Monday, July 27, 2009

club america 2-0


Telegraph:

John Terry is Chelsea's 'most important' player, claims Carlo Ancelotti

Chelsea 2 Club America 0
By Jason Burt at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington

Carlo Ancelotti has upped the ante in his praise of John Terry, hailing the captain as Chelsea’s “most important” player after the defender finally announced that he would be staying at the club.

Following Chelsea’s victory over Club America, which completed their pre-season tour to the United States, the club’s new manager said: “Terry is the most important player at the team, not only for the other players but as a man and for his professionalism. We are very happy to have him here, not only me but all the club is happy. “And, I think, John Terry is also happy to stay in this club also. But I was always sure (that he would stay) because he has a contract with the club. It's good news and this is a good evening for us, all round.”

And also a stormy one – with the extraordinarily violent thunderstorm which rung around this breathtaking state-of-the-art stadium throughout the second half. Chelsea were sheltered from that by the roof which was shut partly to protect from the searing Texan heat that had hit the 100s Fahrenheit. There was even air-conditioning throughout what has been billed as the most expensive stadium in the world.

And Chelsea were sheltered from further concerns that Terry may push for a move by his statement.

On the field they largely fielded a second-string team but still eased to victory against the Mexicans of Club America with late goals from Franco Di Santo and Florent Malouda.

It meant that Chelsea retained a perfect record of four wins from four matches – with just a single goal conceded – on their pre-season tour as they flew back to London last night. This victory and the ones against Inter Milan and AC Milan also meant that Chelsea won the competition, the so-called World Football Challenge.

After the final whistle, Terry, who had not played in this match, lifted the glass bowl, awarded for winning the competition while Ancelotti expressed his pleasure at the club’s tour. “We played this game at the right moment,” the Italian added. “We did 10 days in Cobham (Chelsea’s training ground), working hard, and now was the moment to play. We played well in America, we have improved the team, we grew and we are ready to start the season now. We worked well and now we are ready to start winning trophies.”

The attendances for Chelsea’s matches have been impressive even if this stadium was not full. In total 274,945 supporters have watched Chelsea play and start to find their feet under Ancelotti – more than the previous record tally which was achieved by Manchester United six years ago.
They have seen the style of football that Ancelotti wants – four midfielders playing in a diamond shape with two strikers – and now it will be interesting to see how he juggles the personnel and whether he feels the need for more recruits. There will certainly be some departures – the strikers Andrei Shevchenko and Claudio Pizarro are prime candidates – while Ancelotti ponder who can adequately perform that holding midfield role.

The goals came in quick succession with Ashley Cole, a substitute, finding Malouda whose dangerous chip was met by Di Santo on the volley and he steered the ball into the net. Then the young Argentinean returned the favour, forcing his way to the by-line and steering the ball towards Pizarro before it was deflected to Malouda an he side-footed home.
Di Santo is wanted on loan by Blackburn Rovers and Ancelotti will now consider whether to keep him for the season. “Di Santo is a good young player who moves very well out on the pitch, with and without the ball,” Ancelotti said.

“He had to be more cool in front of the goalkeeper, but he scored a good goal and put in important work for the team.”

Before that Chelsea had twice hit the post – with a header by stand-in captain Ricardo Carvalho and another by Salomon Kalou. Both opportunities were provided by Malouda who impressed, as he has to as he faces the challenge from new signing Yuri Zhirkov who has more chance of dislodging the France international than he does Ashley Cole in his preferred position of left-back.

The Mexicans – backed by greater support – threatened little and Chelsea switched things around at half-time. They left America last night with a successful tour behind them, capped by Terry’s commitment.

Chelsea (4-4-2): Hilario (Turnbull, h-t); Mancienne (Ivanovic, 67), Alex, Carvalho, Hutchinson (A Cole, 67); Sinclair (Di Santo, h-t), Essien, Deco, Malouda; Kalou (Pizarro, 64), Sturridge (Shevchenko, h-t).

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Guardian:

What have we learned from Chelsea's American tale?A new tactical approach, a squad meshing nicely and a warm US reception – Chelsea's pre-season has been something to write home about

Dominic Fifield

Chelsea's players departed the stunning new Cowboys stadium last night for London having secured the first trophy of what they hope will prove a glittering first campaign under Carlo Ancelotti. There are bigger priorities than the inaugural 2009 World Football Challenge yet, in defeating the Mexican side Club America here to maintain momentum from impressive wins over Internazionale and Milan, they will have drawn encouragement aplenty.

The zigzagging across the United States may have sapped energy, but Chelsea return home today far fitter than they left, with their captain's commitment to the club reaffirmed and the squad overseen by a manager who will have gleaned much over two weeks away with his players. Ancelotti will crave evidence of how his team fares under pressure in competitive fixtures, but this tour – marked by a wholeheartedly contested game against his former club, Milan, in Baltimore last Friday – has offered real glimpses of what Chelsea will offer in the campaign proper. So what, then, have we learned?

1) Tactically, Ancelotti intends to play a diamond in midfield, capped initially by Frank Lampard as the marauding playmaker with Deco and Salomon Kalou offered outings in the role against Club America last night. John Mikel Obi and Michael Essien are his first-choice midfield shields, though Michael Ballack may have had an opportunity to stake his claim for the role had he retained his fitness, and Deco had two outings in the position. There will be a pair of strikers – gone, apparently, are the days of 4-3-3 with Didier Drogba barging passage forward with only wide men for company – with the full-backs asked to supply the team's natural width. Luiz Felipe Scolari tried something similar a year ago but never really struck a balance between rip-roaring attack and defensive industry. The Italian in Ancelotti will not put up with frailties if the full-backs are caught too often up-field and the channels left exposed.

2) The team's play may prove far less direct than in recent seasons, with Ancelotti placing the onus on retaining possession in midfield, all neat triangles and overlaps, rather than seeking out Drogba's brawn and muscle through the middle. Inter and, at times, Milan seemed off the pace in coping with the slick approach, with Clarence Seedorf admitting he could already spy evidence of the Ancelotti effect taking hold of Chelsea. Whether Premier League opponents, starting with Manchester United in the Community Shield in under two weeks, find it quite so irresistible remains to be seen.

3) Manchester City could regret letting Daniel Sturridge slip away. The teenager actually stands more chance of making a mark at first-team level with Chelsea than he did at Eastlands given City's recent outlay on forwards. He impressed against Seattle Sounders with a debut goal and assist, unnerved Inter at times in California and should have added to his tally on tour against the Mexicans. Sturridge remains raw but, with his transfer fee still to be decided by a tribunal, he should prove a bargain.

4) Despite the lack of a marquee signing to date, Chelsea's squad retains its depth and quality, even with Joe Cole and Ballack back in Cobham undergoing rehabilitation from injury. Sturridge and Ross Turnbull are useful additions, the latter as a back-up goalkeeper, while Yuri Zhirkov – on the basis of his excellent debut against Milan – will offer balance, defensive surety and spring up-field whether he is employed at full-back or, more likely, in midfield. Deco, for now, and Ricardo Carvalho remain at the club, with the centre-half impressive and eager to put last season's toils behind him. The management had craved more flair, hence their interest in Franck Ribery, though Lampard – albeit in a different way – already appears a natural source of creativity and goals in the hole behind the forwards.

5) Andriy Shevchenko and Claudio Pizarro's days at the club are numbered. That is hardly a revelation given that each spent last season on loan away from Stamford Bridge. Yet the Chilean's impact was negligible and the Ukrainian, despite a new haircut and a public insistence that he would like to stay, appears to be on the fringes. Ancelotti confirmed he did not anticipate the man he rated so highly at Milan remaining beyond the 31 August transfer cut-off. Others, most probably the youngsters Michael Mancienne, Sam Hutchinson, Franco di Santo and Scott Sinclair, are expected to move elsewhere on loan in search of first-team experience.

6) Ancelotti's English is improving though it remains a work in progress. He appeared exhausted and frustrated at times at his inability to explain himself fully, which is utterly understandable, though good humour generally shone through and his assistant Bruno Demichelis is providing invaluable assistance as a makeshift interpreter. There appears to be a real determination about Ancelotti to expand his vocabulary, however, and first impressions suggest he will not fall into the same trap as Scolari, whose English rather stagnated once competitive games came thick and fast.

7) The United States appears to have taken to Chelsea. This was the Premier League club's fourth visit to the country in five years for pre-season and, at last, they have made their mark. Chelsea shirts littered the considerable crowds in Seattle, Pasadena, Baltimore and Arlington where the team played. The gates were magnificent. Some 81,224 people attended the 2–0 victory over Inter, and 71,203 the tight 2–1 win over Milan in Baltimore. The Cowboys stadium was heaving last night with just over 57,000 watching on despite Mexico having played the United States a few hours earlier in the final of the Gold Cup. When the Chelsea players appeared on the astonishing 160ft by 72ft high-definition LED television screen suspended above the playing surface of this arena – the largest screen of its type with 30,000,000 light bulbs and built at a cost of £25m – prior to kick-off, even the Hispanics in the crowd bellowed their appreciation. This club is making an impression in these parts.

Given the crammed schedule and draining west-east-west travelling, that represents a fine use of two weeks away. Chelsea will be buoyed that John Terry has committed his future to the club despite Manchester City's attempts to lure him away, and that has added gloss to their pre-season, but they gleaned far more from the brief spell in the US. The players expect to be back next summer, most likely to defend the trophy won courtesy of Di Santo and Florent Malouda's late goals. They should receive a hospitable welcome.

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Saturday, July 25, 2009

morning papers ac milan 2-1


Telegraph:

Chelsea new boy Yuri Zhirkov scores on debut in pre-season fixture against AC Milan

Chelsea may not have added greatly to their squad this summer – that elusive marquee signing is remaining elusive – but their £18 million man, Yuri Zhirkov, made an immediate impact on his debut in the early hours of this morning here in Baltimore. By Jason Burt at the M&T stadium, Baltimore

The Russian international scored the winning goal to defeat AC Milan 2-1 and impressed, playing on the left of midfield, delivering several dangerous crosses. There were also high-quality goals from Didier Drogba and, for Milan, Clarence Seedorf.

Zhirkov's contribution was all the more noteworthy given he has only just linked up with the rest of the Chelsea squad on their pre-season tour to the United States, which ends tomorrow (Sun) in Arlington, Texas, when they face the Mexicans of Club America. That match will determine who will win this four-team tournament, the World Football Challenge, as both clubs have now defeated the Italians of AC and Inter Milan.

Sport on television For Chelsea's new manager Carlo Ancelotti this was a victory made all the more satisfying as it was gained against the club he left at the end of last season after eight years as coach. Milan, too, were desperate for the win and it meant it was a contest made more competitive than the usual pre-season friendly. Indeed neither Ancelotti nor his successor, Leonardo, who he had recommended for the post made a substitution at half-time in contrast to the wholesale changes that have occurred in previous games. At the end several Milan players held their heads in disbelief that they had lost.

Ancelotti admitted that Chelsea had, at times, struggled as Milan, with Clarence Seedorf dominant until he was substituted, often the more threatening.

"It was a difficult game because Milan played well, moved very well on the pitch," Ancelotti said. "Chelsea found it difficult in midfield because we didn't find the right positions. But the team worked hard on the pitch and we're happy for the victory, as normal, but we know we also need to improve. We have to work. The victory was also important because the atmosphere is good in the team. For this, we are happy. Both teams played well, a good match, a good show."

Ancelotti was delighted with Zhirkov's performance although Florent Malouda, who gave way for the 25-year-old, may have been a little more concerned. He has real competition for his place. "It wasn't a surprise," Ancelotti said of Zhirkov. "He's a very good player and, for sure, he found it difficult on the pitch in the position he was in, but that's normal. You have to work with the team. It was important for him to score a goal, and we know he's a very good player. This tournament has happened at the right time for us. We've played against very good teams and there's a very good atmosphere here. For us, it's nice to play in the USA at this moment."

Chelsea took the lead in the seventh minute when Drogba caught out the Milan goalkeeper, Zeljko Kalac, with a rasping right-foot shot from around 30 yards. Kalac, who went on to have a poor match, reacted slowly and was surprised by the power of Drogba;s shot. The goal shocked Milan into action and after Petr Cech blocked, with his outstretched leg, a shot by Andrea Pirlo, who has been coveted by Chelsea, the rebound fell to Ronaldinho.

The Brazilian had one of those wonderful cameo games – there was a brilliant nut-meg of John Obi Mikel in the second-half followed by a sloppy pass as he turned round to admire his work – but his over-head kick struck his team-mate Marco Boriello. Soon Seedorf had chipped goalwards, only for Branislav Ivanovic to head of the line, before the Dutch midfielder connected, first-time, with Ronaldinho's smart layoff to beat Cech.

At the start of the second-half Drogba released Nicolas Anelka who dragged his low shot wide while Zhirkov's header, from Frank Lampard's corner, was headed off the line by Thiago Silva. Seedorf volleyed over, after a wonderful exchange of passes with Ronaldinho, before Zhirkov scored.

The goal came after a shot by substitute Andrei Shevchenko, was beaten out by Kalac only to Lampard's whose effort was blocked. It fell to Zhirkov who drove the ball low into the net.
There was a frenzied finale with Cech punching away a header by Filippo Inzaghi and Oguchi Onyewu, another substitute and the only American on the pitch, wasted a free header.
At the end Ancelotti and Leonardo embraced.

"To play against Carlo is something very special," the Milan coach said. "We're such good friends, so that's why it was so special. Two of the best teams in the world and we've worked together for so many years, so it was exciting today." It was also, at the M&T Stadium and with a crowd of 71,203, the first time the venue, usually used for American football, had sold out.

Teams:Chelsea (4-4-2): Cech; Bosingwa (Hutchinson, 90), Terry, Ivanovic, A Cole; Belletti, Mikel, Lampard, Zhirkov (Mancienne, 85); Anelka (Shevchenko, 63), Drogba (Pizarro, 75).AC Milan (4-3-1-2): Kalac; Oddo, Nesta (Onyewu, 68), Thiago Silva (Kaladze, 77), Zambrotta (Jankulovski, 75); Flamini, Pirlo (Gattuso, 71), Seedorf (Abate, 64); Ronaldinho (Di Gennaro, 79); Pato (Inzaghi, 81), Boriello (Zigoni, 68).

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Mail:

Chelsea 2 AC Milan 1:

Zhirkov is Carlo's diamond as Russian Ronaldinho nets debut winnerBy Matt Barlow in Baltimore
Yuri Zhirkov certainly knows how to endear himself to his new manager, scoring the winner on his Chelsea debut to make sure Carlo Ancelotti beat his former team.
Ancelotti celebrated the third victory out of three friendlies on this pre-season tour of the USA and the Blues play their final fixture against Mexico's Club America, in Dallas on Sunday. He has now beaten both Milan teams inside a week, his old foe Jose Mourinho and Inter on Tuesday and his old friends at AC Milan.

Milan's Brazilian maestro delivered a series of flicks and tricks which impressed the American audience, including an audacious nutmeg on John Obi Mikel, which he promptly ruined by trying to pass the ball while looking back at the Chelsea midfielder and gave it away. But it was Zhirkov who made the key contribution, driving the ball into the bottom corner from 20 yards after shots from Andriy Shevchenko and Frank Lampard had been blocked.

'It wasn't a surprise,' said Ancelotti. 'He is a very good player but he found it difficult on the pitch in the position he was in. That's normal. You have to work with the team. It was important for him to score a goal.'

Zhirkov, an £18million signing from CSKA, joined his new team-mates this week after finally obtaining a work permit. He played on the left of the midfield diamond which looks set to be the hallmark of Ancelotti's Chelsea team. Nicolas Anelka partnered Didier Drogba in attack and it was Drogba who brought the 70,000 capacity crowd inside Baltimore's M&T Bank Stadium to their feet with a blistering strike from 35 yards in the seventh minute. Milan took 20 minutes to find their rhythm and could have gone further behind, with clumsy Aussie goalkeeper Zeljko Kalac misjudging crosses and handling poorly.

Slowly the Italians started to knit passes together and Andrea Pirlo, one of Ancelotti's favourite sons, unleashed a drive which Petr Cech was unable to hold. Clarence Seedorf was unfortunate when a wonderful chip cleared Cech only to hit the bar but it wasn't long before the Dutch midfielder had lashed Milan's equaliser into the top corner from the edge of the penalty box.

Ronaldinho rattled the bar again, with a free-kick after Branislav Ivanovic had wiped out Alexandre Pato from behind with a challenge which was definitely not friendly. Zhirkov reacted quickly to grab Chelsea's second and Cech made a fine save to deny Filippo Inzaghi in the final minute.
Ancelotti moves on to Texas with his plans taking shape and his team looking fluent.

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Guardian:

Didier Drogba's stunning strike helps Chelsea to victory over MilanZhirkov scores on debut to seal 2-1 win

A glorious goal from Didier Drogba and another from the debutant Yuri Zhirkov allowed Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti to get the better of his former club Milan in Baltimore.

Drogba produced a stunning shot from distance after seven minutes which was cancelled out by Clarence Seedorf before half-time. Zhirkov then restored Chelsea's lead midway through the second half and this time there was no way back for their Italian opponents.

Juliano Belletti gave Milan a scare with just three minutes on the clock, unleashing a shot from outside of the box which forced a save from Zeljko Kalac.

There was little the Milan goalkeeper could do to stop Drogba's opener four minutes later, however. The Ivory Coast striker took everyone by surprise with a sublime strike from around 35 yards out which blazed into the top left corner.

It took a while for Milan to recover from the blow, but they slowly worked their way into the contest and Petr Cech made his first save after 19 minutes, using his feet to turn away Ronaldinho's effort.

The alarm bells really started to ring for Chelsea 10 minutes later when a lovely passing move set up Seedorf for a chipped shot which came back off the crossbar. And the Serie A side were back on level terms after 37 minutes thanks to Seedorf, who spanked a first-time strike from Ronaldinho's lay-off high into the net from 18 yards.

Milan hit the woodwork for the second time after 57 minutes with Ronaldinho unlucky not to add his name to the scoresheet.

But Chelsea kept their heads, and their patience was rewarded 11 minutes later when Zhirkov capped his first appearance with a goal. The Russian capitalised on a game of pinball in the Milan area which began when Andriy Shevchenko's shot was parried by Kalac to Frank Lampard. His effort was also cleared by the Milan defence but only as far as Zhirkov who finished the job from the edge of the area.

Milan could have snatched a draw in stoppage time but Cech tipped Filippo Inzaghi's effort over the bar.

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Sun:

From IAN McGARRY in Baltimore

CARLO ANCELOTTI celebrated a meeting with his old club by claiming another impressive victory. But it was a less than friendly encounter with the Chelsea manager's former team in Baltimore.

The result made it three wins out of three for Ancelotti in this pre-season tour of America.
Just like they have in their first two matches in the States, Chelsea took an early lead.
And the man who struck first against Inter did the damage against Milan.

Didier Drogba was given the ball by John Terry and acres of space by the Milan defence before smashing a 35-yard drive into the top corner after just seven minutes.

It was almost a carbon copy of his goal against Jose Mourinho's side last Tuesday night and confirmed the striker is already raring to go.

Unlike their city rivals, however, Milan looked very up for this match and the goal stirred them into action.
Andrea Pirlo had a shot saved by Petr Cech, but Ronaldinho then began calling the tune, and after 38 minutes the Rossonieri were level.

The Brazilian dripped a perfect lay off to Clarence Seedorf, who drilled a bending shot past Cech.
It was much the same story after the break. Ronaldinho smacked the bar with a brilliant free kick from range and Pato was hacked down by Ivanovic.

Nicolas Anelka should have scored when Drogba put him in on goal but he scuffed his shot wide of the far post.

The breakthrough did come after 69 minutes, when Blues' new boy Yuri Zhirkov scored.
Shots from Shevchenko and Lampard were blocked before Russian international Zhirkov fired a low show past Zeljko Kalac.

It was just reward for the debutant, who was industrious throughout an impressive first game.
Pippo Inzaghi had a header brilliantly saved by Cech in the last minute but it was too little too late.

Ancelotti resisted the temptation to make wholesale changes until late in the match, when victory over the club he bossed for eight years was in the bag.

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

moning papers Inter 2-0


Telegraph:

Chelsea defeat Jose Mourinho's Inter Milan in pre-season friendly
By Jason Burt at the Rose Bowl, Pasadena

Goals from Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard – two of the players closest to Jose Mourinho – earned Chelsea victory over their former manager’s present club Inter Milan on a balmy evening in southern California.

It was also a sweet moment for Carlo Ancelotti, who two matches into his reign as Chelsea manager, defeated Mourinho, who he clashed with at Milan last season.

Chelsea primed for Mourinho reunion Mourinho has attempted to take both Drogba and Lampard with him to Inter since he took over last summer and both showed why. Drogba struck early, a low shot, an instinctive finish, while Lampard coolly added a second-half penalty.
Chelsea have now won both of their pre-season matches in the United States with ease, having also defeated Seattle Sounders last Saturday. This was a more impressive performance, given the calibre of the opponents with Chelsea appearing far more advanced in their preparations and fitness for the new campaign.

In fairness Inter are a week behind in their training – Serie A kicking off later than the Premier League – with Mourinho in the process of re-shaping his squad although it was a surprise to see Zlatan Ibrahimovic making a second-half substitute’s appearance given he is, the manager hopes, being sold to Barcelona in return for £38 million, Samuel Eto’o and Alex Hleb on loan for a season. A pretty special deal for the Special One. Ibrahimovic fluffed his one chance, steering a shot into the side-netting from a corner.

Ancelotti is still hoping to make additions to his squad, he is searching for a “creative” player, and there were further signs as to how he wants his team to play. Chelsea again fielded two strikers – a different pair in each half – with a diamond in midfield although, this time, he shifted around the personnel.

With Michael Ballack having returned to England, to receive treatment for a toe injury, ruling him out of the rest of the tour and Yuri Zhirkov not yet eligible to play as the Russian international has still to receive a work permit, Ancelotti’s options were limited. But he started with four of the African players who had returned later for training after international commitments.

Lateness was a bit of a theme for this much-hyped game, the first of three Chelsea will complete as part of the so-called World Football Challenge. However the organisation was chaotic. Traffic around the stadium, and in the roads approaching it, was grid-locked for hours meaning thousands of fans missed the first-half. Even then there were large areas of the impressive bowl, the venue for the 1994 World Cup Final, that were empty even though tickets were at a premium after 60,000 tickets were sold two weeks. The official attendance – for a 90,000 plus stadium – was 81,224 but it appeared less.

After Drogba’s 11th minute goal – goalkeeper Vid Belec should perhaps have done better to block the shot – Lampard almost added a second with a thumping drive from 25 yards that flew narrowly wide. Chelsea were rarely under threat as Inter laboured and they added a second soon into the second half when Daniel Sturridge, who again looked assured and dangerous, shot only for it to be diverted by Nicolas Burdisso – who is one of the Inter players to have been offered to Chelsea as part of the deal to try and sign Ricardo Carvalho and Deco - with an outstretched arm. Lampard sent the ball low in the net.

By now Mourinho had grown irritated. He switched his team around into a more attacking formation and they began to press, but didn’t threaten to get back into the game while Chelsea nearly added a third only for Belec to smother his shot from Sturridge’s astute pass. For Ancelotti it was a satisfying evening, defeating the Italian champions, the city neighbours of the club he has recently left, and, more pertinently, Mourinho. Chelsea now travel back east, to Baltimore, to face AC Milan on Friday.

Chelsea (4-1-3-2): Cech (Turnbull, 63); Ivanovic (Mancienne, 63), Terry, Carvalho (Alex, h-t), A Cole (Hutchinson, 79); Mikel; Essien (Belletti, 63), Lampard (Di Santo, 88), Malouda (Deco, h-t); Kalou (Anelka, h-t), Drogba (Sturridge, h-t).
Inter Milan (4-4-2): Belec; Santon, Cordoba, Burdisso, Chivu (Mancini, 59); Zanetti, Cambiasso (Krhin, 80), Vieira, Motta (Ibrahimovic, 59); Obi (Milito, h-t), Balotelli (Quaresma, 80).

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Mail:

Chelsea 2 Inter 0:

Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard on target as Blues give old boss Jose Mourinho a lesson
Slick Chelsea dominated former boss Jose Mourinho's Inter Milan at the Rose Bowl to get their World Football Challenge campaign off to a winning start in Pasadena.
Goals from Didier Drogba in the 11th minute and a Frank Lampard penalty just after half-time gave Chelsea the victory over the Italian champions in front of 81,224 fans.

The impressive nature of the Blues' performance more than the scoreline, however, will have delighted new head coach Carlo Ancelotti, especially coming so soon into the ex-AC Milan chief's first pre-season campaign and against his former cross-city rivals.Mourinho, facing the club he led to two Premier League titles during his three seasons at Stamford Bridge between 2004-07, had seen his Inter team open its campaign with a penalty shoot-out defeat to Mexico's Club America on Sunday.Chelsea, meanwhile, had warmed up with a 2-0 win over Major Seattle Sounders theprevious day but had since lost German midfielder Michael Ballack to a broken toe.

Led once again by John Terry in central defence with Ricardo Carvalho, Chelsea fans at the Rose Bowl saw their African players start for the first time in pre-season, John Obi Mikel and Michael Essien returning to midfield with Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou in attack.It was the central defenders, though, who had Chelsea's first sights on the Inter goal, Florent Malouda receiving a short corner on the left and crossing for Carvalho to head over the bar at the near post in the second minute and Terry heading from the resultant Malouda corner from the right.Chelsea were dominant throughout the opening half and Drogba opened the lead inthe 11th minute, receiving a short pass from Lampard with his back to goal, turning and shooting unimpeded from 20 yards, the ball bouncing over Inter Milan keeper Vid Belec's outstretched left hand and into the bottom corner of the goal.

The Londoners continued to play with purpose and fluency, highlighted in the 16th minute when Lampard and Branislav Ivanovic exchanged a one-two down the right, the Serbian full-back advancing to the byline and centering for Drogba whose shot was straight at a grateful Belec.Trailing 1-0 at the break, Inter's first real chance came as Chelsea adjusted to the five changes made by Ancelotti at half-time.

With Carvalho making way for Alex in defence, the incoming centre-back gave theball away to Mario Balotelli on halfway immediately following the restart and the through ball found Diego Milito who cut inside Terry but was blocked at his feet by Petr Cech, the Chelsea keeper making his first meaningful contribution of the game.

Daniel Sturridge, who scored on his debut at Seattle, and Nicolas Anelka had replaced Drogba and Kalou and they quickly caused problems. Deco, on for Malouda, sent Sturridge clear in the box in the 48th minute and when his cross from the left was blocked by Ivan Cordoba's hand, Lampard was given the chance to add to his goal scored against the Sounders, converting the penalty, right footed into the bottom corner.Ancelotti made further changes in the 64th minute, taking off Cech, Essien and Ivanovic for Ross Turnbull, Juliano Belletti and Michael Mancienne, who was called straight into the action, blocking a Balotelli bicycle kick on the six-yard line after Inter sub Zlatan Ibrahimovic had crossed from the right.Late substitute Franco Di Santo nearly added a third for the Londoners in stoppage time, taking a delicate Deco chip over the top on his chest and shooting right-footed over the bar.

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Guardian:

Chelsea loosen the shackles as Carlo Ancelotti's forward thinking bears fruitJose Mourinho introduced the conservative concept of 4-3-3 to Chelsea but his Inter had no answer to Ancelotti's striking pair

It is dangerous to assume too much from pre-season encounters, particularly when a club's newly appointed manager is still gauging the strengths and weaknesses of his recently inherited squad. Yet, after comfortable wins against Seattle Sounders and now Internazionale, some insights have been gleaned into Carlo Ancelotti's thinking for the season ahead.
The slick passing in Pasadena caught the eye, an apparent willingness to use a passer like Deco rather than merely a tackler at the foot of a midfield diamond also noted, yet most intriguing of all may be his apparent willingness to begin games with a pair of strikers. That is hardly a revolutionary concept, but it still represents a move away from the 4-3-3, 4-1-4-1 or 4-5-1 combinations that have steadily crept more and more into a Premier League where failure, either at top of bottom, is simply not an option. For all that the defensive midfield shield remains, whether it be Deco, Michael Ballack or John Mikel Obi, Ancelotti's forward thinking feels almost bold.

Admittedly, either the Major League Soccer side overcome on Saturday nor Jose Mourinho's Inter, a team who laboured behind Chelsea in their pre-season preparations, offered much defensive surety to frustrate a paired strike force or bite deeper on the counter-attack. Whether Ancelotti begins with two up top in the Premier League remains to be seen, yet the Italian, hardly a regular selector of two out-and-out forwards while with Milan, seems set on the idea. "I would like to play with two strikers because we can put more zonal pressing," said Ancelotti. "I want to follow this way."

To that end, three combinations of strikers have been used to date. The Sounders were pierced twice while Daniel Sturridge and Nicolas Anelka, perhaps not the most natural pairing but full of slippery running, strutted their stuff in front of a midfield diamond. Franco di Santo and Claudio Pizarro replaced them at the interval, with Andriy Shevchenko employed on the right of midfield. Neither the Peruvian or the Ukrainian is likely to start the new campaign at Stamford Bridge, while Di Santo may yet move elsewhere to gain first-team experience.

Then came the forward-line against Inter. Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou have spent their summers on World Cup duty with Ivory Coast, preventing their participation earlier for their club side, but they linked up cleverly here against Mourinho's Inter. The Italians may have been off the pace with their fitness yet their snarl remained, but neither forward had his focus blurred. Drogba's curled opener 11 minutes in, the ball fizzing through Vid Belec's weak flap, offered a reminder of his quality. Kalou has never scored the goals initially anticipated of him, particularly after his prolific spell in Holland, but he linked up cleverly and drifted wide when required, providing width when neither full-back could spring up the flank.

Sturridge, a player of clear ability, won a penalty from Ivan Cordoba just four minutes after joining Anelka in the fray, the spot kick dispatched by Lampard who revelled again at the tip of the midfield diamond. "These matches are used to try new situations," offered Ancelotti as a reminder that this is a period of fitness work and experimentation, and not necessarily a true indicator of things to come. Regardless, to have beaten his arch rival Mourinho, a manager who worked with 10 of Chelsea's starters during his three-year spell in west London and invariably employed his trusty 4-3-3, must have offered the Italian some private satisfaction. So far, so good.

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Sunday, July 19, 2009

sunday papers seattle sounders 2-0


Telegraph:

Seattle Sounders 0 Chelsea 2:
Match report from the American tour match at the Qwest Field in Seattle USA.
John Terry led Chelsea to victory as the English side opened their four-game US tour by overcoming a competitive Seattle Sounders 2-0 at Qwest Field.

The England captain, the subject of intense transfer speculation following a bid from Manchester City, retained the skipper's armband as Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti sent out his first side since taking over from Guus Hiddink at the end of last season.

First-half goals from teenage debutant Daniel Sturridge and England midfielder Frank Lampard were enough to see off a Seattle team led by Freddie Ljungberg in their inaugural Major League Soccer season and watched by a crowd of 65,289 in the Pacific Northwest.

Sturridge, 19, was handed a starting role alongside Nicolas Anelka in the Chelsea attack following his summer move from Manchester City and he needed just 12 minutes to get on the scoresheet for his new club.

He collected a Florent Malouda chip over the top of the Sounders defence, checked his run down the left channel to beat defender Tyrone Marshall and curled home right-footed across Seattle goalkeeper Kasey Keller.

Lampard doubled the lead in the 35th minute after Jose Bosingwa had cut in from the right to send Anelka into space on the byline, the Frenchman cutting the ball back for the midfielder to slot home.

Seattle were not without their chances, former Arsenal star Ljungberg forcing a fine save from Petr Cech just before Chelsea's second goal from a free-kick 20 yards out. The Blues keeper pushed the ball around the post at full stretch to his right from the Swede's effort.

Ljungberg forced another rearguard action just before half-time with a low drive from in front of goal and through a crowd of players that Cech blocked after Bosingwa's diving body had taken the pace off the shot.

Ancelotti kept his promise to make multiple substitutions during Chelsea's first pre-season outing and he made nine changes at half-time, retaining just Lampard and Michael Ballack from the starting line-up.

Seattle made four changes and the home side made the brightest start to the second half, Chelsea keeper Hilario flapping at a Ljungberg corner that reached sub Zach Scott at the back post. The Sounders full-back outjumped Ricardo Carvalho but sent his header past the upright.

There was further trouble for Chelsea at the back when Hilario's attempted clearance was charged down by Sebastien Le Toux in the 69th minute and ran just past the post, while minutes later Sanna Nyassi got behind the Blues defence and sent a chip onto the roof of the net.

Lampard even managed to get booked in stoppage time for a foul on Nyassi as the Blues saw out the game with a clean sheet to give Ancelotti a winning start to his Chelsea reign.

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Observer:

Daniel Sturridge sees off Seattle to give Chelsea US tour win
Seattle Sounders 0-2 Chelsea

Carlo Ancelotti tends to squirm at comparisons with Jose Mourinho, a manager with whom he endured a tempestuous relationship in Serie A, though he does at least now have something in common with the Portuguese. Some five years after the self-styled Special One began his reign as Chelsea manager with a victory over Celtic in this arena, the Italian followed suit here with a win over the local Major League Soccer franchise. The Londoners will hope this is a portent of glorious things to come.

The Seattle Sounders were brushed aside here, their initial frantic enthusiasm punctured by two wonderfully crafted goals from the visitors before the interval in front of 65,289 supporters. Daniel Sturridge, whose transfer fee from Manchester City has still to be determined by a tribunal, excelled in each, rolling off the hapless Jhon Kennedy Hurtado early on before curling a delicious shot beyond Kasey Keller and into the far corner to set the tone.

The 19-year-old's pass inside Hurtado for Nicolas Anelka to collect and pull back for Frank Lampard to tuck away was just as impressive. The Sounders, undermined by a ponderous defence, were generous opponents yet, even in this early season stroll in the sunshine, Sturridge offered plenty of positives for Ancelotti to consider. The teenager might have scored another himself, steering a low shot across Keller but beyond the far post, before departing as one of nine substitutes at half-time.

Thereafter, it was left for Andriy Shevchenko's highlights – his hair, rather than his performance – to catch the eye against a side second in the west standings of Major League Soccer, a point clear of David Beckham's Los Angeles Galaxy. The hosts' best moments were generally inspired by Freddie Ljungberg, the former Arsenal and West Ham midfielder seeing his best efforts scrambled away by Alex and Petr Cech, with John Terry comfortable and composed at the heart of the visitors defence.

The England captain had mustered an astute intervention on Fredy Montero in the first minute to suggest his focus was very much on Chelsea despite Manchester City's recent pursuit of his signature. The centre-half was on the sidelines wincing as Hilario almost gifted Sébastien le Toux a second-half consolation, but this was a gentle and impressive start to the Londoners' pre-season preparations.

Franco di Santo struck a post and was denied by Terry Boss from close range, with the Premier League team continuing to create the clearest chances. Lampard was their only player to feature for the full 90 minutes. Mourinho, whose Internazionale will confront his former club in Pasadena on Tuesday, had led Chelsea to a 4-2 win against Celtic here in 2004. Ancelotti will hope similar successes to those enjoyed by the Portuguese lie ahead.

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Mail:

Terry leads Chelsea to victory as Blues overcome Seattle Sounders
By Sportsmail Reporter

John Terry led Chelsea to victory as the English side opened their four-game UStour by overcoming a competitive Seattle Sounders 2-0 at Qwest Field.
The England captain, the subject of intense transfer speculation following a bid from Manchester City, retained the skipper's armband as Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti sent out his first side since taking over from Guus Hiddink at the end of last season.

First-half goals from teenage debutant Daniel Sturridge and England midfielder Frank Lampard were enough to see off a Seattle team led by Freddie Ljungberg in their inaugural Major League Soccer season and watched by a crowd of 65,289 in the Pacific Northwest.
Sturridge, 19, was handed a starting role alongside Nicolas Anelka in the Chelsea attack following his summer move from Manchester City and he needed just 12 minutes to get on the scoresheet for his new club.
He collected a Florent Malouda chip over the top of the Sounders defence, checked his run down the left channel to beat defender Tyrone Marshall and curled home right-footed across Seattle goalkeeper Kasey Keller.
Lampard doubled the lead in the 35th minute after Jose Bosingwa had cut in from the right to send Anelka into space on the byline, the Frenchman cutting the ball back for the midfielder to slot home.
Seattle were not without their chances, former Arsenal star Ljungberg forcing a fine save from Petr Cech just before Chelsea's second goal from a free-kick 20 yards out.
The Blues keeper pushed the ball around the post at full stretch to his right from the Swede's effort.Ljungberg forced another rearguard action just before half-time with a low drive from in front of goal and through a crowd of players that Cech blocked after Bosingwa's diving body had taken the pace off the shot.

Ancelotti kept his promise to make multiple substitutions during Chelsea's first pre-season outing and he made nine changes at half-time, retaining just Lampard and Michael Ballack from the starting line-up.
Seattle made four changes and the home side made the brightest start to the second half, Chelsea keeper Hilario flapping at a Ljungberg corner that reached sub Zach Scott at the back post. The Sounders full-back outjumped Ricardo Carvalho but sent his header past the upright.
There was further trouble for Chelsea at the back when Hilario's attempted clearance was charged down by Sebastien Le Toux in the 69th minute and ran just past the post, while minutes later Sanna Nyassi got behind the Blues defence and sent a chip onto the roof of the net.
Lampard even managed to get booked in stoppage time for a foul on Nyassi as theBlues saw out the game with a clean sheet to give Ancelotti a winning start to his Chelsea reign.

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