The Times February 01, 2007


Love is all around at Chelsea as Lampard inspires victory
Matt Dickinson, Chief Football Correspondent

Chelsea 3 Blackburn 0


A deserved victory, an entertaining performance and even a very public
hug for Andriy Shevchenko from José Mourinho. Stamford Bridge was not
a place full of factions and internal splits last night but a stadium
playing host to a Chelsea side back in strong, attacking form, which
will have made the injury to Ashley Cole all the more dispiriting.
On a night when there were plenty of positives, including signs of
increased output from Michael Ballack and Shevchenko, Mourinho did not
need another hole in a defence that has required repairs ever since
Petr Cech's skull was fractured in October and John Terry succumbed to
injury before Christmas.

Defensive wobbles were a concern again last night even before Cole
collapsed near the touchline — echoes of Michael Owen at the World Cup
finals — but there had also been reasons for cheer. With Didier Drogba
and Frank Lampard scoring superbly and Salomon Kalou adding a third,
this was the most vigorous performance in some time from Chelsea.

Huge issues, such as the manager's future, remain unresolved, but this
display gave hope to the supporters that if Mourinho is to depart, it
could yet be on a high.

It was only one performance, but his players showed that they have
stopped feeling sorry for themselves and are prepared to fight for
trophies, whatever the managerial upheavals.

To illustrate the change of mood, Mourinho responded with a typically
deliberate piece of showmanship by coming out to hug Shevchenko after
the striker's substitution. The Ukrainian found a backslapping,
high-fiving welcoming party where there has been only cold shoulders.
And he had not even scored.

Having gone out of his way to snub Shevchenko, Mourinho went to the
other extreme in his gushing praise. "Sheva did things he's never done
before. He was fast, he was strong in duels, he never gave up, he was
always in dangerous positions," the manager said. Maybe, but he still
trailed a long way behind Drogba and Lampard when it came to
effectiveness.

Lampard was in wonderful form, clipping balls forward with a
regularity and effectiveness that again threatened to upstage Ballack,
although the German, like Shevchenko, also showed glimpses of his old
self.

Mourinho claimed that only now is the German used to the speed of the
Premiership and, with a fight on four fronts, this would be a good
time for him to justify a £6 million-plus salary.

Lampard remains the benchmark and it was the England player's pass
that invited Drogba to rampage towards goal in the sixth minute. With
Stéphane Henchoz struggling to keep up, Drogba shot across Brad
Friedel for his fifteenth Premiership goal of the season.

Blackburn Rovers had caused several scares, particularly when Michael
Essien was forced to steal the ball off Steven Warnock's toes after a
slaloming run by the left back. Replays suggested that, despite
appearances, it was not a penalty, although that did not stop Mark
Hughes, the Blackburn manager, having a good moan about the
performance of Graham Poll, the referee — " one of his normal games,"
Hughes sighed — and the official certainly appeared to be turning a
blind eye to some clunking challenges from both teams.

"Blackburn played with a great attitude, with attacking players and
trying to score goals," Mourinho said, but for every chance Rovers
created, Chelsea were causing twice as much havoc. Shevchenko was
thwarted by a brilliant save from Friedel, then squandered a chance
with a heavy touch. Chelsea needed the security of a second goal and
finally it arrived in the 67th minute.

It was a stunning intervention by Lampard as he took possession in his
own half, laid off to John Obi Mikel and surged forward with typical
determination. Receiving possession back from Mikel, he nudged the
ball forward and hit a dipping 25-yard shot beyond the stranded
Friedel.

Kalou wrapped things up from a Ballack flick in injury time to leave
Mourinho in a strong position to fend off questions about Liverpool's
charge. "I look up, I don't look down," he said. "I look to Man
United, I don't look at Liverpool. They are a good team, but you have
to ask them if they think they can win [the title]."

The old Chelsea assurance certainly seemed to be returning last night,
although Cole's injury is another test as they head into the critical
months of the season.

Chelsea (4-4-2): P Cech — L Diarra, M Essien, R Carvalho, A Cole (sub:
Bridge, 55min) — J O Mikel (sub: P Ferreira, 87), C Makelele, M
Ballack, F Lampard — A Shevchenko (sub: S Kalou, 84), D Drogba.
Substitutes not used: Hilário, S Wright-Phillips.


Blackburn Rovers (4-1-3-2): B Friedel — B Emerton, S Henchoz (sub: C
Samba, 79), R Nelsen, S Warnock — Tugay Kerimoglu — D Bentley, P
Gallagher (sub: S Nonda, 62), M G Pedersen — B McCarthy, M Derbyshire
(sub: F Jeffers, 78). Substitutes not used: P Enckleman, A Mokoena.
Booked: Samba.

Referee: G Poll.

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Telegraph:

Mourinho rues 'bad' Cole injury
By Henry Winter

Chelsea (1) 3 Blackburn Rovers (0) 0

On the night the Bridge finally found its voice, Chelsea really gave
their fans something to shout about. Mocked for being too quiet this
season, the locals' backing for Jose Mourinho's players could not have
been more passionate, and their support was rewarded with a confident
display, spiced with goals from Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard and
Salomon Kalou.


Three good goals, three important points, but one big cloud. Ashley
Cole's season could be finished after he caught his studs in the turf
and crumpled to the floor, clearly in agony as he clutched his knee,
before being borne away on a stretcher. The mind was immediately
dragged back to poor Michael Owen's injury at the World Cup. No one
around him, but maximum pain.

"It looks bad," Mourinho said of Cole. "It's the ligament,
crossed-ligament in his knee, patella." Chelsea's coach is clearly no
doctor, but no medical qualifications were required to understand the
gravity of Cole's plight. "It's serious," Mourinho added. Wayne Bridge
replaced Cole and will probably do the same for England against Spain
at Old Trafford next week.

In a game watched by Dirk Benedict, formerly Face of The A-Team,
Mourinho's first-team options took another battering, but at least his
Mr T, John Terry, "may play" against Charlton Athletic this weekend,
according to Mourinho.

He loses one, he gains one. "It's like having a blanket that is too
small for the bed," Mourinho said of his limited options. "You pull
the blanket up to keep your chest warm and your feet stick out. I
cannot buy a bigger blanket because the supermarket is closed! But the
blanket is made of Cashmere! It's good."

Very good last night. Even against such feisty opponents as Mark
Hughes' Blackburn, Chelsea looked a real team, more of the unstoppable
machine of recent years, turning defence into attack in a blur of blue
movement. Michael Essien was again a powerful understudy for Terry,
while Lassana Diarra was all-action at right-back. Diarra's impact is
particularly significant as he lends much-craved width to Mourinho's
diamond formation.

Anchored by the ever-excellent Claude Makelele, midfield was run by
Lampard. Even those controversial recruits, Michael Ballack and Andrei
Shevchenko, contributed gamely, and Shevchenko received a warm embrace
from Mourinho when substituted.

After a long, cold winter, their relationship appears to be thawing so
fast that the pair will be swapping bouquets soon. "Sheva had his best
game for us," enthused Mourinho. "He played brilliantly; he was
fighting, he was strong in duels, he was aggressive. And Ballack also
made a big contribution."

Oft derided as one-paced, Ballack went through the gears here. He was
more involved, always showing for the ball at the tip of Chelsea's
diamond.

An expressionist movement swept through Chelsea, from the more vocal
terraces to the players themselves. After enduring an alarming
opening, when Morten Gamst Pedersen and Ryan Nelsen went close, the
champions began imposing themselves.

The lead was seized within six minutes, when Lampard stole possession
off Paul Gallagher and released Drogba down the inside-left corridor.
Even a goalkeeper as good as Brad Friedel stood no chance as Drogba
shot left-footed past him.

Blackburn refused to go quietly. Stephen Warnock, in sprightly form
for his new employers, accelerated into Chelsea's box, and fell under
a challenge from Essien. "I got up and shouted 'penalty', but people
who have seen it again said it was a great saving tackle," Hughes
said. A water-bottle still came flying out of the Blackburn dugout.

Bad blood briefly mixed with still water. David Bentley tried to
scythe down Makelele, who made sure the former Arsenal midfielder
suffered for his insolence. Chelsea were hardly angels, and Shevchenko
left Pedersen rolling on the scarred turf. The Bridge's half-time
guest was well chosen: Ron 'Chopper" Harris.

The scoreline could have been embellished before the break. Friedel
again impressed, repelling Drogba's shot and a Shevchenko header,
while Ricardo Carvalho cleared a shot from the highly promising Matt
Derbyshire off the line. Still the chances arose, Ballack heading
Diarra's great cross straight at Friedel.

For all his effort, Ballack was still not in Lampard's league, and the
England midfielder showed the German how to score after 67 minutes.
Picking up possession from John Obi Mikel, Lampard nudged the ball
forward and then sent it hurtling past Friedel from 25 yards.

There was more, Salomon Kalou coolly sliding in a third.

Match details

Chelsea (4-1-3-2): Cech; Diarra, Essien, Carvalho, A Cole (Bridge 52);
Makelele; Mikel (Ferreira 87), Ballack, Lampard; Shevchenko (Kalou
84), Drogba.
Subs: Hilario, Wright-Phillips.
Blackburn (4-1-3-2): Friedel; Emerton, Nelsen, Henchoz (Samba 78),
Warnock; Tugay; Bentley, Gallagher (Nonda 61), Pedersen; Derbyshire
(Jeffers 78), McCarthy.
Subs: Enckelman (g), Mokoena.
Man of the match: Frank Lampard (Chelsea).
Referee: G Poll (Hertfordshire).

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Indy:

Chelsea 3 Blackburn Rovers 0: Chelsea keep on United's tail but Cole
injury causes concern
By Sam Wallace, Football Correspondent

They still have Manchester United within their sights, but on the
night the transfer window closed the Chelsea manager's depleted squad
are yet another man down. The crowd in Stamford Bridge winced at
Ashley Cole's bizarre self-inflicted second-half tumble and the player
himself was left fearing the very worst.

The injury no one dared mention in the aftermath was damage to the
cruciate ligament although that will be the worst-case scenario for
Cole, who was taken off on a stretcher in distress. Jose Mourinho said
that only today would he know the extent of the damage.

There were unpleasant similarities with the moment Michael Owen's
cruciate ligament gave way at the World Cup last summer. When Cole
chased the ball over to the left touchline there was not a Blackburn
player within five metres of him. The full-back slowed down to take
the ball in his stride when his left boot caught in the turf and the
pressure from his momentum was transferred up his left leg. On first
glance it was a clumsy, comical fall; on the replays it looked deadly
serious. The England international's leg flexed unnaturally, bowed
outwards and, as he fell, the pain was already etched across his face.

"He's not OK," Mourinho said. "It could be the cross ligament, the
internal ligament, the patella, I don't know. He can't walk. It is
serious." The transfer window closed little more than three hours
after Cole was carried off, prompting an unusual summary from
Mourinho. He compared his reduced injury-ridden squad to a blanket
that was too small to cover the bed. "Pull it up and your feet get
cold, pull it down and your body is cold," he explained. The point was
that he does not have enough players but at least, he added pointedly,
"my blanket is cashmere".

Cole will be out of England's friendly against Spain on Wednesday
although Wayne Bridge is, for club and country, an adequate
replacement. The mystery over John Terry's recovery goes on, Mourinho
said yesterday that he was now not sure whether the England captain
will play against Charlton on Saturday and that throws into doubt the
likelihood of him playing against Spain next week.

That was the drama on a night in which Chelsea also showed that when
the heat was on from Liverpool in third place they could still take
the pressure, Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard and Salomon Kalou settled
the game in a familiar style. As a guest in the stands, the television
actor Dirk Benedict of Celebrity Big Brother and A-Team fame would
surely have concluded that Chelsea love it when a plan comes together.

Behind to Drogba's goal after six minutes, Blackburn put up a credible
fight but, Mark Hughes pointed out, when Chelsea looked in danger
Lampard's exquisite 16th goal of the season rescued them. And Mourinho
lavished unprecedented praise on Andrei Shevchenko - "absolutely
brilliant" - who he said had his best game yet for Chelsea.

There was certainly a warm welcome for the £31m man when he wandered
to the bench, a hug between manager and player that elicited a roar of
approval from Stamford Bridge. For those who watched another
characteristic set of Shevchenko misses, however, it was difficult to
see just what the improvement was. Hughes said that Blackburn had at
least come with the intention of trying to break down Chelsea although
they ultimately paid for it. The Blackburn manager was less than
pleased with the referee Graham Poll, who he said "had one of his
normal games" - in a manner that was by no means intended to be a
compliment.

Poll did get the big decision right, a penalty appeal for Stephen
Warnock. Warnock had gone on a remarkable run, past Ricardo Carvalho,
Lassana Diarra and Cole before he was floored by Michael Essien's
sliding tackle. One minute later Matt Derbyshire ran on to Essien's
misplaced header and beat Petr Cech but his shot lacked power. Poll
has not refereed a Chelsea match since he oversaw their controversial
defeat at White Hart Lane in November and they have not forgotten at
Stamford Bridge. Now there is another Premiership stadium that sings
an unrepeatable song about him.

It was Ballack, however, who drew the fiercest criticism from the home
crowd. The midfielder still floats in and out of games, he can make it
look effortless and, less positively, he can also make it look like he
is expending no effort whatsoever. It was Franz Beckenbauer who said
this week that Ballack has been outshone this season by Lampard and
Chelsea's goal after six minutes was a perfect example of how. Lampard
flicked a ball with the outside of his foot which Drogba ran on to
round the outside of Stephane Henchoz and slotted into the far corner
of Friedel's goal.

Mourinho scowled theatrically at a lame Shevchenko attempt after the
hour when Drogba's flick put him in on Friedel's goal. On 67 minutes,
Chelsea swept up the pitch, Diarra finding Ballack who gave it to
Lampard. He switched the ball left to John Obi Mikel, carried on his
run and, when he got the ball back, dispatched a dipping 25-yard shot
past Friedel.

Kalou had replaced Shevchenko and, in injury time, scored the kind of
goal the Ukrainian had been attempting all match - a simple finish
from Ballack's flick-on. No last-minute transfer deals for Mourinho
now. "The supermarket," he said, "is closed."

Goal: Drogba (6) 1-0; Lampard (67) 2-0; Kalou (90) 3-0.

Chelsea (4-1-3-2): Cech; Diarra, Essien, Carvalho, A Cole (Bridge,
55); Makelele; Mikel (Ferreira, 87), Ballack, Lampard; Drogba,
Shevchenko (Kalou, 84). Substitutes not used: Hilario (gk),
Wright-Phillips.

Blackburn Rovers (4-1-3-2): Friedel; Emerton, Henchoz (Samba, 79),
Nelsen, Warnock; Tugay; Bentley, Gallagher (Nonda, 62), Pedersen;
McCarthy, Derbyshire (Jeffers, 79). Substitutes not used: Enckelman
(gk), Mokoena.

Referee: G Poll (Hertfordshire).

Booked: Blackburn Samba.

Man of the match: Lampard.

Attendance: 38,000.

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Cole injury casts cloud over Chelsea's easy march


Jon Brodkin at Stamford Bridge
Thursday February 1, 2007
The Guardian


A comprehensive Chelsea win ought to have provided pure pleasure for
Jose Mourinho as he tries to catch Manchester United but his joy was
tempered by an injury to Ashley Cole last night. The left-back
departed on a stretcher in obvious discomfort with what the manager
called a "serious" left knee problem after catching first one foot and
then the other in the turf as he chased a ball with no one near him.

It brought back memories of the injury Michael Owen sustained at the
World Cup. Cole collapsed to the turf and the club doctor appeared to
suggest on the touchline that he had felt something pop in his knee, a
concern for club and country. Mourinho said it was too early for a
diagnosis but his words suggested he expects a lengthy lay-off. It is
doubtful whether Cole will play again this season.
"It looks bad but we have to wait," said Mourinho, who anticipates a
clearer assessment in the next 48 hours. "He's not OK. He has a
problem with the knee. Ligament, crossed ligaments, internal
ligaments, patella, I don't know but he can't walk - something serious
it must be."

The manager has a more than capable replacement in Wayne Bridge but
the injury overshadowed a powerful Chelsea performance and complicated
an already difficult title challenge. Chelsea have completed January
without a signing and Mourinho compared his injury-hit squad to a
blanket too small to cover every part of the body. "I'm content
because the blanket is cashmere," he added. "It's not an ordinary
blanket."

He could afford to joke as there was plenty for him to enjoy in this
deserved defeat of Blackburn. Chelsea would have had more goals but
for some poor finishing, with Andriy Shevchenko and Michael Ballack
guilty, and several Brad Friedel saves, including two from Shevchenko.

In a strong team display Frank Lampard, who set up the first goal and
scored an excellent second, particularly caught the eye with Didier
Drogba. There were moments, though, when their makeshift defence
wobbled, especially in the first half, and their opponents had chances
both to go ahead and to equalise.

Ballack gave one of his best displays, including with the flick that
sent Salomon Kalou through to complete the win, and Shevchenko got
applause and an embrace from Mourinho when substituted. The striker is
not at full sharpness, wasting a one-on-one and another chance with
poor touch, but his movement and work rate have improved and he is far
more often in scoring positions. Drogba twice set him up, hinting at
an understanding.

"His best game," said Mourinho. "He doesn't need to score to play
brilliant. He did things he never did before. Step by step he is going
in a great direction. He was fighting, strong in duels, fast. He was
always in the right place."

Drogba was in the right place to latch on to a fine Lampard pass and
put Chelsea ahead. Too quick and strong for Stéphane Henchoz, he
struck a perfect left-foot shot across Friedel and over the next 20
minutes Mourinho's team might have sewn up the match. Yet Blackburn
responded and Stephen Warnock came close to a memorable individual
goal, a run past three opponents being ended by a perfect Michael
Essien tackle. Ricardo Carvalho had to clear a Matt Derbyshire effort
from just in front of the goalline before Chelsea regained the
ascendancy. A sweeping move from inside their own half that began with
Lassana Diarra culminated in Lampard running on to a return from John
Obi Mikel and powering a shot over Friedel from outside the box.

The gap from Chelsea to Liverpool is back at five points and Mourinho
said: "I look up, I don't look down. I look to Manchester United, I
don't look to Liverpool."

Blackburn were fortunate not to have Brett Emerton sent off for
kicking Claude Makelele. If the incident was missed by the officials,
the Football Association could bring a violent conduct charge.

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Sun:

Chelsea 3 Blackburn Rovers 0


By MARK IRWIN
February 01, 2007

EVEN when it is easy, it is never straightforward for Chelsea these days.

A comfortable victory was overshadowed by the possible long- term loss
of Ashley Cole on the night the transfer window slammed shut.

The England left-back was carried off on a stretcher after catching
his studs in the turf as he chased a 52nd-minute ball down the line.

There was not an opponent within yards as Cole fell to the ground
clutching his left knee in agony.

A quick inspection from the medics confirmed that he could not go on.

Now boss Jose Mourinho must maintain the pursuit of Manchester United
with his defensive resources stretched to breaking point.

After months of rumour and speculation, Chelsea ended January as one
of only two Premiership clubs not to strengthen their squad when they
had the opportunity.

Roman Abramovich's continued absence kyboshed the prospect of making
any last-minute signings.

Mourinho tried to make light of his rapidly diminishing resources as
he struggles to cope with the absence of skipper John Terry, Khalid
Boulahrouz, Joe Cole, Arjen Robben and now Ashley Cole.

He joked: "It's like when you are in bed and your blanket is not quite
big enough.

"You pull it up to keep your head warm — but then your feet stick out
at the bottom and they get cold.

"Will I buy another blanket? No because the supermarket is closed.

"But luckily my blanket is made from cashmere!"

Now Mourinho is praying on Terry returning for Saturday's trip to
London neighbours Charlton after 13 games on the sidelines with a back
injury.

But even Chelsea's mounting casualty list was not enough to distract
them from their dogged pursuit of Premiership leaders United.

The gap at the top remains six points but this was the best
performance Mourinho's men have put in for quite some time.

Now the Champions are starting to believe they are finally over their
recent problems.

And one defeat in 18 games suggests they are right back in the groove.

Goals from Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard and substitute Salomon Kalou
were more than enough to see off a spirited Blackburn challenge last
night.

And even a reunion with referee Graham Poll could not take the gloss
off Chelsea's dazzling return to form.

The Thing from Tring has been kept away from Mourinho since sending
off Terry at Spurs in November — a fallout which subsequently cost the
Blues skipper a £10,000 fine from the FA.

And Poll's reluctance to brandish a yellow card for a series of rash
challenges last night infuriated both managers.

Brett Emerton was particularly lucky to escape punishment when he
brutally kicked Claude Makelele in the chest as they contested a 50-50
challenge. Fortunately for Chelsea, the influential Makelele was not
seriously damaged by the collision.

Without the little Frenchman holding everything together in the
middle, things really would start to fall apart for the Blues.

It is the calm reassurance of Makelele which allows Lampard to perform
with such impressive freedom on nights such as this.

The England international was in superb form as he took Blackburn
apart and reminded everyone of his value to the team.

It was Lampard's perfectly-weighted through ball which allowed Drogba
to burn off Stephane Henchoz in a straight race before tucking a low
left-footer inside Brad Friedel's far post.

That was Drogba's 23rd goal of a memorable season.

And it was not the last time Henchoz's lack of pace was to prove a
problem for Mark Hughes' side.

Even Andriy Shevchenko fancied his chances against the labouring Swiss defender.

Although Mourinho was stretching it when he described his record
signing as 'brilliant' in his post-match comments.

The £30million Ukrainian had plenty of opportunities to add to his
recent goal burst but found Rovers keeper Friedel in inspired form.

And for all Chelsea's creative excellence they remained vulnerable at
the back in Terry's absence and were fortunate not to pay for their
defensive deficiencies.

Stephen Warnock almost levelled in the 27th minute when he weaved his
way past Ricardo Carvalho, Lassama, Diarra and Cole before he was
halted by Michael Essien's magnificent last-ditch tackle.

Two minutes later, though, he undid all his good work when his
careless header was picked off by Matt Derbyshire.

The young Rovers striker calmly rolled his shot past the advancing
Petr Cech but Carvalho raced back to scramble the ball off the line.

Sensing that one goal might not be enough, Chelsea raised their game
again to put the match beyond Blackburn's reach.

Lampard was pulling all the strings in midfield and another chipped
pass allowed Drogba to hold off Emerton before drawing another save
from Friedel.

But even Friedel had no answer in the 67th minute when Lampard took
Mikel John Obi's pass in his stride before thumping a magnificent
25-yarder into the top corner.

With the result beyond doubt Mourinho could afford to withdraw
Shevchenko and give the striker an extravagant touchline hug to the
delight of the crowd.

Yet Chelsea were still not finished and in the first minute of
stoppage time Blackburn were carved apart again by Michael Ballack's
flick. Kalou did the rest.

Blackburn manager Mark Hughes was happy with the positive performance
his side produced.

He said: "We came here to win. We didn't try to frustrate Chelsea. We
made a bright opening but we allowed Drogba in for the first goal.

"We kept possession in midfield and caused them problems."