Gattuso to stay away from Tottenham

Gennaro Gattuso has revealed he has been advised to stay away when AC Milan face Tottenham in the Champions League on March 9.

• Blackpool 3-1 Tottenham
• Redknapp rails at wasteful finishing
• Gattuso gets four-match ban
Gattuso was hit with a four-match ban by UEFA for his clash with Tottenham coach Joe Jordan at the end of Spurs' brilliant 1-0 win at the San Siro.
The midfielder will have to watch the return leg at White Hart Lane from the sidelines and it was in the stands at White Hart Lane that he wanted to take in the game from, but he has been advised to stay away for his own safety.
"I would like to go to White Hart Lane for the second leg but I have been advised not to," Gattuso is quoted as saying in the Daily Mail. "I have been told there will be 47,000 people there just waiting to give me a slap."
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been painted as the peacemaker after stepping between Gattuso and Sebastien Bassong in the tunnel, but he feels the Swede would not have been much help between himself and Jordan.
He said: "It was lucky Zlatan Ibrahimovic was not by my side when the confrontation with Jordan happened. If he had been the fight would still be going on.
"When I went towards Jordan at the end of the game he took off his glasses like he was ready for a challenge. He was screaming the 'f' word at me repeatedly."

Ancelotti: Now let's conquer United

Carlo Ancelotti has demanded Chelsea back up their strong performance in the Champions League by repeating the showing against Manchester United in the Premier League next week.

Carlo Ancelotti celebrates victory in freezing Denmark

 

 

• Ancelotti satisfied by win
• Copenhagen 0-2 Chelsea
• Champions League Gallery
Chelsea moved to within touching distance of the Champions League quarter-finals and eased the mounting pressure on manager Ancelotti with a 2-0 victory over FC Copenhagen in their last-16 first leg at a frozen Parken Stadium.
The result, sparked by a brace by Nicolas Anelka, kept alive their one remaining hope of silverware this season following a miserable few months that have seen last year's double winners all but surrender their Premier League title and crash out of the FA Cup. It got better for Chelsea when Tottenham were beaten 3-1 at Blackpool on Tuesday night, giving their London rivals the chance to reclaim fourth place in the league if they beat United next Tuesday.
"We don't have to be happy for Tottenham's defeat, but it was good news for us,'' said Ancelotti. "Now we have to play against United and try and put in the same performance.''
But Ancelotti has grown tired of declaring Chelsea have emerged from their form slump only to see the odd victory become false dawns as more disappointment follows. This time he refused to comment when asked whether the 'bad moment' was over, demanding instead that his team answer that question on the pitch at Stamford Bridge.
Asked if their miserable run was over, Ancelotti said: "I don't want to say. I've suggested that once or twice before. We had a lot of motivation for this game, but now we have to continue it. United will be a fantastic opportunity for us to maintain the same level of football.''
Ancelotti defiantly declared on Monday that "Chelsea has not died'', and he added after Tuesday's match: "We are still alive. I had an idea before the game, and I maintain the same idea now. We are not dead. It's just one game, though. I want to see my team play again, again, again.''
Ancelotti hailed his strikers as the best in Europe after a game in which Anelka scored twice and Fernando Torres did everything but find the net.
Ancelotti said of Torres, who again missed several chances to open his Chelsea account: "His performance was really good. There's a little bit of disappointment because he could have scored. But it doesn't matter. His movement with Anelka was so good. Anelka was able to score and Torres had a lot of opportunities that he created with his movement. He will score in the next game.''
Copenhagen boss Stale Solbakken claimed too many of his players underperformed and admitted he got his tactics wrong.
"To be honest, some of my best players maybe didn't have their best days,'' said Solbakken, who admitted blundering by starting former Chelsea star Jesper Gronkjaer on the wing. "Maybe we will never be as good as Chelsea but, on another day, we could have been a lot closer to them. Chelsea were two goals better than us; no discussion.''

Anderson out for up to two months

Manchester United midfielder Anderson could be out for up to two months with a knee injury he suffered in his side's narrow FA Cup victory over Crawley Town on Saturday.

GettyImagesAnderson was out for seven months with a knee injury suffered early last year

• Giggs and Rio miss Marseille trip
• Evra commits to Old Trafford
• Giggs signs new United deal
Anderson came off at half time at Old Trafford and scans have revealed he has damaged ligaments which could require surgery. Even if he does not need an operation he is expected to be sidelined until mid-April.
The news comes as a blow for Sir Alex Ferguson given injury-stricken Owen Hargreaves has failed to complete his return to central midfield this season.
Ferguson must now rely on Darren Fletcher, Michael Carrick and veteran Paul Scholes to cover that area as the fixtures stack up as United fight for silverware on three fronts.
Carrick could be the main beneficiary of Anderson's woe as he pushes for a more significant role in the team. Before flying out with the squad to France for United's Champions League last-16 first leg tie against Marseillie, he spoke of the buzz he gets from being involved in Europe's top club competition.
"The buzz you get with the Champions League is something that no other competition brings,'' Carrick said. "It was strange watching Tottenham and Arsenal last week and not being involved. We have had to wait an extra week but we are ready for it.''
United will be coming across an old boy in Gabriel Heinze, who spent three seasons at Old Trafford before an acrimonious departure in 2007, when the Red Devils refused to allow the Argentina full-back to join Liverpool. Heinze eventually left for Real Madrid instead, moving on to Marseille two years later, since when he has become a key member of their defence. Whether the 32-year-old can contain former team-mate Wayne Rooney is another matter.
Rooney might have been in a bad mood during his second-half contribution to Saturday's narrow FA Cup win over non-league Crawley, but seven days previously he had scored what has been hailed as one of the best goals Old Trafford has ever seen. As a top-level professional, performing an overhead kick should be nothing special to Carrick. However, even he was staggered by the manner Rooney took his chance.
"I felt shock and surprise because it was completely out of the blue,'' said the 29-year-old. "But at the same time there was pure elation. I was standing on the touchline about to come on and thought of doing a (Jose) Mourinho down the line. Straight away you knew you'd witnessed something special.
"It's an instinctive thing. The ball was delivered in the right way for the overhead kick and was the perfect height for him to get up there and volley it. But it's one thing seeing it, quite another being able to do it. The power and direction he got behind it were incredible.''

Guardiola laughs off Wilshere talk

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola has laughed off suggestions he might try to sign Arsenal midfield Jack Wilshere.

GettyImagesPep Guardiola has a point to prove in the return leg

Wilshere, 19, was one of the Gunners' best players in their 2-1 over Barcelona in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie at the Emirates in midweek, more than holding his own against the likes of Xavi and Andres Iniesta.
The England international even outshined his captain, Cesc Fabregas, whom Barcelona are eager to bring back to the Nou Camp. Guardiola, though, admitted he would not be making a move for Wilshere, and also hinted his side would find it tough to prise Fabregas away from north London.
''He (Wilshere) is a great player - a great player for Arsenal,'' the Barca coach said. ''And in any case, (Arsenal manager) Arsene Wenger doesn't sell his best players.''
Guardiola claimed he expects a stern test from Wenger's side in the return leg of their Champions League clash at the Nou Camp.
''Arsenal are a wonderful side,'' he said. ''You will not hear me discredit Arsenal - they are a great side with a great coach and they will be a very difficult opponent. It will be a great game against a great team.''
There had been talk in Spain of a mini-crisis for Barcelona after the Catalans had failed to beat Sporting Gijon last weekend and then lost at Arsenal, but a hard-fought 2-1 win over Athletic saw normal order restored.
Barca were not at their best but still moved back five points ahead of Real Madrid in the Primera Division with 14 league games left.
''To be five points ahead of Madrid is a total success,'' Guardiola said. ''They are a great team and they have a coach who has not lost a home game for nine years. For me, there is no better team in Europe.''
Barca face their arch-rivals in the final of the Copa del Rey in April and could yet meet Jose Mourinho's side in the latter stages of the Champions League. Guardiola said winning becomes more difficult every year.
''People say that it's easier because we have been together for longer,'' he said. ''But every year it gets harder; you don't see Rafael Nadal beating Roger Federer 6-0, 6-1, 6-0, just like you didn't see the Chicago Bulls winning easily when Michael Jordan was playing - sometimes they won with the last shot of the game.''

Giggs and Rio miss Marseille match

Manchester United's preparations for their Champions League fixture against Marseille on Wednesday have been hit by the news that Ryan Giggs and Rio Ferdinand both failed to travel with the squad.

GettyImagesRio Ferdinand and Ryan Giggs will be forced to watch from the sidelines

• Heinze sorry for Fergie feud
• Anderson suffers knee blow
Captain Ferdinand has not played for United since sustaining a calf injury in the warm-up prior to the club's 2-1 defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers on February 5, but the absence of Giggs is as yet unexplained.
Michael Owen (groin) and Jonny Evans (ankle) also failed to board the plane to France, while Anderson fails to make the trip having suffered a knee injury in the FA Cup win over Crawley which could see him sidelined for two months.
However, Brazilian defenders Fabio and Rafael are both included despite suffering injuries against Crawley, while the squad is boosted by the inclusion of youngsters Joshua King and Ryan Tunnicliffe.
In the absence of Ferdinand and Evans, Chris Smalling will partner Nemanja Vidic in defence, while it is reported that Wayne Rooney could move left to fill in for Giggs.
Marseille, meanwhile, have learned that France international Mathieu Valbuena has recovered from a knee injury suffered on January 22 and could play in the last-16, first-leg tie.
"I am operational and at the coach's disposition," Valbuena said. "It's up to him to decide if he selects me or not."
However, fellow international Andre-Pierre Gignac will definitely miss out after straining an adductor muscle.
Full Manchester United squad: Van der Sar, Kuszczak, Lindegaard; Vidic, O'Shea, Brown, Rafael, Fabio, Evra, Smalling; Scholes, Gibson, Nani, Carrick, Fletcher, Bebe, Obertan, Tunnicliffe; Rooney, Berbatov, Hernandez, King.

Guardiola set to pen new Barca deal

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola will sign his one-year contract extension with the club on Wednesday, the Primera Division leaders have said.


GettyImages
Pep Guardiola has won eight titles already with Barcelona


• Messi marks landmark with winner

It had initially been announced earlier this month that Guardiola would pen his new deal on Tuesday, but that has now been moved back 24 hours.

Barca said on their website: "For reasons of agenda, the signing of Josep Guardiola's contract renewal, scheduled for this Tuesday, February 22, will finally take place on Wednesday, February 23, after first-team training, around 1300 (local time), in the club offices.

"The coach of Barcelona will sign for one more season, until June 30, 2012, as announced on February 8.''

Guardiola, 40, took charge of the Catalan giants in 2008 and has already led the club to eight titles. He stated his intention in January to continue at the club, and Barca confirmed as much earlier this month.

"For a coach, after a certain time, things can become routine for him and when that time comes one must get away from it," Guardiola said. "But there's still a lot of time left in the contract and the club knows I will never abandon them, so please let me do my job in peace."

Barca are currently five points clear at the top of La Liga, through to the final of the Copa del Rey and in the last-16 of the Champions League, where they trail 2-1 to Arsenal after the away leg.

Evra signs new United deal

Manchester United defender Patrice Evra has put pen to paper on a contract extension to keep him at Old Trafford until 2014 which should end speculation of a summer move to Real Madrid.


GettyImages
Patrice Evra: At United until 2014


• Giggs signs new United deal

Evra, 29, has already helped United land three Premier League titles, a Champions League, plus three League Cups - the last of which he lifted after skippering the team to victory over Aston Villa last year.

And, with his future now secure, Evra is adamant his desire for silverware has not been satisfied yet.

''Ever since I arrived at United, it's been a dream come true playing here,'' he said. ''The fans, the players, the manager and the staff all work hard to make this club the best in the world.

''I have won a lot in the last five years, but I want to win more and I know that's the mentality of everyone here.''

Evra has established himself as one of the world's top left-backs since his £5 million arrival from Monaco in 2006 and, at a time when the most experienced members of his squad are beginning to end their careers, Sir Alex Ferguson reckons the defender's influence will become more apparent.

''Patrice is unquestionably one of the world's best left-backs,'' said the Scot. ''He has developed into a key character in the dressing room and it is great that he has committed himself to the club. His experience and skill will be increasingly important to us.''

Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand posted on Twitter that he was delighted one of the "best left backs in the world" had committed to the club

Lampard: Europe is the priority

Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard has made it clear that the priority for this season is the Champions League.

With Chelsea struggling off the pace in the Premier League - sitting 12 points off leaders Manchester United - Lampard has insisted that, although it is a tough decision to make, he thinks the Blues will have one trophy in mind above all else.

"It's a horrible question - but I would say I would,'' he said, when asked if he would give up retaining the Premier League for a chance to lift the Champions League cup.

Lampard was in the side that lost to Manchester United on penalties in 2008 and, having already tasted glory in England, the midfielder wants to add to his medal collection in Europe.

"I hate putting one above the other but having won three Premier League titles the Champions League is the one to win,'' he added.

"It depends on the squad but I think if you're going well in the Champions League it can help your league form. If you're winning in Europe, that form can be carried into the league."

Wenger: Barcelona are favourites

Arsene Wenger accepts his Arsenal side remain Champions League underdogs despite their first-leg victory over Barcelona - but thinks a new-found self-belief could prove crucial.




''I am highly delighted. It was a special football night,'' said Wenger. ''The game promised a lot and fulfilled that promise. It was two exceptional teams who tried always to be positive.

''We are not favourites now, but what is important is the belief that we have a chance. Barcelona are still favourites. We know now that we can beat them, though. We did not know that last year.

''This gives us a chance to to go to Barcelona with belief. Every game is difficult but we will prepare well and be highly focused.''

Wenger was particularly happy to see his players keep their composure during the phases of the game when Barca denied them possession for long periods.

''Against Barcelona you are exposed many times when they have possession but we kept resilient and strong,'' Wenger said. ''The problem with their possession is that if you are a fraction late you are in trouble. You have to be tight with the marking and if you don't it is difficult.

''We were prepared mentally to live with that. Usually we have the ball more than our opponents but we knew that 60% of the time we would have to be focused on them.''

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola was complimentary of Arsenal's style and was measured in his assessment of the visitors' efforts.

''I think we were okay. We have lost the first leg so we have to win the second leg,'' he said. ''We controlled the play for most of the match but we know they can play very well positionally. They are very good and very fast when they counter-attack.

''If we analyse this result it is not too bad. I think in general I am happy with the performance. But we need to score goals in the second leg. They will attack and we will attack too.''

Corluka out for a month

Tottenham defender Vedran Corluka expects to be out for a month following Mathieu Flamini's two-footed lunge at the San Siro.

Mathieu Flamini was lucky to stay on the pitch after a two-footed tackle


It had been feared that Corluka may be sidelined for the season, but the Croatian has revealed that he expects to be back in March.

Corluka was floored by Flamini in one of many aggressive challenges in AC Milan's defeat to Spurs, but Flamini was only booked for the tackle.

"As we expected when my leg cooled down, everything about my ankle looked worse than just after the game," Corluka told Sportske Novosti. "My ankle is swollen. It hurts so much, but the doctors are saying that things are not as bad as it seems. Luckily nothing is broken, but I will still be out for at least four weeks.

"I will know for sure how bad it is today [Thursday]. When I first saw my ankle, I was sure it would be at least two months, but luckily it is not so bad."

Praise for Raul after 71st goal

Former Real Madrid striker Raul made a goalscoring return to Spain to earn current club Schalke a 1-1 draw at Valencia in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League last-16 clash.

GettyImagesRaul slots home his 70th goal.

• Valencia 1-1 Schalke
• AC Milan 0-1 Tottenham
Raul's close range equaliser cancelled out Roberto Soldado's early opener for Valencia and took his European tally to a record-breaking 71 goals.
And while Valencia goalscorer Soldado said he was unhappy that his side had been unable to fight back following Raul's 63rd minute strike, he heaped praise on 33-year-old's quality in front of goal.
"We knew they were dangerous and had quality players in attack," said Soldado after the game. "You can't give Raul a metre, if he has a chance he does what he did to us. We are an ambitious team and we had hoped for a more positive result, but we have done so much to get here that we are not going to give up now."
Valencia coach Unai Emery added: "If it hadn't hurt us so much we would be the first to congratulate him. I think both teams deserved credit. Vicente Guaita made a lot of saves for us but in the end they managed to score. We also missed a lot of chances."
However, Schalke coach Felix Magath was delighted with the way his side fought back and said that the result was fully justified based on the Germans' performance.
"It was a deserved draw. We came out very well for the match and deserved the goal. We performed and played well," he told Kicker.
"We controlled the game in the second half. Victory would have been a better result, but I'm satisfied with the draw."

Spurs battle to famous win

Tottenham took control of their Champions League tie with AC Milan thanks to Peter Crouch's late winner after a bruising encounter at the San Siro.
• Redknapp slams Flamini tackle
• Allegri: Tie still wide open
Crouch tapped home from 12 yards after a blistering burst of pace from Aaron Lennon unlocked the Milan defence to seal the win with a vital away goal.
The match was nothing like the pulsating 4-3 loss to Inter here in November or the 3-1 Spurs victory in the reverse fixture, but Harry Redknapp will not care one bit.
The home side were lucky to end the match with 10 men after a horrific late lunge from Matthieu Flamini on Vedran Corluka, and some shocking behaviour from Gennaro Gattuso, who appeared to headbutt Spurs assistant Joe Jordan after the final whistle.
But Crouch's goal - his sixth in eight European matches this season - means Spurs take a lead into next month's second leg.
Four months ago Redknapp saw his side almost complete a remarkable second-half comeback against Inter thanks to Gareth Bale's hat-trick.
The Welshman was missing tonight after failing to recover from a back injury.
Niko Kranjcar, who had deputised for Bale so well, was a surprise omission from Tottenham's starting XI, with Steven Pienaar taking Bale's usual position down the left flank.
Luka Modric failed to recover from his appendix injury in time and was named among the substitutes.
Two familiar foes were named among the Milan team - former Arsenal midfielder Flamini and Manchester City's on-loan striker Robinho.
Despite seeing his side collapse against Inter here in October, Redknapp urged his team to stick to their attacking principles and throw everything at the Italians.
Crouch proved to be the visitors' most potent weapon in the opening exchanges, causing Christian Abbiati to come and punch away a dangerous low cross.
Abbiati picked up a head injury when challenging the tall marksman for the ball and had to be replaced by substitute goalkeeper Marco Amelia.
Milan sounded Spurs a warning with their first real chance 20 minutes in, Robinho bursting down the right and crossing to Zlatan Ibrahimovic but William Gallas jumped in with a decisive clearance.
Milan thought they should have had a penalty 23 minutes in when Sandro clattered into Ibrahimovic but referee Stephane Lannoy waved the protests away.
Michael Dawson went clattering into Ibrahimovic with a raised arm in the box. The Swede went down clutching his head but soon returned to his feet after seeing his penalty appeal turned down.
Flamini was lucky not to be booked for a late sliding challenge on Rafael van der Vaart.
Aaron Lennon turned Luca Antonini inside the box but he sent over a high cross that even Crouch could not get on the end of.
Van der Vaart gained a yard and fired a blistering shot that Amelia tipped over with a brilliant save.
Crouch received a bruising kick to the ribs from Alessandro Nesta's follow-through towards the end of the half.
The second half began with a period of intense Milan pressure.
Heurelho Gomes Pulled off a superb flying one-handed save to deny Mario Yepes, who rose well to meet Gattuso's cross.
The game took an ugly turn 55 minutes in when Flamini flew in with a diving two-footed tackle on Corluka which sent the full-black flying into the air.
To the Spurs' players anger, the midfielder only saw yellow. Corluka had to be stretchered off and replaced by Jonathan Woodgate, who came on for his first appearance since November 2009.
Tempers frayed moments later when Pienaar clattered into Gattuso.
Spurs assistant Jordan was furious with the referee's decision to give a foul and squared up to the midfielder on the touchline. Both men pushed each other before Redknapp stepped in and they both walked away.
Play eventually resumed after both sets of players remonstrated with each other.
Yepes drew another point-blank save from Gomes with a six-yard header but the centre-half showed his petulant side by needlessly barging into the Brazilian when he went to throw the ball out seconds later.
Van der Vaart, clearly struggling with his calf injury, was replaced by Roman Pavlyuchenko on the hour.
The ugliness continued, Crouch the latest person to clash with Gattuso when he went for a header.
The Milan captain was then finally booked for a late tackle on Pienaar.
Milan pushed for an opener but they were shocked when Crouch broke the deadlock with 10 minutes left.
Lennon raced at the Milan defence with blistering pace, hurdled Yepes' challenge and squared for the former Liverpool man to tap home from 12 yards.
The hosts pushed for an equaliser but had to resort to long shots as Tottenham held onto the ball well, much to the delight of the travelling 5,000 Spurs fans.
Dawson had to put in a last-gasp tackle to deny Antonini as the game entered injury time before Ibrahimovic thought he had pulled one back with a superb volley but he was adjudged to have pushed Dawson in the box.
The ugly scenes that had marred the match continued after the whistle with Gattuso appearing to head-butt Jordan.

Redknapp slams Flamini tackle

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp has hit out at the two-footed tackle by Mathieu Flamini on Vedran Corluka and also had his say on the angry scenes at the full-time whistle that surrounded Milan midfielder Gennaro Gattuso's head-butt on Spurs coach Joe Jordan.

GettyImagesMathieu Flamini was lucky to stay on the pitch after a two-footed tackle

• Milan 0-1 Spurs: Crouch strikes
Flamini went in hard on Corluka, who had to come off and was seen later on crutches, but only received a yellow card for his tackle; a decision Redknapp was not happy with.
''That is a red card all day. How has he not got a red card for that?'' he said after the game. ''It's an absolute disgrace, they [UEFA] should look at that, surely, and do something about it. It's a dangerous, dangerous tackle.
''He was two or three feet off the floor with two feet. It was a leg-breaking tackle. ''He [Corluka] will have an x-ray tomorrow but I don't think he has broken it but he could have done easily.''
Flamini later revealed he had been to see the defender to say sorry. He said: "I went to the Tottenham locker room to check on Corluka's condition and to apologise.
"It's a shame about the defeat, as we played a good second half. Now we'll have to go to London and win the game. We can win on our travels and created scoring opportunities tonight. In the first half we were too sluggish when pressing, but after the break we deserved a victory."
Redknapp also joked about Gattuso's spat with Jordan, saying: ''There would be only one winner there - Joe! I'd have my money on Joe. Of all the people to pick on, don't pick on Joe.''
Meanwhile, Tottenham match-winner Peter Crouch hailed a ''fantastic achievement'' after his side snatched a famous win.
''It was a great game of football, I thought we deserved the win in the end. I thought we limited them to not many chances and I think we were the better side. It's a fantastic achievement,'' Crouch said. ''I just had to keep up with Azza (Lennon) at the end!''
Lennon added: ''When I beat the first defender and saw Crouchy was free I was always going to put it across to him.''

Wenger rejects Laporta claims

Arsene Wenger has hit back at accusations that Arsenal's capture of Cesc Fabregas from Barcelona was unfair, claiming his Champions League opponents should hold "no bitterness" over the deal.

GettyImagesCesc Fabregas: The subject of a tug-of-war between Arsenal and Barcelona

• Barca praise for Gunners
• Nasri passed fit to play
• Arsenal v Barcelona preview
• Chamakh hails Van Persie

Former Barcelona president Joan Laporta has claimed "justice" will be done if and when Barcelona sign Fabregas from Arsenal, the club who swooped for the Spanish World Cup-winner when he was 16.

But while praising the side who visit the Emirates on Wednesday in their last-16 first leg as the best in the world, Wenger said Barcelona should have no gripes over the way Fabregas was signed and accused the club of double standards considering they too sign young players from other clubs.

Wenger said: "Where do they get their players? Where does Messi come from? Barcelona? At what age did they take him? Twelve years old. There's no reason for any bitterness because we did nothing illegal.

"We did not force a gun somewhere. We respected the rules. They could take our players, we accept that. They take their players from all over the world. Don't expect them only to get players from Catalonia."

Other than the ongoing saga surround Fabregas' future, there is a great mutual respect between the two clubs. Wenger praised the team who eliminated his in last year's quarter-finals and said that if Arsenal could spring an upset and knock out the tournament favourites, the Gunners would immediately leap towards the front of the pack when the last eight is decided.

"We want to win this competition and we know the only way to do that is to beat the super-favourites,'' he said. "Barcelona are certainly the best team in the world at the moment. If we knock Barcelona out, we straight away have a good chance to win the tournament.''

Arsenal have failed to beat Barcelona in five previous attempts, but Wenger believes their time has come following a chastening experience in last season's quarter-finals. The Gunners were humbled 6-3 on aggregate, losing 4-1 at the Nou Camp after Lionel Messi plundered four goals, and escaping with a 2-2 draw at home in which Fabregas famously scored a penalty with a broken leg. But Wenger insists much has changed in the last year.

"We don't deny the quality of Barcelona, but what is important for us is we have a good opportunity to show who we are now,'' he said. "Not only that, we also want to show Barcelona we are capable of knocking them out.

"We have the belief and a strong togetherness to show we are a different team now. In the first half of the home game last year we were spectators a little bit and were a bit inhibited. I believe that confidence-wise and mentally we are a completely different team today.''

In a huge boost to Arsenal, Samir Nasri is likely to start after the in-form France playmaker recovered from the hamstring injury sustained on January 30. Problems in his goalkeeping stocks, however, means Wenger will be forced to put 20-year-old Wojciech Szczesny in the firing line, although the manager expected his confident young star to handle the occasion.

Wenger said: "It's a big game for him because you think that once or twice he may have to do something tomorrow. He's not fazed by anything, which is very important at the top level. He doesn't give you the feeling that he's nervous in goal."

Xavi: Cesc destined for Barca

Ahead of Arsenal's Champions League meeting with Barcelona on Wednesday, Xavi has said he is convinced that Cesc Fabregas "has to end up" at his former club eventually.

GettyImagesCesc Fabregas has been described as possessing Barcelona DNA

• Puyol to miss Arsenal tie
• Diaby open to Barcelona move
Fabregas was the subject of a determined courtship by the Spanish champions over the summer after informing Arsene Wenger he wanted to leave Emirates Stadium prior to the World Cup. However, Arsenal rejected two offers for their captain.
It is anticipated that Barca will once again attempt to prise their academy graduate from Arsenal at the end of the current season, having lost Fabregas to the North London club in 2003 at the age of just 16. Xavi certainly expects his international team-mate to return to Camp Nou in the future.
"If I'd ever gone to another club, I'd have been thinking about Barcelona - the link is strong," Xavi said, in a wide-ranging interview with The Guardian. "The same is happening to him. But now there's a problem: now he's expensive. But I think that a footballer ends up playing where he wants. He has to end up here."
Arsenal fans grew accustomed to Barcelona players openly calling for the arrival of Fabregas over the summer, while Gerard Pique and Carles Puyol pulled a Barca shirt over the midfielder's head as Spain celebrated their World Cup triumph.
When informed that Arsenal supporters were unimpressed with the stream of comments coming from Camp Nou, Xavi added: "Really? I hardly spoke then. I imagine they wouldn't have liked that. You know, often footballers don't think. We're selfish, we don't realise. I also say it because I'm thinking of Cesc.
"He wants to come here. Barcelona has always been his dream. But of course he's Arsenal's captain, the standard bearer, a leader. This situation is a putada [bummer] for him. He's at a club that plays his style with Wenger who has treated him well, taught him, raised him. Cesc respects him. If he'd been at, say, Blackburn it might have been easier to leave.
"Look, the truth is: I want him to come here. Of course. Barcelona have a very clear style and not many footballers fit. It's not easy. But Cesc fits it perfectly."
Xavi, who also described Manchester United's Paul Scholes as "the best central midfielder I've seen in the last 15, 20 years" and said he would have liked to have played for the club, expects Arsenal to be much more formidable opponents than they were last season, when Barca won 6-3 on aggregate in the Champions League quarter-finals.
"This year they're much better," he said. "I think it's a disadvantage for us that we played last year. They had [too] much respect for us. It was as if they let us have the ball; we always had it, home and away. The game in London could have been a 4-0 we dominated so much - but it finished 2-2. This year will be different."

Puyol likely to miss Arsenal tie

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola has confirmed that defender Carles Puyol is almost certain to miss Wednesday's Champions League tie against Arsenal due to injury.

GettyImagesCarles Puyol is an inspirational figure in defence for Barcelona

• Xavi: Cesc destined for Barca
Puyol has not appeared for Barca since a 3-0 win over Racing Santander on January 22 as he has been struggling with a knee injury.
Though he has taken part in light training, the defender is some way short of match fitness and Guardiola told a press conference on Friday that Puyol's chances of featuring at Emirates Stadium are "really complicated".
"That's the feeling I have [that Puyol will miss the game]," Guardiola said. "But things could change and he could also go. It's going well but when we ask for a little more, it becomes a problem."
Puyol will not play in Saturday's league fixture against Sporting Gijon and must be considered extremely doubtful to take part in Wednesday's Champions League second round, first leg tie.
If the World Cup winner is absent, then Guardiola is likely to use Eric Abidal in a central position, as he has done in recent La Liga games. That would mean Maxwell retaining his place at left back.
Meanwhile, despite agreeing a new contract this week, Guardilola has stuck to his policy of failing to give cast-iron guarantees about his long-term future at Barca.
"I can see myself here for one more year ... then, we'll see," he said. "What I want to do is get the best out of this team. Having reached the Copa del Rey final and doing so well in La Liga has shown me that there is no reason not to stay here for another year."

Wilshere: We have to be 'nasty'

Jack Wilshere admits Arsenal must alter their approach and be "a bit nasty" when they face Barcelona in the Champions League at Emirates Stadium on Wednesday night.

GettyImagesJack Wilshere was a spectator as Barcelona tore Arsenal apart last season

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The Spanish champions also visited North London last season in the competition and in the first leg at Emirates Stadium produced what coach Pep Guardiola described as the best 45 minutes of football during his time at the club.
While the first half of the quarter-final first leg finished 0-0, and Arsenal managed to secure a 2-2 draw after 90 minutes, Barca blew the Gunners away in the second leg when Lionel Messi scored all four in a 4-1 win at Camp Nou.
As the first leg of this season's second round fast approaches, Wilshere says Arsenal have learned from their chastening experience last season and will replicate Barca's high-intensity pressing and unsettle the Catalans.
"We've got to change our game a bit to play against Barcelona," Wilshere said. "We'll learn from last year, we need to get in their faces and win the ball back, and if you like be a bit nasty with them. And when we've got the ball we have to keep it.
"Barcelona were great last year, especially in the first half at the Emirates. That's the game that we want to play, and they played us at our own game and they were brilliant.
"I watch Barcelona playing in La Liga and I watch Xavi and Iniesta just run games. That's what I want to learn from and do myself. Barcelona are definitely my favourite other team to watch. They play like Arsenal and try to keep the ball, like we try to do."
Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas has predictably been the centre of attention in recent days given he told Arsene Wenger he wanted to return to his former club over the summer, only to see Barcelona fail with two offers. But Wilshere says the repeated speculation about Fabregas' future does not affect his team-mates.
"Maybe the fans get frustrated with all the talk about Barcelona and Cesc," Wilshere said, "but the players don't think about it because we see Cesc every week and he's focused on Arsenal at the moment. He's doing the business for Arsenal, so that's all we can ask for."
Fabregas scored a penalty in the 2-2 draw at Emirates Stadium last season before missing the second leg due to injury. This time he insists Arsenal have nothing to fear when they play a side that has been making strong claims to greatness with their performances under Guardiola.
"We know they are the best team in the world and it is a big task for us," Fabregas said. "We will do our best. We have a young team but one with a lot of quality and energy. We are very motivated."
"We don't have to worry too much about them. We have to play with no fear. Last season in the first half [of the first leg] we respected them too much. We just have to play our game."

Bale fails to travel to Milan

Gareth Bale has not travelled with his Tottenham Hotspur team-mates for Tuesday's Champions League second-round tie with Milan.

GettyImagesGareth Bale grabbed Europe's attention upon his last visit to San Siro

A back injury has prevented Bale from making the trip to Italy and he will be sorely missed for the first leg at San Siro - the venue at which he scored a brilliant hat-trick against Inter in the group stages of the competition.
Speaking on Sunday evening, Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp said Bale would, in all likelihood, be unavailable for Tottenham's first fixture in the knockout phase of the Champions League.
"I'd like to be able to scare Milan and say he's going to be available, but he's not," he told Sky Sports News. "He's struggling to get over this back injury.
"The specialists don't see too much of a problem there. There's nothing that should keep him out too long. They looked at Crouch's back and he has an epidural and Gareth had similar problems. Crouch's looked an awful lot worse.
"Gareth's has taken a little bit longer to heal. We've got to make sure he's right. He's a young lad and he's very important. He's got a great future in front of him. He doesn't feel he's ready to play.
''We leave it to him. At Sunderland he worked with the fitness coaches on Sunday morning and when they started to push him a bit he couldn't go on. We've got to take our time and make sure he's right when he comes back."

Newcastle interest in Owen?

Sir Alex Ferguson has admitted he has "not been completely fair'' to Michael Owen amid reports the striker is being targeted by Newcastle.

PA PhotosMichael Owen has been effective when he has featured this season

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But that interest is not from Newcastle United of the Premier League, but Australian club Newcastle Jets of the A-League who are lining up a bid to make Owen, 31, their marquee player for next season, according to reports in the Australian press. The Jets have a new millionaire owner, Nathan Tinkler, who is eager to make a splash with some high profile signings for next season.
If Owen was to head down under he would follow in the footsteps of current Perth Glory striker Robbie Fowler - like Owen, a former Liverpool great - and former Sydney FC man Dwight Yorke, who both headed to the A-League as marquee players in the twilight of their careers.
Manchester United striker Owen has been starved of opportunities during his second season at Old Trafford, leading to the general conclusion he will leave the club when his contract expires at the end of the season. Owen has started just four games so far this season, yet he has still managed to bag four goals, the latest beginning the FA Cup comeback at Southampton a fortnight ago.
As the season enters its most crucial phase, Ferguson is acutely aware Owen's nose for an opportunity could be a very useful asset. However, with Dimitar Berbatov, Wayne Rooney and Javier Hernandez available as well, the United boss is not entirely sure where he can squeeze Owen into his team.
"I keep trying to get myself into a situation where I can play Michael Owen more often,'' said Ferguson. "I haven't been completely fair that way. He is a terrific trainer and every time I play him he never lets me down.''
Understandably, given the impact he has had in a stellar debut season at United, Hernandez has tended to be the man Ferguson calls upon should either Berbatov or Rooney falter. However, as the campaign reaches its tense conclusion, Owen's vast experience may force Ferguson's hand.
"Michael is a phenomenal player in and around the box,'' said Ferguson. "You can make similarities in physique to Javier Hernandez. In and around the box, both of them are very dangerous players. The advantage we have with Michael on the run-in is that he has terrific big-game experience. It could prove very important to us.''

Gerrard 'heartbroken' by Torres move

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has revealed he was left "heartbroken'' by Fernando Torres' decision to quit the club for Chelsea, but believes the Reds are finally on an upward curve.

GettyImagesSteven Gerrard holds no grudges against Fernando Torres

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England midfielder Gerrard has led the Anfield club through a long period of drama both on and off the field, but he now believes under the ownership of John W Henry and Tom Werner, and the caretaker management of Kenny Dalglish, that good times are not too far away from returning. That did not stop him mourning the departure of Torres, though.
"I was heartbroken. Absolutely gutted. But I also called him after he left,'' Gerrard told the Daily Mail. "There are no hard feelings. I built up a relationship with Fernando and became his friend. He scored some fantastic goals and I have fantastic memories. I enjoyed playing with him. So you can't go from one extreme to another and fall out with him, start criticising him. But he will also understand how I feel. Fernando is a bright person and he will understand that the Liverpool fans are upset as well.''
Liverpool continue life without Torres on Saturday when they meet Wigan, and the decision whether to play Gerrard, who is recovering from a groin injury that kept him out of England's friendly with Denmark in midweek, will be left until the last moment.
Torres' Chelsea debut was a 1-0 defeat to Liverpool, the latest in a string of impressive results they have put together since Dalglish returned to the club to replace Roy Hodgson last month. And added to the signings of Luis Suarez and Andy Carroll - the £60million replacements for Carroll - Gerrard can finally see happier times returning to his club.
He said: "The football club is much happier now. It's in a better place than it has been for a few years. We've got new owners, who I've spoken to quite a lot, who are passionate about what they want to do.
"I trust them, I trust them even more after what's happened in the last week or so. And the way they've acted, coming towards the end of the transfer window, has impressed me. I was a bit wary at first because I was maybe a bit guilty of trusting the previous owners too much.
"This time I've taken a bit more time in judging them. But they've been brilliant so far. They have put the club back in a good place already and the last three or four weeks have been really positive. We've had some good results. The lads are smiling again. I've actually enjoyed going to work again.''

United wary of Tevez

Paul Scholes has admitted he will not consider Manchester City to be a major threat until the Premier League's big spenders boast some silverware.
Ferguson: Smalling is ready
• Newcastle interest in Owen?
• Qataris set for United takeover - report
• Kidd: No Fergie animosity
• Preview: Man Utd v Man City
• Zabaleta eyes derby win
• Toure: Life hard for United after loss
The Manchester United camp is in a bullish mood ahead of Saturday's crucial derby, with neither players nor manager even considering a loss to their crosstown and now title rivals.
Sir Alex Ferguson feels United can all but sew up the Premier League title with victory in the early kick-off at Old Trafford while his players have spoken of their desire to secure bragging rights over an increasingly noisy neighbour.
United veteran Scholes knows how much the fixture means to fans as a standalone match but he said he does not yet quite see it as the kind of season-defining clash that occurs when United face Chelsea or Arsenal - although he conceded it is growing ever closer.
"They are definitely getting closer,'' said Scholes. "Whether they are alongside Chelsea and Arsenal yet I am not sure. They would probably have to win something to become main rivals. But I am sure this year they will be fighting for it and the same will be true in years to come with more improvement.
"It is more than local pride now,'' he said. "We are both going for trophies and we are both main rivals for trophies. Years ago, they were in the bottom half of the league, or not even in it, and we were always red-hot favourites. Even then it didn't necessarily mean we were going to win, as results proved. And they have better quality players now, which just makes matches against City even more interesting.''
Ferguson said the match has the potential to be a turning point - for better or worse - in the title race for both sides. City currently sit five points behind United, who have a game in hand, with Arsenal poised a point ahead of City.
"It won't be decided tomorrow but the game could be decisive for whoever gets a result when you look back,'' said Ferguson. "At this stage of the season you are going to see a lot of important games. There could be a focus on tomorrow or the matches against Chelsea or Arsenal because the later into the season it goes, the more important the games become because you don't have much time to recover.''
Ferguson, like Scholes, immediately thinks of Arsenal and Chelsea as his biggest threats for honours but he admitted that scenario is quickly changing thanks to Roberto Mancini's team.
"There has been a consistent thread in the Premier League for the last 14 years. It has been Arsenal, ourselves and Chelsea. You have to respect they were the winners last year. They are the champions. But City are in a challenging position, there is no question about that. On the run towards the finishing line you will get a lot of interesting games and City are involved in that.''
Meanwhile, Nani and Ryan Giggs have highlighted the threat of former team-mate Carlos Tevez, who these days leads City from the front as their captain, talisman and top scorer. But that has not stopped Nani expressing his confidence in securing a positive result, claiming it is an "obligation" to beat City.
Nani said in the Sun: "A win over City is an obligation. To beat them will put a big distance between us in the title race and also mean we have taken four points off them this season. I've always been optimistic and insist we are favourites to win the Premier League.
Nani added: "Carlos was our companion and now he is a rival. How do we stop him? By anticipating what he's up to and making sure he never feels comfortable. For the less he is involved the bigger the advantage for us. We are not obsessed with him but we will make sure we do not give him any chances. Without doubt Tevez is very important to City. But they have other players who are also big dangers to us.''
Giggs added that a loss would be hard to live down, saying: "You don't tend to leave the house for a week if you lose. You'll be walking down the street and a City fan will come and let you know about it. But that's just with me being a local lad. It will be tight but hopefully we'll win.
"City are really solid but have that bit of quality as well. There's Carlos obviously, who we know a lot about. David Silva adds that bit of magic that no other player possesses. Obviously when you lose quality players you are going to miss them. Carlos was certainly a quality player. His goals, his movement, his strength - he's just a very good player. But at United we've lost quality players in the past and the club moves on. That's the thing with United."

Hodgson named new West Brom boss

Roy Hodgson has been appointed manager of West Brom, signing a contract that will keep him at the Hawthorns until 2012.

Roy Hodgson's reign at Liverpool was disastrous, but he worked wonders at Fulham
GettyImagesRoy Hodgson's reign at Liverpool was disastrous, but he worked wonders at Fulham

• Di Matteo axed by Baggies
• Allardyce rules himself out of running
• Di Matteo shocked by sacking

Hodgson, 63, was sacked by Liverpool in January but has been given another shot at Premier League management by the Baggies, who parted company with Roberto Di Matteo last Sunday.

West Brom confirmed the news on their official website, revealing that caretaker manager Michael Appleton will take charge of the team for their clash with West Ham on Saturday.

"The Club are now channelling all of their efforts into supporting Appleton, his assistants Keith Downing and Dean Kiely and the players as they prepare for tomorrow's vital game," a statement on the Baggies website read.

Hodgson will undoubtedly have one eye on April 2, when West Brom welcome Liverpool to the Hawthorns. He endured a disastrous six-month tenure with the Reds, which saw the club suffer their worst start to a top-flight season in 57 years.

And to add insult to Hodgson's injured pride, Liverpool have enjoyed an impressive revival in fortunes since Kenny Dalglish replaced him in the Anfield hotseat.

But Hodgson still boasts an impressive managerial CV that has taken in two spells in charge of Inter Milan, as well as international positions with Switzerland and Finland. And the Englishman was named Manager of the Year by the League Managers' Association last season after guiding Fulham to the Europa League final.

West Brom are currently languishing just above the Premier League relegation zone and Hodgson has been hired with a view to saving the Baggies from the drop, as he did when he was first appointed Fulham boss.

Ancelotti accepts Blues title hopes over

Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti is focused on ensuring his side finish the season in the top four, after writing off the Blues' hopes of retaining their Premier League crown.

Carlo Ancelotti
GettyImagesAncelotti's side have gone from table toppers to title no-hopers in the space of four months

Ancelotti, 51, led Chelsea to a league and cup Double in his first campaign at Stamford Bridge, but has found life significantly more difficult this time around.

Despite a strong start to the season, the Blues have endured a torrid few months - seeing what was an eight-point lead over Manchester United in October, turn into a ten-point deficit at present.

And the former AC Milan coach admitted that talk of winning the Premier League title was now entering the realms of extreme optimism, with a Champions League berth now a more realistic aim for Chelsea.

"Now for us it is difficult to think that we can come back and fight for the Premier League title," Ancelotti said. "The gap is very big, we have to be honest.

"The most important thing is to reach fourth place in the table to maintain Chelsea in the Champions League and we have to fight with the other teams.

"It is better for us to take it game by game in the Premier League but we have to reach fourth place as a minimum."

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich forked out more than £70 million in the January transfer window to bring in David Luiz from Benfica and Fernando Torres from Liverpool, but the pair experienced a 1-0 home defeat to the latter's former club on their debuts last Sunday.

But despite Torres failing to make an impact on his first start, Ancelotti is confident he can get the best out of the Spain striker.

"My aim as a coach is to try and find the best solution with the players I have," Ancelotti said. "In this squad Drogba and Torres are fantastic strikers and we have to try and do everything to get them to play together."

Smalling set for United derby start

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed that Chris Smalling will start alongside captain Nemanja Vidic in central defence for the visit of Manchester City on Saturday.

Chris Smalling, Manchester United
GettyImagesChris Smalling has impressed Ferguson when he's been called upon this season

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Rio Ferdinand and Jonny Evans are both unavailable for the Manchester derby at Old Trafford, having suffered calf and ankle injuries respectively in the past week.

Ferdinand has not recovered from the problem he sustained in the warm-up ahead of Manchester United's shock defeat at Wolves last week, while Evans played in that game but missed Northern Ireland's hammering by Scotland on Wednesday and is still sidelined.

"Rio Ferdinand got a calf injury last week. He will be out for a couple of weeks,'' Ferguson said. "Jonny Evans was injured in training with Northern Ireland. He is out so Chris Smalling will play. I am sure he will do well.''

Smalling, 21, signed for United from Fulham last January - staying at the Cottagers on loan before moving to Old Trafford on a full-time basis last summer.

He has made ten starts for the Red Devils this season, with four of them coming in the Champions League, though the Manchester derby represents the most high-profile game the England Under-21 defender has been involved in for United.

Meanwhile, Ferguson refused to be drawn on comments made by Giovanni Trapattoni on Wednesday that Darron Gibson needs to seek a move away from Old Trafford in order to play more regular first-team football.

"I don't know in what context he said it,'' Ferguson said. "The media today can exaggerate anything now. It may have been a simple message for Darron. Who knows?

"I only picked up the headline of it yesterday and didn't really bother about the content. I know Trapattoni. He is a sensible, experienced man. I don't really give much credence to it. I don't think he would say it to cause mischief.''

West Ham secure Olympic Stadium

West Ham United have been named as the preferred bidders for the Olympic Stadium, giving the East London club victory in their embittered battle with Tottenham Hotspur for the site in Stratford.

West Ham and Tottenham have fought a fierce battle for the Olympic Stadium in Stratford
GettyImagesWest Ham and Tottenham have fought a fierce battle for the Olympic Stadium in Stratford

• Keegan: The right decision
• Spurs stunned after stadium 'leak'
• Brewin: Olympian ideals, money talks
• Hammers 'win Olympic Stadium'
• Sullivan slams Levy

The Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC) confirmed on Friday morning that West Ham's proposal to occupy the stadium, and retain a running track, was deemed to best satisfy the criteria for providing an athletics legacy.

Tottenham had proposed to rebuild the venue as a football arena, as well as redeveloping Crystal Palace athletics stadium. However, the North London club, in conjunction with American entertainment company AEG, have seen their ambitions to move across the capital thwarted.

Instead it is West Ham who will move into the stadium located in their home borough of Newham, if Friday's decision is ratified by London mayor Boris Johnson and the national Government.

West Ham arrived victorious because they fulfilled all five criteria in the tender: value for money, ability to deliver, to reopen as rapidly as possible, to ensure the stadium remains "a distinctive physical symbol" and to allow "flexible use of the stadium" for elite sport, the public, schools and community groups.

West Ham plan to move in before the 2014-15 season and estimate it will cost in the region of £95 million to convert the stadium following the completion of the 2012 games. Bid partner Newham Council will contribute £40 million of that in the form of a loan, though it will not leave the taxpayer out of pocket.

A source close to the bid told ESPNsoccernet: "Newham are not giving £40 million, and it will not cost the tax payers £40 million. This is a complete misunderstanding of the joint West Ham United/ Newham bid. They are loaning the money to West Ham, and getting interest and total repayment of the £40 million.

"West Ham are actually giving the consortium £20 million from the sale of Upton Park. This is never repaid to West Ham. It's a good deal for Newham. As its a loan it in no way impacts on the council's budgets."

News that West Ham had been successful in their bid leaked out on Wednesday night, but Friday's news finally ends a dispute between the Hammers and Spurs that has become increasingly torrid.

In the past week alone, Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy accused West Ham of "scaremongering", while Hammers vice-chairman Karren Brady said Spurs' plan to "bring the bulldozers in" was tantamount to "a corporate crime".

However, barring an unexpected political intervention, it is the Hammers who will move into the Olympic site in 2012, leaving Spurs to contemplate once again the redevelopment of White Hart Lane, or alternative options, as they seek to increase their financial muscle.

West Ham are planning a victorious press conference at a restaurant overlooking the Olympic Park, but Spurs will be pondering a potential judicial review in protest at missing out on the site.

Drogba: Chelsea have the Blues

Didier Drogba has all but conceded defeat in the Premier League title race, admitting Chelsea's disappointing form has been "hard to live with" and that a "bad mood" surrounds the club.
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The domestic double-winning Blues are ten points behind leaders Manchester United and are seemingly back to square one after a run of promising results was followed by Sunday's defeat at home to Liverpool.
The January signings of Fernando Torres and David Luiz gave the club a boost but with their Premier League crown slipping from their grasp, Drogba's comments do not hint at the sort of atmosphere at Stamford Bridge that would be required to launch a miraculous comeback in the title race.
Ivory Coast international Drogba is one of a number of players who has struggled for form and fitness this season, and he fears the Liverpool loss could prove to be a fatal blow.
He said: "We had started to see light at the end of the tunnel once again. But this latest defeat by Liverpool has cut away our legs and jeopardised our chances of winning the league title once more. It is going to be difficult for us to catch up with Manchester United.''
Chelsea are still in the FA Cup and Champions League, but Drogba is worried about the morale within the squad as the season enters a decisive period.
He added: "Our league position is similar to what it was last season. But absences, and the fact that we've not been scoring as many goals, has made for a bad mood around the place. I'm finding our bad spell hard to live with, as do the rest of the squad. We are suffering, given that Chelsea are not accustomed to losing matches. (Manager) Carlo Ancelotti has been unhappy in recent weeks.''
Drogba played for Ivory Coast for the first time since the World Cup on Tuesday as he helped set up the only goal of the game for Didier Ya Konan in a 1-0 victory over Mali.

Henry: One aim at Liverpool

Liverpool owner John W Henry has admitted that his takeover of the club has just one aim: to bring the Premier League title back to Anfield after a 20 year drought.

GettyImagesJohn W Henry has enjoyed the Anfield experience

Henry and the Fenway Group bought Liverpool from fellow Americans George Gillett and Tom Hicks after a protracted battle and, despite the sale of £50 million man Fernando Torres to Chelsea, has invested money into the squad with the purchases of Luis Suarez and Andy Carroll.
The club have struggled to assert themselves on the title race this season, but Henry believes that his group have what it takes to deliver silverware to Anfield once again.
"We have a unique skill-set at Fenway, and it is perfectly suited to breaking what they call curses'', he said. ''We had an 86-year drought at Boston for winning a World Series."
"We did that, and we have a 20-year drought for winning the first division at Liverpool. Liverpool has never won a Premier League.
"There was a very strong feeling amongst us that we were uniquely qualified to break the 'curse'. Even though we didn't know the sport, we knew the sports business and knew what it takes to put together a sports organisation.
"It gives me goosebumps to think we could deliver a Premier League title to Liverpool - it's what we are there for, we have no other agenda than that."

Benitez points finger for Inter exit

Former Inter Milan coach Rafael Benitez has blamed a lack of support from the club in the summer transfer window and their stance over injuries for his early exit.

GettyImagesRafael Benitez lasted six months at Inter

Benitez was sacked from the Italian Treble winners in December after a poor start to the season, but has sought to set the record straight over the reasons for his dismissal.
"I want to show some statistics based on the injuries so I am not misunderstood: 80% of those injured had the same or similar injuries in the previous two years," Benitez told Marca. "Myself and my staff did not have control over medical issues or the work of the club medic and his athletic coach.
"We did not follow therapies or recoveries. And, a month after we left Inter there were eight muscular injuries. I am sure Roberto Mancini [former Inter coach] is familiar with all of this."
Benitez slammed the lack of support from the board while still at the helm, but claimed that he had laid out a plan, which was never followed.
"Massimo Moratti knew we worked with difficulty. Some players performed, others didn't. He knew things were not going well, but there were no conditions to carry on. So we arrived at the recession," he added. "I had started well, but then things changed, internally too.
"Opinions always changed. I don't know why there was no summer transfer market and I was surprised. They had asked me for a project to improve the squad ... I wrote things down and the directors liked it, but then nothing happened."

Pardew denies he moved for Thierry Henry

Newcastle manager Alan Pardew has rejected claims he made a bid to bring former Arsenal star Thierry Henry to St James' Park.

GettyImagesHenry: No Premier League return

Pardew is currently nursing a selection headache, with his striking options limited following Andy Carroll's departure and Shola Ameobi facing a spell on the sidelines with a fractured cheekbone. Reports had suggested Pardew was eager to bring in New York Red Bulls forward Henry to the club although he admitted he would have been unable to engineer a move for the 33-year-old. Regarding a swoop for Henry, Pardew told the Evening Chronicle: "I don't think that's possible." Despite the fact Newcastle fought back from 4-0 down to draw with Arsenal on Saturday, the lack of strikers available is a major concern for Pardew and he admits he may have to turn to free agents to strengthen his squad with former Middlesbrough front man Jeremie Aliadiere a potential prospect. "I haven't even thought about it [moving in the free transfer market], if I'm honest, but we will do over the next 48 hours. There are one or two players we are looking at. I don't think we are going to get anyone who could impact on the first team, but on the bench, I need to turn round to that bench and have people who can affect the game. We will look, perhaps, to that market for maybe one or maybe two if necessary."

Torres: Sporting motives behind move

Fernando Torres has reiterated that money was not his chief motivation for joining Chelsea, insisting that his move was based on sporting ambition at a time when he had lost enthusiasm at Liverpool.

GettyImagesFernando Torres receives a rather frosty reception from the travelling Liverpool fans

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Torres moved to Stamford Bridge for £50 million last week after three-and-a-half years on Merseyside and is believed to have received a significant increase in his weekly wages with the Blues.
But the Spain striker insists that he had simply grown tired of life playing for Liverpool and was happy to be given a chance to leave Anfield for a new challenge - though he stressed that the Reds "will always be special" to him.
"Money was not important," Torres told Spanish radio station Cadena Ser. "I left to improve sporting-wise. I thought I would stay one more year and take it as a transition season.
"But a time comes when you lose enthusiasm. You see those in the Spanish national team are playing at a different level. Then, when everything looked black, Chelsea came and showed a real interest.
"Liverpool will always be very special to me," he said. "Because of its history, Liverpool is a bigger club but it's going through a difficult time. Chelsea is like Manchester United, the strongest over the last ten years. One is not better than the other - I'm just happy to have had the fortune of playing for both of them.
"I have been pleasantly surprised by the atmosphere in the Chelsea changing room. I thought it would be more distant but the atmosphere is very good. They laugh, they joke. It's nice.''
Torres is currently back in Madrid preparing for Spain's friendly with Colombia at the Bernabeu on Wednesday and he says it is nice to be leaving all the transfer talk behind for a short period.
"These past ten days have been very intense and it still is,'' Torres said. "Everything has gone so quickly and it's as though I have a lot of information in my head.
"It seems that a month has gone by instead of a week. I want to enjoy playing with the national team because we are champions of everything. This game is good for me to disconnect.''

Hammers issue warning to players

The entire West Ham playing staff have received a stinging internal memo from the club's board as a consequence of Julien Faubert's disappearance for the match against Birmingham on Sunday.

GettyImagesWest Ham are holding an inquiry into Julien Faubert's disappearance

• Faubert refuses to sit on bench
Faubert was initially left out of Avram Grant's squad for the game at Upton Park, but was then asked to sit on the bench after James Tomkins sustained an injury in the warm-up. However, he had already left the ground by the time and, although the club managed to contact him some ten minutes after the kick-off, he refused to return.
An internal inquiry into the incident is underway, but the board have now made clear to the playing staff - and even the management - that all players should be loyal enough and respectful enough to stay at the ground to watch their team-mates.
A source told ESPNsoccernet: "All the players have already had a memo this week. There are those within the club who think it is incredible that they all don't want to stay and watch the team play. There is a feeling that such actions really show a lack of commitment if they don't want to stay even if they are not picked."
For the moment, the board are looking into the matter as there have been suggestions Faubert was concerned about an ill child and might have had a reason for leaving.
The source added: "Under PFA rules, everybody gets seven days' notice of a hearing. There will be a full-scale investigation where the player will get his opportunity to put his side at this internal hearing into the incident.
"Under the rules, it is possible to fine a player two weeks' wages on his first offence of this type. However, it may well be that there was a misunderstanding or he has a logical and reasonable explanation. This is why we are having a hearing."

Bendtner: I'm worth every penny

Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner believes his pay packet reflects the sacrifices he makes in order to be a professional footballer, while the Danish international revealed he is unsure whether his future lies with the Gunners beyond this season.

GettyImagesNicklas Bendter: Not able to go on skiing holidays because he is a footballer

• Bendtner confidence off the scale
• Wilshere escapes FA action
• Diaby hoping to match Vieira feats
• Walcott grateful for summer break
Bendtner, 23, has never been short of self confidence and has repeatedly stated his belief that he can be one of the world's best players, despite his failure to hold down a regular starting spot at Emirates Stadium.
And the Denmark forward's latest comments are unlikely to endear him to an impatient Arsenal faithful, who have yet to see any real evidence to back up his claims that he can be a world beater.
Bendtner insists that life is tough for the modern footballer because of the intense media spotlight they are forced to live under, while he claimed that the extortionate wages earned by players are comparable to "movie actors".
"There is a price to pay as well for us players," Bendtner, who is on a reported £50,000-a-week salary, said. "Personally, I think I pay a big price with my body, my time, and with never being able to have privacy when I am out and around other people.
"I am not complaining. It's a natural part of being a professional footballer but it is definitely a price to pay when, for example, you can't go out to eat in a restaurant with your girlfriend without photographers chasing you.
"The biggest thing I miss because of football is that I really, really love to go on a skiing holiday, but as long as I have my career I can't do that because of the risk of being injured.
"I would lie if I said that I didn't enjoy the money I earn in football. Somehow I believe that we must be worth our salaries because that is how the mechanism of society works. As long as I work as hard as I can, I believe I am worth what is coming my way.
"It is difficult to compare a footballer's wage to the wage of a bank manager or the manager of a large company. They are without a doubt putting a lot into their jobs and they are important to other people's lives as well but my line of work is different to that.
"I am in the football business and on the highest level, where Arsenal are, football is first-class entertainment. So it is wrong to compare my salary to the salary of businessmen. Compare it to movie actors instead."
Bendtner has struggled to assert himself on the side this season, with Marouane Chamakh and Robin van Persie ahead of him in Arsene Wenger's pecking order, and the former FC Copenhagen trainee admitted that he may be forced to consider his future should first-team opportunities continue to be restricted.
"I am happy to be an Arsenal player but of course I must play more," Bendtner said. "I'm good enough to be in the line-up. I will play this season to the end as an Arsenal player and then make a decision on my status in the summer. If I'm still happy then I will stay. Otherwise, we must see what will happen."

Toure: Life harder for United after loss

Manchester City defender Kolo Toure has become the first player to stoke the flames ahead of this Saturday's derby by suggesting that Manchester United's first defeat of the season against Wolves could be the sign of a slump to come.

GettyImagesKolo Toure has warned United that there may be more defeats to come this season

• Tevez declares love for City
• Pallister: City have problems
• Blog: Wolves in sheep's clothing
United were beaten 2-1 at Molineux on Saturday, a result that ended their hopes of going through the entire Premier League season unbeaten, while City's 3-0 victory over West Brom saw Toure and co move to within five points of their Manchester rivals.
City go to Old Trafford this weekend looking to further close the gap at the top and also avenge last season's agonising 4-3 defeat, courtesy of Michael Owen's injury-time winner.
And Toure, who was part of the Arsenal side that went through the 2003-04 campaign without tasting defeat, believes that United now face a stern examination of their credentials after recalling how the Gunners struggled when their run eventually ended with a defeat to Sir Alex Ferguson's men.
"When you're on a good run like that and you lose, everything becomes harder," Toure said. "It shakes your confidence. Maybe that can happen to them. It was difficult to lose that game.
"The circumstances were hard because they got a penalty, which we didn't think was a penalty. For us, it was really difficult to lose to United. I think it's a great chance for me to get my revenge.
"I have spent most of my career in England battling United, first at Arsenal, now at City. They are always at the top. Now we have new players, we are capable of fighting against them and that has been shown with our results against them over the last 18 months.''
And Carlos Tevez, who on Monday reiterated his love for City, has insisted that he is unworried by the prospect of being heavily booed on his third return to Old Trafford since leaving United for their cross-city rivals in 2009.
"I don't care about people booing me at Old Trafford," Tevez told ZOO magazine. "It doesn't worry me and I'm not worried about going there. The booing happened a lot last year, but I understand. As a supporter, you defend your club and I am on the opposing team now.
"Manchester United fans can never say I didn't give my all during the time I was there. Maybe many supporters still don't understand the reason I left. I am a professional footballer and being booed when I am on the field is a price I have to pay sometimes. But it won't affect me at all.
"Derby games are always beautiful. I enjoyed them in Argentina and Brazil but, in England, they are extra-special. Playing against Manchester United is a big incentive but it's not just because of personal issues for me. It's about the importance of three points. We want to go to Old Trafford and win.''

Redknapp regrets Van Bommel snub

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has said that he regrets his decision to turn down the chance to sign Holland midfielder Mark van Bommel last month.

GettyImagesRafael van der Vaart said he thought Mark van Bommel would be a good addition to the Tottenham squad

Van Bommel, 33, attracted interest from Liverpool as well but opted instead to join AC Milan after being allowed to leave Bayern on a free transfer. Now Redknapp claims he could have been a valuable addition.
''I could have took Van Bommel, it was probably a mistake - perhaps I should have taken him,'' Redknapp said. ''It was a difficult one and I dragged my heels with it. I took my time over it, too long and we didn't do it in the end.
''He would have been a good player for us. Tom [Huddlestone] has had a setback and Van Bommel was on a free, he has signed a five-month contract at AC Milan. He gives you experience, he's been there, played Champions League final, World Cup final. He is a proper player for sure but that's how it goes. We could go back for him.''
Redknapp admits he was surprised at the fees that changed hands last month, but insists that Tottenham can keep up with their big-spending competitors in the market.
''I had a look at [Edin] Dzeko last year and they were talking £50 million and that was too dear, then suddenly he looks cheap at £27 million,'' Redknapp said. ''Ronaldo doesn't look dear at £70 million when you look now. How much is [Lionel] Messi worth I wonder? He's got to be worth £1 billion.
''I think we can compete though. We have good players here - Gareth Bale is a £50 million player. If you can find them they are out there.''