Category — Chelsea
Guss Hiddink believes Chelsea can sink Liverpool
Although Hiddink’s side have one foot in the semi-finals after last week’s stunning 3-1 victory at Anfield, Liverpool have developed a habit of upsetting the form book in Europe under Rafael Benitez.
Guus Hiddink believes Chelsea’s unbreakable team spirit will stop Liverpool staging a famous revival in Tuesday’s Champions League quarter-final second leg.
Liverpool’s fightback from 3-0 down to win the 2005 Champions League final against AC Milan proved how dangerous they can be, but it would take a spectacular meltdown to deny Chelsea a probable last four showdown against Barcelona, 4-0 winners over Bayern Munich in their first leg.”There is a fantastic spirit around this club, everyone believes in what we can achieve this season and it is exciting to be a part of that,” he said.
“But we must not lose our focus for one game or one minute and that means each game is as important as the next one. We have the same aim, which is to try and win all of them.
“It is important that we take the momentum gained from winning at Anfield into this game and keep our level of performance up.”
While a less resolute team could crack under the pressure of an early Liverpool goal on Tuesday, Blues boss Hiddink is convinced the squad’s togetherness will play a key role in finishing the job at Stamford Bridge.When Hiddink arrived at Chelsea in February the club’s season was in danger of fizzling out, but he quickly won the respect of players who were unconvinced by Scolari’s laidback regime.
Now Chelsea look back to their intimidating best and they could still finish the season with a treble. Saturday’s 4-3 win over Bolton kept them within four points of Manchester United in the Premier League, while Tuesday’s Liverpool showdown is followed by an FA Cup semi-final against Arsenal at Wembley.When Hiddink arrived at Chelsea in February the club’s season was in danger of fizzling out, but he quickly won the respect of players who were unconvinced by Scolari’s laidback regime.
Now Chelsea look back to their intimidating best and they could still finish the season with a treble. Saturday’s 4-3 win over Bolton kept them within four points of Manchester United in the Premier League, while Tuesday’s Liverpool showdown is followed by an FA Cup semi-final against Arsenal at Wembley.
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April 14, 2009 No Comments
John Terry wants Guus Hiddink to stay
The Dutchman has revitalised the Blues since taking over from Luiz Felipe Scolari on a temporary basis earlier this season. But his contract runs out in May and his insistence that he will resume his role as Russia coach on a full-time basis has reportedly prompted Chelsea to sound out Ancelotti about the job.
However, Terry has been impressed by Hiddink’s methods and wants the club’s owner, Roman Abramovich, to do everything in his power to keep the former PSV Eindhoven manager at Stamford Bridge. “He (Hiddink) has a good relationship with Roman Abramovich,” said the England defender.
“Things have gone very well and I’m sure there will be talks ongoing. If we keep progressing there’s only going to be one option. He’s done brilliantly. He’s on at us every day in training, and he doesn’t let anyone get away with anything.”As well as the link with Ancelotti, it has also been reported that many of Chelsea’s players would like Abramovich to move for Jose Mourinho, the former Chelsea manager currently in charge at Inter Milan. However, Terry played down those claims.
Chelsea remain in touch with Manchester United in the Premier League title race after Saturday’s 4-3 win over Bolton Wandererskept them four points behind the leaders. Although they need United to slip up twice to overhaul the champions, Terry is convinced they are firmly in contention.
“Make no mistake, we can still win the league,” he said. “Man United and Liverpool have both surrendered good positions this season, as have we, but we’re in a good frame of mind and have to be ready to take advantage of any slip-up.” – FIFA
“Listen, Jose was a great manager and had some great times here,” he said. “But it’s someone else’s turn now to kick on. Mourinho is a world-class manager, a lot of the players are still in contact with him.
“But we need stability at the club now. The manager’s done brilliantly and got us playing freely. But it’s down to the board to make those decisions.”
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April 13, 2009 No Comments
Hiddink hails impact of Essien
Chelsea boss Guus Hiddink believes the return to fitness of midfielder Michael Essien will be crucial as the Blues face Juventus in the last-16 of the Champions League on Tuesday.
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March 11, 2009 No Comments
Ferreira out for the season
Chelsea’s Paulo Ferreira has been ruled out for the rest of the season with an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
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March 9, 2009 No Comments
Chelsea star Cole apologizes after arrest
Chelsea and England defender Ashley Cole has apologized to London police for a foul-mouthed tirade that led to him being arrested for drunk and disorderly conduct in the early hours of Thursday morning. In a statement released by the left-back, Cole said he swore out of his frustration with the paparazzi and insisted he would never disrespect the police. However, Cole admits he did not heed their warnings to calm down and regrets not taking their advice. He also made it clear that he had not consumed a vast amount of alcohol.
Cole declared: “I would like to take this opportunity to apologize to the police officers on duty last night for my language. I felt I was being harassed by paparazzi and while complaining to the police about this at the scene they did warn me to calm down, a warning that I regrettably did not heed. I fully appreciate that whatever frustrations I may have had with others that it was completely inappropriate to vent those in conversations with the police. However, I do want to make clear that I swore in frustration at the paparazzi’s behavior. I would never disrespect police officers in anyway. I take very seriously my responsibilities as a professional footballer, this includes keeping my body in the best condition. Although I had consumed some alcohol earlier in the evening on a night out with friends it had not been excessive. But I accept that the language I used on this occasion was wrong. I regret my actions and how it reflects on myself and Chelsea Football Club.”
The 28-year-old was arrested in Brompton Road in the upmarket west London area of South Kensington, close to Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge ground, at about 2.15am on Thursday morning after emerging from the Collection nightclub. Police sources said the officers were already on patrol in the street and were not called to any disorder. One source denied reports they were following up a complaint from a photographer over an alleged bust-up with Cole. Cole was taken to a central London police station and issued with an £80 fixed penalty notice for being drunk and disorderly before being released shortly after 5.30am.
Cole is likely to be fined by Chelsea. Before his arrest, Cole had joined Chelsea’s first-team squad and more than 300 charity workers, celebrities and supporters for the second annual Chelsea FC and Armani charity fundraiser. Cole, who previously played for Arsenal before joining Chelsea in 2006, is married to the Girls Aloud singer and reality TV judge Cheryl Cole, who is currently on a charity climb on Kenya’s Mount Kilimanjaro.
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March 6, 2009 No Comments