Telegraph:
Champions League: Vintage Chelsea display sinks BordeauxChelsea (2) 4 Bordeaux (0) 0 By Henry Winter at Stamford Bridge
The tears of Moscow have begun to dry, the dream returns of a Champions League triumph. Chelsea were so imperious, so decisive in their attacks, so in tune with Luiz Felipe Scolari’s instructions, that their fans will begin to believe that this could be their year.
For those in blue searching for omens, the sight of Nicolas Anelka scoring with almost the last kick here, a contrast to his disastrous final touch in Moscow, seemed significant. With Frank Lampard, Joe Cole and Florent Malouda also scoring, Chelsea have got Moscow out of their system, although Laurent Blanc’s visitors offered little threat.
Blanc’s old club, Manchester United, visit at the weekend, the first meeting since the Champions League final and it promises fireworks.
It was as if a summer of pent-up frustration over Moscow had been let loose at the Bridge. This was catharsis time for Chelsea, the moment to banish the ghosts of the Luzhniki. With the memories still raw, the vanquished Champions League finalists tore into Bordeaux, with Lampard and Joe Cole scoring good first-half headers to put Chelsea in complete command.
Chelsea’s 4-1-4-1 system may have echoed Bordeaux’s but any similarity ended there, emphatically so. Chelsea were superior in every department. Scolari’s full-backs, Ashley Cole and particularly Jose Bosingwa, were soon operating as flying wingers, giving Chelsea command of midfield and soon the lead.
Before his side took the lead after 14 minutes, Scolari had been screaming at Bosingwa to push on. The message, and the venom with which it was delivered, was easily understood by Bosingwa, who responded in style. With Scolari’s exhortations ringing in his ears, Bosingwa drove down the right, nutmegging Diego Placente as Chelsea tore into the French.
That move petered out, but the next shredded Bordeaux’s defence. Blanc, such an elegant centre-half in his time, must have been aghast at the porous nature of his back-line. When Joe Cole laid the ball off to Bosingwa on the right, Lampard made his move, gliding unnoticed into the box, knowing that a fine cross was imminent.
Bosingwa delivered in every sense, placing a perfect ball on to the head of Lampard, who flicked Chelsea in front. Scolari punched the air in delight, buoyed that his advice had been taken on board so well by Bosingwa. Like Scolari’s 2002 Brazilian World Cup-winners, Chelsea rely for much of their width on their full-backs.
Bosingwa may not be Cafu but his pacy breaks have lent Chelsea a terrific outlet this season; Chelsea’s problem position of right-back has been well and truly solved. Scolari’s love of attacking full-backs may be a riskier tactic away from home but at the Bridge, against such limited opponents as the French, it worked well.
This Blanc Bordeaux were poor, anything but vintage, and Chelsea were rampant. After an Anelka shot and a Terry header threatened to beat Ulrich Rame, Chelsea secured their deserved second on the half-hour. When Lampard swung a corner across the face of an expectant Matthew Harding Stand, few predicted Joe Cole would metamorphose into a latter-day Kerry Dixon. But timing his jump well, catching out Fernando and Franck Jurietti, England’s little big man flicked an excellent header across Rame and in.
As an enjoyable half unfolded, the one disappointment was to note that the Bridge was not full, a pity as Chelsea under Scolari are well worth watching. John Obi Mikel, responding to the Brazilian’s coaching, has grown into the anchoring role, and now looks the natural successor to Claude Makelele. With Michael Essien injured, Mikel has become even more important.
The tall Nigerian made one mistake in the first half, an undercooked pass intercepted by Wendel, and Mikel was grateful that Ricardo Carvalho and Terry were their usual alert selves. Otherwise Mikel’s tackling and range of passing gave Chelsea a strong platform to perform on, allowing Deco, Lampard and Joe Cole to go and display their talents.
Lampard, in terrific form of late, should really have made it three but dragged his shot wide. No matter. Chelsea were so in control.
With Bordeaux offering such minimal threat, for all the hard running of Marouane Chamakh, Scolari was able to make substitutions with their meeting with United in mind. Michael Ballack sprinted on to warm applause, with Deco making way.
At one point the German burst like a dreadnought through the middle, knocking Alou Diarra out of the way. Ballack’s arrival was simply another reminder of why Chelsea will be such a formidable force again this season, with their strength in depth.
Similarly encouragingly for Chelsea, there seemed signs of real understanding between Ashley Cole and Florent Malouda down the left. Joe Cole’s interplay with Bosingwa was another feature of Chelsea’s play, although Cole was removed with 17 minutes left. Juliano Belletti, showing his versatility, came on in right midfield.
Without Deco and Joe Cole, Chelsea’s creativity ebbed. Scolari kept shouting, kept cajoling, and the energy emanating from the dug-out transmitted itself on the terraces.
Chelsea’s fans urged the players to raise their tempo, perhaps knowing that such a laid-back attitude will bring punishment if repeated this weekend against Dimitar Berbatov, Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez.
Chelsea’s players responded, conjuring up a memorable goal eight minutes from the end. Mikel built up steam, breaking through a series of challenges, zigzagging through five white shirts, before laying off to Lampard.
The back-heeled return was probably intended for Mikel, but Malouda took over, firing the ball in. “We want four’’ chanted the Shed, and Carvalho almost obliged with a header that hit the bar.
The fourth did arrive with seconds left, Anelka tucking away the loose ball after Belletti’s thunderous shot had almost snapped the crossbar. After their downfall in Moscow, Chelsea are up and running again.
Match details:
Chelsea:(4-1-4-1): Cech; Bosingwa, Carvalho, Terry, A Cole; Mikel; J Cole (Belletti 74), Deco (Ballack 61), Lampard, Malouda (Kalou 84); Anelka. Subs: Hilario (g), Di Santo, Ferreira, Alex. Booked: Deco.Bordeaux (4-1-4-1): Rame; Jurietti, Planus, Diawara, Placente; Diarra; Gouffran (Obertan 65), Fernando (Ducasse 74), Gourcuff, Wendell; Chamakh (Cavenaghi 65). Subs: Valverde (g), Henrique, Bellion, Traore. Referee: P Vink (Netherlands). --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Independent:
Chelsea 4 Bordeaux 0: Chelsea less than vintage but Bordeaux lack bottle on opening day
By Sam WallaceWednesday, 17 September 2008
Not really a vintage Bordeaux, more a crate of Laurent Blanc plonk. Chelsea, on the other hand, were sparkling as they began a new Champions League campaign after the tears and rain of Moscow in May. This year they really believe it is their turn for the big one and as opening statements go, this one will reverberate around Europe.
"We're on our way to Rome," was the introduction from one of Chelsea's pitchside announcers with the kind of modest understatement to which we have become accustomed at Stamford Bridge. You can take it as read that he meant the Champions League final in Rome on 27 May rather than the Group A game against Roma in November. At this club they have a sense of entitlement when it comes to success in this competition. Last night you could see why.
At times it was captivating to watch, although Blanc, the Bordeaux manager, may have preferred to have removed his trendy spectacles and rubbed his eyes in despair. The English, Frank Lampard and Joe Cole, led the charge with the goals in the first half; the French contingent in blue shirts, Florent Malouda and Nicolas Anelka, finished the visitors off after the break. It was brutal at times. And the only one who was not completely impressed was Scolari.
It was a favoured tactic of Jose Mourinho to deflate the mood after a big win and this time it was Scolari who chose that approach. From his manner it sounded as if the Brazilian had just cut short the party mood in the changing rooms with his complaints about what he said was a lack of discipline in the second half. "We didn't play very well, they made many mistakes when they had the ball," Scolari said. "You need to control the game more, and we didn't control it very well in the second half." They controlled it enough to make sure that Bordeaux did not muster a single meaningful shot on target all night.
Sometimes you had to remind yourself that this was the second-best team in France, the football nation that reached the last World Cup final. In the strange world of European club football that we inhabit, skewed by the Premier League's billions, France's league runners-up cannot even give England's equivalent a decent game. But tell us something we don't know. There was not an area of the pitch in which Chelsea did not dominate.
While the Romanian team CFR Cluj held on for a momentous win against Roma in the other group game, Chelsea showed how to deal with European football's second tier. They drove Scolari to distraction with their sloppiness in front of goal, but that was only because when it came to scoring goals it was inevitable that they would win with a few to spare. Lampard and Anelka both missed sitters in the first half. Scolari threw his arms up in disgust. And yet when they put their minds to it, Chelsea ripped Bordeaux to shreds.
"We took some punishment because we lost many balls in the middle," Scolari complained. "On another night, another team getting those positions in front of goal might have hurt us quicker. If they'd had more quality, it would have been dangerous for us." Quality, however, is in abundance in the Chelsea team and before they had even settled into the game, this young Bordeaux side found themselves two goals behind and struggling to keep pace.
First to strike was the in-form Lampard who glided into the spaces between Bordeaux's defenders to guide in with his head the third goal of his season and the 113th of his Chelsea career. It came from a cross from Jose Bosingwa who was excellent, an overlapping right-back who has given Chelsea a new dimension in attack. Bordeaux could not stop him.
The second goal was flicked in off Joe Cole's sore head from Lampard's corner. The elbow from Robert Kovac against Croatia last week does not seem to have done any permanent damage to the England midfielder who out-jumped a much bigger Bordeaux defence. There was more of the same in the second half, the blue torrent showing no sign of abating. Even Malouda was having a good game.
Just after the hour, Michael Ballack came on for his first appearance since the Wigan game on 24 August and he did so to a rapturous reception. How times have changed at Stamford Bridge for the German midfielder about whom the locals were once so distrustful. He was the driving force in Chelsea's late run last season and now Scolari must try to keep him, Deco and Lampard all happy. It will not be simple.
Under Mourinho, Chelsea would have closed this game down long before the hour but, to their credit, they kept up the impetus to go forward long after Bordeaux had given up hope. Malouda scored the third after a brilliant flick from Lampard. Anelka's goal came in injury time when goalkeeper Ulrich Rame touched Juliano Belletti's shot onto the bar and the French striker tidied up the loose ball. Chelsea took the first step on their way to Rome, although successful Champions League campaigns are not built in a day.
Chelsea (4-1-4-1): Cech; Bosingwa, Carvalho, Terry, A Cole; Mikel;J Cole (Belletti, 75), Deco (Ballack, 61), Lampard, Malouda (Kalou, 83); Anelka. Substitutes not used: Hilario (gk), Di Santo, Ferreira, Alex.
Bordeaux (4-2-3-1): Rame; Jurietti, Diawara, Planus, Placente; Diarra, Fernando (Ducasse, 75); Gouffran (Obertan, 65), Gourcuff, Wendel; Chamakh (Cavenaghi, 65). Substitutes not used: Valverde (gk), Henrique, Bellion, Abdou Traoré.
Referee: P Vink (Netherlands).
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Flair of Lampard puts Chelsea in fantasy league of their ownAmbition rises as Chelsea take first step to Rome Champions League Group AChelsea 4 Lampard 14, Cole, J 30, Malouda 82, Anelka 90 Bordeaux 0
Kevin McCarra at Stamford Bridge The Guardian, Wednesday September 17 2008
The only battle that daunted Chelsea was the struggle to maintain an interest in the match. They came out ahead in that battle with late goals. The third, in particular, was a demonstration of the verve which is becoming characteristic under the management of Luiz Felipe Scolari.
Eight minutes from the end Mikel John Obi, who was nominally a holding midfielder, set off on a weaving run and a flick of Frank Lampard's heel then put Florent Malouda in position to fire into the far corner of the net. Scolari's disgust for even minor mistakes is always displayed but that would have gladdened him.
It will have raised the Brazilian's spirits that so little was taken out of his squad before the arrival here of Manchester United on Sunday. Perhaps he will remember this occasion primarily as a useful opportunity to give Michael Ballack half an hour's practice after his foot injury. If the night lingers in the memories of the Premier League side it will be because of a disbelief that there was not an utter rout. A wasteful Nicolas Anelka will be baffled that he made so little of his openings until, at the very end, he netted after the substitute Juliano Belletti had struck the bar.
Neutrals would have felt sorrow that French football could send out a side so meek and fatalistic. They could not clear any sort of barrier, a limitation symbolised by the striker Marouane Chamakh falling over an advertising hoarding. Even the talent that Bordeaux do have was misapplied. Yoann Gourcuff, freed from his misery at Milan by a loan to Bordeaux, possesses talent but it was not used here and he sent a hapless free-kick nearly as far wide as it was high.
Although Scolari was unimpressed by Chelsea's display, it takes resistance of some sort for any team to define themselves. Their gaze, in any event, is unavoidably fixed on the final in Rome next May. Having come close under Claudio Ranieri as well as Jose Mourinho and closer still under Avram Grant, Chelsea have no option but to imagine their hands on the trophy at last. The majority of the line-up here had also started when United raised the European Cup aloft four months ago.
Scolari, managing in the Champions League for the first time, would not have suffered from beginners' nerves. It was his own midfielder Mikel who caused fleeting concern when he hit a sloppy pass in a dangerous area after 10 minutes but it had already been clear that Chelsea would have many chances.
They were well aware of the most appealing avenue. The right-back Jose Bosingwa, indeed, was so far advanced that he was offside soon after kick-off. Regular watchers of Bordeaux had predicted that Chelsea would prey on their left-back, Diego Placente, and the opener did come from that wing, in the 14th minute, as Bosingwa crossed and Lampard, undisturbed by markers, headed home with care.
Resilience was not part of the visitors' repertoire and neither was attacking. All the same, this was additional evidence of the gusto in Chelsea's play that has been fostered by Scolari. Lampard's corner from the left, shamingly for Bordeaux, was headed into the net by the diminutive Joe Cole with half an hour gone. He does not get such chances very often but everything was possible for a Chelsea line-up encountering marginal resistance.
Lampard's miscue, after a delivery from Bosingwa had broken to him, felt like light entertainment. Scolari, however, is not prone to such indulgence. It says much for his professionalism that he could find it within himself to be disgruntled. Most spectators, when not heartened by the freedom with which Chelsea play, would have been staring in disbelief at the ineptness of Laurent Blanc's men. If Chelsea were troubled it would have been by their lack of ruthlessness and by the yellow card collected by Deco for a foul on Alou Diarra. Scolari soon took off the Portugal international, although that was less a punishment than a means of allowing Ballack his match practice.
A trace of slackness in Chelsea was perhaps inevitable. When Lampard hit a crossfield pass after 69 minutes and merely picked out the opposition midfielder Wendel, there was no price to be paid. Without the suggestion of danger from Bordeaux the levels of concentration slipped in the Premier League team. It is, for all that, a gratifying evening for a side when boredom is the most severe problem with which they must wrestle.
Other result
Roma 1 CFR Cluj 2
Remaining fixtures
Oct 1 CFR v Chelsea, Bordeaux v Roma
Oct 22 Bordeaux v CFR, Chelsea v Roma
Nov 4 CFR v Bordeaux, Roma v Chelsea
Nov 26 Bordeaux v Chelsea, CFR v Roma
Dec 9 Chelsea v CFR, Roma Bordeaux
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Mail:
A drop of red: Bordeaux find Scolari's Chelsea vintage far too classy By Matt Lawton
Chelsea 4 Bordeaux 0
According to Luiz Felipe Scolari, Chelsea stunk the place out last night. They were poor in possession. Wasteful in front of goal. A waste, seemingly, of space.
It was nonsense, of course, Chelsea's manager no doubt delivering his speech with Sunday's meeting with Manchester United very much in mind.
A case of guarding against complacency, having seen his side attack with such pace that they did occasionally lose control of the ball.
The damn fools. Privately, however, Scolari is sure to reflect on this and the sight of Frank Lampard and Joe Cole scoring with two perfectly executed headers and wonder how this competition ever claimed the jobs of his three immediate predecessors.
His side made Champions League football look ridiculously easy last night, a further two goals in the second half against a lousy Bordeaux representing what would already seem to be the first steps on a long march to the final in Rome.
The competition has been cruel to Chelsea in recent years and the empty seats here at Stamford Bridge might well have been a reflection of that. John Terry has said the scars of Moscow will never heal.
Add their three semi-final losses to the heartache of defeat against Manchester United last May and there are probably those who would rather they did not bother entering.
For Scolari, though, there are no such scars and there is no such hangover. This was his first encounter with Europe's elite and his side were so in control he even had time to panic at the sight of Marouane Chamakh flying over an advertising hoarding and landing in a heap on concrete.
You have to hand it to the Brazilian. His facial expressions are wonderful. He was every bit as animated not just in the way he celebrated the four goals but in the way he cursed the few mistakes his players made.
That Joe Cole, like Lampard, scored with his head was remarkable enough. That he did so with a head full of stitches against what Laurent Blanc described as 'three big blokes' made it all the more amazing.
But the England midfielder still appeared to get a ticking-off when Scolari eventually replaced him with Juliano Belletti in the 74th minute. High standards, indeed.
Not for the first time this season, Chelsea were mightily impressive.
They appear to be thriving in the system Scolari has created as well as in the freedom their Brazilian manager has given them.
Bordeaux coach Blanc noted how Ashley Cole and Jose Bosingwa were 'playing like wingers' and Cole certainly seems to be enjoying life now the shackles fitted by Jose Mourinho have come off.
Bosingwa has added an extra dimension to Chelsea's attacking play and so, perhaps more significantly, has Deco.
Chelsea have become hugely enjoyable to watch, defensively disciplined but daring and direct when going forward. Never mind that Bosingwa was at times berated by Scolari for being too cavalier.
He was a major reason why Bordeaux were so comprehensively beaten. That Didier Drogba has made just one appearance as a substitute merely emphasises their considerable quality.
He was suspended last night after missing the start of the season with injury but is bound to start this weekend at the expense of Nicolas Anelka.
If it is tough on Anelka, who has now scored two goals in as many games, it will be even harder on United.
A good Bordeaux should always travel well but Blanc deserves the coaching award he received last season for guiding these chaps to second in the French league.
They were no match for a Chelsea side lifted by the news of Terry's availability for United on Sunday and never looked like responding the moment Lampard secured the lead in the 14th minute.
In 90 minutes, they did not actually managed a single shot on goal. No wonder Scolari was angry.
Chelsea might have winced when they gave Lampard a massive new contract at the age of 30 but they can hardly accuse him of failing to earn his money.
As well as providing the assists for Chelsea's second and third goals, he timed his run brilliantly to meet Bosingwa's cross with a terrific header.
An own goal very nearly followed when Fernando forced a fine save from Ulrich Rame, but there was nothing the Bordeaux goalkeeper could do to deny Joe Cole in the 30th minute.
Lampard delivered the corner and his team-mate rose above those big brutes to guide a header past the Frenchman.
Chelsea were so comfortable. So in control. Lampard squandered an opportunity to move ahead of Drogba as Chelsea's most prolific scorer on the continent but made amends by then providing the delightful back-heel that enabled Florent Malouda to add his name to the scoresheet eight minutes from time.
The finish, rather like the final ball, was a fine one. On the touchline Scoalri continued to curse.
This was garbage after all - a fourth Chelsea goal failing to appease the Brazilian perfectionist, probably because Anelka simply seized on a rebound after Rame had diverted a missile of a shot from Belletti on to his crossbar.
Up in the directors' box, Roman Abramovich appeared to be rather more impressed than his manager. 'Let's have more of this rubbish,' the Russian doubtless declared.
CHELSEA (4-3-2-1): Cech 6; Bosingwa 8, Carvalho 7, Terry 7, A Cole 7; Deco 7 (Ballack 61 7), Obi 7, Lampard 8; J Cole 8 (Belletti 74 7), Malouda 7 (Kalou 84); Anelka 6. Booked: Deco.
BORDEAUX (4-2-3-1): Rame 5; Jurietti 5, Diawara 5, Planus 5, Placente 5; Diarra 5, Fernando 5 (Ducasse 76); Gouffran 5 (Obertan 65 5), Gourcuff 6, Wendel 4; Chamakh 6 (Cavenaghi 65 5). Man of the match: Joe Cole. Referee: P Vink (Holland).
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Express:
SCOLARI SETS OFF ON EURO GRAIL QUEST
By Tony Banks
Chelsea 4 Bordeaux 0
LUIZ FELIPE SCOLARI has insisted that he will not be weighed down by the baggage of ChelseaÌs Champions League history. And he showed why last night as his team ruthlessly began their clubÌs sixth tilt at glory in this competition.
Goals from Frank Lampard, Joe Cole, Florent Malouda and Nicolas Anelka began the task of burying the painful memories of that final defeat by Manchester United in Moscow last May, as Scolari saw his debut in this competition rewarded with a comfortable win at Stamford Bridge.
This Bordeaux team looked very far from a fine vintage as they crumbled before ChelseaÌs flowing football, and it was only when ScolariÌs team started to take their foot off the pedal in the second half that Laurent BlancÌs side threatened.
It was only four months ago that John TerryÌs tears after missing in the penalty shoot-out saw Chelsea troop home defeated from the final in Moscow, and it was as if the pain of that dismal night was driving on ScolariÌs team.
The Brazilian insists he has never talked to his team about that final, but it is clearly still in the bloodstream of some. Seven of last nightÌs side started in Moscow. The Champions League remains the Holy Grail of Blues owner Roman Abramovich.
And his Brazilian manager, whose team hit the top of the Premier League with SaturdayÌs win over Manchester City, has never lacked confidence and ebullience Ò as befits a man who has already won the South American equivalent of this competition, the Copa Libertadores, twice in his career with two different clubs.
No coach has ever triumphed in both competitions, and Scolari did admit before last nightÌs game that the Champions League is a far different kettle of fish, with many stronger teams involved.
Chelsea already had a victory under their belts before kick-off, with the FAÌs decision to rescind skipper TerryÌs red card for his sending-off against Manchester City.
Bordeaux coach Blanc, once of Manchester United, had taunted Chelsea during the week for spending so much money and yet failing to win the competition in five years of trying. But after a shaky start when Mikel John ObiÌs wayward pass handed Wendel the opportunity to drive narrowly over, ScolariÌs side quickly found their stride.
Jose Bosingwa picked up Joe ColeÌs square ball, and his first-time cross caught the Bordeaux defence watching the ball. Lampard stole in at the back post to nod home his second goal in four days.
BlancÌs young side were showing their rawness, goalkeeper Ulrich Rame then being forced to turn AnelkaÌs drive round the post. Terry then nodded wide when he should have scored Ò and defender Fernando Menegazzo almost scored an own-goal.
The French side were all over the place at the back, and when Lampard this time swung in a corner it was Joe Cole of all people popping up at the near post to flick in the second.
Bordeaux, like Chelsea, finished domestic runners-up last year, but there was a huge gulf between the sides last night. ScolariÌs side have been playing with markedly more freedom this season, and when Lampard and Cole combined skilfully again to carve the Bordeaux defence open, Cole sliced his shot wide.
As Chelsea eased off BlancÌs side advanced but they did not have anything like enough firepower to threaten a comeback.
And they were finished off with two more goals in the last eight minutes. First Lampard cleverly put Malouda through, and in injury-time substitute Juliano Belletti saw his shot tipped on to the bar only for Anelka to roll in the rebound.
Chelsea (4-1-4-1): Cech; Bosingwa, Carvalho, Terry, A Cole; Mikel; J Cole (Belletti 74), Deco (Ballack 61), Lampard, Malouda (Kalou 84); Anelka. Booked: Deco. Goals: Lampard 14, J Cole 30, Malouda 82, Anelka 90.
Bordeaux (4-2-3-1): Rame; Jurietti, Planus, Diawara, Placente; Fernando (Ducasse 74), Diarra; Gouffran (Obertan 65), Gourcoff, Wendel; Chamakh (Cavenaghi 65).
Referee: P Vink (Holland).
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Mirror:
Champion League: Chelsea 4-0 Bordeaux
Frank Lampard, Joe Cole, Florent Malouda and Nicolas Anelka were all on target to give Chelsea a 4-0 win over Bordeaux in their opening Group A Champions League match.
Failure in Europe's elite competition has signalled the end for the previous three Chelsea bosses but there were no scares for Luiz Felipe Scolari at Stamford Bridge, whose debut in the competition was straightforward after the hosts established a lead.
With Didier Drogba to return from suspension, Scolari will head into the Group A matches against Cluj and Roma encouraged by their start to the campaign - they were comfortable winners but did not have to be at their vintage best to beat Bordeaux.
Although the scoreline was predictable, it was a minor suprise Scolari selected an named an unchanged starting line-up, the first time Chelsea had done so in 18 months.
More of a shock was the fact Chelsea's goals in the first half came from Lampard and Cole headers, with neither midfielders known for their aerial ability.
It would be enough to enrage Bordeaux coach Laurent Blanc, the World Cup-winning defender with France who has been tipped to take charge of Les Bleus.
It was also Blanc's first match in the Champions League and his team looked like a Premier League graveyard - ex-Liverpool midfielder Alou Diarra was in midfield and Souleymane Diawara, who was relegated with Charlton, was in defence. He even had David Bellion on the bench.
Brazilian Wendel had an early shot from long range that dipped over following a sloppy pass from John Mikel Obi - but after that it was all Chelsea.
They were ahead in the 14th minute when Lampard finished off a crisp move for his third goal of the season.
Deco had moved the ball inside to midfielder Cole, who in turn fed Jose Bosingwa on the right flank.
Bosingwa drove his cross in first time and Lampard sent his header in the far corner before wheeling off in celebration.
Anelka, looking to atone for his penalty miss in the final last season, forced a save from Ulrich Rame when he cut inside from the left and drove towards the near post, and the Bordeaux goalkeeper also had to work when midfielder Cole backhealed on target.
Captain John Terry then went close when he met Lampard's free-kick with a header.
The French runners-up had no answer to Chelsea's attacks, with Fernando almost scoring an own goal trying to cut out a Bosingwa through-ball. The second goal came on the half-hour mark through Cole, with the England midfielder beating centre-backs Fernando and Franck Jurietti at the near post to nod home Lampard's corner.
Chelsea's own wastefulness kept the scoreline down - Anelka raced beyond the Bordeaux defence and passed into open space when he could have shot, then Lampard screwed a volley wide from six yards.
Bordeaux's attempts to fight back consisted of three Yoann Gourcuff free-kicks, each of which was increasingly speculative and Petr Cech was not troubled by them.
Striker Marouane Chamakh started the second half by tripping over the advertising hoardings and into the crowd, and he required treatement after the fall.
The visitors were showing ambition to get back into the game but it left them prone to Chelsea counter-attacks.
Scolari gave Michael Ballack the final half-hour as he made his comeback from a foot injury, with the Germany captain replacing Deco in midfield.
Anelka came close to adding another, latching onto Lampard's reverse ball but firing into the side-netting.
Malouda added the third after a run from Mikel that took him around three defenders. He passed to Lampard, whose backheel invited Malouda to fire into the far corner.
Ricardo Carvalho hit the crossbar with a header before the end, and a goal would not have flattered the hosts.
Then Juliano Belletti hit the crossbar and Anelka tapped in for the fourth.
Chelsea: Cech, Bosingwa, Carvalho, Terry, A Cole (Belletti 74), Obi, J Cole, Deco (Ballack 61), Lampard, Malouda (Kalou 84), Anelka. Goals: Lampard 14, J Cole 30, Malouda 82, Anelka 90
Bordeaux: Rame, Jurietti, Diawara, Planus, Placente, Diarra, Menegazzo (Ducasss 74), Gouffran (Obertan 65), Gourcuff, Wendell, Chamakh (Cavenhagi 65). Ref: P Vink
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Sun:
Chelsea 4 Bordeaux 0
From IAN McGARRY at Stamford Bridg CHELSEA went through Bordeaux like water — but Phil Scolari still had a whine.
Big Phil toasted his four-goal Champions League debut with a dose of sour grapes.
The Blues boss tore strips off his team’s magnificent performance in a thinly-disguised bid to keep them sharp ahead of Sunday’s Premier League clash with Manchester United.
How the former Brazil coach could keep a straight face as he criticised his team’s poor possession and bad attitude is a mystery.
As bad as Bordeaux were, scoring four goals in Europe is still an occasion to be savoured.
So to turn the triumph into a bout of mind games with his own players seemed harsh.
Chelsea were simply dominant. First to the ball, lightning quick on the break and deadly in front of goal in this Group A opener.
Scolari should be thankful that on this evidence, he will not have to worry much about the Champions League until the knockout phase next year.
Frank Lampard shone again — running the match, scoring one goal and making two.
Among the other stand-outs were Lamps’ fellow England internationals Joe Cole and John Terry.
On the bench were two World Cup winners in Scolari and Bordeaux chief Laurent Blanc, who was in the France squad which triumphed in 1998.
On the pitch, there was only ever going to be one victor.
Even Chelsea right-back Jose Bosingwa had a free rein on the flank and the clock was only on 14 minutes when he wandered to the edge of the area. His cross perfectly picked out the unmarked Lamps, who had time to check the keeper’s position before heading neatly into the bottom corner.
Already Chelsea’s record-holder for Champions League appearances with 63, his 18th goal put him level with Didier Drogba as their top marksman.
Nicolas Anelka rifled a shot from 20 yards on the angle which made keeper Ulrich Rame more nervous.
Then Joe Cole tried a cheeky backheel which was scrambled clear.
Bosingwa’s cross was turned towards goal by Fernando but luckily for the Bordeaux defender, Rame dived back to stop the ball just before it trickled into his own net.
But, on the half-hour, Lamps launched the perfect corner to the near post and Joe Cole rose to guide in a brilliant header.
Lamps should have made it three but pulled his volley wide.
Florent Malouda added a third in the 82nd minute when Lampard found him some space with a clever reverse flick.
By this time Michael Ballack — back from a foot injury — had been brought on to warm him up for the United clash and the Blues were on cruise control.
When Anelka followed up Juliano Belletti’s long-range blast to make it four in the dying seconds, it was the port at the end of a gourmet meal.
Chelsea are still unbeaten this season and on this form they do not look likely to lose any time soon.
With every goal they scored last night the warning for United was stark.
Beware. Chelsea are coming to get you. Whatever Big Phil says.
Champions League: Vintage Chelsea display sinks BordeauxChelsea (2) 4 Bordeaux (0) 0 By Henry Winter at Stamford Bridge
The tears of Moscow have begun to dry, the dream returns of a Champions League triumph. Chelsea were so imperious, so decisive in their attacks, so in tune with Luiz Felipe Scolari’s instructions, that their fans will begin to believe that this could be their year.
For those in blue searching for omens, the sight of Nicolas Anelka scoring with almost the last kick here, a contrast to his disastrous final touch in Moscow, seemed significant. With Frank Lampard, Joe Cole and Florent Malouda also scoring, Chelsea have got Moscow out of their system, although Laurent Blanc’s visitors offered little threat.
Blanc’s old club, Manchester United, visit at the weekend, the first meeting since the Champions League final and it promises fireworks.
It was as if a summer of pent-up frustration over Moscow had been let loose at the Bridge. This was catharsis time for Chelsea, the moment to banish the ghosts of the Luzhniki. With the memories still raw, the vanquished Champions League finalists tore into Bordeaux, with Lampard and Joe Cole scoring good first-half headers to put Chelsea in complete command.
Chelsea’s 4-1-4-1 system may have echoed Bordeaux’s but any similarity ended there, emphatically so. Chelsea were superior in every department. Scolari’s full-backs, Ashley Cole and particularly Jose Bosingwa, were soon operating as flying wingers, giving Chelsea command of midfield and soon the lead.
Before his side took the lead after 14 minutes, Scolari had been screaming at Bosingwa to push on. The message, and the venom with which it was delivered, was easily understood by Bosingwa, who responded in style. With Scolari’s exhortations ringing in his ears, Bosingwa drove down the right, nutmegging Diego Placente as Chelsea tore into the French.
That move petered out, but the next shredded Bordeaux’s defence. Blanc, such an elegant centre-half in his time, must have been aghast at the porous nature of his back-line. When Joe Cole laid the ball off to Bosingwa on the right, Lampard made his move, gliding unnoticed into the box, knowing that a fine cross was imminent.
Bosingwa delivered in every sense, placing a perfect ball on to the head of Lampard, who flicked Chelsea in front. Scolari punched the air in delight, buoyed that his advice had been taken on board so well by Bosingwa. Like Scolari’s 2002 Brazilian World Cup-winners, Chelsea rely for much of their width on their full-backs.
Bosingwa may not be Cafu but his pacy breaks have lent Chelsea a terrific outlet this season; Chelsea’s problem position of right-back has been well and truly solved. Scolari’s love of attacking full-backs may be a riskier tactic away from home but at the Bridge, against such limited opponents as the French, it worked well.
This Blanc Bordeaux were poor, anything but vintage, and Chelsea were rampant. After an Anelka shot and a Terry header threatened to beat Ulrich Rame, Chelsea secured their deserved second on the half-hour. When Lampard swung a corner across the face of an expectant Matthew Harding Stand, few predicted Joe Cole would metamorphose into a latter-day Kerry Dixon. But timing his jump well, catching out Fernando and Franck Jurietti, England’s little big man flicked an excellent header across Rame and in.
As an enjoyable half unfolded, the one disappointment was to note that the Bridge was not full, a pity as Chelsea under Scolari are well worth watching. John Obi Mikel, responding to the Brazilian’s coaching, has grown into the anchoring role, and now looks the natural successor to Claude Makelele. With Michael Essien injured, Mikel has become even more important.
The tall Nigerian made one mistake in the first half, an undercooked pass intercepted by Wendel, and Mikel was grateful that Ricardo Carvalho and Terry were their usual alert selves. Otherwise Mikel’s tackling and range of passing gave Chelsea a strong platform to perform on, allowing Deco, Lampard and Joe Cole to go and display their talents.
Lampard, in terrific form of late, should really have made it three but dragged his shot wide. No matter. Chelsea were so in control.
With Bordeaux offering such minimal threat, for all the hard running of Marouane Chamakh, Scolari was able to make substitutions with their meeting with United in mind. Michael Ballack sprinted on to warm applause, with Deco making way.
At one point the German burst like a dreadnought through the middle, knocking Alou Diarra out of the way. Ballack’s arrival was simply another reminder of why Chelsea will be such a formidable force again this season, with their strength in depth.
Similarly encouragingly for Chelsea, there seemed signs of real understanding between Ashley Cole and Florent Malouda down the left. Joe Cole’s interplay with Bosingwa was another feature of Chelsea’s play, although Cole was removed with 17 minutes left. Juliano Belletti, showing his versatility, came on in right midfield.
Without Deco and Joe Cole, Chelsea’s creativity ebbed. Scolari kept shouting, kept cajoling, and the energy emanating from the dug-out transmitted itself on the terraces.
Chelsea’s fans urged the players to raise their tempo, perhaps knowing that such a laid-back attitude will bring punishment if repeated this weekend against Dimitar Berbatov, Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez.
Chelsea’s players responded, conjuring up a memorable goal eight minutes from the end. Mikel built up steam, breaking through a series of challenges, zigzagging through five white shirts, before laying off to Lampard.
The back-heeled return was probably intended for Mikel, but Malouda took over, firing the ball in. “We want four’’ chanted the Shed, and Carvalho almost obliged with a header that hit the bar.
The fourth did arrive with seconds left, Anelka tucking away the loose ball after Belletti’s thunderous shot had almost snapped the crossbar. After their downfall in Moscow, Chelsea are up and running again.
Match details:
Chelsea:(4-1-4-1): Cech; Bosingwa, Carvalho, Terry, A Cole; Mikel; J Cole (Belletti 74), Deco (Ballack 61), Lampard, Malouda (Kalou 84); Anelka. Subs: Hilario (g), Di Santo, Ferreira, Alex. Booked: Deco.Bordeaux (4-1-4-1): Rame; Jurietti, Planus, Diawara, Placente; Diarra; Gouffran (Obertan 65), Fernando (Ducasse 74), Gourcuff, Wendell; Chamakh (Cavenaghi 65). Subs: Valverde (g), Henrique, Bellion, Traore. Referee: P Vink (Netherlands). --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Independent:
Chelsea 4 Bordeaux 0: Chelsea less than vintage but Bordeaux lack bottle on opening day
By Sam WallaceWednesday, 17 September 2008
Not really a vintage Bordeaux, more a crate of Laurent Blanc plonk. Chelsea, on the other hand, were sparkling as they began a new Champions League campaign after the tears and rain of Moscow in May. This year they really believe it is their turn for the big one and as opening statements go, this one will reverberate around Europe.
"We're on our way to Rome," was the introduction from one of Chelsea's pitchside announcers with the kind of modest understatement to which we have become accustomed at Stamford Bridge. You can take it as read that he meant the Champions League final in Rome on 27 May rather than the Group A game against Roma in November. At this club they have a sense of entitlement when it comes to success in this competition. Last night you could see why.
At times it was captivating to watch, although Blanc, the Bordeaux manager, may have preferred to have removed his trendy spectacles and rubbed his eyes in despair. The English, Frank Lampard and Joe Cole, led the charge with the goals in the first half; the French contingent in blue shirts, Florent Malouda and Nicolas Anelka, finished the visitors off after the break. It was brutal at times. And the only one who was not completely impressed was Scolari.
It was a favoured tactic of Jose Mourinho to deflate the mood after a big win and this time it was Scolari who chose that approach. From his manner it sounded as if the Brazilian had just cut short the party mood in the changing rooms with his complaints about what he said was a lack of discipline in the second half. "We didn't play very well, they made many mistakes when they had the ball," Scolari said. "You need to control the game more, and we didn't control it very well in the second half." They controlled it enough to make sure that Bordeaux did not muster a single meaningful shot on target all night.
Sometimes you had to remind yourself that this was the second-best team in France, the football nation that reached the last World Cup final. In the strange world of European club football that we inhabit, skewed by the Premier League's billions, France's league runners-up cannot even give England's equivalent a decent game. But tell us something we don't know. There was not an area of the pitch in which Chelsea did not dominate.
While the Romanian team CFR Cluj held on for a momentous win against Roma in the other group game, Chelsea showed how to deal with European football's second tier. They drove Scolari to distraction with their sloppiness in front of goal, but that was only because when it came to scoring goals it was inevitable that they would win with a few to spare. Lampard and Anelka both missed sitters in the first half. Scolari threw his arms up in disgust. And yet when they put their minds to it, Chelsea ripped Bordeaux to shreds.
"We took some punishment because we lost many balls in the middle," Scolari complained. "On another night, another team getting those positions in front of goal might have hurt us quicker. If they'd had more quality, it would have been dangerous for us." Quality, however, is in abundance in the Chelsea team and before they had even settled into the game, this young Bordeaux side found themselves two goals behind and struggling to keep pace.
First to strike was the in-form Lampard who glided into the spaces between Bordeaux's defenders to guide in with his head the third goal of his season and the 113th of his Chelsea career. It came from a cross from Jose Bosingwa who was excellent, an overlapping right-back who has given Chelsea a new dimension in attack. Bordeaux could not stop him.
The second goal was flicked in off Joe Cole's sore head from Lampard's corner. The elbow from Robert Kovac against Croatia last week does not seem to have done any permanent damage to the England midfielder who out-jumped a much bigger Bordeaux defence. There was more of the same in the second half, the blue torrent showing no sign of abating. Even Malouda was having a good game.
Just after the hour, Michael Ballack came on for his first appearance since the Wigan game on 24 August and he did so to a rapturous reception. How times have changed at Stamford Bridge for the German midfielder about whom the locals were once so distrustful. He was the driving force in Chelsea's late run last season and now Scolari must try to keep him, Deco and Lampard all happy. It will not be simple.
Under Mourinho, Chelsea would have closed this game down long before the hour but, to their credit, they kept up the impetus to go forward long after Bordeaux had given up hope. Malouda scored the third after a brilliant flick from Lampard. Anelka's goal came in injury time when goalkeeper Ulrich Rame touched Juliano Belletti's shot onto the bar and the French striker tidied up the loose ball. Chelsea took the first step on their way to Rome, although successful Champions League campaigns are not built in a day.
Chelsea (4-1-4-1): Cech; Bosingwa, Carvalho, Terry, A Cole; Mikel;J Cole (Belletti, 75), Deco (Ballack, 61), Lampard, Malouda (Kalou, 83); Anelka. Substitutes not used: Hilario (gk), Di Santo, Ferreira, Alex.
Bordeaux (4-2-3-1): Rame; Jurietti, Diawara, Planus, Placente; Diarra, Fernando (Ducasse, 75); Gouffran (Obertan, 65), Gourcuff, Wendel; Chamakh (Cavenaghi, 65). Substitutes not used: Valverde (gk), Henrique, Bellion, Abdou Traoré.
Referee: P Vink (Netherlands).
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Flair of Lampard puts Chelsea in fantasy league of their ownAmbition rises as Chelsea take first step to Rome Champions League Group AChelsea 4 Lampard 14, Cole, J 30, Malouda 82, Anelka 90 Bordeaux 0
Kevin McCarra at Stamford Bridge The Guardian, Wednesday September 17 2008
The only battle that daunted Chelsea was the struggle to maintain an interest in the match. They came out ahead in that battle with late goals. The third, in particular, was a demonstration of the verve which is becoming characteristic under the management of Luiz Felipe Scolari.
Eight minutes from the end Mikel John Obi, who was nominally a holding midfielder, set off on a weaving run and a flick of Frank Lampard's heel then put Florent Malouda in position to fire into the far corner of the net. Scolari's disgust for even minor mistakes is always displayed but that would have gladdened him.
It will have raised the Brazilian's spirits that so little was taken out of his squad before the arrival here of Manchester United on Sunday. Perhaps he will remember this occasion primarily as a useful opportunity to give Michael Ballack half an hour's practice after his foot injury. If the night lingers in the memories of the Premier League side it will be because of a disbelief that there was not an utter rout. A wasteful Nicolas Anelka will be baffled that he made so little of his openings until, at the very end, he netted after the substitute Juliano Belletti had struck the bar.
Neutrals would have felt sorrow that French football could send out a side so meek and fatalistic. They could not clear any sort of barrier, a limitation symbolised by the striker Marouane Chamakh falling over an advertising hoarding. Even the talent that Bordeaux do have was misapplied. Yoann Gourcuff, freed from his misery at Milan by a loan to Bordeaux, possesses talent but it was not used here and he sent a hapless free-kick nearly as far wide as it was high.
Although Scolari was unimpressed by Chelsea's display, it takes resistance of some sort for any team to define themselves. Their gaze, in any event, is unavoidably fixed on the final in Rome next May. Having come close under Claudio Ranieri as well as Jose Mourinho and closer still under Avram Grant, Chelsea have no option but to imagine their hands on the trophy at last. The majority of the line-up here had also started when United raised the European Cup aloft four months ago.
Scolari, managing in the Champions League for the first time, would not have suffered from beginners' nerves. It was his own midfielder Mikel who caused fleeting concern when he hit a sloppy pass in a dangerous area after 10 minutes but it had already been clear that Chelsea would have many chances.
They were well aware of the most appealing avenue. The right-back Jose Bosingwa, indeed, was so far advanced that he was offside soon after kick-off. Regular watchers of Bordeaux had predicted that Chelsea would prey on their left-back, Diego Placente, and the opener did come from that wing, in the 14th minute, as Bosingwa crossed and Lampard, undisturbed by markers, headed home with care.
Resilience was not part of the visitors' repertoire and neither was attacking. All the same, this was additional evidence of the gusto in Chelsea's play that has been fostered by Scolari. Lampard's corner from the left, shamingly for Bordeaux, was headed into the net by the diminutive Joe Cole with half an hour gone. He does not get such chances very often but everything was possible for a Chelsea line-up encountering marginal resistance.
Lampard's miscue, after a delivery from Bosingwa had broken to him, felt like light entertainment. Scolari, however, is not prone to such indulgence. It says much for his professionalism that he could find it within himself to be disgruntled. Most spectators, when not heartened by the freedom with which Chelsea play, would have been staring in disbelief at the ineptness of Laurent Blanc's men. If Chelsea were troubled it would have been by their lack of ruthlessness and by the yellow card collected by Deco for a foul on Alou Diarra. Scolari soon took off the Portugal international, although that was less a punishment than a means of allowing Ballack his match practice.
A trace of slackness in Chelsea was perhaps inevitable. When Lampard hit a crossfield pass after 69 minutes and merely picked out the opposition midfielder Wendel, there was no price to be paid. Without the suggestion of danger from Bordeaux the levels of concentration slipped in the Premier League team. It is, for all that, a gratifying evening for a side when boredom is the most severe problem with which they must wrestle.
Other result
Roma 1 CFR Cluj 2
Remaining fixtures
Oct 1 CFR v Chelsea, Bordeaux v Roma
Oct 22 Bordeaux v CFR, Chelsea v Roma
Nov 4 CFR v Bordeaux, Roma v Chelsea
Nov 26 Bordeaux v Chelsea, CFR v Roma
Dec 9 Chelsea v CFR, Roma Bordeaux
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Mail:
A drop of red: Bordeaux find Scolari's Chelsea vintage far too classy By Matt Lawton
Chelsea 4 Bordeaux 0
According to Luiz Felipe Scolari, Chelsea stunk the place out last night. They were poor in possession. Wasteful in front of goal. A waste, seemingly, of space.
It was nonsense, of course, Chelsea's manager no doubt delivering his speech with Sunday's meeting with Manchester United very much in mind.
A case of guarding against complacency, having seen his side attack with such pace that they did occasionally lose control of the ball.
The damn fools. Privately, however, Scolari is sure to reflect on this and the sight of Frank Lampard and Joe Cole scoring with two perfectly executed headers and wonder how this competition ever claimed the jobs of his three immediate predecessors.
His side made Champions League football look ridiculously easy last night, a further two goals in the second half against a lousy Bordeaux representing what would already seem to be the first steps on a long march to the final in Rome.
The competition has been cruel to Chelsea in recent years and the empty seats here at Stamford Bridge might well have been a reflection of that. John Terry has said the scars of Moscow will never heal.
Add their three semi-final losses to the heartache of defeat against Manchester United last May and there are probably those who would rather they did not bother entering.
For Scolari, though, there are no such scars and there is no such hangover. This was his first encounter with Europe's elite and his side were so in control he even had time to panic at the sight of Marouane Chamakh flying over an advertising hoarding and landing in a heap on concrete.
You have to hand it to the Brazilian. His facial expressions are wonderful. He was every bit as animated not just in the way he celebrated the four goals but in the way he cursed the few mistakes his players made.
That Joe Cole, like Lampard, scored with his head was remarkable enough. That he did so with a head full of stitches against what Laurent Blanc described as 'three big blokes' made it all the more amazing.
But the England midfielder still appeared to get a ticking-off when Scolari eventually replaced him with Juliano Belletti in the 74th minute. High standards, indeed.
Not for the first time this season, Chelsea were mightily impressive.
They appear to be thriving in the system Scolari has created as well as in the freedom their Brazilian manager has given them.
Bordeaux coach Blanc noted how Ashley Cole and Jose Bosingwa were 'playing like wingers' and Cole certainly seems to be enjoying life now the shackles fitted by Jose Mourinho have come off.
Bosingwa has added an extra dimension to Chelsea's attacking play and so, perhaps more significantly, has Deco.
Chelsea have become hugely enjoyable to watch, defensively disciplined but daring and direct when going forward. Never mind that Bosingwa was at times berated by Scolari for being too cavalier.
He was a major reason why Bordeaux were so comprehensively beaten. That Didier Drogba has made just one appearance as a substitute merely emphasises their considerable quality.
He was suspended last night after missing the start of the season with injury but is bound to start this weekend at the expense of Nicolas Anelka.
If it is tough on Anelka, who has now scored two goals in as many games, it will be even harder on United.
A good Bordeaux should always travel well but Blanc deserves the coaching award he received last season for guiding these chaps to second in the French league.
They were no match for a Chelsea side lifted by the news of Terry's availability for United on Sunday and never looked like responding the moment Lampard secured the lead in the 14th minute.
In 90 minutes, they did not actually managed a single shot on goal. No wonder Scolari was angry.
Chelsea might have winced when they gave Lampard a massive new contract at the age of 30 but they can hardly accuse him of failing to earn his money.
As well as providing the assists for Chelsea's second and third goals, he timed his run brilliantly to meet Bosingwa's cross with a terrific header.
An own goal very nearly followed when Fernando forced a fine save from Ulrich Rame, but there was nothing the Bordeaux goalkeeper could do to deny Joe Cole in the 30th minute.
Lampard delivered the corner and his team-mate rose above those big brutes to guide a header past the Frenchman.
Chelsea were so comfortable. So in control. Lampard squandered an opportunity to move ahead of Drogba as Chelsea's most prolific scorer on the continent but made amends by then providing the delightful back-heel that enabled Florent Malouda to add his name to the scoresheet eight minutes from time.
The finish, rather like the final ball, was a fine one. On the touchline Scoalri continued to curse.
This was garbage after all - a fourth Chelsea goal failing to appease the Brazilian perfectionist, probably because Anelka simply seized on a rebound after Rame had diverted a missile of a shot from Belletti on to his crossbar.
Up in the directors' box, Roman Abramovich appeared to be rather more impressed than his manager. 'Let's have more of this rubbish,' the Russian doubtless declared.
CHELSEA (4-3-2-1): Cech 6; Bosingwa 8, Carvalho 7, Terry 7, A Cole 7; Deco 7 (Ballack 61 7), Obi 7, Lampard 8; J Cole 8 (Belletti 74 7), Malouda 7 (Kalou 84); Anelka 6. Booked: Deco.
BORDEAUX (4-2-3-1): Rame 5; Jurietti 5, Diawara 5, Planus 5, Placente 5; Diarra 5, Fernando 5 (Ducasse 76); Gouffran 5 (Obertan 65 5), Gourcuff 6, Wendel 4; Chamakh 6 (Cavenaghi 65 5). Man of the match: Joe Cole. Referee: P Vink (Holland).
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Express:
SCOLARI SETS OFF ON EURO GRAIL QUEST
By Tony Banks
Chelsea 4 Bordeaux 0
LUIZ FELIPE SCOLARI has insisted that he will not be weighed down by the baggage of ChelseaÌs Champions League history. And he showed why last night as his team ruthlessly began their clubÌs sixth tilt at glory in this competition.
Goals from Frank Lampard, Joe Cole, Florent Malouda and Nicolas Anelka began the task of burying the painful memories of that final defeat by Manchester United in Moscow last May, as Scolari saw his debut in this competition rewarded with a comfortable win at Stamford Bridge.
This Bordeaux team looked very far from a fine vintage as they crumbled before ChelseaÌs flowing football, and it was only when ScolariÌs team started to take their foot off the pedal in the second half that Laurent BlancÌs side threatened.
It was only four months ago that John TerryÌs tears after missing in the penalty shoot-out saw Chelsea troop home defeated from the final in Moscow, and it was as if the pain of that dismal night was driving on ScolariÌs team.
The Brazilian insists he has never talked to his team about that final, but it is clearly still in the bloodstream of some. Seven of last nightÌs side started in Moscow. The Champions League remains the Holy Grail of Blues owner Roman Abramovich.
And his Brazilian manager, whose team hit the top of the Premier League with SaturdayÌs win over Manchester City, has never lacked confidence and ebullience Ò as befits a man who has already won the South American equivalent of this competition, the Copa Libertadores, twice in his career with two different clubs.
No coach has ever triumphed in both competitions, and Scolari did admit before last nightÌs game that the Champions League is a far different kettle of fish, with many stronger teams involved.
Chelsea already had a victory under their belts before kick-off, with the FAÌs decision to rescind skipper TerryÌs red card for his sending-off against Manchester City.
Bordeaux coach Blanc, once of Manchester United, had taunted Chelsea during the week for spending so much money and yet failing to win the competition in five years of trying. But after a shaky start when Mikel John ObiÌs wayward pass handed Wendel the opportunity to drive narrowly over, ScolariÌs side quickly found their stride.
Jose Bosingwa picked up Joe ColeÌs square ball, and his first-time cross caught the Bordeaux defence watching the ball. Lampard stole in at the back post to nod home his second goal in four days.
BlancÌs young side were showing their rawness, goalkeeper Ulrich Rame then being forced to turn AnelkaÌs drive round the post. Terry then nodded wide when he should have scored Ò and defender Fernando Menegazzo almost scored an own-goal.
The French side were all over the place at the back, and when Lampard this time swung in a corner it was Joe Cole of all people popping up at the near post to flick in the second.
Bordeaux, like Chelsea, finished domestic runners-up last year, but there was a huge gulf between the sides last night. ScolariÌs side have been playing with markedly more freedom this season, and when Lampard and Cole combined skilfully again to carve the Bordeaux defence open, Cole sliced his shot wide.
As Chelsea eased off BlancÌs side advanced but they did not have anything like enough firepower to threaten a comeback.
And they were finished off with two more goals in the last eight minutes. First Lampard cleverly put Malouda through, and in injury-time substitute Juliano Belletti saw his shot tipped on to the bar only for Anelka to roll in the rebound.
Chelsea (4-1-4-1): Cech; Bosingwa, Carvalho, Terry, A Cole; Mikel; J Cole (Belletti 74), Deco (Ballack 61), Lampard, Malouda (Kalou 84); Anelka. Booked: Deco. Goals: Lampard 14, J Cole 30, Malouda 82, Anelka 90.
Bordeaux (4-2-3-1): Rame; Jurietti, Planus, Diawara, Placente; Fernando (Ducasse 74), Diarra; Gouffran (Obertan 65), Gourcoff, Wendel; Chamakh (Cavenaghi 65).
Referee: P Vink (Holland).
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Mirror:
Champion League: Chelsea 4-0 Bordeaux
Frank Lampard, Joe Cole, Florent Malouda and Nicolas Anelka were all on target to give Chelsea a 4-0 win over Bordeaux in their opening Group A Champions League match.
Failure in Europe's elite competition has signalled the end for the previous three Chelsea bosses but there were no scares for Luiz Felipe Scolari at Stamford Bridge, whose debut in the competition was straightforward after the hosts established a lead.
With Didier Drogba to return from suspension, Scolari will head into the Group A matches against Cluj and Roma encouraged by their start to the campaign - they were comfortable winners but did not have to be at their vintage best to beat Bordeaux.
Although the scoreline was predictable, it was a minor suprise Scolari selected an named an unchanged starting line-up, the first time Chelsea had done so in 18 months.
More of a shock was the fact Chelsea's goals in the first half came from Lampard and Cole headers, with neither midfielders known for their aerial ability.
It would be enough to enrage Bordeaux coach Laurent Blanc, the World Cup-winning defender with France who has been tipped to take charge of Les Bleus.
It was also Blanc's first match in the Champions League and his team looked like a Premier League graveyard - ex-Liverpool midfielder Alou Diarra was in midfield and Souleymane Diawara, who was relegated with Charlton, was in defence. He even had David Bellion on the bench.
Brazilian Wendel had an early shot from long range that dipped over following a sloppy pass from John Mikel Obi - but after that it was all Chelsea.
They were ahead in the 14th minute when Lampard finished off a crisp move for his third goal of the season.
Deco had moved the ball inside to midfielder Cole, who in turn fed Jose Bosingwa on the right flank.
Bosingwa drove his cross in first time and Lampard sent his header in the far corner before wheeling off in celebration.
Anelka, looking to atone for his penalty miss in the final last season, forced a save from Ulrich Rame when he cut inside from the left and drove towards the near post, and the Bordeaux goalkeeper also had to work when midfielder Cole backhealed on target.
Captain John Terry then went close when he met Lampard's free-kick with a header.
The French runners-up had no answer to Chelsea's attacks, with Fernando almost scoring an own goal trying to cut out a Bosingwa through-ball. The second goal came on the half-hour mark through Cole, with the England midfielder beating centre-backs Fernando and Franck Jurietti at the near post to nod home Lampard's corner.
Chelsea's own wastefulness kept the scoreline down - Anelka raced beyond the Bordeaux defence and passed into open space when he could have shot, then Lampard screwed a volley wide from six yards.
Bordeaux's attempts to fight back consisted of three Yoann Gourcuff free-kicks, each of which was increasingly speculative and Petr Cech was not troubled by them.
Striker Marouane Chamakh started the second half by tripping over the advertising hoardings and into the crowd, and he required treatement after the fall.
The visitors were showing ambition to get back into the game but it left them prone to Chelsea counter-attacks.
Scolari gave Michael Ballack the final half-hour as he made his comeback from a foot injury, with the Germany captain replacing Deco in midfield.
Anelka came close to adding another, latching onto Lampard's reverse ball but firing into the side-netting.
Malouda added the third after a run from Mikel that took him around three defenders. He passed to Lampard, whose backheel invited Malouda to fire into the far corner.
Ricardo Carvalho hit the crossbar with a header before the end, and a goal would not have flattered the hosts.
Then Juliano Belletti hit the crossbar and Anelka tapped in for the fourth.
Chelsea: Cech, Bosingwa, Carvalho, Terry, A Cole (Belletti 74), Obi, J Cole, Deco (Ballack 61), Lampard, Malouda (Kalou 84), Anelka. Goals: Lampard 14, J Cole 30, Malouda 82, Anelka 90
Bordeaux: Rame, Jurietti, Diawara, Planus, Placente, Diarra, Menegazzo (Ducasss 74), Gouffran (Obertan 65), Gourcuff, Wendell, Chamakh (Cavenhagi 65). Ref: P Vink
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Sun:
Chelsea 4 Bordeaux 0
From IAN McGARRY at Stamford Bridg CHELSEA went through Bordeaux like water — but Phil Scolari still had a whine.
Big Phil toasted his four-goal Champions League debut with a dose of sour grapes.
The Blues boss tore strips off his team’s magnificent performance in a thinly-disguised bid to keep them sharp ahead of Sunday’s Premier League clash with Manchester United.
How the former Brazil coach could keep a straight face as he criticised his team’s poor possession and bad attitude is a mystery.
As bad as Bordeaux were, scoring four goals in Europe is still an occasion to be savoured.
So to turn the triumph into a bout of mind games with his own players seemed harsh.
Chelsea were simply dominant. First to the ball, lightning quick on the break and deadly in front of goal in this Group A opener.
Scolari should be thankful that on this evidence, he will not have to worry much about the Champions League until the knockout phase next year.
Frank Lampard shone again — running the match, scoring one goal and making two.
Among the other stand-outs were Lamps’ fellow England internationals Joe Cole and John Terry.
On the bench were two World Cup winners in Scolari and Bordeaux chief Laurent Blanc, who was in the France squad which triumphed in 1998.
On the pitch, there was only ever going to be one victor.
Even Chelsea right-back Jose Bosingwa had a free rein on the flank and the clock was only on 14 minutes when he wandered to the edge of the area. His cross perfectly picked out the unmarked Lamps, who had time to check the keeper’s position before heading neatly into the bottom corner.
Already Chelsea’s record-holder for Champions League appearances with 63, his 18th goal put him level with Didier Drogba as their top marksman.
Nicolas Anelka rifled a shot from 20 yards on the angle which made keeper Ulrich Rame more nervous.
Then Joe Cole tried a cheeky backheel which was scrambled clear.
Bosingwa’s cross was turned towards goal by Fernando but luckily for the Bordeaux defender, Rame dived back to stop the ball just before it trickled into his own net.
But, on the half-hour, Lamps launched the perfect corner to the near post and Joe Cole rose to guide in a brilliant header.
Lamps should have made it three but pulled his volley wide.
Florent Malouda added a third in the 82nd minute when Lampard found him some space with a clever reverse flick.
By this time Michael Ballack — back from a foot injury — had been brought on to warm him up for the United clash and the Blues were on cruise control.
When Anelka followed up Juliano Belletti’s long-range blast to make it four in the dying seconds, it was the port at the end of a gourmet meal.
Chelsea are still unbeaten this season and on this form they do not look likely to lose any time soon.
With every goal they scored last night the warning for United was stark.
Beware. Chelsea are coming to get you. Whatever Big Phil says.
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