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

DECO: CHELSEA CAN GO ALL THE WAY

Chelsea can go all the way and win the Champions League this season, believes the Blues' star midfielder and two-times winner Deco.

The Portuguese, who arrived in the summer from Barcelona, was a key player when José Mourinho's Porto lifted Europe's biggest prize in 2004 and two years later with the Catalan giants.

And if Chelsea make it though to the final in Rome in May the 31-year-old hopes Chelsea will face one of his former clubs - Barca or Porto - or Mourinho's new team, Inter Milan.

"I would really like to play against Barcelona or Porto in the final of the Champions League," said Brazilian-born Deco.

"These are the two important clubs in my life and it would be a very special day if it were to happen, especially as I am seeking my third Champions League title with a different club.

"Barca are playing really well now and they will be very difficult to beat. Also Mourinho's Inter will be a tough rival in any round. It would be the best thing for me if I were to be reunited with a friend like José.

"This Chelsea team have the quality and class to win the Champions League, however we have to improve in some aspects. There is still plenty of time left for us to improve and the coach, Luiz Felipe Scolari, will make sure we are ready."

Labels: Barcelona, Champions League, Chelsea, Deco, football, Internationalize Milan, Jose Mourinho

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 12:11 pm | Permalink | Comments

JOSE COULD RUIN CHELSEA'S BID FOR DECO

Jose Mourinho could get one over his former employers Chelsea by taking Portuguese playmaker Deco from Barcelona to Inter Milan.

The unsettled 30-year-old, who has spent four years at the Camp Nou, has been unable to pin down a regular starting place this last season through injury and lack of form.

And the Brazilian-born star has hinted that he will move to either Inter, where his former Porto manager Mourinho has recently taken the reins, or Stamford Bridge after Euro 2008.

"There are two possibilities at the moment, and they are Chelsea and Inter," Deco said. "But no deal has been closed. I want to have my future sorted and in Italy they say that Inter have the advantage [over Chelsea] as they are willing to offer Barcelona money and (Serbian midfielder) Dejan Stankovic.

"Without doubt my relationship with Jose Mourinho is excellent and that will count for something. But it is necessary to evaluate many other things. Inter are a good team and that is attractive to any player with aspirations.

"But at Chelsea there are also several friends of mine like Ricardo Carvalho, Paulo Ferreira, Henrique Hilário and now José Bosingwa.

"But wherever I go I will insist that the decision must be mine alone. I will not go to a club that doesn't interest me and where I can't continue winning titles, which is my objective. I will speak with my manager Jorge Mendes and work out what the best thing to do is."

Labels: Chelsea, Deco, football, Internationalize Milan, Jose Mourinho

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 3:35 pm | Permalink | Comments

PREMIER LEAGUE MANAGER CASUALTIES

1. JOSE MOURINHO (Chelsea) - Date parted company: 20th September

The charismatic Portuguese manager had lost only one Premier League game this season before he left Stamford Bridge amid claims that he had fallen out with owner Roman Abramovich over team selection and transfer policy. He won six trophies in his three years and three months at the club.

2. SAMMY LEE (Bolton) - Date parted company: 17th October

A coach under predecessor Sam Allardyce, Sammy Lee failed to impress in his six months in charge at the Reebok Stadium. In nine league games this season he gained only four points from a possible 27 and his defence conceded 14 goals.

3. MARTIN JOL (Tottenham) - Date parted company: 25th October

Dutchman Martin Jol spent £40m in the summer but could not make his team gel. After 10 Premier League games Jol's team had gained only seven points and shipped 21 goals - Spurs' worst start to a Premier League season.

4. CHRIS HUTCHINGS (Wigan Athletic) - Date sacked: 5th November

Former NO.2 to Paul Jewell, Chris Hutchings lasted only five months at the JJB. In 12 Premier League games under Hutchings Wigan won twice and drew twice while leaking 19 goals.

5. STEVE BRUCE (Birmingham City) - Date parted company: 19th November

Steve Bruce had been in charge of Birmingham for one month shy of six years but - despite gaining promotion to the Premier League last season - was beginning to feel pressure. From 13 games the former Manchester United defender won three and lost eight.

6. BILLY DAVIES (Derby County) - Date parted company: 26th November

Scotsman Billy Davies had propelled Derby to promotion earlier this year but after having only £6m to spend in the summer his team were rooted to the bottom of the Premier League. After 14 games Derby had only won one match and drawn three while conceding 33 goals and scoring a measly five.

7. LAWRIE SANCHEZ (Fulham) - Date sacked: 21st December

After taking over from Chris Coleman last season, the former Northern Irish manager lasted only eight months at Craven Cottage. Thirteen summer signings and £14.5m didn't help Fulham - after 17 Premier League games this season they won only twice under Sanchez and conceded 28 times.

Labels: Billy Davies, Chris Hutchings, football, Jose Mourinho, Lawrie Sanchez, Premier League, Sammy Lee, Steve Bruce

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 7:10 pm | Permalink | Comments

NO WAY JOSÉ - AC MILAN SNUB MOURINHO

José Mourinho will never be manager of AC Milan, according to the club's Vice-president Adriano Galliani. Speculation that the Portuguese had agreed to move to the San Siro in the summer had intensified following his snubbing of the Football Association's advances last week.

With former Milanese manager Fabio Capello, 61, due to be unveiled as Steve McClaren's successor as England Head Coach on Monday, rumour-mongerers had suggested that Mourinho would remain in club football, with a top European club his most likely destination.

He was believed to be courting a move to either Barcelona, where he enjoyed a role under Bobby Robson in the mid-90s, or to Milan, where incumbent Carlo Ancelotti's aging squad are stumbling through Serie A. The Rossoneri currently lie in tenth place, 19 points off rivals Inter, who top the table.

However Galliani insists the San Siro side seldom employ personnel from outside the club, which would appear to rule out the former Chelsea tactician.

The Vice-president said: "Apart from exceptional cases, Milan go for coaches who grew up with us - and there are lots around.

"Besides, Mourinho never offered himself to us."

The 'Special One' might well consider himself an 'exceptional case', and Ancelotti admits the speculation has added spice to his job.

The manager offered: "I'm simply concentrating on my job. But if Mourinho does want the job it just gives me extra motivation.

"I'm not distracted by rumours about Mourinho. I hope to carry on tomorrow as I did today."

Labels: AC Milan, Chelsea, football, Jose Mourinho

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 6:57 pm | Permalink | Comments

MOURINHO SHOULD BE NEXT ENGLAND BOSS SAYS LEADING SPORTS PSYCHOLOGIST

Jose Mourinho ticks all the boxes to be England manager and could transform the team from losers into winners, according to leading sports psychologist Dr George Sik.

The Portuguese coach walked out of Stamford Bridge in September as Chelsea's most successful-ever manager after winning six trophies in three glorious years.

Dr Sik believes there is a dearth of talented, available English coaches able to handle and motivate the national side. But Mourinho could be the answer.

"Mourinho is a superb man-manager and motivator," said Dr Sik. "He has tremendous optimism and belief, to the point of arrogance.

"Optimism is one of the most stable aspects of the human condition and he is also very good at gelling a team.

"It is certainly difficult to think very highly of yourself if you don't have the deepest respect of the entire team. Mourinho would achieve that more than anyone else.

"He would be the people's choice and he ticks all the boxes as far as any individual can in terms of having all of the qualities that are associated with winning."

Labels: Dr George Sik, England, football, Jose Mourinho, Steve McClaren

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 5:13 pm | Permalink | Comments