beat them," added Bruce, who hopes to sign FC Seoul's South Korea forward Park Chu-Young this week. "They've had a bad day, but the piece of brilliance in the game came from Deco. If it wasn't him it might have been from Nicolas Anelka. If not him, Joe Cole. Florent Malouda. They've got a string of talent, and how do you compete? To think that we used to mock Rangers and Celtic being so dominant [in Scotland], didn't we."
Chelsea are likely to become better in the final week of the transfer window. Their chief executive, Peter Kenyon, was present here but will expect to resume talks with Real Madrid over the potential £28m signing of the Brazilian forward Robinho as a resolution edges ever closer. Andriy Shevchenko is due in Milan this morning to undertake a medical ahead of completing a long-term loan move, with a view to a permanent transfer, while Shaun Wright-Phillips is attracting interest from Everton.
The England winger, like the Ukrainian, is surplus to requirements at Stamford Bridge and Scolari will meet Kenyon at Cobham to discuss who will be coming and going. His has been a satisfying start to his career in England. Tottenham Hotspur - pointless to date - will hardly be relishing their trip to Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
Man of the Match Amir Zaki (Wigan)The Egyptian left John Terry and Ricardo Carvalho bruised and battered, and bent Petr Cech's fingers back with two battered first-half attempts. He appears made for this leagueBest moment The slick turn away from Jose Bosingwa tight at his back, as the game lurched towards stoppage time------------------------------------------------------------
Mail:
Travel slickness - Away days prove a joy as Chelsea manager Scolari wins again
Travel slickness - Away days prove a joy as Chelsea manager Scolari wins again
By Matt Lawton
This was Luiz Felipe Scolari's first trip to the north west of England and it proved something of an education.
Not only did he learn that his Chelsea team have retained that ability for grinding out results but he was also given an useful geography lesson.
'I now know that Bolton is here, that Manchester United is here and that Manchester City is here,' he proudly declared. Sat-nav might still be an idea but the Stamford Bridge manager can at least plan ahead in the knowledge that his players continue to travel well.
Wigan made it immensely difficult for their illustrious visitors on Sunday and still Chelsea emerged with all three points.
It was not what Scolari would call pretty. If the previous weekend's game was just like watching Brazil, so much so that Frank Lampard considered it the perfect performance, this was more akin to the Chelsea of a previous era.
Jose Mourinho might be long gone but the discipline and spirit he instilled very much remains.
They beat Wigan with their only decent effort. An absolute beauty of a fourth-minute free-kick from Deco that once again underlined his value to his new club and invited praise from both managers.
While Steve Bruce described it as 'the one moment of brilliance in the entire game', Scolari explained why it was worthy of such a compliment.
Deco is intelligent,' he said. 'He saw the goalkeeper make one mistake, in moving one metre, and changed where he was going to put the ball. That's why he is one of the best in the world.'
Scolari refused to get too excited about the result or the fact that Chelsea already have a five-point lead over United.
'We are only two games into the season and United play tomorrow night,' he said. 'But we can be pleased to have six points. Wigan played better than Portsmouth did last week. They have players with good ability and power and they put pressure on us.
'It also helped them that they are playing at home. But we overcame some problems we have had this week with injury and that will give the players confidence.'
Bruce could only complain about how difficult it has become for clubs like Wigan to beat the very best teams. This was Chelsea's 300 t h game of the Roman Abramovich era and former United man Bruce says the gap has never looked greater thanks to the investment of men like the Russian billionaire.
'When Manchester United first won the Premier League the team we had to beat was Norwich,' he said. 'Norwich.
'That will never happen again. We used to mock Rangers and Celtic but the gap is enormous here as well now. My lads delivered today and it just didn't happen for us. And Chelsea had a bad day. It just shows how difficult it is for us to win these kind of games.
'We had an outstanding chance to beat them but they've taken the points with one free-kick.'
A back injury that forced Chris Kirkland to withdraw shortly before kick-off did not exactly help Wigan. Kirkland might not have presented Deco with the opportunity he so cleverly seized after Lee Cattermole handled the ball.
But they were the better team for much of this match and probably deserved the equaliser that never quite came. Even if Bruce bemoaned the fact that he had to go to Cairo to find him, Amr Zaki nevertheless looks a most useful loan signing.
Full of running and blessed with a combination of flair and finesse, he tested a Chelsea back four that at times appeared surprisingly shaky. Zaki worked well with both Jason Koumas and Emile Heskey, who was subjected to one of the more amusing chants.
'He used to be s***e, but now he's all right,' cried Wigan's adoring fans. Had it not been for Petr Cech, who rivalled the Egyptian for man of the match, Zaki might well have scored.
As it was, he succeeded only in forcing a succession of fine saves from the Chelsea goalkeeper that in turn reminded us why he is considered alongside Gianluigi Buffon as the best in the world.
Cech also excelled in denying Olivier Kapo with only a few minutes remaining. By then, Ashley Cole had limped off with what looked like a hamstring injury that will worry England manager Fabio Capello as much as it does Scolari.
And afterwards Scolari admitted that a possible move for Shaun Wright- Phillips to Everton would be discussed along with a number of other topics - the pursuit of Robinho being another - at Stamford Bridge on Monday.
Add that to the fact that Scolari discovered that, no, the coffee in the Wigan press room is not 'Brazilian', and it amounted to a useful day's work.
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Sun:
From SHAUN CUSTIS at the JJB Stadium
IT is the small things which can make the big difference in a title race.
And they do not come much smaller than Deco.
Phil Scolari’s Chelsea escaped with three points against tigerish Wigan thanks to a brilliant fourth-minute free-kick from the 5ft 8in midfielder, who could turn out to be bargain of the season.
When Scolari invested £8million on the Portugeezer — who turns 31 on Wednesday — questions were asked about why the Blues were buying an ageing player deemed past his best by Barcelona.
How would he fit in with the likes of Michael Ballack, Frank Lampard and Michael Essien? The answer appears to be easily.
Former Portugal boss Scolari had been around Deco long enough to know exactly what he was getting.
For a club which barely blinks at bidding £30m for a player like Real Madrid’s Robinho, Deco was bought for loose change.
But he is proving invaluable. Deco complements those around him rather than gets in their way. He is always available but equally allows his team-mates to play, too.
That said, he is not about to give ground when it comes to taking the free-kicks.
Didier Drogba and Michael Ballack had a famous spat last season arguing over a set-piece.
And with Frank Lampard and now Deco also in the mix, there is plenty of competition for the job.
But Deco pulled rank and his 20-yard strike proved the difference on a day when Wigan put the wind right up Chelsea — as they do on a regular basis.
The Blues needed a late winner three years ago at the JJB and Wigan ended their title hopes last season with a late equaliser at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea were so pleased to have got away with this there were backslaps and high fives all round at full-time — not least in keeper Petr Cech’s direction after he made three excellent saves.
Scolari’s men were acutely aware they had nicked this one. Those who predicted after the first weekend that the title returning to Stamford Bridge was a formality might have another look at it.
One week it was like watching Brazil, the next it was almost like watching England.
Chelsea played to the samba beat when they thrashed Portsmouth 4-0 at home on the opening weekend, with Deco scoring another cracker.
But here it was as if they had mislaid their drumsticks and drum.
Wigan boss Steve Bruce, who has lost his first two games, observed: “Most people who witnessed this would have said we did enough to get a point.
“Our keeper didn’t have a save to make but Cech had a few. We have missed an outstanding chance.”
Bruce’s disappointment was understandable as Wigan got in Chelsea’s faces and didn’t give them any peace — unlike Pompey, who allowed them acres last week.
Things started badly before kick- off when Wigan lost injury-prone keeper Chris Kirkland to a bad back in the warm-up.
Bruce then watched as back-up keeper Mike Pollitt picked out Deco’s effort from the net following a handball by Lee Cattermole.
That was about the only mistake by the impressive Cattermole, who more than held his own against such an illustrious midfield group.
Bruce has also discovered a diamond in Amr Zaki.
The Egyptian is rated the No 1 striker in the world according to FIFA’s rankings.
After breaking clear on eight minutes, Zaki was denied by Cech’s outstretched boot.
Strike partner Emile Heskey, watched by England boss Fabio Capello, started well by turning John Terry, who hauled him back and rightly got a yellow card.
But the Chelsea skipper recovered his poise and — apart from the occasional lost header — prevented Heskey doing too much damage.
Cech was fortunate ref Alan Wiley missed his shove on Emmerson Boyce in the penalty area, which might have earned a spot-kick.
But he was alert to push out Zaki’s shot from Boyce’s lay-off
Cech’s dreadful mistake against Turkey at Euro 2008 led to the Czech Republic’s elimination from the competition.
But he has put the disappointment behind him and will again be a key figure in Chelsea’s push for silverware. Scolari is lacking up front and he will be hoping Drogba gets fit soon and that the club can complete the Robinho deal.
Frenchman Nicolas Anelka struggles as the main focal point of attack and his dive as he cut into the box just before half-time smacked of desperation.
Scolari said: “Deco is very intelligent — he is one of the best in the world.”
Bruce agreed: “Chelsea have had a bad day and the difference was Deco. That is why he has played at the highest level.”
And they do not come much smaller than Deco.
Phil Scolari’s Chelsea escaped with three points against tigerish Wigan thanks to a brilliant fourth-minute free-kick from the 5ft 8in midfielder, who could turn out to be bargain of the season.
When Scolari invested £8million on the Portugeezer — who turns 31 on Wednesday — questions were asked about why the Blues were buying an ageing player deemed past his best by Barcelona.
How would he fit in with the likes of Michael Ballack, Frank Lampard and Michael Essien? The answer appears to be easily.
Former Portugal boss Scolari had been around Deco long enough to know exactly what he was getting.
For a club which barely blinks at bidding £30m for a player like Real Madrid’s Robinho, Deco was bought for loose change.
But he is proving invaluable. Deco complements those around him rather than gets in their way. He is always available but equally allows his team-mates to play, too.
That said, he is not about to give ground when it comes to taking the free-kicks.
Didier Drogba and Michael Ballack had a famous spat last season arguing over a set-piece.
And with Frank Lampard and now Deco also in the mix, there is plenty of competition for the job.
But Deco pulled rank and his 20-yard strike proved the difference on a day when Wigan put the wind right up Chelsea — as they do on a regular basis.
The Blues needed a late winner three years ago at the JJB and Wigan ended their title hopes last season with a late equaliser at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea were so pleased to have got away with this there were backslaps and high fives all round at full-time — not least in keeper Petr Cech’s direction after he made three excellent saves.
Scolari’s men were acutely aware they had nicked this one. Those who predicted after the first weekend that the title returning to Stamford Bridge was a formality might have another look at it.
One week it was like watching Brazil, the next it was almost like watching England.
Chelsea played to the samba beat when they thrashed Portsmouth 4-0 at home on the opening weekend, with Deco scoring another cracker.
But here it was as if they had mislaid their drumsticks and drum.
Wigan boss Steve Bruce, who has lost his first two games, observed: “Most people who witnessed this would have said we did enough to get a point.
“Our keeper didn’t have a save to make but Cech had a few. We have missed an outstanding chance.”
Bruce’s disappointment was understandable as Wigan got in Chelsea’s faces and didn’t give them any peace — unlike Pompey, who allowed them acres last week.
Things started badly before kick- off when Wigan lost injury-prone keeper Chris Kirkland to a bad back in the warm-up.
Bruce then watched as back-up keeper Mike Pollitt picked out Deco’s effort from the net following a handball by Lee Cattermole.
That was about the only mistake by the impressive Cattermole, who more than held his own against such an illustrious midfield group.
Bruce has also discovered a diamond in Amr Zaki.
The Egyptian is rated the No 1 striker in the world according to FIFA’s rankings.
After breaking clear on eight minutes, Zaki was denied by Cech’s outstretched boot.
Strike partner Emile Heskey, watched by England boss Fabio Capello, started well by turning John Terry, who hauled him back and rightly got a yellow card.
But the Chelsea skipper recovered his poise and — apart from the occasional lost header — prevented Heskey doing too much damage.
Cech was fortunate ref Alan Wiley missed his shove on Emmerson Boyce in the penalty area, which might have earned a spot-kick.
But he was alert to push out Zaki’s shot from Boyce’s lay-off
Cech’s dreadful mistake against Turkey at Euro 2008 led to the Czech Republic’s elimination from the competition.
But he has put the disappointment behind him and will again be a key figure in Chelsea’s push for silverware. Scolari is lacking up front and he will be hoping Drogba gets fit soon and that the club can complete the Robinho deal.
Frenchman Nicolas Anelka struggles as the main focal point of attack and his dive as he cut into the box just before half-time smacked of desperation.
Scolari said: “Deco is very intelligent — he is one of the best in the world.”
Bruce agreed: “Chelsea have had a bad day and the difference was Deco. That is why he has played at the highest level.”
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