History will be kind to me because I intend to write it

CECH: CLEAN SHEETS ARE US

Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech is confident that he and his stingy defence can, once again, get the better of Serie A giants Juventus in Turin on April 10 and cruise through to the last eight of the Champions League.

The Czech international has conceded only one goal in the five games that new manager Guus Hiddink has taken charge of. He believes that clean sheets will be the key to winning the trophy that eluded Chelsea so cruelly last May.

“We were all delighted with result in the first leg,” said the 26-year-old of the 1-0 win at Stamford Bridge a fortnight ago. “Although we could have scored a second goal, it was important to keep a clean sheet at home. Overall it was a good result for the second leg.

“Both teams are organised so maybe the one goal is enough. It is always better if you score more and kill the game early – then you can play with more confidence.

“We are expecting a very tough game because Juventus played some good football at Stamford Bridge and will have the home advantage this time. But we’ve been working hard as a defensive unit and I think that could see us through.”

Cech credits Dutchman Hiddink, who lifted the European Cup with PSV in 1988, as the man who has re-focused the team – and, in particular, striker Didier Drogba. “It is always important when you have a new manager to start well and there are a lot of things which have changed since he took over,” he continued. “At the moment it is working well for use but it is still early days.

“Didier’s been great recently. He’s such a strong guy and we can rely on him, put the long ball and he’ll hold it. It is a big boost for the team to have someone who can do that.”

Labels: Champions League, Chelsea, Didier Drogba, Guus Hiddink, Juventus, Petr Cech

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 4:36 pm | Permalink | Comments

LAMPARD: CHELSEA EXTRA DETERMINED TO WIN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Frank Lampard is hoping lady luck is shining on Chelsea on Wednesday when his team host Italian giants Juventus – and he has expressed the deep desire the Blues have to make amends for last May’s heartache in the Champions League Final when they lost out to Manchester United.

In Moscow Lampard levelled out Cristiano Ronaldo’s opener but his team were defeated 6-5 on penalties when captain John Terry missed his spot kick and Nicolas Anelka had his saved by Edwin van der Sar. And the 30-year-old has admitted that he is hoping for a slice of fortune so his team claim Europe’s biggest prize this year.

“After last year we really want to win the Champions League,” he said ahead of the first leg of the last-16 game at Stamford Bridge – new manager Guus Hiddink’s first at home. “There is obviously something added this year because of the manner we came so close. You can’t help but have that on the back of your mind. There is a just a great determination to go back and win it.

“Whether that is this year or not is very hard to call. In the Champions League there are so many top teams. There are so many moments to get to that final that can go either way. You can win a game on a little bit of luck, or on a small detail.”

Labels: Champions League, Chelsea, Frank Lampard, Guus Hiddink, Juventus

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 1:20 am | Permalink | Comments

RANIERI DESERVES CREDIT FOR CHELSEA SUCCESS

Claudio Ranieri deserves to be credited with transforming Chelsea from a team of also-rans to champions – that is the view of Frank Lampard and current manager Guus Hiddink,

The Italian was at the Stamford Bridge helm for four years from 2000 before Roman’s Revolution took over in 2003.

And he was sacked for Special One Jose Mourinho after one season under Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich – despite finishing second in the Premier League.

The 57-year-old, who is now in charge of Juventus, Chelsea’s Champions League opponents on Wednesday, bought Lampard from West Ham for £11m in 2001.

And the England midfielder believes that if it wasn’t for Ranieri, who also reached the FA Cup Final with the Blues, he would not be the player he is today.

“I think Claudio should take a lot of credit for Chelsea’s success,” said Lampard. “A lot of things have happened at the club and Claudio is part of that.

“He bought a lot of good players to the team, even before the Abramovich era and without him I would not be here.

“I have the utmost respect for him and think he is a great man as well as a great manager. He opened my eyes in football terms.

“I think Claudio has to take a lot of credit of what he has done for the club in the time he was here (at Chelsea).”

The 30-year-old continued: “He elevated John Terry to captain and now he has developed in to one of the best captains in the world.

“Claudio achieved a lot when he was at Chelsea. He oversaw the transition of Chelsea being a good team who were not challenging for titles to one that was.

“He certainly gets credit for that in-house – I appreciate what he did for me and for the team.

“The fans, who are the most important people at Chelsea, hold him in very high regard because of the way he took the team on.”

Chelsea’s new Dutch manager Hiddink, who won his first game in charge of the Blues at the weekend, also praised Ranieri.

He said ahead of last-16 clash: “He is a gentleman coach and very intelligent.

“He knows how to cope with the press and cope with the pressure in this job and I respect him very much.

“He has several abilities. When he was at Chelsea he made a team that was very competitive for the Premier League.

“I have seen that he is a very good organiser of his teams – they have enormous tactical discipline.

“It is difficult to play against the teams he is managing.”

Labels: Champions League, Chelsea, Claudio Ranieri, Frank Lampard, Guus Hiddink, Juventus

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 1:17 am | Permalink | Comments

HIDDINK ADDS DZAGOEV TO WISH LIST

Guus Hiddink has added another CSKA Moscow player to his Chelsea wish list - with Alan Dzagoev joining Yuri Zhikov as a major target.

The Dutchman, who took over the reins at Chelsea last week following the sacking of Luiz Felipe Scolari, knows both players well as they star for his Russian national team.

The 62-year-old has recommended that Chelsea snap up the pair before another suitors step in.

Midfielder Dzagoev, still only 18-years-old, wears the No10 shirt for CSKA and has already won two caps for Russia under Hiddink.

Zhikov is a highly rated left-sided player and was wanted by Juventus recently. But the 25-year-old remained in the Russian capital, although he is expected to move in the summer.

After last summer's Euro 2008 tournament Hiddink said of Zhikov: "He plays a very modern game - he's capable of covering all the left side of the pitch alone.

"A player can only do this if he has brilliant technical skills and physical condition. He's a top-class footballer."

Labels: Alan Dzagoev, Chelsea, CSKA Moscow, Guus Hiddink, Yuri Zuirkov

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 6:30 pm | Permalink | Comments

BELLETTI: HIDDINK HAS IMPROVED CHELSEA ALREADY

Juliano Belletti has revealed that life at Chelsea is more focussed now that Guus Hiddink has taken over as manager.

The Dutchman took over from the sacked Luiz Felipe Scolari last week - and Belletti has admitted that training is already much more intense.

The 32-year-old was part of Scolari's World Cup winning Brazil squad in 2002 - but the right-back concedes that Chelsea are more likely to succeed now that his countryman has left.

"Hiddink has changed the system of training and, with respect to Scolari, from the first day he arrived we have been asked to show the same intensity in training as in the games," said the former Barcelona man.

"Hiddink talks much more with the players and has insisted we are all important to the club. He also said that there is plenty of time ahead and that we can win titles this year.

"In these early days [of Hiddink's reign] it seems more fun and fast. People have embraced change with a good heart. In the last weeks with Scolari there was too much tension in the atmosphere - this has changed now.

"I hope that our training will translate into success against our next two opponents (Aston Villa and Juventus). These two games will go a long way to determining our future.

"But I notice a confidence and belief among my team-mates."

Labels: Chelsea, Guus Hiddink, Juliano Belletti, Luiz Felipe Scolari, Premier League

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 6:29 pm | Permalink | Comments

RUSSIANS WELCOME HIDDINK APPOINTMENT

Guus Hiddink's appointment as Chelsea coach until the end of the season has been welcomed in Russia, where he will remain in charge of the national team.

Fellow Dutchman Dick Advocaat, manager of Zenit St Petersburg and assistant coach of the Russian national team, backed the move, saying: "This is Hiddink's decision. I need to respect it and all Russian society must do the same. I think he made the right step."

Star Russian wing-back Yuri Zhirkov, of CSKA Moscow, has also given his blessing, adding: "I don't think that the national team will be harmed. Anyway, the national team and Chelsea are playing on different dates. I am sure he will manage with everything."

Zenit midfielder Igor Semshov believes that the 62-year-old will improve with his duel responsibilities, though he does not envisage Hiddink taking any Russian players to London.

He said: "I am sure of one thing - that Guus is a professional and he will give all of himself to his work. It is of no small importance that he knows us, his players, very well.

"Hiddink is very experienced. I even think that the job with Chelsea will benefit him as well. He will keep his vitality. I am not worried about him. Will he take any of us to Chelsea? I don't think he will mix the national team and the club."

Defender Vasiliy Berezuckiy added: "I don't think that Hiddink combining the two roles will affect the results of the national team. I am interested why other managers weren't allowed to combine the two roles, but Hiddink can do it. I think it will benefit Hiddink, because he will have training sessions almost everyday."

Goalkeeper Vyacheslav Malafeev is hopeful that Hiddink honours his contract with Russia, and will take the national team to the World Cup next year.

Malafeev said: "I don't think that Hiddink will leave the national team for Chelsea at the end of the season. He has a contract that is very important in this situation. We, the players, would regret it if that happens. We want him to stay.

"But if he wants [to combine the two roles], then I don't see reasons not to do it. Anyway, it is very hard to do. The one who will be harmed in this situation is the club, but not the national team. So I would keep my eye on Chelsea's performance."

Labels: Chelsea, Guus Hiddink, Luiz Felipe Scolari, Russia

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 1:15 pm | Permalink | Comments