blackburn 1-1

Independent:

Chelsea's northern strife puts dent in title prospects
Blackburn Rovers 1 Chelsea 1
By Phil Shaw

Should Chelsea fail to win the Premier League title for a fourth consecutive year, they are sure to look back ruefully on their performances in the north-west. Carlo Ancelotti's first trips to Wigan, Everton and Manchester City all ended in defeat, and yesterday Blackburn shrugged off the setback of Didier Drogba's early goal to restrict them to a single point in the Ewood Park drizzle.
El-Hadji Diouf headed Blackburn's second-half equaliser, and for all that Chelsea piled forward in pursuit of a winner in the final minutes, they struggled to recapture the fluidity of their football during a first half in which a three-goal advantage would not have flattered them.
Chelsea now visit Portsmouth on Wednesday – even an anticipated victory over Avram Grant's doomed team would leave them a point adrift of United – before a visit to Old Trafford on 3 April and the penultimate fixture at Liverpool.
Ironically, Blackburn's strength at home, where they have lost only twice this season, could yet help Chelsea to finish ahead of United and Arsenal, who are both due at Ewood during the final weeks. Sam Allardyce's side also eliminated Chelsea from the Carling Cup on penalties before Christmas and there is a doggedness about them which means the title contenders will underestimate them at their peril.
Chelsea were possibly guilty of doing so here; in the second half, however, Ancellotti admitted Chelsea's composure went AWOL.
"We started well but it was more difficult on this pitch for us to play on the floor," the Chelsea manager said. "In the second half we lost a bit of composure and conceded a goal. After that we had another strong spell but it was too late and we have lost two important points."
Asked whether the second-half display was a hangover from the Champions League exit at the hands of Jose Mourinho's Internazionale, or if the pressure of the John Terry affair affected Chelsea's equilibrium, Ancelotti played a straight bat. "We tried to win this game and for an hour we did well. It will be more difficult now to win the title, but not impossible.
"We have to leave this moment as soon as possible. We have to look forward and to win [on Wednesday] is the only solution to do that. We have less probability to win the title, but we need to stay compact and work together at this moment."
Allardyce, who was disinclined to revise his prediction that Chelsea may win the League and FA Cup double, felt the performance of his 18-year-old, debutant central defender Phil Jones epitomised Blackburn's effort. "We think he has the look of John Terry about him," he said without any apparent irony. "He had one hell of a debut and we think he's got a bright future."
The Blackburn manager is, of course, a friend of Sir Alex Ferguson's, yet he played down the suggestion that he would be pleased to have done United a favour. "This was for us, not for Sir Alex. The most important thing is that it's another point towards safety."
In the opening stages, however, Chelsea looked anything but a team in crisis, oozing confidence and scoring early. Frank Lampard's pass down the right-hand side picked out a run by Nicolas Anelka, who ghosted through two challenges before showing impressive composure by cutting the ball back to a yard beyond the penalty mark. Drogba took it with his left foot, side-footing home his 28th goal of the season as if taking a spot-kick.
Chelsea had several opportunities to kill off Blackburn. Salomon Kalou headed narrowly over, an Alex volley thudded into Martin Olsson's midriff, flooring him and Florent Malouda, taking a pass by the lively Kalou and gliding past two challenges, fired straight at Brown.
Chelsea's lack of ruthlessness encouraged Blackburn to raise their tempo after half-time, although Allardyce may have been unduly conservative in sticking to a single striker throughout. Even when he sent on Jason Roberts, it was to replace lone striker Nikola Kalinic.
A hint of the kind of vulnerability Chelsea might demonstrate under pressure emerged moments after half-time when Yury Zhirkov, who had replaced the injured Branislav Ivanovic in first-half stoppage time, headed off the line from a header by Christopher Samba.
There was no such reprieve after Michel Salgado swung in a deep cross from the right. When it reached the far post, Paulo Ferreira was beaten in the air by the conspicuously peroxide-topped head of Diouf. At the final whistle, Allardyce punched the air, while Ancelotti's grey, grizzled countenance was furrowed with anxiety.

Blackburn Rovers (4-4-1-1): Brown; Salgado, Samba, Jones, Olsson; Pedersen, Andrews, Nzonzi (Hoillet, 90), Diouf; Dunn (Emerton, 56); Kalinic (Roberts, 63). Substitutes not used: Bunn (gk), Jacobsen, Linganzi, Chimbonda.

Chelsea (4-3-3): Turnbull; Ivanovic (Zhirkov, 45), Alex, Terry, Ferreira; Lampard, Mikel, Malouda; Anelka (Sturridge, 90), Drogba, Kalou (Deco, 73). Substitutes not used: Sebek (gk), Cole, Matic, Bruma.

Referee: S Bennett (Kent).
Booked: Chelsea Zhirkov.
Man of the match: Jones.
Attendance: 25,554.

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Guardian:

Chelsea's confidence dims after Blackburn are let off the hook
Blackburn Rovers 1 Diouf 70 Chelsea 1 Drogba 6
Joe Lovejoy at Ewood Park

Do Chelsea have the best players in the country, or merely the best paid? The question with which Roman Abramovich is said to have confronted his team after their elimination from the Champions League is manna from heaven for media studies classes and pub knowalls everywhere and their verdicts will be even more damning after this latest disappointment.
Arsenal won on Saturday to take over pole position in the title race and Manchester United displaced them at lunchtime today, and it was up to Chelsea to respond. But for the second time in six days they were found wanting.
Before this, they took comfort in the fact that if they won all their remaining games they would be champions, regardless of what the others could accomplish. That no longer applies, and Carlo Ancelotti's expression was more hangdog than ever tonight when, pointedly, the Italian did not gainsay the suggestion that United were now favourites to retain their Premier League crown.
If the result against Internazionale was job-threatening, this one will not have improved the Chelsea manager's standing with Abramovich and company. The statistics are beginning to look ominous. Of their last 11 matches in all competitions, starting with an unimpressive 1-1 draw at Hull City, Chelsea have won five and lost four, and of their last eight away games in the Premier League they have won just two. By Ancelotti's own admission, they have lost their confidence. "It's not an easy moment for us and we have to maintain our confidence and our composure," he said.
The Italian eschewed wholesale changes after Internazionale, dropping only his left-back, Yury Zhirkov, in favour of Paolo Ferreira. If the Russian suspected he had been made a scapegoat, he did not have long to let the feeling fester. Branislav Ivanovic, injured in a collision with El-Hadji Diouf, had to go off just before half-time and Zhirkov came on, with Ferreira switching to the right.
The other absentee from last Tuesday, Michael Ballack, was said to be "not 100% fit" and gave way to Salomon Kalou. Neither Petr Cech nor Hilario were deemed ready to return, so Ross Turnbull, the third-choice keeper, was in goal for his third game in succession.
Blackburn were well below optimum strength, injuries depriving them of their England goalkeeper, Paul Robinson, the captain, Ryan Nelsen, and another centre-back, Gaël Givet, among others. There was a Premier League debut in central defence for the 18-year-old Phil Jones, who could be well satisfied with a steady, no-frills introduction to the big time which brought him the man of the match award and ridiculously premature comparisons with John Terry.
Chelsea were glad to see the back of Robinson, whose shoot-out heroics put them out of the Carling Cup in the quarter-finals in December. His understudy, Jason Brown, was picking the ball out of the back of his net after only six minutes.
Nicolas Anelka motored down the right before delivering a left-footed cutback which Didier Drogba coolly passed low inside the near post, also with his left foot, from 13 yards for his 28th goal of the season.
Slicing through Rovers almost at will, Chelsea should have had the issue settled by half-time, but Kalou met Frank Lampard's right-wing cross with a feeble header and Florent Malouda shot straight at Brown when a yard to either side would surely have produced a goal.
The possibility that Chelsea might rue such opportunities spurned was underlined at the start of the second half, when it took a goal-line clearance by Zhirkov to prevent Christopher Samba from equalising with a close-range header. It proved to be the case after 70 minutes, with another header. The finish was applied from six yards by Diouf, who climbed above Ferreira at the far post to nod home Michel Salgado's inviting cross from the right for only his third goal of the season.
So comfortable and assured before the interval, Chelsea had lost their shape and composure. Drogba, attacking a Deco corner, brought a noteworthy save from Brown near the end, but Rovers had the better of the second half and deserved a result which keeps them ahead of the relegation pack.

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Telegraph:

Blackburn Rovers 1 Chelsea 1

By Jason Burt

El-Hadji Diouf’s powerful second-half header piled the pressure on Carlo Ancelotti with Chelsea dropping vital points in the Premier League title race.
After taking an early lead, through Didier Drogba, with his 28th goal of the season, Chelsea appeared set to reduce Manchester United’s lead at the top of the table but fell away dramatically.
With John Terry and Frank Lampard struggling to impose themselves this is a worrying time for Ancelotti who spoke before this match of his desire to win a league and FA Cup double after crashing out of the Champions League in midweek.
Blackburn were bolstered by an outstanding Premier League debut by 18-year-old central defender Phil Jones who was, in the driving rain, the man-of-the-match against stellar opponents.
Nevertheless Chelsea drew ahead with Drogba side-footing home after just five minutes, after superb build-up play by Nicolas Anelka, and appeared to be cruising to victory.
Salomon Kalou headed over a corner and Anelka was wayward with a volley as Chelsea comfortably controlled the match while another by Alex struck Martin Ollson and goalkeeper Jason Brown beat out Florent Malouda’s drive. For Blackburn, Morten Gamst Pedersen’s free-kick was easily stopped by Ross Turnbull but they threatened little until after the break.
The home side’s best chance of scoring appeared to be Pedersen’s long-throws and substitute Yuri Zhirkov had to scramble off the line as Chris Samba headed on with Turnbull stranded. It encouraged Blackburn who raised the tempo and started to press.
Pedersen collected an angled cross from Steven Nzonzi and, with Paulo Ferreira distracted, he rounded the full-back only to lift his shot across goal. Chelsea didn’t heed the warning and so when substitute Brett Emerton crossed deep, Diouf rose brilliantly, with Ferreira rooted, to head firmly into the net.
There was a frantic finish. Chelsea pushed forward, desperate for the winning goal, with a series of half-chances cleared, by Samba in particular.
The Blackburn captain flung himself to deflect Drogba’s goal-bound half-volley while Pedersen brilliantly tackled Lampard and Jones, appropriately, denied Terry. What a debut.


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The Times

Chelsea's weakness exposed by El-Hadji Diouf and Blackburn

Blackburn 1 Chelsea 1

Matt Hughes, Deputy Football Correspondent

It scarcely needs saying that this was a match José Mourinho would have won.Carlo Ancelotti’s side were one up and cruising towards a much-needed victory at Ewood Park yesterday, but they lost their way after half-time and never looked like recovering.
Chelsea’s hopes of regaining the Barclays Premier League crown had suffered a shattering blow on the ground where they gained the self-belief to win a first title in50 years five years ago.
All is not yet lost — they can move to within a point of Manchester United by winning their game in hand away to Portsmouth on Wednesday — but a calamitous few days has left them playing catch-up in every sense.
After being knocked out of the Champions League, they find themselves outside the Premier League’s top two for the first time since the middle of August.
After the recriminations that resulted from defeat by Inter Milan, what Chelsea need now is a demonstration of unity. Roman Abramovich, the owner, would be advised to resist the temptation to launch another investigation, Ancelotti, the manager, should be given a public show of support and the players must stop bickering among themselves and begin fighting for a common cause.
The early signs were not encouraging, however, because after El-Hadji Diouf’s 70th-minute equaliser, the visiting team accepted their fate meekly.
Chelsea have been a dysfunctional club since Abramovich paid £140 million for a new plaything in the summer of 2003, but in recent years the malaise has spread to an unusually powerful dressing room. Of Mourinho’s successors, only Guus Hiddink gained the true loyalty and respect of his players and the short length of his tenure meant that the Dutchman was never confronted with a period of reckoning such as that facing Ancelotti.
The Italian’s ability to raise his side from their gloom will reveal a great deal about his character, and that of his players.
Ancelotti believes the rot that has led to a run of two wins from six matches set in with the remarkable 4-2 home defeat by Manchester City last month, but in many ways this game can be seen as a microcosm of their season. Chelsea began brightly and took the lead as the result of an attractive goal from Didier Drogba, but ran out of steam before being undone by familiar defensive shortcomings.
Such vulnerability at the back has been a recurring problem all season, but even more worrying is the dip in form suffered by many of their leading players. John Terry’s mobility appears more restricted with every passing week, Frank Lampard is lacking his usual energy and only Drogba and Florent Malouda are performing anywhere near their best.
Abramovich had attempted to rouse his employees from their lethargy with a reminder of the demands that accompany their huge pay packets last week, and initially the message seemed to have got through as they took a sixth-minute lead. Nicolas Anelka’s pace took him away from Martin Olsson and Phil Jones down the right and he had the presence of mind to delay his cross, with Drogba taking full advantage to score with a first-time left-foot finish.
Chelsea have relied on Drogba and Lampard for goals for several seasons, leading to an occasionally one-dimensional attacking style that Blackburn coped with comfortably as their opponents lost their way. Ancelotti blamed a pitch that has taken sustained punishment during this harsh winter, but as well as the poor quality of Chelsea’s passing, the home side’s resilience was deserving of considerable praise, particularly that of Jones, an 18-year-old centre back making his Premier League debut.
Blackburn were so comfortable that they began to push for an equaliser after half-time and it was no surprise when it arrived. Yuri Zhirkov had already cleared a header by Christopher Samba off the line when Michel Salgado slung another deep cross into the penalty area. Diouf took full advantage, rising above Paulo Ferreira to head in his third goal of the season.
Ferreira was only stationed at the far post because Branislav Ivanovic had limped off before half-time with a knee injury that further illustrates Chelsea’s mounting woes, but they do not have the time to waste in feeling sorry for themselves.

Blackburn (4-4-1-1): J Brown 6 M Salgado 6 C Samba 6 P Jones 6 M Olsson 5 M G Pedersen 6 K Andrews 6 S N’Zonzi5 E-H Diouf 6 D Dunn 5 N Kalinic 6. Substitutes: B Emerton 5 (for Dunn, 55min), J Roberts 5 (for Kalinic, 62), D Hoilett (for N’Zonzi, 90).Not used: M Bunn, L Jacobsen, A Linganzi, P Chimbonda. Next: Birmingham City (h).

Chelsea (4-3-3): R Turnbull 6 B Ivanovic 5 Alex 6 J Terry 5 P Ferreira 5 F Lampard 6 J O Mikel 5 F Malouda 6 N Anelka 6 D Drogba 6 S Kalou 5 Substitutes: Y Zhirkov 5 (for Ivanovic, 44min), Deco (for Kalou, 74), D Sturridge (for Anelka, 90). Not used: J Sebek, J Cole, N Matic, J Bruma.

Next: Portsmouth (a).
Referee: S Bennett. Attendance: 25,554

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Mail:

Blackburn 1 Chelsea 1: Big Sam swings it to keep Carlo Ancelotti on the slide
By Ian Ladyman

Chelsea's season is in danger of becoming characterised by missed opportunities. Sunday’s draw at Ewood Park was symptomatic.
Competing for the Barclays Premier League title against a Manchester United side weakened by the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo and an Arsenal team who have played most of the season without a dependable forward, Chelsea will ask themselves why they are outside the top two for the first time since August.
Here, during 94 frenetic minutes in Lancashire, were some of the answers. Deprived of key players such as Petr Cech — expected back for Wednesday’s game against Birmingham — Ashley Cole, Michael Ballack and Ricardo Carvalho, Chelsea are sliding.
Carlo Ancelotti’s team really needed to win here to reintroduce momentum in the wake of Wednesday’s numbing Champions League defeat at home to Inter Milan. That they didn’t was telling.
Chelsea were so superior to Blackburn in the first half it was almost embarrassing. They should have been three or four goals to the good by the break.
But their failure to convert these chances cost them by the time Sam Allardyce’s team found a little belief and tempo in the second period. When the intensity of Blackburn’s play was turned up, Chelsea could not cope.
Perhaps it is down to confidence. It can come and go very quickly, even at this level. But equally worrying for Chelsea is that they look a tired team. Frank Lampard — for the second game on the trot — looked to be running in sand.
Given the state of Blackburn’s pitch — Allardyce’s team have had to train on it this winter — Lampard and his team-mates were indeed playing on a peculiar surface.
Their opening goal was superb, though. Only five minutes had passed when Nicolas Anelka romped down the right, turned inside Keith Andrews and laid the ball into the path of Didier Drogba who scored from 12 yards with his left instep.
After United’s win over Liverpool earlier in the day, this was the start Chelsea would have wished for. Unfortunately for them, they could not capitalise on it.
With Salomon Kalou so effective at the point of their midfield diamond, Ancelotti’s team were vibrant early on.
But Anelka volleyed carelessly over in the 21st minute, Alex struck a chance into the midriff of Martin Olsson and Florent Malouda drew a save from Jason Brown with a shot so well struck that it would have brought the second goal had it not been directed straight at the Rovers goalkeeper.
Blackburn were toothless, with striker Nikola Kalinic too often left isolated at the top of Allardyce’s 4-2-3-1 formation.
But Chelsea lost right back Branislav Ivanovic with a knee injury just before half-time and Allardyce rejigged his team during the interval. From then on, it was a different game.
Blackburn improved vastly after the break as their wide players, Brett Emerton and El Hadji Diouf, pushed hard on to Chelsea’s full backs. Nevertheless, the manner in which Chelsea allowed themselves to concede ground was surprising.
Substitute Yury Zhirkov had already headed a Chris Samba flick off the goal-line and Pedersen had ballooned an effort over when Blackburn hauled themselves level in the 69th minute. It was a simple goal but brilliantly executed.
Michel Salgado — who had endured a difficult game at full back — hit a deep cross from right to left and Diouf rose above defender Paulo Ferreira to head down and in past Ross Turnbull at his right-hand post.
Diouf would certainly not have got above the taller Ivanovic and news that the Serb has a ‘traumatic’ knee injury will worry Ancelotti ahead of the scan the defender has on Monday.
For the final 20 minutes everything turned rather hectic. Rain began to fall and tempers flared.
Predictably, Chelsea threw everything they had at Blackburn and Drogba almost scored the winner, only for Brown to turn his shot aside from close range with three minutes to go.
As Chelsea poured forward, Blackburn stood firm. Holding midfielder David Nzonzi was impressive but young central defender Phil Jones stood above everybody else.
Making his debut at 18, Jones is a product of Blackburn’s youth system and looks a terrific prospect.
‘We have high hopes for him,’ said Allardyce. ‘He is from down the road in Chorley and he will be very proud of himself in the morning. He could be the next John Terry.’
This morning, Jones will be feeling a damn sight happier than the Chelsea skipper.
Terry is believed to be under investigation by UEFA following comments he made in the wake of the 1-0 defeat by Inter at Stamford Bridge.
For Chelsea, it has not been a great week.

inter 0-1

Times:
Mourinho makes triumphant return to Stamford Bridge as Chelsea crash out
Chelsea 0 Inter Milan 1 (Inter win 3-1 on agg)
Oliver Kay, Football Correspondent
Of all the many traits that José Mourinho instilled in his Chelsea teams, the only one to rear its head last night was the persecution complex.
Once again John Terry et al found themselves venting anger at the match officials as they departed the Champions League stage, but this time any talk of a Uefa refereeing conspiracy should give way to some serious self-examination.
There will be recriminations over the red card shown to Didier Drogba, for an apparent stamp on Thiago Motta with three minutes remaining, and over a strong Chelsea penalty appeal that was rejected in either leg, but do not let Terry or anyone else say that they were robbed over two fast and furious legs. Quite simply, they were beaten by a better team.
A better team or simply a better organised, better drilled team? Either way, it reflects well on Mourinho and rather less so on Carlo Ancelotti, his latest successor in the Chelsea dugout. As Chelsea’s players looked to the touchline for inspiration in the second half, they saw Mourinho gesticulating wildly and Ancelotti looking, well, a little forlorn. We must get away from this unhealthy idea that touchline demeanour is an indicator of managerial ability, but for as long as Terry, Drogba, Frank Lampard and the rest remain in thrall to Mourinho, comparisons, while odorous, are inevitable.
Ancelotti could well lead Chelsea to the Barclays Premier League title and the FA Cup this season, but this was not a good night for him. Even if Inter’s supporters were almost certainly guilty of wishful thinking as they serenaded the AC Milan legend with lusty chants of “Bye bye Carletto” towards the end of the game — and repeated that message when Roman Abramovich made the long, lonely walk across the pitch towards the dressing-room area afterwards — Ancelotti will reflect on this as the most chastening night of his first season at Stamford Bridge.
It was also a night when Inter gave a reminder that there is still life in Serie A. Italian clubs have fared miserably against their Premier League counterparts in the Champions League over the past couple of seasons — most recently AC Milan’s wretched capitulation at Old Trafford a week ago — but Inter performed here with silk as well as steel, the former provided almost exclusively by Wesley Sneijder and the latter supplied by redoubtable figures such as Lúcio, Walter Samuel, Thiago Motta and Esteban Cambiasso, four players who conform to Mourinho’s requirement for his teams to have a strong, unyielding spine.
It was Sneijder, inevitably, who set up the only goal of the night with 11 minutes left as he produced the third in a series of defence-splitting passes, to send Samuel Eto’o clear for an opportunity that, after his earlier profligacy, he did not dare to miss. Chelsea’s players looked to the assistant referee for an offside flag, but Alex, who had a difficult evening alongside Terry in central defence, had clearly played Eto’o onside.
Sneijder is a wonderful talent but he could hardly have imagined that he would find as much space as this in the cramped confines of Stamford Bridge. If Chelsea still had a player in the Claude Makelele mould to patrol the area in front of their back four, it would have been a different story, but John Obi Mikel has nothing of the great Frenchman’s discipline or tactical nous.
Mourinho made the rather gratuitous point afterwards that Branislav Ivanovic and Yuri Zhirkov — two of the four players in the Chelsea starting line-up whom he had not bought — had been weak links, but Ancelotti’s team were poor in every department. With the exception of Florent Malouda, they simply did not perform.
There was a five-minute spell either side of half-time when Chelsea banged on the door repeatedly but, with Inter defending resolutely, it was not enough. When Malouda danced inside two challenges in the penalty area just before half-time, Samuel appeared from nowhere to take the ball off his toe. When Drogba sent Nicolas Anelka through moments later, Samuel repeated the trick. When Drogba finally escaped the attentions of Samuel with a twisting run early in the second half, Lúcio was there to snuff out the danger. And when Malouda fizzed a low shot through a crowd, Júlio César, Inter’s excellent but largely untested goalkeeper, pushed the ball around a post.
Ancelotti, his desperation growing, sent on Joe Cole and Salomon Kalou as he looked for something different, but neither player made the slightest impact. If anything, the changes played into Mourinho’s hands as Sneijder found even more space in midfield.
The momentum was firmly with Inter and, after Sneijder set up Eto’o and Diego Milito in quick succession, with the unfairly maligned Zhirkov making the recovery tackle on each occasion, Milito struck another opportunity wide, Mourinho’s blood pressure seemed to soar on the touchline.
He need not have worried. Sneijder split the home defence again and Eto’o ran clear, this time finally beating Ross Turnbull, Chelsea’s third-choice goalkeeper.
Mourinho reacted by pumping his fist very discreetly, the Tim Henman of celebrations, and, being the shrinking violet that he is, proceeded to watch the final minutes of the game from the privacy of the players’ tunnel, away from the television cameras.
And let us end at the start of the evening, when Mourinho appeared on the touchline pre-match to a soundtrack of the Rainbow classic Since You’ve Been Gone. The next line goes “I’m outta my head, can’t take it”, swiftly followed by “You cast the spell, so break it”. The concern for everyone at Stamford Bridge is that Mourinho’s spell, far from being broken, has been reinforced. And if you think that Terry and his team-mates will not be pining for Mourinho this morning, it is to underestimate the extent to which he remains, in their eyes, the Special One.

Chelsea (4-3-3): R Turnbull — B Ivanovic, Alex, J Terry, Y Zhirkov (sub: S Kalou, 73min) — M Ballack (sub: J Cole, 63), J O Mikel, F Lampard — N Anelka, D Drogba, F Malouda. Substitutes not used: R Taylor, R Carvalho, J Belletti, J Bruma, D Sturridge. Booked: Malouda, Drogba, Alex, Terry. Sent off: Drogba.
Inter Milan (4-2-1-3): Júlio César — Maicon, Lúcio, W Samuel, J Zanetti — E Cambiasso, T Motta (sub: M Materazzi, 90) — W Sneijder (sub: M Mariga, 85) — S Eto’o, D Milito, G Pandev (sub: D Stankovic, 74). Substitutes not used: F Toldo, I Córdoba, D Santon, R Quaresma. Booked: Eto’o, Motta, Lúcio, Júlio César.
Referee: W Stark (Germany).

Slaps in face of respect
Didier Drogba departed the Champions League in ignominy for the third successive season last night 2008 Final, Manchester United 1 Chelsea 1 (United win 6-5 on pens): Drogba is sent off in extra time for slapping Nemanja Vidic.
2009 Semi-final, Chelsea 1 Barcelona 1 (1-1 on agg; Barcelona win on away goals rule): Refereeing decisions prompt striker to shout at a TV camera: “It’s a f***ing disgrace.”


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Telegraph:

Chelsea 0 Inter Milan 1 By Henry Winter at Stamford Bridge
Still the Special One. Still the king of Stamford Bridge. Still the tactical grand master. Jose Mourinho, Inter’s inspiration, orchestrated Chelsea’s first home defeat in the Champions League in 22 games, sending his old club crashing out of the competition that Carlo Ancelotti was so expensively brought in to win.
So the mistake Roman Abramovich made in falling out with Mourinho in 2007 came back to haunt him. The Portuguese had hinted beforehand that he would not celebrate any Inter goal out of respect for his former employers but he couldn’t resist it.
Mourinho marked Samuel Eto’o’s fine late strike with a few steps down the touchline before remembering his promise, heading back to the dug-out, still scarcely able to conceal his delight. He knew that Inter were superior in all departments: their defence was mobile defiance personified, their midfield a winning mix of passing and tackling while their four-man attack never gave Chelsea’s back-line a moment’s peace.
Sadly, shamefully, the game ended in even greater humiliation for Chelsea. Didier Drogba, having tangled with Thiago Motta, who went down as if shot, was dismissed, echoing his embarrassing exit last season. Suddenly it was England-Argentina as John Terry and Javier Zanetti exchanged unpleasantries.
As tempers flared all over the place, as Dejan Stankovic could have followed Drogba for a challenge on Alex, some of the Chelsea supporters around the away dug-out suggested exactly where they felt Mourinho should go. He headed for the tunnel, taking a famous, familiar scalp with him.
Mourinho had sprung a surprise, sending out his strong, athletic Inter side in 4-2-3-1 formation. His intentions had been clear: going for the jugular, going for the away goal with Samuel Eto’o, Wesley Sneijder and the left-sided Goran Pandev supporting the frontrunning Diego Milito.
In a tense match crammed with compelling duels, Inter started at top speed, looking to test Ross Turnbull, Chelsea’s inexperienced but promising keeper. Maicon, showing his ambitions with an early shot, enjoyed a buccaneering opening half down the right, Chelsea never found their stride in the first half.
Florent Malouda wriggled into the box only to be thwarted. Michael Ballack, needing a big game but not delivering and removed on the hour, fired wide. Nerves jangled like alarm bells. Chelsea, needing to score, knew they were in a real scrap, both physical and tactical.
With the stakes so high, tempers rose high as well. Lucio’s foot was certainly high on Malouda. Eto’o then pushed Ballack. Eto’o was enraging Chelsea fans, partly with his angry hornet impression and partly with his play-acting. Such was the tumbling Cameroonian’s eagerness to inspect the Bridge lawn closely that an invitation to the Chelsea Flower Show surely awaits.
Eto’o was eventually booked for dissent and could have walked when, waving an imaginary card, attempted to get Alex cautioned. Inter’s appliance of the dark arts and sciences was rampant at times, particularly at defending corners. Thiago Motta hauled down Branislav Ivanovic. Then Walter Samuel wrestled Didier Drogba over. So obvious, so outrageous, so ignored.
Sadly for Chelsea, the German referee, Wolfgang Stark, haughtily waved play on. It must have all been deeply confusing for Malouda as he ran in to deliver his corners; familiar faces kept disappearing in the box.
Frustration and fear ate away at Chelsea in the first half. Maicon again threatened, lifting a ball down the right for Eto’o to chase. John Terry, spotting the danger quickly, darted smartly across to clear.
Sneijder’s corners coaxed more sweatbeads from Chelsea foreheads. Fortunately for the hosts, Drogba demonstrated his defensive power, repelling one of Sneijder’s specials. Inter’s Dutchman then crashed a free-kick into the wall after Alex had sneakily blocked off an Eto’o run.
Still Inter menaced. When Maicon hoisted in a great cross from the right, Terry misjudged its flight pattern, allowing it through to Eto’o. The miscalculations continued, Eto’o heading down and over.
Increasingly aware of time’s unforgiving passage, Chelsea stepped up a gear, finishing the half promisingly. Alex swept a free-kick over. Nicolas Anelka began buzzing down the inside-right channel. Drogba started to break free of Lucio’s shackles.
Mourinho was living every moment with his team, willing them to make every tackle, every header, every clearance. Some of Stark’s decisions set the Special One off on the road to meltdown, Inter’s coach remonstrating with the fourth official when Chelsea were ludicrously awarded a corner after the ball had come off Drogba. Mourinho, warmly greeted by the Bridge at first, earned a brief flurry of catcalls when comically refusing to give the ball to Yuri Zhirkov, who was seeking to take a quick throw-in. Russians and Mourinho, Part 245.
Still Chelsea built. Still Inter blocked. Malouda teased the ball through but was brilliantly dispossessed by Samuel, the obdurate centre-half aptly nicknamed The Wall. When Drogba then chipped a perfect pass on to the chest of Anelka, Samuel and Julio Cesar combined to slam shut any window of opportunity.
The half concluded with Lampard bursting through, losing possession but earning a tirade from Samuel, who accused the England international of diving. Nonsense.
Still the visitors’ gamesmanship continued. Inter arrived late for the second half. When it did, Thiago Motta promptly body-checked Malouda. The ensuing free-kick was badly wasted by Drogba, whose 25-yarder dribbled through towards an untroubled Julio Cesar.
Lifting Chelsea’s spirits, Malouda was beginning to influence proceedings. After a brief moment of concern when Sneijder superbly released Eto’o and Turnbull rushed out to collect, Chelsea stormed through the gears, Malouda bringing a magnificent low save from Julio Cesar.
Brimming with intelligence and growing counter-attacking class, Inter should have wrapped the tie up midway through the second half. Zhirkov rescued Chelsea as Pandev was about to shoot. Then Sneijder seized on poor control by Terry to chip the ball over Chelsea’s ragged defence. Milito ran through but placed his shot wide. Bad miss.
Inter had the edge, Chelsea the edginess. Sensing the hosts’ apprehension, Mourinho’s men broke time and again on the counter. Some of their passing was immaculate, one pass from Esteban Cambiasso to Maicon was exquisite.
Ancelotti was ringing the changes, withdrawing the anonymous Ballack for Joe Cole and then sending on Salomon Kalou for Zhirkov. Kalou brought immediate pace and purpose, pleading vainfully for a penalty after a speedy break into the box.
Pushed forward, Chelsea were knocked out by a brilliant counter-punch. When Sneijder lifted a pass towards Eto’o, his response was majestic, the ball drilled right footed past Turnbull.
Chelsea were devastated. Mourinho ruled the Bridge. Again.


----------------------------------------------------

Sun:

Chelsea 0 Inter 1
SHAUN CUSTIS at Stamford Bridge
WELL, we did not really expect him to lose did we? The Special One has still got it.
Jose Mourinho came back to the ground which he turned into a fortress as Chelsea boss and blew the walls down.
A goalless draw would have been enough to send Inter through to the quarter-finals.
But a clinical 79th-minute finish by Samuel Eto'o made extra sure.
And just to complete Chelsea's misery, Didier Drogba got a straight red card four minutes from time for a foul on Thiago Motta.
Mourinho had claimed in his Press conference that beating Chelsea was not the issue for him and the important thing was Inter making the quarter-finals.
But then he argued the Blues should never have axed him as boss - a point owner Roman Abramovich might be mulling over this morning as his Champions League dream lies in tatters for another season.
Whatever Mourinho's motivation for winning, he wanted it very badly indeed.
With a 2-1 lead from the first leg, Inter had the advantage.
Yet Chelsea were confident of turning the tie round, knowing a 1-0 victory would be enough.
They had to go with their third-choice goalkeeper, Ross Turnbull, because of injuries to Petr Cech and Hilario.
And they were, of course, without broken ankle victim Ashley Cole.
Judging by the speed with which Cole moved through the Press room before kick-off, though, it will not be long before he is back in action - which is good news for club and country.
It was fairly spikey early on, with Eto'o going down after a collision with John Obi Mikel's forearm and various altercations going on around the pitch.
Meanwhile, Michael Ballack was not far away with a 25-yard effort which went inches wide.
This Inter team was like Mourinho's Chelsea of old - strong in the challenge, giving little away and happy to mix it while getting up and down the field in numbers.
Mourinho was prowling his technical area manically, directing operations and complaining at Drogba roughing up his defenders.
The Inter chief was raging on 17 minutes when Goran Pandev was given offside as he broke away on goal.
He went looking for a screen to see a replay and, though he could not find one, his belief that Inter had been robbed seemed vindicated from the TV pictures.
It was scrappy stuff. But Drogba was proving a handful and, when the ball fell to him on the edge of the area, he released a screamer blocked by Brazilian defender Maicon.
Maicon is a brute of a man and was soon rampaging up the other end, with Yuri Zhirkov failing to get in a challenge.
As the cross came in, it cleared home skipper John Terry. That seemed to surprise Eto'o at the far post and his downward header bounced into the ground and over the bar.
It was a let-off for Chelsea, who were not looking comfortable.
Milito was crowded out on the edge of the six-yard box before he could get a shot in and Drogba was having to do an awful lot of work in his own box, heading away corners and getting in tackles.
Yet there was no better first-half tackle than Walter Samuel's, after Chelsea's man-of-the- moment Florent Malouda tricked his way past Lucio and looked set to score before the Argentinian's intervention.
It was all Chelsea now and Motta cleared Nicolas Anelka's effort off the line before the Blues had two penalty shouts.
First Lucio pulled back Branislav Ivanovic and then Samuel rugby-tackled Drogba to the ground and somehow got away with it - much to the bemusement of Carlo Ancelotti.
Eto'o could have finished it off for Inter but up to then was not having a good night.
When he got clear of the struggling Zhirkov, he seemed set to score.
Then, for no apparent reason, he hesitated and momentarily lost control, allowing Turnbull to smother.
The Inter bench was going mad. It was a great chance and they nearly paid double. Malouda went down the left and his shot almost sneaked under Julio Cesar by the near post.
There was some quality defending going on and Zhirkov redeemed himself to foil Pandev with a perfect last-ditch tackle.
Inter went close again, after Terry lost possession and Wesley Sneijder played in Milito, who snatched his left-foot effort wide. Then Motta put a header over the top from Sneijder's free-kick.
These were anxious moments for Chelsea and then suddenly, 11 minutes from time, it was all over.
Eto'o collected a fine ball from Sneijder, got away from Ivanovic and tucked his right-foot shot beyond Turnbull into the corner.
Drogba was then sent off and that completed a depressing night for the Londoners and their boss.

--------------------------------------------------

Mail:

Chelsea 0 Inter Milan 1 (agg 1-3):
Samuel Eto'o strike ensures Jose Mourinho's Stamford Bridge return is special one as Blues dumped out of Europe
By Matt Lawton
As Jose Mourinho said, he continues to win the important ones. The ones that really matter. The special ones, you might say.
He won this one with a performance from Inter Milan that proved he had indeed done his homework. That demonstrated how much he had learnt from the three-and-a-half years he enjoyed here at Stamford Bridge and those seven frame-by-frame examinations of the first leg of this tie at the San Siro.
Mourinho did a number on the Chelsea players he says he still loves as well as the Chelsea manager he has rather less affection for. This was a triumph for tactical brilliance as well as courage and determination.
A victory for a manager who might not always entertain the purists but seems to deliver on his promise of big prizes.
There was no prize on offer on Tuesday night other than a place in the Champions League quarter-finals but for Carlo Ancelotti and his angry, exasperated players the trophy they so desired had nevertheless eluded them.
Why? Because the Italian champions were much the superior side. They were better organised; better on the ball; better in Milan, when they established a 2-1 advantage, and better here again.
In Samuel Eto’o they had their goalscorer and in the brilliant Lucio the perfect answer to Didier Drogba. So brilliant on this occasion that Drogba eventually allowed that temper to get the better of him and received a straight red card for a clash with Thiago Motta in the final few minutes.
While Chelsea lacked their usual fluency, the Italian champions struck a perfect balance between defence and attack.
Walter Samuel, Maicon and Javier Zanetti were immense alongside Lucio; Esteban Cambiasso and Motta terrific in the way they both protected their back four and controlled Chelsea’s midfield.
And alongside Eto’o, who could have had a hat-trick, Wesley Sneijder, Diego Milito and Goran Pandev posed a constant threat to Chelsea’s makeshift defence.
Chelsea were disappointing. They might have deserved a penalty when Samuel wrestled Drogba to the ground but this was not one to file away with the cruel luck of their European past.
They froze on Tuesday night, intimidated seemingly by the presence of their former master. Only Florent Malouda really impressed for Chelsea.
It amounted to the nightmare scenario for Ancelotti. The Italian was brought here to repeat what he had done on two occasions at AC Milan and deliver the ultimate prize to Roman Abramovich. Not lose to the petulant Portuguese the Russian eventually got sick of and sacked.
The pressure, we presume, will now be on Ancelotti, such is the madness in the court of Roman.
Never had Ancelotti seen his Chelsea side fail to score at Stamford Bridge but Mourinho has quite a record of his own here and it was his that remained intact. He will say he has never lost to an English side in this stadium, so that remarkable run continues.
Never has Mourinho lost two games on the bounce since he took charge of Inter and at no stage did he look like suffering such a setback in this tense encounter.
Chelsea’s opportunities were limited, their failiure to force a decent save from Julio Cesar a measure of just how disappointing they were.
As Ancelotti admitted afterwards, Inter were always in control and always dangerous on the counter- attack, with Eto’o and Pandev working tirelessly on the flanks.
It took a brave block from John Terry to deny Sneijder, as it did when Maicon stopped Drogba from scoring and Samuel when he did much the same to Malouda.
But the best chance of the opening half fell to Eto’o in the 35th minute when he met a cross from Maicon with a header that really should have hit the target and Mourinho’s men continued to dominate after the break.
Clear with only the inexperienced Ross Turnbull to beat, Eto’o really should have struck when he allowed himself to be tackled by Branislav Ivanovic. As should Pandev and Milito when Yuri Zhirkov produced a perfectly timed tackle to rescue the first situation before Inter’s Argentine forward put his shot wide.
Desperate to see his side score the one goal that could have sent them through to the last eight, Ancelotti first unleashed Joe Cole and then Salomon Kalou from the bench. But it was to no avail.
Inter responded accordingly and then produced the goal that left Chelsea with 12 minutes to score the two in return they needed to force the tie into extra time.
It was classic Eto’o. A goal that was as much about his pace as his finishing ability. First came the burst of acceleration that enabled him to get on to Sneijder’s ball and then the finish that both exploited Terry’s failure to play him offside and Turnbull’s inability to charge down the shot.
The desire to run down the touchline in celebration must have been immense for Mourinho but this being Chelsea, he limited himself to a shake of the fists before then returning to his seat. It was for others to jump for joy. This time anyway.
To end the match as they did — with Drogba getting sent off and Terry berating the referee — was sadly typical of Chelsea. But then they learnt that from the master too.
This time, though, Abramovich had to walk across the pitch to the sound of the visiting fans singing the Special One’s name. As Mourinho could no doubt tell him, Ancelotti might want to watch out.


----------------------------------------------------

Independent:

Eto'o delivers killer blow as Mourinho proves point
Chelsea 0 Internazionale 1 (Internazionale win 3-1 on aggregate)
By Sam Wallace, Football Correspondent

There was a surreptitious clenched fist by his side and a short trot down the touchline as the excitement of Samuel Eto'o's winning goal took him out of his seat but Jose Mourinho checked himself just in time.
In fact, as his players ran over to celebrate wildly with Mourinho's staff by the touchline, the coach separated himself from them and, distracted by something trivial on a monumentally important night, he stepped on to the pitch to retrieve a match-day programme that had been thrown on in anger by a Chelsea fan. He passed within a few yards of Carlo Ancelotti but did not look at him.
Not in Mourinho's dreams; not in those dark days at the end of September 2007 when he mulled over the coup that unseated him at Chelsea can he have envisaged a night quite as satisfying as this. The day that he came back to Stamford Bridge and rubbed owner Roman Abramovich's nose in it with one of those textbook Mourinho performances in which his team embodies his own fiendish cunning.
Mourinho disappeared down the tunnel on the final whistle but afterwards he made one thing clear: Inter were the better team and richly deserved to eliminate Chelsea and progress to the Champions League quarter-finals. Not even Ancelotti was prepared to quibble with him on that point.
Mourinho had come back to demonstrate to Abramovich a point that the Portuguese coach made time and again during his years at Chelsea – that the club's success was as much about his leadership as it was about the owner's wealth. There are times when it is hard to take Mourinho seriously – and he is a relentless self-publicist – but last night his point rang true.
From his executive box in the west stand, Abramovich will have seen Massimo Moratti, the Inter president, walk across the pitch to the tunnel and take the adoring applause of his fans after the game. Great coaches have a happy habit of making the wealthy owners of football clubs look good, it is just a case of selecting the right one.
Mourinho did not try anything as predictable as attempting to win this game by holding on to his side's 2-1 lead from San Siro. Instead Inter attacked Chelsea relentlessly and, when they had to, they defended heroically. As a playmaker, Wesley Sneijder was incomparable. Walter Samuel and Lucio dominated in defence and Thiago Motta was a constant irritation for Chelsea.
Too much so for Didier Drogba who, for the third successive year, ended Chelsea's Champions League campaign in trouble with the authorities. In 2008 it was a red card in the final in Moscow; last year it was the rant at the cameras after the semi-final elimination by Barcelona; and last night there was another red card for a stamp on Motta's ankle which the sharp-eyed German referee did not miss.
Drogba is the recently crowned African footballer of the year but Eto'o upstaged him, taking his one major chance of the game in the 78th minute. He ran on to Sneijder's pass, holding off Branislav Ivanovic and beating the rookie goalkeeper Ross Turnbull at his right post. You could hardly say that it was Inter's only chance of the match.
Afterwards Mourinho said he had based his approach to the game on one of the few times a side had come to Stamford Bridge during his time in charge there and held out for a draw. Unusually, he picked out the performance of Manchester City in February 2005 during his first year at the club when City came to Stamford Bridge and got a 0-0 draw. "They made David James look like Lev Yashin," said Mourinho.
Last night he adopted the same approach, attacking Chelsea from the off. He attacked down the left, targeting Yuri Zhirkov with the full-back Maicon. At times Inter lived extremely dangerously, especially on corners when Samuel and Motta wrestled with the likes of Drogba and Ivanovic right under the referee's nose.
Naturally, Chelsea felt hard done by but there was no injustice here – not like against Barcelona last season – they were simply outplayed. There were decisions that Inter could complain about too, like the offside against Diego Milito in the first half when replays showed he was onside. Nevertheless, at the end John Terry went to remonstrate with Wolfgang Stark, literally shoving away John Obi Mikel when he tried to shake the referee's hand.
There were crucial tackles from Maicon and Samuel in the first half, both of whom threw themselves in front of shots in the latter stages that looked goalbound. In Chelsea's best period, at the end of the first half, goalkeeper Julio Cesar saved on 42 minutes when Nicolas Anelka had taken Drogba's ball from the left on his chest and bore down on goal.
Mourinho's players did not just stifle Chelsea tactically but they picked away at their tempers too, especially that of Drogba. They are a much more refined, tougher, savvier team than the one that crashed out against Manchester United last season. They are far more cynical too and in Eto'o and Goran Pandev they have two players whom Mourinho deployed wide to great effect.
When Samuel collapsed in the area with his arms around Drogba in the 44th minute there was an angry exchange of words between the two benches. Even Ray Wilkins, who is scarcely the finger-jabbing type, was involved in a row with a counterpart on the opposite side.
There were some good moments from Chelsea, among them the way in which Florent Malouda started the second half which suggested that he might be capable of winning the game. But Inter responded with what Mourinho described as an "almost perfect performance", adding: "We knew that if you don't control the game by having the ball you have no chance."
Ancelotti brought on Joe Cole after the hour for Michael Ballack. Sadly, the Englishman just looks miles off the pace. There were chances for Milito and Pandev, and Motta put a back post header over the bar. When at last Eto'o ran on to Sneijder's pass and scored Chelsea could not say that they had not seen it coming.
As he promised, Mourinho did not celebrate the Inter goal but, given the scope of his team's performance, it must have been a struggle.

Chelsea (4-3-3): Turnbull; Ivanovic, Alex, Terry, Zhirkov (Kalou, 73); Ballack (J Cole, 62), Mikel, Lampard; Anelka, Drogba, Malouda. Substitutes not used: Taylor (gk), Carvalho, Sturridge, Belletti, Bruma.
Inter Milan (4-3-3): Cesar; Maicon, Lucio, Samuel, Zanetti; Cambiasso, Sneijder (Mariga, 85), Motta (Materazzi, 90); Pandev (Stankovic, 75), Eto'o, Milito. Substitutes not used: Toldo (gk), Cordoba, Quaresma, Santon.
Referee: W Stark (Germany).

Man-for-man marking, by Steve Tongue
Chelsea
Ross Turnbull Must have been relieved not to have more to do in third Chelsea game. 7/10
Branislav Ivanovic Poor marking allowed Eto'o first-half chance and then the goal. 4
Alex Seemed to be controlling forwards well. Guilty of some poor distribution. 6
John Terry Solid with foot and head but caught out badly for goal. 6
Yuri Zhirkov Found Maicon a handful running at him and could not best him at other end. 6
Michael Ballack Is right of midfield his best position? Unable to influence game. 5
John Obi Mikel Did well breaking up attacks in first half but was overshadowed by Sneijder. 7
Frank Lampard A long time since he dominated a game. Unable to get on the end of anything. 5
Nicolas Anelka Not much joy out on the right and disappeared in second half. 5
Didier Drogba Forgettable night against the twin towers of Lucio and Samuel, culminating in red card. 6
Florent Malouda Found it all rather harder than playing West Ham at the weekend. Ended up at left-back. 6
Substitutes
Joe Cole Little chance. 6
Salomon Kalou Lively. 7
Internazionale
Julio Cesar Quiet first 40 minutes, then given some work which he did well. 7/10
Maicon Powerful in defence, with one terrific block, and caused problems going forward. 8
Lucio Enjoyed physical battle with Drogba and came out of it well. Booked. 7
Walter Samuel Helped Lucio deal with Drogba. One great challenge on Malouda to prevent a goal. 7
Javier Zanetti The captain kept Anelka quiet and organised his troops well. 6
Esteban Cambiasso Effective barrier in front of back four, allowing Chelsea few chances. 7
Wesley Sneijder A constant threat behind the front three with his passing and from set pieces. 8
Thiago Motta Tall midfielder covered up tidily and almost scored with header. Booked and misses next game. 6
Goran Pandev Did not justify surprise selection out on the left and soon made way. 4
Samuel Eto'o Wasted a good headed opportunity but then took his chance splendidly. Booked. 7
Diego Milito Fought hard but found Terry a difficult obstacle and missed a good chance when escaping. 6
Substitutes
Dejan Stankovic 6
Macdonald Mariga 6

--------------------------------------------------

Guardian:

Chelsea crash out after Inter win in Champions League
Chelsea 0 Internazionale 1 Eto'o 78
Kevin McCarra at Stamford Bridge

José Mourinho returned to make one last mark on Chelsea's history. It is, to be precise, an ugly blot in the annals of the club. Internazionale ensured that they would be eliminated from the Champions League as early as the last 16 for the first time since 2006. The Portuguese has probably done even more profound harm to his old employers.
Chelsea disintegrated and Didier Drogba was sent off in the 87th minute when the referee, Wolfgang Stark, ruled that the Ivorian had stamped deliberately on Thiago Motta. There are greater issues than that to absorb the losers. The manager, Carlo Ancelotti, must sense some players are succumbing to wear and tear while othersare not cut out for this level. He might even have flinched when the visiting fans sang "Bye bye Carletto" at full-time.
When Premier League sensibilities are laid aside, there should be gladness that Inter performed with such focus. Europe's leading tournament badly needs to be enhanced again by the accomplishment once taken for granted and dreaded in Serie A sides. Fiorentina, let it be recalled, had already edged out Liverpool in the group phase.
Mourinho was victorious in every aspect. His system, with three forwards supported by the excellent Wesley Sneijder had Chelsea in distress. Inter also got back in numbers to deny the Stamford Bridge side any rhythm. With a 2-1 lead from San Siro, they did not even look as if they felt another goal was essential.
Just to make sure, they scored in any case. Sneijder released Samuel Eto'o 12 minutes from the end and the striker went clear of Branislav Ivanovic to shoot precisely beyond the right hand of the goalkeeper, Ross Turnbull. The Dutchman who devised that opportunity had an imagination and touch denied just about everyone else on the pitch, particularly those in Chelsea colours.
With Ancelotti's side still well placed in the Premier League, desolation ought not to engulf the club. It is more likely that a gnawing anxiety will be felt over the urgency of rebuilding for seasons ahead.
The side barely constituted a nuisance to Inter. Mourinho's position at Stamford Bridge had become untenable in the early autumn of 2007 because his pragmatic and almost world-weary style was no longer acceptable to the owner, Roman Abramovich. He is unlikely to have undergone a profound change of heart since then but is too shrewd not to know when boldness will pay dividends.
Mourinho observed afterwards that the selection of Ivanovic and Yuri Zhirkov, who are makeshift full-backs because of injuries to others, made it certain that Inter would put the emphasis on attack.That adventurousness brought about stalemate in the first half. Chelsea were not sufficiently imaginative and Inter were initially patient. Even then Maicon, the Brazil right-back, was at ease and could get involved in the kind of build-up that saw him link with Eto'o after 33 minutes, with Michael Ballack having to cover Diego Milito as the ball was pulled back into the centre.
Ancelotti, despite having many of Mourinho's men still in the squad, is supposed to show that his outlook is fundamentally more enterprising. However, he is also charged with putting paid to visitors of this calibre. Following this defeat the scale of that task will be wholly apparent to the Chelsea manager.
There will be broad awareness now that neither the panache nor the durability exists to deal with this kind of ordeal. It will suit Mourinho's vanity to know that unflattering comparisons will be made with his spell at Chelsea. That tenure was far more than a period of well-executed tedium.
After all, victories tend to require risk and imagination at some point. At his peak with Chelsea, Mourinho had Arjen Robben and Damien Duff to devastate the opposition and delight the crowd. His timing was good, too, since those were the days when the Chelsea enterprise enraptured Abramovich and inspired him to unleash his wealth spectacularly.
Nowadays such means are not apparent even at Inter but Mourinho's summer dealings did bring more style to the Serie A club. When the side was removed by English opposition at this juncture in each of the previous two seasons, they did not score a goal against Liverpool or Manchester United. The determination to break with that sterility has now prevailed and the evolution had been visible in Inter's first-leg win. And it was Mourinho's scheme to put the opposition on edge with his trio of attackers at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea had trouble achieving fluency, particularly when there was so much difficulty in making an impact on the flanks. There was a messiness even to the complaints. Heated appeals broke out at set pieces when, for example, Walter Samuel had his arms round Drogba. Those are offences, yet it is rare for a referee to grant a penalty when it is tough for him to know who initiated this commonplace grappling.
All the same, everyone will be entirely clear that Chelsea never had a firm grip of Inter.


-----------------------------------------------------

west ham 4-1

Sunday Times

Didier Drogba scores twice to return Chelsea to top of Premier League table

Chelsea 4 West Ham 1

Jonathan Northcroft at Stamford Bridge

CHELSEA fans sang “One England captain” and saw this derby win as another chapter in the story of John Terry’s rehabilitation. But there is a better, more unlikely comeback at Stamford Bridge. When an Italian manager with an aversion to wingers arrived last summer and a rival left-sided attacker was his only major signing, there were probably players more confident about life under Carlo Ancelotti than Florent Malouda. But who, Wayne Rooney apart, is playing better? In Chelsea’s push for the title Malouda, unexpectedly, is their Factor X.

Adapted by Ancelotti into a multi-purpose footballer, the Frenchman is deployed centrally or on the flank, in midfield or the forward line, and even as emergency left-back. Yesterday Malouda was the blue arrow directed straight at the heart of West Ham’s greatest weakness. Jonathan Spector, despite several years in English football, remains as gauche as an American college kid and Araujo Ilan, selected, surprisingly, because Gianfranco Zola thought he would track back, took his responsibilities theoretically. Malouda had the run of his flank and, back as a winger, repeatedly punctured Zola’s side with his piercing runs and pinpoint crosses.

“I think that was the best performance of Malouda,” Ancelotti said. “I hope he will play like that on Tuesday [against Inter Milan].” Even Jose Mourinho can’t be cocky about facing Malouda on such form, though Inter’s brilliant right-back, Maicon, is unlikely to be as haunted as Spector.
Didier Drogba and Malouda were an emerging combination in their younger days at Guingamp and their understanding remains intact. Drogba’s second goal, converted from close range after keeper Robert Green spilt Frank Lampard’s shot, came after his compadre was substituted, leaving to a standing ovation. Drogba’s first — the game’s key strike — resulted from lovely Malouda work. Malouda also assisted in Alex’s opener and was classily responsible for Chelsea’s other goal.

Terry was hymned for his part in that crucial first Drogba goal, which came during West Ham’s best period. After a torrid opening 25 minutes when they were fortunate to be only a goal behind, West Ham equalised through a gorgeous volley from Scott Parker and were looking comfortable. Then Terry made a break from defence to carry possession deep into opposition territory and he found Drogba, who played it wide. Malouda’s sweet centre gave Drogba a simple header for 2-1.

Later, when the Frenchmen reconnected, the game was over. Malouda collected Drogba’s canny knockdown 30 yards out and advanced, calmly checked inside Danny Gabbidon on the edge of the box and finished expertly for 3-1. In the 15th minute Malouda’s cross had teed up Alex for 1-0.

Worrying for England was the vulnerability to crosses of a defence featuring Green and Matthew Upson. Another hit Upson’s thigh and ricocheted off West Ham’s bar, another still was headed into the side netting by Drogba and just before Malouda went off he centred for Lampard to hit a post. Green did look like Gordon Banks once, when he danced swiftly along his line and launched himself full length to tip away Alex’s header from a cross by Branislav Ivanovic. Yuri Zhirkov, Ancelotti’s big summer signing, came on alongside Joe Cole but Chelsea did not need fresh artillery. West Ham had already been blitzed.

Zola said he dropped Carlton Cole because the striker had missed training in the week due to sore knees but it still seemed a strange decision, especially when Cole came on for a cameo that carried more menace than Zola’s three starting attackers, Ilan, Kieron Dyer and Mido, had managed combined. With goalkeepers Hilario and Petr Cech unlikely to recover from injuries, Ross Turnbull will probably remain in goal for Chelsea against Inter. To guess how he might do is impossible because, as Ancelotti agreed, Turnbull was barely tested here.

Star man: Florent Malouda (Chelsea)

Yellow card: West Ham: Mido

Referee: M Clattenburg Attendance: 41,755

Chelsea: Turnbull 6, Ferreira 6, Terry 7, Alex 7, Ivanovic 6 (Zhirkov 80min), Malouda 9 (Kalou 87min), Lampard 6, Mikel 6, Ballack 6, Drogba 8, Anelka 5 (J Cole 66min)

West Ham: Green 6, Gabbidon 5, Upson 6, Spector 4, Daprela 6, Parker 7, Kovac 5, Dyer 4 (Cole 68min), Behrami 5, Ilan 4 (Diamanti 84min), Mido 5 (Stanislas 68min)


-------------------------------------------------

Telegraph:

Chelsea 4 West Ham United 1

By Duncan White at Stamford Bridge

They are welcoming back their old heroes to Stamford Bridge this week, although welcoming might not be the right word. Gianfranco Zola left the stadium he used to thrill with his side ruthless humbled by a Chelsea team that returned to the top of the league.
Next, Jose Mourinho and his Internazionale team: that will prove a more rigorous examination than this, surely.

Chelsea were inspired by a superb Florent Malouda, who made the first two goals and scored the third. The France international was back playing in his favoured role on the left wing, having deputised for the suspended Michael Ballack in midfield against Stoke City last weekend. He destroyed Jonathan Spector, the West Ham United right back, and Zola was even forced to switch Valon Behrami from the left to the right to try and help deal with him. It didn’t work.
The initial mistake for the opening goal came when Spector’s loose pass was intercepted by Paulo Ferreira, who put Malouda clear down the left. Spector recovered to tackle but conceded the corner. Malouda took it and West Ham could only half-clear, Frank Lampard working the ball back out to the left so Malouda could have a second bite at the cross. This time he picked out Alex, who, despite being 6”3 and built like a heavyweight, had managed to completely elude West Ham’s somnolent markers to place his header past Rob Green.

With Malouda rampant it looked like Chelsea would ease away from West Ham before the excellent Scott Parker intervened. Kieran Dyer hurled the ball in from the left – it was comical foul throw – and got it just over the head of John Obi Mikel. Parker took it on his chest, let it bounce and lashed a shot with fade and power into the top corner. Ross Turnbull, making his first league start in the Chelsea goal, had barely got his hands on the ball and there he was picking it out of the net.

Aside from that, West Ham struggled to build coherent attacking moves. Zola had ill-advisedly chosen to change his whole front line, playing Dyer on the left, Ilan on the right and Mido up front. Dyer is a shadow of his former self, Mido still looks like he could lose more weight and Ilan might politely be described as enigmatic – the enigma being how he ever managed to win three caps for Brazil. Ilan’s only real contribution was swiping a complete sitter of the bar with the game still scoreless.

“The reason I changed my strikers is that I wanted to play a more counter-attacking game and needed quick players,” Zola said of the inclusion of Dyer and Ilan. The exclusion of Carlton Cole, no doubt to his great frustration with Fabio Capello watching, was explained by Zola as being down to a knee injury that had allowed him to train just twice last week.

His namesake, Joe, was also left on the bench and then tried too hard when he finally did get on the pitch. Joe Cole needs unhurried game time if he is to get back to his best and at his rate he is not going to get it. Game by game his World Cup hopes grow fainter.

He certainly won’t be getting in the side ahead of Malouda, not on this form. The crucial second goal, which Zola conceded ended West Ham’s resistance, was again made by the Frenchman, 10 minutes into the second half. John Terry came surging forward from the back and drew in Spector and Behrami, which allowed Drogba to work the ball to the free Malouda. Drogba then peeled off the back of Matthew Upson to find the space to head in Malouda’s fine cross.
Pumped up by the goal, Drogba was in full histrionic mode, exchanging words with the Chelsea bench and nagging incessantly at referee Mark Clattenburg. Annoying as he is in this mood, it is often when he plays his best stuff and Upson was struggling to deal with him. For Chelsea’s third he chested the ball down to Malouda, who cut inside Danny Gabbidon – far too easily – and shot low past Green from outside the box.

Malouda was withdrawn late on, to allow the crowd the chance to give him a standing ovation. “It was his best performance for us,” Ancelotti said. “I hope he will play on Tuesday like he played today.” Chelsea still had time to prove they could score without him.

Frank Lampard sprinted at the West Ham defence and was allowed a sight of goal by Upson’s unfortunate stumble – flashback to Egypt’s goal 10 days ago – and while his shot lacked menace, Green contrived to spill it at Drogba’s feet. The Ivorian slammed the ball into the empty net for his 27th goal of another productive season. Not exactly convincing from the England goalkeeper and first reserve centre back, though.

For Chelsea this was an important appetiser ahead of Tuesday’s main course. It helped them flush that 4-2 defeat against Manchester City out of their system and, with Internazionale contriving to lose 3-1 against Catania in Sicily on Friday night, they will welcome Mourinho back to Stamford Bridge with confidence.


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NOTW:

FLORENT AND THE MACHINE HAVE GOT THE LOVE

Chelsea 4 West Ham 1

By Andy Dunn

THE LOVE is back at Chelsea. Carlo kissed Franco, like those Italian blokes do, Didier left the field arm-in-arm with Mark. Clattenburg, that is. As in the referee who normally has only himself to love.
No snarling, bicep-flexing, armband- pointing defiance from John Terry. Just a friendly smile and a warm embrace for the myriad Chelsea old boys who had played the role of pleasant but deferential guests.
With love all around, no wonder a Frenchman took centre-stage.
Florent Malouda took to the padded stool in Sky's Champions League studio in midweek, dispensing punditry with laid-back confidence, incisiveness and accuracy.
Just as he dispensed his football here.
Amidst the confetti of controversy that has fluttered around Stamford Bridge this season, Malouda has quietly flourished.
Considering England's long-standing travails on the left flank, it is galling to think this guy cannot get near France's team.
Under Carlo Ancelotti he has, when selected, become a consistent achiever. And there were not many who thought that when he sashayed into Stamford Bridge back in 2007 and duly contributed two goals and one assist in his first season.
Yesterday, he gift-wrapped the opener for Alex, the second for Drogba - who later completed this casual conquest of a compliant West Ham - and collected the third himself.
He was quite comfortably the most accomplished player on an unaccomplished pitch.
But not as predictably tenacious as Scott Parker, whose first-half equaliser gave West Ham brief hope.
Yet tenacity was never going to be enough for this West Ham line-up.
A line-up, it has to be said, that showed little tenacity of selection from a coach revered in these parts.
You could interpret Franco Zola's decisions kindly or cruelly.
Either it was a brutal response to the home defeat by Bolton... or he was treating this contest as, putting it diplomatically, experimental.
His rotation certainly didn't find favour with Carlton Cole, who sat on the bench with a face longer than Kauto Star's.
No doubt Fabio Capello was equally glum. He came to watch a couple of Coles and found them sitting almost next to him.
Ancelotti said on Friday that he was '100 per cent certain' Joe Cole would sign a new contract. With whom is not clear.
If the Italian continues to keep Cole in adidas bubble-wrap, it is unlikely to be Chelsea. Potloads of dough or not.
But at least Joe Cole's failure to make the starting 11 was predictable. Carlton Cole's demotion was baffling. Play for England one day, replaced by Mido the next.
Zola's post-match explanation was wholly unconvincing.
And with now-familiar uncertainty sprinkled across Chelsea's back four - and with stage fright stalking the third-choice keeper - no wonder Cole was ticked off.
He certainly would have backed himself to do better than Araujo Ilan, who hit the girders from 10 yards out, after Mido and Radoslav Kovac had spun Paulo Ferreira into a single ball of confusion. If Chelsea collect honours with this disparate collection at the back, it will be some achievement.
While Terry's form has been - despite the worthy protests of support from inside the Bridge - indifferent, he does have to cope with an onerous task.
And that it is to bind together a defence that has been holed beneath the waterline by injuries to the two first-choice full-backs.
Tunnel vision has always been the key to Terry's dominance. Now he needs peripheral vision.
And eyes in the back of his head.
Ross Turnbull might have been fumble-free on his first Premier League start for Chelsea but his positioning was suspect when Parker thumped a volleyed equaliser from 25 yards.
And Jon Obi Mikel's slipshod streak of form - he was abysmal against Manchester City - continues and his attempted interception was pitiful.
At the moment, Mikel is more poodle than guard dog.
His mistake knocked Chelsea out of a canter which had been started by Alex's towering header and Malouda's towering self-belief.
He is one of the main reasons why Joe Cole kicks his heels for most of Saturday afternoons.
Once flighty, he is now reliable. Once infuriating, he is now incisive.
It might have been a catalogue of West Ham errors that created the space for Malouda to pick out Alex but the Frenchman did it with understated finesse.
Just as he did when Chelsea regained the lead early in the second half.
It was Terry who led the charge, careering into West Ham territory like a Toyota Prius.
When defenders finally applied the brakes, the ball squirted to Malouda who picked out Drogba's run with the steady nerve of an engraver.
A good cross is one that turns a chance into a formality. Both of Malouda's crosses did exactly that. For simplicity and economy of effort, they were exemplary. Joe Cole might take note. He got half an hour but hardly made an entry into Capello's mental notebook.
And was ignored when Malouda drifted inside some woeful West Ham defending.
With good reason.
Malouda manufactured some room with considerable ease and then hit a strike of surgical precision to beat the blameless Robert Green.
In fact, Green's full-stretch stops from Frank Lampard and Alex might have only bolstered Capello's estimation of the West Ham keeper had it not been for a slight blunder that allowed an alert Drogba to tap in his 27th of the season.
Green clearly believed he could smother Lampard's reasonably hit strike and chose that option instead of pushing it to safety.
The ball wriggled free of his grasp and Drogba pounced with unbridled enthusiasm, the tap-in allowing him to smooch and make up with Clattenburg as they strolled off.
The pair had fallen out after Clattenburg saw nothing illegal about Matthew Upson's clumsy challenge inches outside the penalty area.
Drogba's reaction was a magnificent throwback to the halcyon days of epic tantrums. Like an eel thrown on to rocks, he pulled off that electrical wriggle, fist-pounded the turf and then pointed at the ref all the way back to the halfway line.
It took the intervention of Terry - the voice of reason and calm in Chelsea ranks - to somehow prevent Clattenburg from taking action.
Either that or he was star-struck. And that couldn't be the case, could it?
Whatever, it was almost uplifting to see a glimpse of the hysterics of old. Maybe Drogba has just been that bit too nice recently.
It was certainly an amusing diversion from a match that became mundane in its inevitability of outcome.
No matter how much Zola tried to justify his selection, he knows there are battles that can be more realistically won.
Just, as you suspect, Roy Hodgson will know today at Old Trafford.
Which is why this title race will go to the wire. Which is why Chelsea's game at Old Trafford could well decide its destiny.
Make a note of the date. April 3.
And you can guarantee there will be no love-in on that day.

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Mail:

Chelsea 4 West Ham 1:
Didier Drogba hits a double to send Blues back to the summit

By Rob Draper

Chelsea may have gone back to the top of the Premier League with this victory but in the coming weeks they face challenges that will define their season and success, or otherwise, of manager Carlo Ancelotti.
Inter Milan loom large on Tuesday and Manchester United are on the horizon, too.
Yet none of the those tests will be as straightforward as the win over West Ham, a team who would be relegation certainties if the League was not so bereft of quality in the lower reaches.
Ancelotti greeted his Italian counterpart at West Ham, Gianfranco Zola, with a continental kiss. It set the tone for West Ham's challenge: amicable and unthreatening.
A spectacular strike from Scott Parker rallied the team of Zola, the returning hero of Stamford Bridge.
And it may even have had some Chelsea stalwarts a mite concerned in view of how their team imploded here against Manchester City.
But there was little tension in the air and few would have feared that Chelsea would not regain top spot.
West Ham were lightweight, starting with a forward line that had mustered one Premier League goal between them this season and the side displayed little of the desire expected of teams in their position.
'Every match we play at the moment can decide our future,' said Ancelotti.
'We had a bad day against Manchester City and it was important after that defeat to have a good reaction.'
Zola stressed the positives, as he saw them.
'Until their second goal we were playing well, keeping control,' he said.
'Until that we had a chance. My team worked hard and didn't deserve the result.'
In his defence, managing the Hammers is a devil of a job.
Zola's vice-chairman, Karren Brady, used her newspaper column to discuss her manager's potential future employment and the best endorsement she could muster was: 'I don't have a crystal ball so I can't say what will happen.'
But Zola did little to enhance his long-term prospects. He said Carlton Cole was left out because of a knee problem which curtails his training and Alessandro Diamanti was likewise confined to the bench in favour of a counter attacking 4-5-1 formation.
But if Kieron Dyer and Araujo Ilan possessed the pace Zola was attempting to use, they hid it well.
Ilan had the best chance of rattling Chelsea's confidence. Eight yards out on 15 minutes, with scarcely a defender within arms' reach, the Brazilian snatched at his shot and sent it into the stand.
Within 60 seconds of that miss, West Ham were made to pay. They cleared a Florent Malouda corner but no one closed down the winger and he provided another cross for unmarked Alex to head home.
West Ham's defending was so poor that further calamities seemed inevitable. It was, therefore, a shock when they equalised on 30 minutes.
The build-up included a comical foul throw from Dyer: foot off the ground and the arc of the ball never behind his head. It would have shamed a six-year-old schoolboy.
John Obi Mikel ought to have cleared but allowed the ball to drop for former Chelsea man Parker, who chested it down and hit a spectacular half-volley from 30 yards past Ross Turnbull.
No blame could be attached to the stand-in keeper; the shot would have beaten the world's best.
Normal service was resumed in the 56th minute when John Terry played in Malouda, who sent a cross towards the far post. There lurked Drogba, unmarked, to nod the ball in.
Any semblance of a contest ended on 77 minutes when Malouda scored.
Drogba knocked down a long ball for the Frenchman, who attacked space as debutant Fabio Daprela backed off. He turned inside a defender and struck the third. '
This was Malouda's best performance,' said Ancelotti. 'I hope he plays like that on Tuesday.'
There was even time for Lampard to strike a post from three yards but he atoned in the 90th minute with a powerful shot which Green spilled, spoiling an otherwise impressive display in front of Fabio Capello. Drogba was on hand to strike his second of the afternoon and complete a routine, but satisfying, afternoon for Chelsea.

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Independent:

Malouda hammers home Zola's frailties

Chelsea 4 West Ham United 1: Chelsea top the Premier League again after making light work of London rivals who are fast going down the tube

By Steve Tongue at Stamford Bridge

Chelsea, it is clear, are in better shape than Internazionale ahead of Jose Mourinho's return here on Tuesday. After the Serie A leaders had crumbled in Sicily on Friday night, Carlo Ancelotti's team recovered from a brief and unexpected stumble against their rivals from along the District Line; a route which, like West Ham's back-line, was not operational yesterday. In doing so they regained the League leadership, having played the same number of games as Manchester United, who will be expected to beat Fulham this afternoon to keep the pot boiling nicely.
Fielding a third-choice goalkeeper in Ross Turnbull mattered not a jot, so rarely did the visitors test him, even if they should have taken the lead early on and later managed to draw level for almost half an hour.
A team that have scored 12 goals in 15 away games and not won one since the opening day of the season could hardly afford to spurn a gift like the one offered to Araujo Ilan, a striker preferred to Carlton Cole, along with the Premier League's cheapest footballer, the £1,000-a-week Mido.
One former Chelsea player, Scott Parker, did play from the start and was outstanding. Even he had to cede the game's individual honours, however, to the home team's Florent Malouda, whose form this season has been a revelation, as well as having the incidental effect of damaging Joe Cole's World Cup prospects. Cole was given the last 25 minutes at Nicolas Anelka's expense but can hardly expect to start on Tuesday. By that stage of the game, Ancelotti was already thinking of conserving some players' energy with substitutions and offering those like Cole and Salomon Kalou a trot. "We played a good match," said Chelsea's manager, who met talk of the special one's return to his former kingdom with a typically down-to-earth dismissal: "I am a normal man. This is Roman Abramovich's kingdom."
Mourinho will need to do better than another local hero, Gianfranco Zola, who hoped to surprise Chelsea with speedy counter-attacks. When Ilan, a Brazilian striker on loan from St Etienne, passed up a glorious chance in the 11th minute, it seemed unlikely that the visitors would be blessed with a better one all afternoon and so it proved. Mido's aggressive persistence at the byline forced the opportunity, hustling Paulo Ferreira off the ball, which he then laid back for Ilan, who hoofed it high over the bar.
Chelsea had already threatened from a series of corners and duly took the lead within four more minutes. John Terry, ritually abused by his fellow Eastenders in the West Ham section, laid a pass to Malouda, whose cross was headed in by the unmarked Alex. It was therefore all the more unexpected that the visitors were next to score. Kieron Dyer – yes, him – took a throw-in that eluded John Obi Mikel, enabling Parker to chest it down and sent a spectacular volley dipping over the helpless Turnbull.
Robert Green kept them level until 10 minutes into the second half with saves from Frank Lampard and Ferreira, but was then betrayed by his defence again. They failed to stop Terry leading a charge, allowing Didier Drogba to set up Malouda for another perfect cross that the Ivorian headed in from a yard out under no challenge.
Malouda deserved a goal himself and was appropriately rewarded with quarter of an hour to play, turning inside a defender on to his favoured left foot after Drogba headed down to him. Lampard hit a post, Green made one fine save from another Alex header, then failed to hold Lampard's low shot, Drogba following up for a tap-in.
West Ham, after a couple of wins had propelled them to the heights of 13th place, have now lost three in a row and go to Arsenal next. The weakness at both ends of the pitch is alarming, the only consolation being how many other poor teams are down there with them. Zola was happy to talk about Chelsea instead, suggesting: "I think they have an advantage on Inter. They have to score only one goal. It will be tough but I'd give a slight advantage to Chelsea."

Attendance: 41,755
Referee: Mark Clattenburg
Man of the match: Malouda
Match rating: 6/10

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Observer:

Florent Malouda ends fine display with goal as Chelsea regain top spot

Chelsea 4 Alex 16, Drogba 56, Malouda 77, Drogba 90 West Ham United 1 Parker 30

Amy Lawrence at Stamford Bridge

Three days before the man himself returns to Stamford Bridge, Chelsea put on a performance that was classic Mourinho. There was no great need to exert themselves and, against a pedestrian West Ham side, they plucked the three points necessary to regain position at the top of the Premier League table.
They were even able to tweak their goal difference without sweating too much. No need to tell Carlo Ancelotti, but you-know-who would have been proud. Not that José Mourinho can afford to be quite so thrilled about his current charges because Internazionale lost 3-1 at Catania last night, are shedding an increasing number of players to injury and suspension, and have actually won fewer league games than West Ham in recent weeks. Ancelotti has the air of a man feeling calm before the storm.
With the exception of Florent Malouda, whose contribution shone in terms of vigour and finesse, Chelsea were a couple of gears below the levels they will require against Inter in the Champions League on Tuesday night. Not that there will be any complaints about a comfortable win after a month that threw up domestic defeats by Everton and Manchester City. "It was important to have a reaction and we have come back in the right way," Ancelotti pointed out. "We want to maintain our determination and concentration now because every game can decide our future."
Florent Malouda was at his best against West Ham, with the winger causing West Ham all sorts of problems down the Chelsea left. Malouda chipped in with two assists to go alongside his goal, and also hit the post in an impressive all-round display. It was a calm afternoon for Ross Turnbull, the third-choice goalkeeper who is almost certain to play against Inter in what will be only his fourth appearance for Chelsea. If Ancelotti was hoping for the reserve's understudy to get his eye in and warm up his gloves before the spotlight intensifies, the truth was, it wasn't until stoppage time that he pulled off a genuine save, parrying well from Radoslav Kovac.
Mind you, much of his underemployment was down to West Ham, who scored a spectacular goal Turnbull could not get near to, but, otherwise, fluffed their lines. Araújo Ilan ought to have given them the lead in the 12th minute, but the Brazilian blazed a rasping shot over the crossbar.
Three minutes later, Chelsea were in front. Malouda picked out Alex with a fizzing cross and the centre-half hung high in the air to thump in a header from close range. Chelsea had barely stopped celebrating when they were pummelling Robert Green's goal again. Matthew Upson's touch was panicked and he had his keeper to thank for preventing an own goal.
West Ham's response was as enthralling as you could expect from a team whose attacking focal point, Mido, strained to break into a walking pace. So it came as a shuddering thunderbolt when Scott Parker gathered possession in midfield and belted the ball with beautiful ferocity and dip into the top corner from 25 yards out. The equaliser crowned an energetic display by the ex-Chelsea man, who last scored in the Premier League more than a year ago.
Ten minutes after half-time, Chelsea profited from an incisive break sparked by a bullish run by John Terry and helped on by a touch from their best player, Malouda. The Frenchman's cross again laid it on a plate for a team-mate and Didier Drogba was the grateful recipient, nodding in from close range.
Gianfranco Zola was disappointed with the strategic mistakes made when his players got drawn out of position because of Terry's run. "That goal was a big blow," he said. "We lost our shape. But Chelsea really punish you when you make mistakes."
Malouda scored the goal his performance deserved in the 75th minute, with a fine strike, sidestepping his marker before drilling past Green. Ancelotti enthused that it was as good a game as he has seen the winger produce. Drogba was not bad, either, and snaffled Chelsea's fourth in the last minute of the match, capitalising on a loose touch from the West Ham keeper.
Zola believes Chelsea have the edge for their tussle with Inter. "It will be tough because they are playing against a good side and a manager who knows Chelsea well and will be preparing counter measures. It will be very close, but I give a very small advantage to Chelsea."

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stoke 2-0

The Times

Defiant John Terry puts Chelsea through to FA Cup semi-finals

Chelsea 2 Stoke City 0
Matt Hughes, Deputy Football Correspondent

Most people behave differently at home to their carefully cultivated professional personas, and John Terry is no different.
The man who claimed last week to have put the stripping of his England captaincy behind him demonstrated yesterday that he has done no such thing, defiantly raising his shirt and pointing to his armband after scoring the goal that took Chelsea into the FA Cup semi-finals.
His exit from the pitch was more dramatic than anything that took place during the game — stripped to the waist like a latter-day gladiator, aside from his black armband — hardly the actions of an individual happy with his lot.
Terry may stew on his loss of status for the rest of his life. The Chelsea captain clearly remains bitter about being demoted from a position craved since childhood, as is shown in his eagerness to assert his authority whenever possible. Chelsea are willing to indulge their captain’s sense of theatre because he remains an outstanding leader for them in every sense, although Fabio Capello is unlikely to be impressed by such deliberately dramatic shows of defiance. Terry was egged on by a supporting home crowd chanting, “There’s only one England captain”, but unfortunately for him, that person is Rio Ferdinand. It would be better for everyone if Terry moved on.
In mitigation, Terry had to contend with the most hostile abuse he has encountered since news of that affair was made public, the Stoke City fans providing a sustained sing-a-long that made Wednesday’s mixed reception at Wembley sound like the warmest of welcomes. What began as a pantomime chorus of “John Terry, are you my dad?” degenerated into increasingly vicious chants. Others would have shrugged off such mindless abuse, but Terry’s skin is not the thickest, as Ray Wilkins, the Chelsea assistant first-team coach, unwittingly acknowledged.
“He was taking a bit too much stick from the Stoke fans and wanted to demonstrate that,” Wilkins said. “The abuse has run its course, but it’s happening and John’s just getting on with the situation. He’s dealing with the situation in the only way he can: committing himself to the cause. That was another superb performance from him. He’s an exceptional captain and we’re delighted to have him on board.”
Tony Pulis, the manager of a typically physical Stoke side who began well but were well beaten by the end, was less sympathetic. “Our fans are brilliant, different class,” Pulis said. “John will have to accept he’ll take stick, but if John does well in the World Cup and wins it, he’ll come back a hero.”
Terry will have to develop a tougher hide if he is to fulfil his oft-stated ambition of going into management, although if that plan does not come off, he should have no problems finding work as a dramatist, scriptwriter or even a choreographer. In addition to a natural attraction to the limelight, the 29-year-old has the rare knack of casting a shadow over events that are occurring around him and shaping proceedings to his will, which for Chelsea yesterday was just as well.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side started sluggishly and were overrun in midfield. Were it not for a goalline clearance from John Obi Mikel, Stoke would have taken the lead through a volley by Dean Whitehead in the eighteenth minute, but the visiting team failed to capitalise on their early pressure and soon found themselves relegated to bit-part players in the latest instalment of the John Terry Story.
Jeers poured down upon him as he came within screaming distance of the visiting supporters in the 35th minute but Terry showed that he has presence of mind, on the field at least, laying off a poorly cleared corner into the direction of Frank Lampard, who beat Thomas Sorensen with a first-time drive from the edge of the penalty area.
Lampard goes about his business far more quietly than Terry these days, but is equally important to club and country, as is demonstrated by the fact that he has scored 19 goals from midfield by the start of March.
Chelsea’s progress to a ninth FA Cup semi-final in 17 years, and three in the past four, was never in doubt from that point as Stoke faded, while Terry’s role as a match-winner appeared preordained. Sorensen made good saves from Nicolas Anelka and Alex from successive corners in the 66th minute, but was unable to prevent Terry making it third time lucky a minute later, meeting Lampard’s corner at the back post before completing his celebration at the corner flag.
Such determination to assert himself suggests that Terry may not be as mentally strong as is widely assumed, and even he conceded that he wanted to make a point. “The armband means a lot, of course,” Terry said. “Chelsea have been very supportive, the players as well, but the main thing was to come back from a disappointing result last week [a 4-2 defeat at home to Manchester City].”
If Terry is willing to bare his tortured soul in such a fashion at Stamford Bridge, who knows how he would express himself on the subject in his own home? Given the starting point of this sorry saga, it is probably sensible not to speculate.

Chelsea (4-1-3-2): Hilário 6 B Ivanovic 6 Alex 5 J Terry 6 P Ferreira 6 J O Mikel 5 S Kalou 6 F Lampard 7 F Malouda 6 D Drogba 6 N Anelka 6. Not used: R Turnbull, J Cole, Deco, D Sturridge, N Matic, G Kakuta, P van Aanholt.

Stoke City (4-4-2): T Sorensen 6 A Wilkinson 5 Abdoulaye Faye 6 R Huth 6 D Collins 5 D Whitehead 6 G Whelan 5 R Delap 6 Tuncay Sanli 4 R Fuller 5 M Sidibe 6. Substitutes: D Pugh 5 (for Whelan, 45min), D Kitson 5 (for Sidibe, 62). Not used: S Simonsen, L Lawrence, Amdy Faye, A Davies, L Moult.

Referee: M Atkinson. Attendance: 41,322.

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Independent:

Terry revels in role of captain fantastic
Chelsea 2 Stoke City 0

By Sam Wallace

Some of them were quite witty, most of them were plain abusive but none of the chants that Stoke City's supporters aimed at John Terry yesterday appeared to have the desired effect of unsettling the performance of the former England captain.
The stick, if that is the right word, that has been directed at Terry from the stands in the aftermath of the Wayne Bridge saga is probably the least of his worries but there is no doubt that yesterday he was subjected to the most sustained barrage yet. Just about the only one printable was "John Terry – are you my dad?" and you can imagine that it went downhill from there.
Say what you like about Terry, but the abuse just seems to bounce off him. When he scored Chelsea's second goal, he rolled up the sleeve of his left arm, leaving just the captain's armband around his biceps which he pointed to as he ran back towards the Stoke supporters in the Shed End.
Having been cruel before then, the Stoke fans descended into outright abuse of the man who was once England captain. This kind of stick is usually par for the course but the level of the abuse gave pause for thought. Stoke are the sort of Premier League club whose fans also follow the national team and if this was their considered opinion on Terry then perhaps there is more animosity to come from England supporters.
It was Terry's first goal since he was stripped of the England captaincy and, the worse the abuse gets from the rest, the more they love him at Stamford Bridge. He left the pitch shirtless again yesterday having given it to a fan as he completed another mini lap of honour that included its fair share of chest-thumping and kiss-blowing.
Terry will lead Chelsea into their ninth FA Cup semi-final in the last 17 years against Aston Villa next month and there was no doubt that they deserved it. The FA Cup holders gave a textbook display in negating the very obvious threat of Stoke that meant Henrique Hilario in the Chelsea goal was scarcely called upon to make a save in the second half.
Frank Lampard, who scored the first Chelsea goal, was also integral to the victory against the same Stoke team that eliminated Arsenal and Manchester City. Tony Pulis was without five first-team players and when he lost Glenn Whelan to injury just before half-time it was hard to see how the typical Stoke game plan would have any effect.
Rory Delap's throw-ins were repelled by a Chelsea defence that did not look under any pressure other than two occasions in the first 15 minutes. The first was Robert Huth's header that was nodded on by Mamady Sidibe, just over the bar. Dean Whitehead's shot was kicked off the line by John Obi Mikel and from then on it was one-way traffic.
There were few regrets from Pulis who accepted his side had finally run into a team who lived up to their billing as one of the strongest in the country. "You have your chances, you've got to take them when you play the top teams," Pulis said. "We've knocked Arsenal and Manchester City out. To pull Chelsea out of the hat at Stamford Bridge was a difficult tie. The players were first-class. We gave everything."
Lampard's goal came on 35 minutes as Chelsea's pressure became too much. A corner was half-cleared by Stoke to Terry who teed up Lampard on the edge of the area. His shot went in having taken a slight deflection off Abdoulaye Faye.
For Joe Cole it was yet another afternoon of pacing the touchline waiting in vain for the nod from Carlo Ancelotti to get his opportunity. It never came. With the game effectively sealed with more than 20 minutes to play there would have been no harm in giving him a run-out. Cole could be forgiven for getting paranoid that his manager is taking his contract stand-off personally.
In the absence of Ancelotti, Ray Wilkins explained that Cole would simply have to wait. "We have a superb squad of players and Carlo has a very difficult task in picking a side," he said. "Everyone merits a place in our team, but that was the side. Joe's had a very traumatic time with his knee, and you get highs and lows. He'll play plenty of games for Chelsea, don't you worry. I've no idea [about his contract], but that will be done towards the latter stages of the season."
Terry headed the second goal – via a deflection off Andy Wilkinson – from Lampard's corner in the 67th minute and that was it. Terry paraded his armband in front of the away end but it did not persuade them to shut up. He knows there will be plenty more of that abuse before the end of the season.

Chelsea (4-1-3-2): Hilario; Ivanovic, Terry, Alex, Ferreira; Mikel; Kalou, Lampard, Malouda; Drogba, Anelka. Substitutes not used: Turnbull (gk), J Cole, Deco, Sturridge, Matic, Kakuta, Van Aanholt.
Stoke City (4-4-2): Sorensen; Wilkinson, Abdoulaye Faye, Huth, Collins; Whitehead, Whelan (Pugh, 45), Delap, Tuncay (Lawrence, 61); Sidibe (Kitson, 61), Fuller. Substitutes not used: Simonsen (gk), Amdy Faye, Davies, Moult.
Referee: M Atkinson (West Yorkshire).
Booked: Chelsea Terry.
Man of the match: Lampard.
Attendance: 41,322.

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Guardian:

John Terry header secures Chelsea FA Cup semi-final spot
Chelsea 2 Lampard 35, Terry 67 Stoke City 0
Kevin McCarra at Stamford Bridge

Chelsea entered the semi-finals of the FA Cup with a purposefulness that almost suggested the defence of the trophy was their priority. The victors were probably more intent on recovering confidence after consecutive defeats in other competitions. It was, in a sense, to their advantage that Stoke City should demand the best of them.
Frank Lampard opened the scoring before the interval, but victory was not clinched until the second goal in the 67th minute. Chelsea had been insistent. Thomas Sorensen put a Nicolas Anelka header behind. That corner led to another and John Terry's header was not to be denied. Chelsea required the margin of error since their goalkeeping situation is worrisome while Henrique Hilário deputises for the injured Petr Cech.
Stoke would have been encouraged by that, but morale was also high because they were unbeaten in away games since Boxing Day. Tony Pulis's team disturbs opponents precisely because of their predictability. Opponents know what to expect of a direct approach that includes the long throw-ins from Rory Delap but do not have a method to thwart it consistently.
In the opening quarter of an hour, there were two occasions when Chelsea were in distress as the ball was hurled into the centre. The first of those incidents saw Ricardo Fuller mis-hitting a shot that Mamady Sidibe might have converted had it not been for a block by Alex. Carlo Ancelotti's side also had cause to be uneasy about Hilário.
With 14 minutes gone, there was panic at another Delap delivery and the Portuguese goalkeeper's weak punch set up Dean Whitehead for a shot that cannoned off Mikel John Obi. In the 4-2 loss to Manchester City the previous weekend, Hilário had displayed the hapless positioning of an outfield player ordered between the posts after the real goalkeeper had been sent off, yet he was retained here in preference to the remaining option, Ross Turnbull.
Even if they had not been at home, Chelsea would have had cause to try to keep the ball at the other end as much as possible. Anelka was elusive and his intelligence was particularly significant since any trial of strength with Stoke's husky back four was likely to prove futile. Chelsea were to take the lead following a corner, but height was not relevant.
Ten minutes from the interval, a half-cleared corner was laid back by Terry for Lampard to send a low shot past the goalkeeper. With that advantage, Chelsea were restored to their former selves and won with little difficulty.

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Telegraph:

Chelsea 2 Stoke City 0
By Jason Burt

The man with the buzz cut ran to the corner flag in primal celebration, pulled up his shirt sleeve and jabbed at the captain’s armband.
As he eventually wheeled away, back into his own half, his bicep was still exposed, sleeve up, the armband still in place. In case there was any doubt, he pointed to it again.
John Terry certainly reacted here. He reacted to the occasion, the need to get Chelsea back on track. He reacted to the remorseless goading of the
Stoke City supporters and although it may be a stretch to say he reacted to being stripped of the England captaincy by Fabio Capello – this was his first game since appearing for his country in midweek – he is still smarting from the loss, for sure, and the knowledge that the Italian, who wasn’t here, will never rely on him to lead again.
Terry’s face looked drawn as he stood, bare-chested, with that armband still in place and spoke about the need to “bounce back” from last weekend’s defeat to Manchester City.
“The armband means a lot to me. Chelsea have been very supportive,” he added of his own travails. “I would like to thank everyone for that.” Not everyone. Stoke’s fans got at him and got to him – no doubt about it – and assistant manager Ray Wilkins said of the taunting:
“It’s run its course. It’s a pity that it happens but John is getting on with the situation, getting on with his football and committing himself to the cause.”
Asked about Terry’s overwrought reaction, Wilkins added: “I think he was taking a little bit of stick from the Stoke supporters.”
Just a bit. But, for Chelsea, this isn’t going to go away. Not yet anyway. Not when Terry can be forced into a reaction – as he did when then fouling Ricardo Fuller, drawing a yellow card, and gesturing to the visiting fans.
He’s not exactly on edge but there is a taughtness to his game, to his features and, emphatically, despite his goal, it was his central defensive partner, Alex, who was the man-of-the-match.
Chelsea came in fear of Rory Delap’s trademark long-throw and left in praise of two trademark moves of their own.
There wasn’t just Terry’s header, powered into the net off Andy Wilkinson, following a third successive corner, with the Stoke fullback having also bundled away Nicolas Anelka’s goal-bound effort.
There was also the kind of crisp strike that Frank Lampard has made his own – running onto Terry’s lay-off to fizz a right-footed shot from the edge of the area that skimmed of the thigh of
Abdoulaye Faye to wrong-foot Thomas Sorensen. It was an 18th FA Cup goal for Lampard in Chelsea colours, one behind Peter Osgood for the club.
This was a performance from the cup holders – who have now reached a fourth FA Cup semi-final in five years and a date at Wembley against Saturday’s other quarter-final victors, Aston Villa – that bristled with a defiance.
This was a big result for Chelsea. Shorn off five – possibly six – definite first-team starters through injury and suspension, but with Joe Cole still confined to the bench by an increasingly unimpressed Carlo Ancelotti, they produced a display that had the feeling of getting back on track.
Regaining their footing; digging in for the run-in. Stoke manager Tony Pulis, as is his style, and the style of his team, took a no-nonsense approach to proceedings – and Terry’s predicament.
“John will have to accept he’s going to have to take stick,” he said. “He took stick from England supporters the other night … Ask John whether it fires him up more.” Pulis’s assessment of the match was equally blunt.
“You have your chances and you’ve got to take them,” he said. “Put everything in perspective. We knocked Arsenal out, Man City out – so to draw Chelsea away was a bit harsh.”
It was. And Stoke did have their opportunities. The first three moments of note all came from them – twice involving those Delap grenades.
On five minutes, the ball was headed on by Robert Huth and Mamady Sidibé, in front of the flapping Henrique Hilario, headed over.
On nine minutes Alex had to react sharply to block from Sidibé after Fuller’s cross-shot fell to him at the far post and on 15 minutes, Hilario punched the ball out to Dean
Whitehead whose low volley was hacked off the line by John Obi Mikel. It was looking rocky for Chelsea. Pressure wasn’t being applied, possession not dominated, chances not created.
Eventually Stoke’s storm subsided. Nicolas Anelka dragged a shot wide – and then, from a corner, Lampard struck. It changed the dynamics and the visitors lost a bit of belief.
Chelsea sensed it and Sorensen had to react quickly to push away a Didier Drogba near-post volley, before Lampard struck a knock-down over the bar and Pulis realised the game was slipping away. He quickly made a double substitution – having already lost Glenn Whelan to injury – but the momentum was with Chelsea.
After Terry scored, the game was up. Sorensen beat out Lampard’s dipping shot, before Terry’s long ball released Salomon Kalou.
Through on goal, his sidefooted shot was smothered by the goalkeeper before Terry harried Fuller into an error and Lampard, quick again, slipped a pass to Anelka who rolled it wide.
Faye headed two half-chances over for Stoke before, in the final minute, Alex jockeyed Fuller wide enough so that his eventual shot was easily blocked by Hilario. A clean sheet, as well as a victory, but a mixed emotion for Terry.


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