John Terry Admits Management Ambition

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John Terry has confirmed that he would like to become Chelsea manager when his finishes his playing career.  The Blue captain is 33 and has three years left on his current contract at Stamford Bridge.

The appointment of Andre Villas-Boas as manager at Chelsea, who is just three years his senior has ignited his own ambitions about going into management.

‘It’s great for the players looking at this,’ said Terry. ‘Bringing in Roberto di Matteo as his assistant and giving chances to players who’ve been around the club gives encouragement to players like me, Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba and Petr Cech that if we do our badges there will be roles in the future, whether it’s with the first team or reserves.

‘That’s my overall aim, to become a manager. I’ve got three years left on my deal and I will be 33 then, but I’m certain he will be around for a long time." he said of Villas-Boas.

‘He’s a very intelligent man. He has attention to detail in pre-game and during training, and he’s very much like Jose Mourinho in taking it from one training session to another.’

Image Credit Flickr user Downing Street

John Terry: Modric Would Be A Great Addition

John Terry insists that Luka Modric would be a great addition should Tottenham allow the Croatian to join the Blues, the Tottenham player has been locked in talks with Spurs chairman Daniel Levy as the midfielder seeks permission to leave White Hart Lane.

Chelsea have had two initial bids rejected by Spurs as the club try it’s best to keep hold of the highly-rated player, Luka Modric has since submitted a written transfer request in an attempt to force through a move to Chelsea.

Terry has praised the 25-year-old's ability and believes he would be a good addition to manager Andre Villas-Boas' squad who are likely to challenge for the title this season, with the lure of Champions League football Modric is keen on the move to West London.

"He's a world class player who is very difficult to play against," said Terry.

“He's very agile, very quick and a great finisher like we've seen over many years.

"I know there are problems. It's probably a little bit disrespectful towards Spurs. He has his own problems at the moment.

"We've got a good squad of players. If he comes he could certainly add to that."

John Terry also believes that striker Fernando Torres will be back to his best when the season resumes in August, The Spaniard is enjoying a full pre-season with the Blues this summer and looking as sharp as ever.

"He backs himself," he continued. "He realises from the World Cup he had a slight injury and carried that towards the end of last season.

"He feels fresh, he's happy. He's fully settled. I'm certainly looking for him to get double figures goals wise.

"He was still good at times last year. He's a world class player and the price tag is big weight to carry on your shoulders.

"He's got all the ability in the world. He's very quick and a great finisher.

"We're delighted to have him and if he can bring goals along with what we already have then fantastic."

Joao Moutinho Happy At FC Porto

Joao Moutinho has claimed that while he is flattered by the interest Chelsea have shown in an attempt to sign him, he has no desire to turn his back on Porto.

New Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas has suggested that he would like to sign the Portuguese international, but the highly-rated midfielder has moved quickly to squash rumours linking him to a move to Stamford Bridge.

"It is good to see my name associated with a great club, but it is also true I am already at a great club, FC Porto, where I will continue to work," Moutinho told O Jogo.

With Andre Villas-Boas leaving the Portuguese giants this summer to take over at Chelsea, media reports had been linking Colombian frontman Radamel Falcao, Brazilian striker Hulk and Portugal international Moutinho with a move to the Blues.

Roberto Di Matteo Joins Chelsea

Chelsea have today confirmed that former player Roberto Di Matteo will join the Blues as Assistant Manager, the former West Brom manager will join up with Andre Villas-Boas to work with Chelsea’s new chief as they embark on a new Premier League campaign.

The 41-year-old coach spent six years at Stamford Bridge, signing from Lazio in 1996 and staying until his forced retirement from injury as a player in 2002.

Following a run of poor results in February for West Brom, Di Matteo was sacked, the Italian has been out the game since and will now look forward to working with Villa-Boas.

Villas-Boas said: "If you see the technical staff in front of me, and my appointment of Roberto, these are people who like the quality of the game and have a philosophy.

"It's not just a case of winning it's a case of flair.

"Everyone likes attacking football and the Premier League has a certain amount of goals in every game and it should be an entertaining game for the fans and that is what we will look to do."

Porto Striker Falcao Could Joins Villas-Boas At Chelsea

Andre Villas-Boas could go back to former club Porto to raid some of its star players, forward Radamel Falcao is heavily linked with a move to Chelsea and could well be the new Chelsea manager first signing.

The new Blues manager who penned a three-year contract at Stamford Bridge yesterday has insisted he will not be off-loading any of the current players at Chelsea, but he hasn’t ruled out making offers for new players.

The prolific hitman has admitted he is keen to test himself at the highest level and may be ready to follow his 33-year-old boss in departing the Europa League winners.

"I am leaving things up to my agent," Falcao said.

"I am very calm about the situation but I know there has been some movement.

"My ambition is to keep working hard and I am convinced I can play in a superior league like England.
"If Chelsea is interested in me then all that needs to happen is for negotiations to take place."

Falcao is understood to have a £26million release clause in his contract and Porto president has admitted that if the release clause is meet, Jorge Pinto da Costa will consider offers.

Chelsea are also being linked with Joao Moutinho now that Villas-Boas completed his switch to West London, the playmaker also have a release clause in his contract and the Porto president said if their valuation is meet both players could leave Porto.

He said: "If there are termination clauses we have to prepare for the possibility that a player will leave at the value set out.

"But I am not going to negotiate that price with anyone.

"As with Villas-Boas, there was no conversation with Chelsea, just the money paid into our account to release him."

Florent Malouda Keen On Hiddink Return

Chelsea forward Florent Malouda has insisted that former boss Guus Hiddink would be the ideal manager to replace Carlo Ancelotti, the Italian was sacked after the last game in which Chelsea failed to win any silverware this season.

Hiddink enjoyed a successful spell at Stamford Bridge for four months during 2009 and helped Chelsea win the FA Cup.

Hiddink has been installed as the bookies favourite to takeover at Chelsea and he would have all the players backing.

"I have a lot of respect for him," Malouda said.

"When he came we were in a difficult situation in terms of results.

"He brought back confidence I think. He improved our game and led us in the Champions League and FA Cup.

"He put the club back on the right way. It was short term. It was really quick, but it was really intense.

"You have to take your time to make the right choices and that is what the Board is doing.

"I think we have a strong squad and when you want to add ingredient to the squad to have to take your time."

Hiddink & Neymar on Chelsea’s Radar

Chelsea are closing on a Brazilian striker Neymar. Last season the Blues had a £19 million pound offer rejected by Neymar’s club Santos.

Chelsea have renewed their interest with a £23 million offer.

Owner Roman Abramovich has made it his top priority to secure Neymar's services and will speak with the player directly in an attempt to convince the 19-year-old to come to London this summer.

A source close to Chelsea said, “Roman is ready to get personally involved to clinch the signing of Neymar.

“He’s aiming to talk with him next month to prove how much he is wanted.”

The signing of Neymar could spell the end of Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka’s Chelsea career, with Chelsea splashing out £50 million in January to land Torres it is thought that either Drogba or Anelka will leave Stamford Bridge.

Also last night former manager Guus Hiddink insisted that he will listen to any serious offer from Chelsea, the Dutchman has confirmed that he remained in contact with Abramovich since his spell in 2009.

Hiddink said, "there is a lot of speculation about Chelsea. But if there was a concrete offer, I would think about it".

The Dutchman is currently manager of Turkey’s national side and insists he is committed to his job there, but admits if his side fails to beat Belgium in the Euro 2012 qualifier next week it could be the end.

He added; "if we lose I can imagine they’d say it would be better for me to quit”.

Could Ancelotti be next to leave Chelsea

Carlo Ancelotti's future looks glum

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti has laughed off reports that Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola could be in line to replace the Italian at Stamford Bridge; Speculation had been mounting since the weekend that current Blues owner Roman Abramovich wanted the Spaniard to succeed Ancelotti at Stamford Bridge following a low point of Chelsea’s season

Ray Wilkins was axed as Ancelotti's assistant earlier this month and, on Saturday, the club confirmed Frank Arnesen would be leaving his position as sporting director at the end of the season.

Speaking after Sunday's 1-1 dismal draw at Newcastle United, Ancelotti refused to drawn in answering questions over his future.

"I have heard of Pep Guardiola, to be frank," said Ancelotti, whose Premier League champions lost top spot to Manchester United at the weekend.

"But you don't have to ask me - the coach is always the last to know. Don't ask me.

"We are not interested. We focus on our training and our matches."

Ancelotti also laughed off the claims that Chelsea are aiming to appoint Beguiristain as Arnesen's successor in West London.

The Italian joked: "I don't know this name. I think there was a player at Barcelona, but I don't know what job he is doing now."

Ray Wilkins leaves Chelsea

Wilkins leaves with immediate effect

Chelsea have just announced that they will not be reneweing the contract of Ray Wilkins and that he will leave the club with immediate effect, Wilkins was part of the setup with Gianluca Vialli, once Vialli was sacked, he left with the Italian to join Watford and after had a spell with Millwall. He was then re-appointed assistant manager to Luiz Felipe Scolari at Chelsea in September 2008 when Steve Clarke departed to West Ham United with Gianfranco Zola,

When Scolari was sacked from Chelsea, Wilkins was appointed caretaker-manager until Gus Hiddink became the temporary manager in 2008 until the end of the season, Wilkins once again took the role as assistant and continued when Carlo Ancelotti was appointed manager.

This will come as a shock to many Blues fans as Wilkins looked to have struck up a good relationship was Carlo Ancelotti since last season. Ray Wilkins was a part of the coaching staff that helped Chelsea win their heroic double.

Chelsea chief executive Ron Gourlay said: 'On behalf of everyone at the club I would like to thank Ray for everything he has done for Chelsea Football Club. We all wish him well for the future.'

Cech keen on Wembley Champions League Final

Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech has admitted that having the Champions League final at Wembley is providing extra motivation for the team to be there, Cech and Chelsea swept aside Spartak Moscow at Stamford Bridge to guaranteed a place in the next phase by beating the Russian side 4-1, maintaining there 100% percent record in Group F.

"We have a high-quality squad and enough experience to win the Champions League, but that is not the most decisive thing in football," Cech told CTK.

"Along the way you need a lit bit of luck here and there, and we lacked that in previous seasons.

"The team has been retaining a high standard of performing and quality in the last six or seven years.
"I believe that if we go towards it, Lady Luck might move to our side and we might finally break the curse of not getting past the semi-finals.

"Moreover, this season's final is played at Wembley and that is an extra motivation. We know what it is like to win games at Wembley as we have excellent memories of this stadium."

Chelsea's previous attempts saw them fall at the semi final stage, but the West London side want to go all the way and win it this time around, Chelsea have had a superb start to their Premier League and Champions League campaign with goalkeeper Petr Cech happy with the defending this season, on conceding five goals in thirteen appearances in the Premier League this season.

"At the start of the previous season, we had a spell during which we defended set-pieces terribly.
"Even though we had been preparing for that carefully before the game, the ball always somehow found its way into the back of the net.

"There was some sort of hysteria made from nothing about it then. It turned out to be slightly premature because we ended the season with the biggest amount of clean sheets, I was named the best goalkeeper in the league and we won the Double.

"I am glad to have been doing well and we will see how far we get."

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Yury Zhirkov vows to prove his worth

Yury Zhirkov has vowed to show his worth at Chelsea following speculation that he could leave Stamford Bridge in the January transfer window after an injury-hit start to his Chelsea career. Zhirkov joined Chelsea from Russian side CSKA Moscow, but a knee injury has limited the player to only twenty-seven appearances since his arrival.

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti has already said that the Russian international is not for sale and intends to keep hold of the defender. Carlo Ancelotti has told Zenit St Petersburg and Spartak Moscow to forget about signing Yury Zhirkov.

"He had a very good season last year," said the Italian. "He was fit to play our more important games towards the end of the season, when he didn't have an injury he played important games."

'He played when Ashley Cole had an injury, and played very important games. For me Yury is a very important player, he didn't start a lot of games but you can't say he is not important.

'He can play a lot of positions on the pitch, he played very well as a left-back and as a midfielder. He is a very important player for us and I never thought he could leave Chelsea.'

The Russian international is set to run out against Spartak Moscow in the UEFA Champions League at the Luzhniki Stadium on Tuesday evening as Group F's two unbeaten teams go head-to-head.

"I've not lived up to my full potential because I haven't played too many games in the first team," said Zhirkov.

"But I'll try to show more. I'm getting fitter game by game, and I'll try to show more. My fitness is getting better and I'm feeling more confident."