The Times
March 15, 2007

Mourinho's ruthless people increase the pressure on Pearce
Manchester City 0 Chelsea 1 Oliver Kay

In the ruthless, unforgiving and heartless industry that football has
become, results are everything, but performances will go a long way to
determining the fate of José Mourinho and Stuart Pearce. This was a
night that is unlikely to have done either of them too many favours in
that regard, but, if Mourinho took heart from a victory that keeps
Chelsea alive in the Barclays Premiership title race, Pearce was at
least entitled to draw some comfort from an overdue show of passion
from his Manchester City team.

This was the first time in weeks that City's players left the pitch to
applause, rather than jeers, a public recognition that on this
occasion they had, if nothing else, shown themselves to be "fit to
wear the shirt". This was their best Premiership performance since New
Year's Day when Everton were defeated 2-1, but as much as that might
satisfy Pearce, he was left to dwell on a fifth consecutive league
defeat, one that seemed largely inevitable from the 28th minute, when
Frank Lampard scored his twentieth goal of the season from the penalty
spot — as many in all competitions as City have managed all season in
the Premiership.

Lampard's goals have been invaluable in keeping Chelsea alive in the
title race, but this was a result that was founded on the combative
defending of Ricardo Carvalho and John Terry, making a successful
return from injury, and the controlling presence of Claude Makelele in
midfield. That, with Petr Cech largely untested behind them, suggests
a Chelsea that might now return to maximum efficiency, but while there
is much to be admired in a team that can win matches without even
approaching top gear, it is doubtful whether this result will have
sent too many shockwaves across Manchester to Old Trafford.

Manchester United's lead at the top is now six points — a figure that
Mourinho feels is manageable with the leaders still to visit Stamford
Bridge — but, whereas City's supporters might have taken some
satisfaction in other times from a result that threatens their
neighbours, this is no time for such pettiness. City are in a
relegation battle, albeit one that Pearce, his team six points clear
of Charlton Athletic, feels can as easily encompass eight clubs as
four.

An improved performance at least had the effect of unifying the
supporters behind the team once more. The only downside — a
substantial one, admittedly — was Chelsea's goal, which came from a
rare first-half attack that saw a change of pace from Salomon Kalou
and a reckless challenge from Micah Richards, the 18-year-old defender
whom Mourinho wished to sign during the January transfer window. Alan
Wiley, the referee, had no hesitation in pointing to the spot and
Lampard was equally quick to pick up the ball and stroke it past
Andreas Isaksson.

Isaksson's selection in the City goal was one of several talking
points. Officially, Nicky Weaver, preferred since the Swede picked up
an injury in pre-season, was being "rested", a verdict that the former
England Under-21 goalkeeper will have found hard to accept given that
his form has not been an obvious symptom of the team's recent ills.
More straightforward was the omission of Bernardo Corradi, the
misfiring Italian forward, whose more mobile replacement, Emile
Mpenza, at least gave Terry something to think about on his return
from injury.

Chelsea look a far more formidable unit than in that torrid spell over
the new year when they were shipping goals in the absence of Terry and
Cech, but their performance did not exude the class associated with
title-winners or indeed challengers. City did most of the running,
but, aside from snatched shots by Stephen Ireland and Darius Vassell
there was little to worry Cech.

Time was running out for Pearce and so were the options. To the
displeasure of some of the crowd, he sent on Georgios Samaras, the
young Greek forward who, along with Corradi, has been accused of
lacking the stomach for a fight, but a more mournful substitution was
to follow for the City supporters as Shaun Wright-Phillips, their
former darling, was introduced and instantly struck a 25-yard shot
against the crossbar, evidently enjoying his return to familiar
climes, especially as the pervading sense of gloom seemed for once to
be lifting, despite the result.

Manchester City (4-5-1): A Isaksson — M Richards, R Dunne, S Distin, M
Ball — Sun Jihai (sub: I Miller, 63min), J Barton, D Hamann (sub: O
Dabo, 80), S Ireland, D Vassell (sub: G Samaras, 73) — E Mpenza.
Substitutes not used: J Hart, P Dickov. Booked: Hamann, Dunne,
Richards.

Chelsea (4-3-3): P Cech — Gérémi, R Carvalho, J Terry, A Cole — M
Ballack, C Makelele (sub: L Diarra, 90), F Lampard — A Robben (sub: S
Wright-Phillips, 78), D Drogba, S Kalou. Substitutes not used: C
Cudicini, K Boulahrouz, A Shevchenko. Booked: Drogba, Ballack.

Referee: A Wiley.
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Telegraph:

Lampard gives City the blues
By Tim Rich

Manchester City (0) 0 Chelsea (1) 1

The contest between the Premiership's two most insecure managers was
won by the man who can expect more than £10 million if he is sacked.
Like a contestant on The Weakest Link - which in Manchester City's
case is their forward line - Stuart Pearce, at his own request, will
leave with nothing.

The bookies may contend that neither Pearce nor Jose Mourinho will be
taking charge of their respective sides next season, although this was
far from the rout that might have triggered another wearying change of
management in the blue half of Manchester before the weekend.

Sunderland once bizarrely sacked Peter Reid after a defeat at
Highbury, which demonstrated a rather unrealistic view of football on
Wearside, but if Pearce's men show this kind of fight in their
remaining fixtures they should survive. However, there is still no
sign they have anyone who can actually put a football in a net. In
their last two matches, Manchester City have managed one shot on
target, and that in the 94th minute of this contest by Georgios
Samaras, a man who was booed on to the pitch by his own supporters.

Pearce had tried to inspire the wayward, underachieving Greek by
shaking a fist in his face before introducing him but the reception
and the response was nothing like that given to Shaun Wright-Phillips.
And when Manchester City's great lost footballer slammed a shot
against the crossbar, Eastlands sighed.

So, too, would Mourinho, if only with relief. Having berated
Manchester United for their ability to win matches when playing badly,
the Chelsea manager watched his own players do much the same.

For all the pressure that had swirled around the gaunt figure of
Pearce, the team who had to win at Eastlands last night was Chelsea,
and it showed. All Manchester City had to do to grant their manager a
stay of execution was to lose with a certain dignity, and this they
did.

For Mourinho, directing his side near the site of Britain's first
super-casino, the stakes were considerably higher, though as he
suggested dismissal by Roman Abramovich would net him a fortune -
although probably not on the scale of the Russian oligarch's
soon-to-be-divorced wife, Irina.

Even after Frank Lampard had put away the decisive penalty midway
through the first half, Chelsea were jittery, anxious and sometimes
plain bad. Michael Ballack attempted short passes, he tried to play
the ball long. and seldom did the captain of Germany find his target.
Some of the crossing was wildly inaccurate. Worryingly, their captain,
John Terry, began hobbling around after having some studs driven into
his ankle.

There was a certain desperation in Pearce's line-up. Nicky Weaver was
left out for Andreas Isaksson, the Swedish World Cup keeper, who had
begun three matches since his arrival at Eastlands all of which had
been lost. The first-choice partnership of Bernardo Corradi and
Samaras was broken up.

There have been too many mights and maybes in the eastern suburbs of
Manchester and there was a certain irony that they should have been
undone by their own defence, an area where they have suffered
relatively few problems.

Micah Richards is a highly-talented right back, but he is still a
teenager and exhausted, mentally and physically, by the demands placed
upon him. His challenge on Salomon Kalou was clumsily naive - Richard
Dunne expertly defused two similar situations in the second half - and
in the 27th minute Chelsea had a lead they scarcely merited from the
penalty spot.

As Isaksson picked the ball from his net, Richards looked as
distraught as he had done on the final whistle at Blackburn last
Sunday when the Manchester City supporters had turned on their own
players. Sylvain Distin, who is reportedly not speaking to certain
members of his own defence, put a comforting arm around Richards'
shoulder. In a team who are supposed to be falling apart from within,
it was a touching moment.

Match details

Manchester City (3-5-2): Isaksson; Richards, Dunne, Distin; Sun Jihai
(Miller 64), Hamann (Dabo 80), Barton, Ireland, Ball; Vassell (Samaras
72), Mpenza.
Subs: Hart (g), Dickov, Samaras.
Booked: Hamann, Richards.
Chelsea (4-3-2-1): Cech; Geremi, Carvalho, Terry, Cole; Ballack,
Makelele (Diarra 90), Lampard; Robben (Wright-Phillips 77), Kalou;
Drogba.
Subs: Cudicini (g), Shevchenko, Boulharouz.
Booked: Geremi, Drogba, Ballack.
Man of the match: Claude Makelele (Chelsea).
Referee: A Wiley (Staffordshire).

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Indy:

Manchester City 0 Chelsea 1:
City regain pride but Lampard takes the points
By Sam Wallace

Chelsea played in black and, given the sombre air around Stuart
Pearce's Manchester City career, it seemed appropriate. But even
though Jose Mourinho's side edged a little closer to Manchester United
they did not give Pearce the manager the last rites: this was not
quite the dire City performance to force his board's hand.

That was not much to cling to as his team's run of defeats stretched
to five but there is no shame in losing to the defending Premiership
champions, even if City's first shot on target came in the 94th
minute. Frank Lampard's penalty decided the match and while Chelsea
were comfortable it was not the kind of performance to strike fear
into the other half of Manchester's football community.

Another anguished night for the benighted blue half of the city. A
point would have ended the slippage towards the relegation places,
still only six points away, but also have sent United on the home
straight to the title. Chelsea closed the gap to six points on the
leaders before Mourinho left Manchester without offering his opinion:
he has managed to keep his self-imposed media blackout for a full 24
hours.

"There's no way you can put a performance in like that with a split in
the camp," Pearce said. "We are under the microscope and the only
thing that will alleviate it is us winning a game. The endeavour
pleased me and we have to take that into the weekend."

They were fighting words, like the fist that Pearce raised to the face
of Georgios Samaras before he sent the £6m Greek striker on in the
closing stages. Samaras was booed all the same by some elements of the
home support but at least they had a cheer for Shaun Wright-Phillips,
playing for the first time at City since he left for £21m almost two
years ago. With his second touch he hit the bar.

On the whole this was a dreadful game and, for City, Darius Vassell
and Emile Mpenza were anonymous in attack. John Terry played for the
first time since his head injury in the Carling Cup final. "The belief
is there, it's an important three points," he said. "I'm glad to be
back and involved in such a good team performance."

Sterner tests await Chelsea on their travels, although there was no
doubting they looked solid in defence, even with Geremi the latest to
be installed at right-back. They have had some thrilling, symbolic
victories in the North-west over Mourinho's reign: this was not one of
them.

Joey Barton is almost certain not to feature in Steve McClaren's
England squad announced tomorrow, but he provided the most substantial
resistance. He failed miserably in trying to con a penalty out of Alan
Wiley with a stumble into Geremi, but otherwise was his usual
belligerent self, the prime mover behind City's best work.

The Lampard penalty was the game's only true moment of controversy, a
very tight call from Wiley which took more than a couple of replays to
analyse and even then seemed beyond a definitive answer.

Micah Richards had looked impressive on the right side of a back three
for City but when Salomon Kalou was given the chance to run at him for
the first time, the 18-year-old found himself turned to the inside and
then the outside. It was as Kalou appeared to get round him the two
clashed and the Ivorian went to ground rather too easily.

Was it a penalty? It was the tightest of calls but Kalou seemed to be
falling before Richards made any real contact and dragged his feet
into the ground to help his stumble. That the ball was gone by the
time Richards made contact did not help his case. Lampard stroked the
ball assertively past Andreas Isaksson for his 11th Premiership goal
of the season.

Pearce was back on the edge of his training area for the second half,
this time having discarded his tracksuit top in favour of short
sleeves while Mourinho stuck with the overcoat and sweater. Certainly,
when the ball came over to his side of the pitch the demonstrative
City manager seemed virtually a participant in this game, in mind if
not in body.

They survived what would have been a killer Chelsea goal before the
hour. Robben looped the ball over City's ragged back line which did
not come close to catching Lampard offside, he pulled it down and
lobbed Isaksson. Only Richards prevented the ball from bouncing into
the net.

Another distinguished City performer was Richard Dunne, who twice
chased down Kalou when the winger seemed to have him beaten for pace.
It was Dunne who had recently called upon some of City's foreign
signings to stand up and be counted and he certainly led by example.
But by the end it was difficult to remember a shot Petr Cech had to
save.

Goal: Lampard pen (28) 0-1.

Manchester City (3-5-2 ): Isaksson; Richards, Dunne, Distin; Sun Jihai
(Miller, 63), Barton, Hamann (Dabo, 80), Ireland, Ball; Vassell
(Samaras, 73), Mpenza. Substitutes not used: Hart (gk), Dickov.

Chelsea (4-1-3-2 ): Cech; Geremi, Carvalho, Terry, A Cole; Makelele
(Diarra, 90); Robben (Wright-Phillips, 78), Lampard, Ballack; Kalou,
Drogba. Substitutes not used: Cudicini (gk), Shevchenko, Boulahrouz.

Referee: A Wiley (Staffordshire).

Booked: Manchester City Hamann, Dunne, Richards; Chelsea Geremi,
Drogba, Ballack.

Man of the match: Terry.

Attendance: 39,429.
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--------------------------------------------
The Guardian

Lampard's strike turns up the heat on Pearce
Daniel Taylor at the City of Manchester Stadium

Manchester City's season is beginning to resemble a plunge through
football's lift shaft. Chelsea are merciless opponents and a night of
huge significance at either end of the Premiership table concluded
with Manchester United's lead reduced to six points and,
simultaneously, fresh doubts about whether Stuart Pearce's position as
City manager has been terminally poisoned.
There were implications for both Manchester clubs and neither could be
happy on a night when Chelsea huffed and puffed their way to victory.
The repercussions, however, are likely to be far more serious for
Pearce than Sir Alex Ferguson because there was little evidence that
Chelsea, indebted to a first-half penalty from Frank Lampard, are
capable of catching and overhauling United. Here was a laboured,
occasionally scruffy, performance from Jose Mourinho's team and it was
deeply puzzling that a side of their capabilities were left hanging on
at the end when their opponents had gone into the match so bereft of
confidence.

Pearce could draw on the fact that his players were applauded, rather
than booed, off and, apart from some jeering when Georgios Samaras
entered the pitch as a second-half substitute there was nothing like
the brutally voluble dissent that accompanied their FA Cup
quarter-final defeat to Blackburn at the weekend.
City even matched the champions for pockets of a tense and ragged
match but ultimately the only statistics that matter are of a sixth
successive league defeat, with no goal at home since New Year's Day.
Pearce eulogised about his team's endeavour but it was not until the
fourth minute of stoppage-time that they managed their first shot on
target - a tame Samaras effort which trickled into Petr Cech's arms -
and the popular theory is that Pearce will be relieved of his duties
if his team lose again at Middlesbrough on Saturday.

If that is the case, Pearce is unlikely to cite unfair dismissal
judging by the negligible impact of his signings and the club's
perilous league position, only one place above the relegation zone.
However, it would be unjust to claim that he has altogether lost his
powers of motivation. There are legitimate questions about whether his
players are good enough, but it is not a matter of lack of effort.

For long spells they were strong in the tackle, quick to the ball and
suitably industrious to create the feeling that they were personally
affronted by all the negativity surrounding the club. In turn, the
supporters responded to create the kind of atmosphere that has become
a rarity at this stadium.

Chelsea seemed taken aback in the opening exchanges but there was
something eerily predictable about the way they exposed the imbalance
of talent. Salomon Kalou picked up the ball on the left-hand side
after 27 minutes and tried to evade Micah Richards; his speed seemed
to take the defender by surprise and the challenge inside the area was
carelessly mistimed.

It epitomises Pearce's current fortunes that one television angle
showed there to have been no contact. Equally, though, it sums up
City's season that when Lampard swept in the resultant penalty for his
20th goal of the season he had equalled the total Pearce's team had
managed in the league all season.

Many observers might have expected that to be the cue for Chelsea to
take command but it was to the home side's credit that they responded
with such verve and vigour. Pearce had expelled Bernardo Corradi, the
non-scoring Italian goalscorer, but more puzzling was the omission of
the goalkeeper Nicky Weaver, who was purportedly "rested".

His replacement, Andreas Isaksson, had a far more comfortable evening
than he may have anticipated and it was not until the 57th minute that
Chelsea reasserted themselves. This time Arjen Robben picked out
Lampard, their best player, only for his delicate chip over Isaksson
to be cleared by the backtracking Richards.

City were running out of ideas, let down by their increasingly
notorious lack of penetration in attack, and the reaction to Samaras's
73rd-minute introduction was thoroughly predictable. In contrast, the
home supporters emphatically welcomed Shaun Wright-Phillips, a memory
of happier times, when he replaced Robben five minutes later. Within a
minute, Wright-Phillips had lashed a 30-yard shot against the crossbar
and the stadium gulped.

The first City fans began to drift away soon afterwards and the
question is: will we ever hear the "Psycho" chant inside this ground
again?
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-------------------------------------------
Sun:

Manchester City 0 Chelsea 1

By NEIL CUSTIS

CHELSEA came to the Blue half of Manchester and closed in on the Red.

Frank Lampard's 28th-minute penalty cut the gap between them and
Premiership leaders Manchester United to six points with games played
level.

A battle royale will now ensue between the two deadly rivals.

As for City, they have a fight of their own at the other end of the
table with Charlton for the third relegation spot.

It is one Stuart Pearce may not survive with the axe hanging over him
after a fifth consecutive league defeat.

City at least showed some bottle and fight last night in the face of
this mis-match.

What they could not get — once again — was a goal.

They have now only scored one goal in their last six Premiership matches.

Lampard's penalty — awarded after Micah Richards' foul on Salomon
Kalou — was his 20th goal of the season for Chelsea, a feat he has
achieved for a third successive season.

And he now has as many goals to himself this campaign as City have in
the Premiership.

For all City's huff and puff they did not really come close to blowing
Chelsea's house down.

Indeed, Petr Cech did not have a save to make.

Chelsea are the masters at sitting on an advantage. They were not
going to lose it to a team who have scored fewer than everyone in the
Premiership bar Watford.

A single-goal victory for Chelsea often hides how dominant they are.

At the City of Manchester Stadium they moved the ball quicker and
better and always looked to have another gear in reserve.

In fact, the gulf in class was emphasised by Lampard. What a player he
is, what an influence.

Among an array of international superstars, Lamps and John Terry still
provide the foundations upon which glory is achieved.

JT was back for his first game since the Carling Cup final and
controlled his defence impeccably.

It was the 94th minute before City were allowed their first effort on target.

Lampard's control of midfield allows Didier Drogba the freedom to get
forward and collect the 29 goals he has bagged already this season.

If he is not on target, former West Ham star Lampard will power
forward himself to get one.

Between England pair Terry and Lamps is Claude Makelele, majestic in
sweeping up ahead of the defence and feeding the midfield.

United boss Alex Ferguson was not here last night but you can bet he
will have been watching. He knows Chelsea just will not go away.

What a game we could now have at Stamford Bridge between the top two
on April 15.

If just one of them gets into the FA Cup semi-finals, and they both
have home quarter-final replays, their Premiership meeting will shift
to the penultimate fixture of the season.

Retaining that championship is just one of Chelsea's priorities this season.

They have bagged one piece of silverware in the Carling Cup and are
still battling away in the FA Cup and Champions League.

If the club rids itself of Jose Mourinho in the summer over a clash of
personalities with Roman Abramovich it will be footballing suicide.
The Russian billionaire may well think it is his money that has bought
the glory.

But Mourinho has used it well, knitted the players together and guided them.

And he continues to guide them despite the controversy that seems to
continually surround him.

Chelsea's winner came with the aid of a City player who could well
have been playing for the visitors.

In January's transfer window Chelsea were desperately trying to sign
Richards for £14million.

Last night the 18-year-old England defender gave them a penalty for free.

There was no argument about it either as Kalou cut in from the left
flank only to be brought down by Richards' outstretched leg.

Even the player himself barely had the gall to complain.

Up stepped Lampard, who cooly sent keeper Andreas Isaksson the wrong
way and buried a low grasscutter in the bottom left-hand corner.

Oh for one of those in Germany last summer!

City desperately tried to get a spot-kick award of their own.

Joey Barton and Richard Dunne went to ground under the slightest of
challenges and ref Alan Wiley was rightly unimpressed.

Pearce urged his team on, changed personnel, switched things around
but in truth, nothing changed.

In fact, salt was very nearly rubbed into the wounds from the boot of
Shaun Wright-Phillips.

The former City hero came on with 13 minutes left and with his first
touch crashed a shot off the bar.

A second goal would truly have emphasised the Chelsea superiority.
Mourinho's men were happy to conserve energy and keep their goal lead
for they, like United, have games on Saturday and Monday in league and
Cup. City face a trip to Middlesbrough on Saturday.

Terry said if City kept fighting the way they had here they would be
safe. They are still six points ahead of Charlton, have a superior
goal difference and a game in hand.

But as former City boss and Sky Sports pundit Peter Reid pointed out,
you cannot see a goal coming from anywhere.

They are still to face Arsenal, United and then Charlton on Good Friday at home.

That will prove to be every bit as crucial to City as United's trip to
Stamford Bridge — but for very different reasons.

The nature of last night's display alone would decide whether Psycho
kept his job for another three days.

It probably did just that. But do not put your mortgage on him still
being in charge by the start of next week.

In fact, don't put anything on it.
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Mirror:

HORROR FOR PSYCHO
BARCLAYS PREMIERSHIP PEARCE IN CRISIS
MANCHESTER CITY 0 CHELSEA 1
LAMPARD CUTS GAP TO SIX POINTS .. BUT PEARCE IS HEADING FAST FOR THE CHOP ZONE
Martin Lipton

AS Jose Mourinho saw his side grind out the victory that cut
Manchester United's lead back to six points, Stuart Pearce was left
wondering how much longer he will be given before the axe descends.

This was not the sort of performance from Chelsea that will have given
Roman Abramovich an excuse to smile after the expensive last few days.

But it was the 15th time this term that Mourinho's Blues have won by
the odd goal, a statistic that explains why that Quadruple dream limps
on despite all the chaos swirling around Stamford Bridge.

The contrast with City, just one point from their last 18 and
beginning to fear the worst, could not have been more stark and while
the home fans did not turn on Pearce or his players, there was little
real reason for hope that he can turn things around.

But while 'Psycho' retains that warrior mindset, too few of his
players are willing to get out and fight for themselves, let alone a
manager they know is not long for this world.

Only Joey Barton, who has more reason than anyone to be grateful to
Pearce, demonstrated the heart, passion and desire of the City boss.

Yet Barton's energy and enthusiasm was never going to be enough
against a Chelsea side that knew they could not afford a slip-up if
they were to keep United within range.

Even though the City fans showed loyalty and commitment right to the
end, giving Pearce the backing he has demanded, it was not until the
94th minute that Petr Cech had his first and only shot to save,
walking across to pick up a deflected effort from Georgios Samaras.

That was a testament to the renewed determination of a Chelsea side
stabilised by the return of skipper John Terry, making his first
appearance since his dice with potential death at the Carling Cup
Final.

Only once, when he was on the receiving end of a nastylooking stamp by
Sun Jihai, did Terry look anything other than composed, and with
Ricardo Carvalho continuing his outstanding season, from the stage
Chelsea went ahead after 28 minutes, there was an inevitability about
the outcome.

What will hurt even more was that the man who inadvertently sent City
spinning to another demoralising defeat would probably have been
playing for Chelsea if the Blues had vowed not to be held to ransom in
January.

A bramovich decided that he would not spend another £18million on
Micah Richards and the Russian was partially vindicated as the England
defender's reckless lunge on Salomon Kalou gave referee Alan Wiley
little option but to point to the spot.

Lampard was equally brutal as he smashed the penalty into the bottom
corner to claim his 20th goal of the season. After that, there was
little to be excited about as Chelsea's organisation choked the life
out of the game.

It was only when Shaun Wright-Phillips, a bit-part player at the
Bridge for the two years since his £21m move from City, came on for
Arjen Robben that the game sparked in to life, the winger rattling the
woodwork from 25 yards.

A flare-up between Richards and Didier Drogba saw both escape with a
caution and the African could have had the final word when he
collected from Claude Makelele and sent in a stinging drive that
Andreas Isaksson just managed to parry.

For Chelsea, it was enough. United are aware they are not giving up
and even if Mourinho's petulant strop with the media continued after
the game, his players are making their point in the right way.

Yet for Pearce, it is a slow death, made all the more difficult to
bear by the apparent inevitability. Another defeat at Middlesbrough on
Saturday and it surely is the end.

Mourinho may not survive him that much longer. Yet his side refuse to
buckle under the pressure.

MAN CITY: Isaksson 6, Richards 5, Dunne 6, Distin 6, Sun 6 (Miller 63,
6), Barton 7, Hamann 5 (Dabo 80, 5), Ireland 6, Ball 6, Mpenza 5,
Vassell 6 (Samaras 72, 5).

CHELSEA: Cech 7, Geremi 6, Carvalho 8, Terry 7, Cole 6, Ballack 5,
Makelele 6, Lampard 7, Robben 6 (Wright-Phillips 77, 5), Drogba 7,
Kalou 6.