Wigan got smashed for the second week in a row by a rampant, free-scoring Chelsea who heaped on six goals at the DWB Stadium.
The hosts, who were embarrassingly beaten 4-0 at home by newcomers Blackpool in their opening game, made an encouraging start but still found themselves behind at half time.
Goalkeeper Chris Kirkland made a fine save from Frank Lampard but Florent Malouda was on hand to tap in the rebound in the 34th minute.
Nicolas Anelka, in the week his France career was effectively ended by an 18-match ban, made it 2-0 with a clinical finish in the 48th and he put the game to bed four minutes later with a close-range header, despite Wigan’s claims of offside.
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Chelsea striker Didier Drogba underwent surgery to his groin which will sideline him for 3 weeks. He will most probably miss the Community Shield clash with Manchester United and their Premier League opener.
The Ivory Coast international, who was troubled by the groin problem during Chelsea’s Premier League and FA Cup double-winning campaign last season, successfully had “minimal invasive surgery” on Friday, the club said on their website (www.chelseafc.com) Saturday.
The 32-year-old is expected to return to full training in three weeks meaning he will miss the Aug. 8 Wembley clash with United and possibly the beginning of their league title defence at home to West Bromwich Albion on Aug. 14.
Source: sport24.co.za
Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech is set to miss the start of the Premier League season after tearing a calf muscle in training. This is the second time this year the Czech Republic’s Play of the Year has suffered this injury.
A spokesman for Chelsea said: “Scans have shown Petr Cech has torn a calf muscle in his right leg and he is expected to be out for a month.”
Hilario, a more than capable keeper, is set to take his place while Ross Turnbull will also be hoping for a chance to shine.
Source : Chelsea FC
No sooner has the World Cup ended and the pre-season for the English clubs has begun. Most sides are without some of their World Cup stars as they take a well-deserved break, but the modern squad sizes don’t allow for a lack of talent.
The champions Chelsea beat Crystal Palace 1-0 thanks to a solitary goal from Michael Essien. The Ghanian is back from a lengthy lay-off that saw him miss the Word Cup this year. Carlo Ancelloti said, ‘It was an important return, he came back very well and played very well. He is a fantastic player, we missed him last season and we hope he can do the best for this season’. Their next match is against Ajax in the Amsterdam Arena.
Manchester United is currently on tour in North America and kicked off against Celtic in Chicago on Saturday. Berbatov opened the scoring with some fine finishing in the first half, reds’ fans hoping the Bulgarian is making the start of a glorious season at Old Trafford. Much is expected of the smooth operator this year. New boy Chris Smalling did not make the best of starts for the reds as he gave away a penalty that allowed Samaras to level for the bouys. Manchester United was able to finish strongly as Danny Welbeck and Darren Odea scored in the final quarter of the match, leaving the score at 3-1. The Red Devils have three more matches on the tour; they will be taking on Philadelphia Union, Kansas City Wizards and the MLS All-Stars. You can see the full fixture list here.
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Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti says Ashley Cole will stay at the English Premier League Club next season.
Ancelotti told Chelsea’s website that Cole “will be an important player for us next season. One hundred percent.”
The Italian was responding to speculation linking the England left back with a move away from Stamford Bridge this summer, Media reports have claimed Cole is a target for Spanish side Real Madrid, whose new coach Jose Mourinho used to manage the defender at Chelsea.
Ancelotti, who won the Premier League and FA Cup double with Chelsea last season, also said he would not be looking to add another striker to his squad for the new campaign.
Liverpool’s Spain international Fernando Torres has been linked with a move to Chelsea.
Source: supersport.co.za
While the World Cup has been going on in our back yard the English FA quietly announced the preliminary fixture list for the 2010 / 11 season, set to start in August. The opening weekend starts off with a bang when Arsenal take on Liverpool at Anfield and Tottenham Hotspur face Manchester City.
Quite who pitches up for the Arsenal and Liverpool match is anyone’s guess at this stage what with the World Cup holding up transfer dealings and all. For Arsenal, a mass exodus of central defenders is underway. Senderos has left for West London to play for Fulham, while Gallas seems to have decided that Italian football would suit his ageing legs. The futures of Campbell and Sylvestre are also yet to be decided. The Cesc to Barcelona stories may turn out to be true with the player now expressing his admiration for coach Pep Guardiola. Liverpool, meanwhile, are set to appoint Roy Hodgson as their new manager and will no doubt look to implement some changes in personalle as the Reds look to return to their former days of glory. Central to this endeavour will be the retention of key players, namely Torres and Gerrard. No matter who takes to the field we are guaranteed a storming match, Arsenal fans taking comfort in the knowledge that a certain diminutive Russian looks set for another season in North London.
The Tottenham and Manchester City match will be of great importance to both sides as they get their campaigns for Champions League qualification underway. The corresponding fixture last season proved this with Tottenham taking the coveted fourth spot in the final weeks of the season. No doubt Manchester City will make some big money signings, probably taking their riches to the best performing players of the World Cup. Tottenham will also be dealing with a congested fixture list, their Champions League debut requiring a tricky qualification round with an opponent yet to be decided.
With the forthcoming season set to be Sir Alex’s last in charge, the Red Devil’s will begin their quest to overtake Liverpool as the top division’s leading champions against the returning Newcastle. Chelsea begins their title defence in earnest against West Brom, a relatively easy start for the Blues. The full fixture list is available here.
Pic : News of the world
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger stated that he is great admirer of England star Joe Cole.
Cole has been strongly linked with a move to the Gunners after Chelsea confirmed earlier this week the midfielder would be leaving Stamford Bridge next month following the expiration of his contract.
A host of sides, including Manchester United, Manchester City and Tottenham have been credited with an interest in Cole, but reports suggest Arsenal are leading the hunt for the former West Ham man.
Wenger refused to confirm his side would be making a summer swoop for Cole, but admitted he was a fan of the talented 28-year-old.
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Chelsea won their 4th English Premier League title by smashing Wigan 8-0 in an emphatic finale to a season in which they pipped Manchester United by a single point and banged in a Premier League record 103 goals.
As well as denying United what would have been an unprecedented fourth consecutive title, Chelsea’s biggest ever top flight victory ensured Carlo Ancelotti’s first season in charge ends with the league trophy back in west London for the first time since Jose Mourinho masterminded back-to-back triumphs in 2004-05 and 2005-06.
“It’s fantastic, we did our best and I did my best for this club,” the delighted Italian said after delivering the title that had proved elusive for his predecessors Avram Grant, Luiz Felipe Scolari and Guus Hiddink.
“It’s been a great Premier League season and I think in the end we deserved to come out on top.”
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Chelsea have laid a record-breaking £70 million offer on the table for Liverpool striker Fernando Torres, according to reports.
The Daily Mail, splashing the bombshell across its back page, claims that ‘preliminary discussions have already taken place, with the outcome of those meetings positive enough to convince Roman Abramovich that he will beat his big-spending rivals at Eastlands to the 26-year-old Spaniard’.
Manchester City, whose manager Roberto Mancini publicly confirmed his interest in signing Torres two weeks ago, had previously been thought favourites to sign Torres were he to leave Anfield. Fleet Street continues to maintain that the Spaniard is considering his future at the club despite signing a new deal last year.
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Chelsea and Manchester United both held their nerve on Sunday to win their respective games in the English Premier League.
United beat Sunderland 1-0 just hours after leaders Chelsea defeated Liverpool 2-0 leaving Sir Alex Ferguson’s defending champions to head into the final weekend a point beind Carlo Ancelotti’s side.
Chelsea can win the title for the first time since 2006 if they beat Wigan at home on Sunday.
But United will retain the crown, and claim a record 19th English championship, if the Blues drop points and Ferguson’s men beat Stoke at Old Trafford.
At Anfield, Ancelotti’s side enjoyed an easy ride thanks to Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard, whose poor back-pass allowed Didier Drogba to open the scoring in the first half before Frank Lampard struck after the interval.
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