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[Annie]

AC Milan says it's not negotiating Shevchenko return

AC Milan issued a statement Thursday saying it was not negotiating a return of Andriy Shevchenko, dismissing media reports in Britain and Italy.
AC Milan says it's not negotiating Shevchenko return

"At the moment no negotiations exist with Chelsea for the return of Andriy Shevchenko to our club," Milan chairman Adriano Galliani said.

Shevchenko left for Chelsea in the English Premier League in May after seven seasons with Milan. He had scored 173 goals in 296 games with the Rossoneri.

The Ukraine striker has struggled since arriving in London, scoring only three goals in the Premier League and none in the Champions League, reports AP.

Milan has also had a tough time without him, and is in 15th place in Serie A.

The reports indicated a possible return by Shevchenko on loan in January, although that would mean he would be ineligible to play Champions League games with Milan.

Milan has already qualified for the next phase of the Champions League.

[Annie]

Shevchenko still Ukraine's No1

Friday, 15 December 2006


Chelsea FC striker Andriy Shevchenko has been voted Ukrainian Player of the Year by the nation's press for the third time.

World Cup first
The 30-year-old collected 98 points in a poll conducted by Match and TOP Football magazines, 12 more than second-placed FC Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder Anatoliy Tymoschuk, with FC Dynamo Kyiv's Serhiy Rebrov three points further back in third. Shevchenko was instrumental in helping Ukraine to their first FIFA World Cup and he scored the penalty against Tunisia that took his country through to the last 16. Ukraine eventually lost to Italy in the quarter-finals.

Leading marksman
At club level he was the leading marksman in last season's UEFA Champions League, his nine goals firing AC Milan into the semi-finals. Shevchenko subsequently joined Chelsea for ˆ45m at the end of May, but has found goals harder to come by in England, registering just three in 15 Premiership outings. Shevchenko was dropped to the bench for Wednesday's 1-0 victory against Newcastle United FC, but after coming on to set up Didier Drogba's decisive strike, he insisted he will work hard to make his stay in London a success.

'Not machines'
"We players are not machines, there are times when the wheel turns in a different direction," said the one-time Dynamo Kyiv hero. "You have to have belief. The way Chelsea play is totally different from Milan. Milan emphasise possession, at Chelsea the style is much faster. But when you decide to take a certain route, you must follow it to the end. Only then can you say if things have gone well or not."

©uefa.com 1998-2006. All rights reserved.

[iman]

admin said:

Well well well.... Chelsea JUST beat Everton yesterday being away 3:2, so that was ;D ;D ;D ;D tesoro was on the bench until the 70th minute but at least I caught some glimpses of my dearest Sheva...

but the best present was to follow:

Man United lost to WestHam yesterday ;D ;D ;D ;D the lead is getting tighter...oooooooo I loooooove the intrigue ;D ;D ;D

yeah chelsea game was good and drogba is again scoring a great goal!!
i am glad west ham beat man utd!!!! new manger must mean new tricks for the hammers!!!

not many points in it now!!!! ;D ;D ;D

[Annie]

Yesterday's results in England and Italy

Serie A, Italia

Roma vs. Torino 2 : 1
Livorno vs.Sampdoria 1:4
Parma vs.Messina 1:1
Inter Milan vs.Lazio 2:0
Siena vs.Siena vs. 0 : 1
Reggina vs.Chievo Verona 2:3
Fiorentina vs.Cagliari 2:0
Udinese vs.Atalanta 2:1
Catania vs. AC Milan 0:3 ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D Ricky scored two ;D


League Cup, England

Chelsea through to the semis having beaten Newcastle 1:0 (Drogba )

Drogba sends Chelsea into League Cup semi-finals

LONDON, Dec 20 (Reuters) - Substitute Didier Drogba bent in a free kick to give Chelsea a 1-0 win at Newcastle United in the League Cup quarter-finals on Wednesday.

Chelsea, who brought on Drogba, Frank Lampard and Michael Ballack in the second half, broke the deadlock on 79 minutes when the Ivory Coast striker scored from the edge of the area after Arjen Robben had been fouled.

"Sometimes you have a good period like this," said Drogba, who has notched three goals in three games.

"It is very difficult to be on the bench and come on. The pace is very high," he told Sky Sports.

Newcastle striker Obafemi Martins had come within a whisker of opening the scoring on 27 minutes when his superb 25-metre shot hit the underside of the bar and bounced off the line.

Andriy Shevchenko came equally close for Chelsea on the stroke of halftime when his angled drive clipped the far post while Lampard also struck the woodwork with a chip in stoppage time.

Second division bottom club Southend United, who beat Manchester United 1-0 in the previous round, were playing extra time against Tottenham Hotspur in Wednesday's other tie after the first 90 minutes at White Hart Lane ended goalless.

Fourth division Wycombe Wanderers shocked Premier League strugglers Charlton Athletic 1-0 in the first quarter-final on Tuesday.

[glow=red,2,300]Liverpool's tie with Arsenal was postponed because of fog and has been rearranged for Jan. 9. [/glow]

[Annie]

Pretty much sums it all up

[Annie]

News which might be of interest for our darling Avalon This is just rumours for now though From BBC

Liverpool will sign Australian defender Lucas Neill in January from Blackburn Rovers, who will bring Dynamo Kiev's Andriy Nesmachnyi to the club as his replacement. (The Guardian)

[Annie]

England - Dec 23

Tottenham Hotspur vs.
Newcastle United -Tottenham Hotspur 1:3
Charlton Athletic vs.Middlesbrough 0:2
Bolton Wanderers vs.Manchester City 2:0
West Ham United vs.Fulham 0:0
Manchester United vs.Aston Villa 3:0
Blackburn Rovers vs.Arsenal 2:6 ;D ;D ;D ;D
Chelsea - Weagan 3:2 ;D ;D ;D

Italy - Dec 23

AC Milan vs.Udinese 3:0 ;D ;D ;D ;D Seriously, Arsenal, Milan AND Chelsea winning on the same day...WHEN DID THAT HAPPEN LAST??? ROTFL
Palermo vs.Siena 1:1
Empoli vs.Reggina 1:4
Lazio vs.Parma 3:1
Torino vs.Livorno 1:1
Atalanta vs.Inter Milan 1:2
Messina vs.Fiorentina 0:4
Sampdoria vs.Catania 2:4
Cagliari vs.AS Roma 0:2


Well Serie A in Italy is off on holidays till January 14 but it's prime time for English footie these days, so some fun still ahead ;D ;D ;D

[Annie]

What's eating Milan?

Gabriele Marcotti, SI.com

Don't look now, but AC Milan has won a paltry 11 of 25 games in the Italian and Champions leagues this season. That's less than the fewest number of victories among the 16 clubs who have advanced to the knockout phase of the Champions League, or an average of just over two wins per month since August.

Domestically, Milan sits just five points away from the relegation zone. And, even if you didn't count the eight-point penalty in Serie A, Milan would still be some 20 points behind Inter.

Hardly what you would expect from the Rossoneri, who remain No. 1 in UEFA's official seedings (which are based on the last five seasons) and who -- with Juventus banished from Serie B -- over the summer were still entertaining the possibility of challenging for the title, despite the penalty.

Over the past decade, Milan built a reputation as one of the best-run clubs in Europe (in stark contrast to its crosstown rival). And yet, thus far this year, everything that could go wrong has gone wrong. If this were any other club in a top league, manager Carlo Ancelotti's head would be snugly in the guillotine.

Because Milan's p.r. department is as good as they come, Ancelotti has not been made a scapegoat (and, to be fair, many of the problems are beyond his control). But the odds of him sticking around next year, even if he wins the Champions League, are slim to none and, in a perfect world, his would not be the only head to roll.

Here are five reasons why everything seems to be falling apart this season:

1) Injuries. Massimo Ambrosini, Dida, Cafú, Rino Gattuso, Kakha Kaladze, Paolo Maldini, Alessandro Nesta and Serginho have all suffered serious injuries at some point this season. Big clubs have big squads for precisely this reason, but it's a lot for anyone to absorb.

2) The World Cup hangover/Champions League preliminary-round effect. Eight Milan players advanced as far as the quarterfinals of the World Cup (and five were in the final on July 9). A month later, they were back on the pitch to face Crvena Zvedza in the third preliminary round.

Milan's role in the Italian influence-peddling scandal and the ensuing trial meant that it took forever to figure whether the club would even be in Europe and, if so, at what stage. This wreaked havoc with the club's preseason training camp and effectively forced fatigued and under-prepared players to drag themselves back on to the pitch with little or no break. It also severely hit the club's summer transfer spending, as it did not know whether it could count on Champions League funds.

3) This is an old, old team. Take away Kaká and Alberto Gilardino, and the entire starting XI is 27 or older. Cafú (36), Maldini (38), Nesta (30), Pippo Inzaghi (33) and Clarence Seedorf (30) still make up the core of the team and, since Milan does not operate a wholesale rotational policy, they end up playing way too many minutes.

4) Andriy Shevchenko has been replaced by Ricardo Oliveira. Granted, Sheva isn't exactly ripping it up at Chelsea, but Oliveira (who has scored one league goal all year) isn't even in the same hemisphere. What's more, because he hasn't been working out, Ancelotti has been forced to rely on the Gilardino-Inzaghi partnership. Whatever you may think of Inzaghi -- and he is definitely an acquired taste (one to which I have not been privy) -- the problem is that he does not complement Gilardino at all. Both can provide goals like Shevchenko, but neither has the Ukrainian's vision, passing, work rate and movement.

5. The squad hasn't been renewed -- it's the same faces as three years ago, only older. Stability is a great thing, but at some point you have to think of renewal. Take Gilardino out of the mix and there have been no significant arrivals since Kaká and Cafú joined in the summer of 2003. No top side in Europe has been treading water for so long.

Part of the problem is that the bulk of Milan's signings have been disappointing. Marek Jankulovski and Daniele Bonera were supposed to provide depth at the back, but both have been busts. Yoann Gourcuff looks promising, but he's just 19 and very much the exception. The Shevchenko money is still sitting there, waiting to be used, but given Milan's recent transfer judgment (chasing Ronaldo over the summer, for example), you've got to wonder if it will do any good.

Extra time

Like clockwork, the sore loser brigade crawled out from under their rocks (mostly in France and Barcelona) to criticize Fabio Cannavaro winning the FIFA World Player Award. Their arguments are much the same as they were when he won the Ballon d'Or. He's a defender, he's been playing badly at Real Madrid, he was captain of a disgraced Juventus side, etc.

Let's put the argument to rest once and for all. There was no obvious outstanding candidate this year. Everybody had marks against their name. Zinédine Zidane was anonymous in the first six months of the season and in the group stage of the World Cup, before retiring in early July, not to mention disgracing himself in the final.

Thierry Henry finished a distant fourth in the Premiership, had a mediocre World Cup and has been ordinary (by his standards) since. Samuel Eto'o didn't even get to go the World Cup and then got himself injured. Ronaldinho was shockingly poor at Germany 2006. As for Gigi Buffon (my personal choice), well ... he's a goalkeeper which, I suppose, to some is reason enough not to consider him.

The point is you can conjure up a compelling reason why all these guys should not have won either award. But somebody needs to win them. And Cannavaro was picked both by the press (the Ballon d'Or) and by the national team coaches and captains (the FIFA World Player).

Deal with it. Move on. And hope that next year we'll have an obvious, consensus choice.

[Sammy]

bia2209 said:

*goes off to convert the non believers and initiate them to the wonders of the world's most beautiful game*

YES!!! Go ahead Bia!!! And tell them, it's Football not freaking soccer !!!! ;D

It has been quite a year !!! With Italy winning the world cup, as the theme song said: "the time of our lives"; it litteraly was... , and Fabio ( darling!!) kicking everybody's ass and proving once and for all that defendors are also worth it !!!
I just hope next year we'll have as much excitement and joy watching our passion..

[Annie]

Huge news in Russian football today. The best players in Russia (IMHO, and as well as I remember jewell agrees with me ) Alexander Kerzhakov has been sold today. He is leaving Zenit St. Petersburg for Spanish Sevilla

Good luck Sasha Will miss you

Kerzhakov signs for Spanish league leaders Sevilla

AFP
December 28, 2006

MADRID (AFP) - Spanish league leaders Sevilla boosted their title push by signing Russian international striker Alexander Kerzhakov on a five and a half year deal from Zenith Saint Petersburg.

The 24-year-old, who will be unveiled on Saturday, cost Sevilla five million euros, according to sports newspaper AS.

Kerzhakov will supplement a potent Sevilla strike force which already includes the league's top scorer Frederic Kanoute who has already hit 14 goals.

[Annie]

PREVIEW-Soccer-Rattled Chelsea seek comfort with derby victory
By Martyn Herman

LONDON, Dec 28 (Reuters) - Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has much to ponder as he prepares his side for Saturday's local derby against Fulham at Stamford Bridge.

His defence is leaking alarmingly in the absence of injured skipper John Terry, playmaker Joe Cole has a fractured foot and winger Arjen Robben is struggling to be fit.

Add to that Andriy Shevchenko's failure to recapture the form that used to grace Milan and stand-in goalkeeper Hilario's unease and it is easy to see why Mourinho has the blues.

At least he can content himself with the form of Didier Drogba, without whom Chelsea's bid for a third straight title may have already perished. Drogba took his league tally to 12 with two goals in the 2-2 draw with Reading on Tuesday.

Terry may need back surgery and Mourinho could spend some of owner Roman Abramovich's millions in the January sales. Until reinforcements arrive his immediate priority is to dig in and keep leaders Manchester United firmly in his sights.

"To win matches at the moment we have to score three times. Sometimes you do it, sometimes you don't," Mourinho said of the defensive woes that have resulted in two goals conceded in each of their last three games.

LACKING COVER

"Especially after we lost (William) Gallas and (Robert) Huth in the summer. There is not enough cover so at this moment, we have problems."

Chelsea are unlikely to receive much sympathy, such has been their spending power in recent seasons. Fulham, who have been hit hard by injuries, would love nothing more than to put another dent in their glamorous neighbours' title defence.

They beat the champions at home last season and only lost at Stamford Bridge 3-2 to a late Hernan Crespo strike.

While Mourinho frets, his United counterpart Alex Ferguson has enjoyed a perfect holiday programme so far with the 3-1 defeat of Wigan coming after a 3-0 win at Aston Villa.

He even had the luxury of resting Cristiano Ronaldo, Ryan Giggs and Rio Ferdinand against Wigan. Ronaldo came on for the second half, scoring twice in four minutes to take his league tally to 10.

United now have a four-point gap and are in such free-scoring form that Reading should pose few problems on Saturday in their first-ever league visit to Old Trafford.

Ferguson is too experienced to take anything for granted, however, against a neat and tidy Reading side managed by Steve Coppell, a former United favourite.

The earlier meeting this season resulted in a 1-1 draw.

"We didn't expect that (Chelsea's draw with Reading)," he said. "It just goes to show football can knock you on the head and turn the tables on you.

MARVELLOUS CHANCE

"But if we maintain the consistency we've shown over the first half of the season, we'll have a marvellous chance of winning the title."

Arsenal are languishing 14 points behind United in third place but have been on a scoring spree, banging in nine goals in their two Christmas fixtures so far.

They will need to show plenty of grit as well as flair on Saturday when they visit a Sheffield United side hovering just above the relegation zone.

In the absence of injured skipper Thierry Henry, Gilberto Silva has worn the armband and manager Arsene Wenger is full of praise for the Brazilian.

"Everybody is realising how important he is for us," said Wenger. "He is slowly getting the credit he deserves."

Elsewhere on Saturday the battle for Champions League spots intensifies with fourth-placed Bolton Wanderers taking on fifth-placed Portsmouth and sixth-placed Liverpool at seventh-placed Tottenham Hotspur.

[Annie]

Chelsea skipper Terry has back surgery

by Julian Guyer

December 28, 2006
LONDON (AFP) - Chelsea and England captain John Terry has undergone surgery on his back injury, the Premiership champions annnounced in a statement.

The 26-year-old centre-half has not featured in the London club's last three Premiership matches, in which they have conceded six goals and fallen four points behind leaders Manchester United.

"Chelsea Football Club can confirm that today club captain John Terry underwent successful surgery following his back injury," said the Blues' statement.

"The operation took place in France following consultation between the Chelsea medical department and a leading neurosurgical specialist. The operation to remove a sequestrated lumbar intervertebral disc was successful and everyone at the club wishes John a speedy and full recovery."

It is unclear how long Terry's recovery will take but early indications are that he could return within weeks not months although whether he will be fit to lead England in their first match of 2007, against Spain at Old Trafford on February 7, remains to be seen.

As well as being without Terry, Jose Mourinho's men have also seen Petr Cech sidelined for most of this season after the inspirational goalkeeper suffered a fractured skull in a challenge with Reading's Stephen Hunt in October.

Chelsea have conceded 15 league goals so far this season - only seven fewer than they did over the whole of the last Premiership campaign.

Mourinho, having sold both William Gallas and Robert Huth, has admitted the continued absence of Terry has left him short of defensive options. The Portuguese boss has even considered asking 19-goal striker Didier Drogba to step into the role on an emergency basis.

"I do not like to play at centre-back - but I do it for the team because sometimes we have difficult moments in the game," Drogba said before admitting Chelsea needed to shore up their defence.

"We cannot give the other teams the belief that they can score, that they can win," he insisted. "Last season, and also two years ago, we were very strong when we scored one goal and they other teams could not think about coming back into the game."

Meanwhile, Manchester City boss Stuart Pearce has denied reports Chelsea are lining up an 18 million pounds (35 million dollars) bid for their England defender Micah Richards.

Chelsea are at home to Fulham in the west London derby on Saturday.

[Annie]

Soccer 2006: Zidane's head-butt creates wrong lasting image

December 28, 2006
By Tom Torrisi
PA SportsTicker Soccer Editor

It was the Shot Seen 'Round The World.

In the world's biggest game, on its biggest stage, Zinedine Zidane of France provided a moment that will reverberate throughout sports history.

Considering that the dazzling Frenchman is arguably the finest player of his generation, a three-time FIFA World Player of the Year and a man who guided his country to the World Cup in 1998, it came as no surprise that Zidane emerged as the most unforgettable figure of the 2006 event.

That his actions cast a pall over what had been a brilliantly staged tournament - and occurred before a worldwide viewing audience estimated at over 1 billion, - brought out emotions ranging from disheartening to disbelief to downright shock.

With France locked in a tense 1-1 duel with Italy and the teams just 10 minutes from penalty kicks to decide sport's most coveted trophy, Zidane did the unthinkable.

Walking upfield, he suddenly turned, took three steps and, in a surreal moment, delivered a crushing head-butt to the chest of Marco Materazzi, sending the Italian defender sprawling to the pitch.

Zidane, who already announced his retirement prior to the World Cup, earned a red card and an automatic ejection from the final international match of his life.

It was a stunning act, rarely seen at any level of sport, and one that made the soccer world stand still.

Tony DiCicco, the coach of the United States women's team that captured 1999 World Cup, could not believe what he had seen.

"I was amazed," DiCicco said. "That he let words ... that he lost his composure in the biggest game played every four years - bigger than the Olympics - it was unfortunate. It couldn't have come at a worse time.

"I don't know what was said, but you have to contain yourself."

Therein lies the most perplexing aspect of the incident - what could possibly provoke such an action by a man of Zidane's stature at such a critical juncture of a game where the stakes could not be any higher?

There is little precedent for such an egregious error. One can barely comprehend the ramifications if a superstar in another sport committed a similar transgression.

Think Michael Jordan slapping an opposing player in overtime of Game Seven of the NBA Finals. Derek Jeter charging the mound in Game Seven of the World Series. Terrell Owens ... never mind, bad example.

Simply unimaginable.

And as DiCicco pointed out, it was not as if Materazzi viciously slapped or kicked Zidane, which may have prompted - although not necessarily warranted - an immediate response.

Zidane had taken at least three steps past the Italian before walking back and delivering the most lethal head-butt by a Frenchman since Andre The Giant floored Hulk Hogan at Wrestlemania III in 1987.

"In a word, unprofessional," DiCicco said. "To lose his focus and professionalism at a critical time of the game ... Everyone has their breaking point and their trigger point."

What was said? Zidane claimed Materazzi insulted his mother and sister, which the Italian initially denied. Two months later, Materazzi admitted he had made a taunting remark about Zidane's sister, unaware that he even had a sibling.

In the frenzied aftermath of the incident, television stations hired lip readers to study the tape, making it the most scrutinized blow to the chest since Janet Jackson's infamous "wardrobe malfunction" during halftime of Super Bowl XXXVIII.

The biggest question: Did Zidane's ejection cause France to lose the World Cup?

It would be pure speculation, but France had never lost on penalty kicks in World Cup competition, while Italy had never won in that format. In an added twist of irony, Zidane had given France an early 1-0 lead on a penalty kick due to a foul on - you guessed it - Materazzi.

"It certainly changed the game," DiCicco said. "Not that Italy wouldn't have won, but France was starting to dominate the game."

Regardless, Zidane likely joins a pantheon of athletes who now enjoy instant name recognition and have left enduring moments in history.

Twenty years from now, the casual sports fan may not be able to tell you which nation won the 2006 World Cup. But mention Zidane's name and it will strike a chord. He becomes another Bill Buckner, Chris Webber or Scott Norwood - defined by a mistake. According to DiCicco, that probably will be the American perspective.

"I don't think it will be the defining moment of his career," DiCicco said. "The rest of the world will remember what he gave to the game, his style, his presence. Americans will probably remember that moment, unfortunately."

What may have prevented serious repercussions in his own country and an angry backlash from French fans is Zidane's body of work over his magnificent career.

Some players have had their reputations tarnished for far lesser errors in international competition. One of the more notable incidents of fan retribution came in the 1994 World Cup.

Colombia's Andres Escobar scored an own goal vs. the United States in an eventual 2-1 loss, which led to his country's elimination from the tournament.

Ten days later, Escobar was eliminated - shot and killed in Colombia, with the motive behind the murder believed to be the own goal.

"The good news was that France forgave (Zidane)," DiCicco said. "There have been other instances where there's not the case. He could have been scarred for life."

Perhaps, but Zidane left a lasting scar on the 2006 World Cup, which had been a marvelous sporting spectacle until his confrontation with Materazzi.

Quelling fears of hooliganism and security concerns, Germany delivered a first-class event, including a riveting semifinal match between the host country and Italy, two nations that believe it is their birthright to be playing in the championship game every four years.

In a fairy-tale ending, Zidane would have scored the winning goal and disappeared into retirement as a national hero.

The reality, and irony of it all? Head-butt and all, Zidane was voted the winner of the Golden Ball, given to the outstanding player in the World Cup.

"Of course you would like to have had a turning point be an unbelievable goal, seen over and over all over the world," DiCicco admitted. "Unfortunately, in this case, it turned out to be something just the opposite."

[iman]

bia2209 said:

I've always quite liked Gab Marcotti. He's some one I have a lot off time for.

Now then, for the sad news....I am stranded in the land of non footie believers....and no i have not died and gone to hell. Just across the atlantic to the US.

I will be able to keep track of my gunners (the bit of footie that they do show, tends to be of the english variety).

All I can say is that hopefully the New Year will bring luck and success to my fav teams. Milan in particular are in dire need of it.

Health and happiness (and trophies) for all my fav players, from Kaka to Henry, stopping by Shevchenko (but no trophies for you....soz but I am not THAT generous... unless of course you go back to Milan.... )

And let's have none of the violence, racisim, corruption etc that have ruined parts of the game this year.

Have a happy end to the footie season people. ;D ;D

*goes off to convert the non believers and initiate them to the wonders of the world's most beautiful game*

Go convert those nonbelievers ....we pray silently for you to succeed!!!!! ;D ;D

[iman]

admin said:

Chelsea skipper Terry has back surgery

by Julian Guyer

December 28, 2006
LONDON (AFP) - Chelsea and England captain John Terry has undergone surgery on his back injury, the Premiership champions annnounced in a statement.

The 26-year-old centre-half has not featured in the London club's last three Premiership matches, in which they have conceded six goals and fallen four points behind leaders Manchester United.

"Chelsea Football Club can confirm that today club captain John Terry underwent successful surgery following his back injury," said the Blues' statement.

"The operation took place in France following consultation between the Chelsea medical department and a leading neurosurgical specialist. The operation to remove a sequestrated lumbar intervertebral disc was successful and everyone at the club wishes John a speedy and full recovery."

It is unclear how long Terry's recovery will take but early indications are that he could return within weeks not months although whether he will be fit to lead England in their first match of 2007, against Spain at Old Trafford on February 7, remains to be seen.

As well as being without Terry, Jose Mourinho's men have also seen Petr Cech sidelined for most of this season after the inspirational goalkeeper suffered a fractured skull in a challenge with Reading's Stephen Hunt in October.

Chelsea have conceded 15 league goals so far this season - only seven fewer than they did over the whole of the last Premiership campaign.

Mourinho, having sold both William Gallas and Robert Huth, has admitted the continued absence of Terry has left him short of defensive options. The Portuguese boss has even considered asking 19-goal striker Didier Drogba to step into the role on an emergency basis.

"I do not like to play at centre-back - but I do it for the team because sometimes we have difficult moments in the game," Drogba said before admitting Chelsea needed to shore up their defence.

"We cannot give the other teams the belief that they can score, that they can win," he insisted. "Last season, and also two years ago, we were very strong when we scored one goal and they other teams could not think about coming back into the game."

Meanwhile, Manchester City boss Stuart Pearce has denied reports Chelsea are lining up an 18 million pounds (35 million dollars) bid for their England defender Micah Richards.

Chelsea are at home to Fulham in the west London derby on Saturday.

Terry makes swift training return

Terry injured his back in training earlier this month
Chelsea and England captain John Terry is back in training less than 24 hours after undergoing successful surgery to cure his troublesome back injury. The 26-year-old defender was pictured on the club's website jogging at Chelsea's Cobham training ground.

But Chelsea club doctor Bryan English has refused to reveal how long the centre-half will be out of action.

"I won't say exactly how long he is going to take to recover," English told the club's website.

English added: "When I hear so-called experts say that he's going to have a six-week recovery, when people comment when they don't know his pathology- I have a bit of a problem with that."

Chelsea have conceded six goals in three league matches without Terry and have fallen four points behind Premiership leaders Manchester United.

But having sold both William Gallas and Robert Huth, manager Jose Mourinho has admitted the continued absence of Terry has left him short of defensive options.

I think he is going to be out for a while......and england have a international against Spain in Feb so we may have to do without Terry!!!!!