Denda RM50,000.00 ?

Beberapa minggu yang lepas kita telah menyaksikan perlawanan diantara KELANTAN dan Negeri Sembilan pada perlawanan akhir Piala Malaysia. Perlawanan tersebut berakhir dengan keputusan 1 – 3 yang menyaksikan Negeri Sembilan Berjaya merangkul gelaran sebagai juara Piala Malaysia 2009 manakala KELANTAN pula merupakan selaku naib juara Piala Malaysia 2009. Perlawanan selama 90 minit itu berlangsung dengan penuh tragedi dan dramatis yang mana pasti akan menjadi sejarah antara perlawanan akhir Piala Malaysia yang terburuk di dalam rekod. Pelbagai kejadian buruk berlaku sepanjang peerlawanan tersebut yang mana telah di cetuskan oleh kedua-dua belah pihak penyokong pasukan.

Baik KELANTAN mahupun Negeri Sembilan, para penyokong mereka semuanya bertindak di luar batasan dengan membaling mercun, botol da seumpamanya yang mana mampu mendatangkan kekecohan di dalam stadium. Namun, badan induk bola sepak Malaysia, FAM, memandang dengan hanya memcelik sebelah mata dengan menyalahkan penyokong KELANTAN sahaja atas kerugian yang di hadapi oleh pihak penjagaan Stadium Putra, Bukit Jalil berikutan kerosakan dan keganasan yang berlaku.

Tindakan FAM mendenda KAFA sebanyak RM 50,000.00 amat tidak adil kerana kerosakan yang terjadi bukan hanya disebabkan oleh tindakan ganas penyokong KELANTAN sahaja. Perkara ini turut dilakukan oleh segelintir penyokong Negeri Sembilan yang mana membaling mercun dan botol menyebabkan kerosakan trek dan persekitaran di stadium berkenaan. Walaupun hanya segelintir, FAM peklu turut berlaku adil dengan mendenda Negeri Sembilan atas alasan sama yang diberi kepada KELANTAN; “Denda ini dikenakan atas sebab kegagalan KAFA mengawal para penyokong mereka.” – petikan.

Sebagai badan yang berprofil tinggi, FAM hendaklah membuat pertimbangan yang paling wajar atas setiap tindakan mereka. Perkara ini merujuk kepada tindakan FAM yang telah mendenda KAFA sebanyak RM500,000.00 secara kasarnya sepanjang tahun ini diatas kesalahan yang diluar kawalan badan tersebut. Perkara ini jelas menunjukkan bahawa FAM telah sedikit sebanyak menindas badan iniduk bola sepak KELANTAN, KAFA, dengan menambahkan lagi bebanan hutang yang ditanggung oleh badan tersebut menjadi lebih berat. Secara tidak langsung, perkara ini dilihat sebagai taktik FAM untuk menyingkirkan KAFA kerana masalah terbaru yang timbul adalah FAM telah membuat pernyataan bahawa mana-mana pasukan negeri atau kelab yang masih mempunyai hutang yang tertunggak tidak akan dibenarkan beraksi di Liga-M pada musim 2010.
Secara tidak langsung, perkara ini merujuk kepada skuad KELANTAN yang mana mempunyai begitu banyak hutang yang tertunggak dengan FAM atas denda yang dikenakan. Hal ini begitu memberi beban yang amat berat kepada KELANTAN sehinggakan Tan Sri Annuar Musa membuat permintaan sumbangan daripada para usahawan KELANTAN pada sidang akhbar dan melancarkan tabung kutipan derma ‘RM1 1KAFA’. Lihat saja pada denda yang dikenakan oleh FAM terhadap KAFA berikutan insiden rusuhan yang terburuk dalam sejarah bola sepak Malaysia di Stadium Sultan Mohammed IV pada tahun ini yang menyaksikan KELANTAN tewas kepada Negeri Sembilan pada saingan Liga Super. Pelbagai denda yang dikenakan oleh FAM seperti denda wang ringgit sebanyak lebih dari RM100,000.00, penggantungan beraksi di stadium keramat, Stadium Sultan Mohammed IV, dan dikehendaki beraksi di Stadium Nasional, Bukit Jalil selama beberapa bulan dan pelbagai lagi.

Denda ini teramat mendatangkan kesan kepada skuad Kijang yang menyaksikan skuad tersebut jatuh merudum dalam saingan Liga Super dan berakhir dengan kedudukan di tempat ke-5. Perkara ini berlaku disebabkan oleh stamina pemain yang terjejas kerana penat menaiki bas dan mengharungi perjalanan dari KELANTAN ke Kuala Lumpur atau ke tempat lawan secara berulang-alik setiap kali perlawanan yang dihadapi. Kini, denda yang terbaru yang dikenakan kepada skuad Kijang oleh FAM ialah denda beraksi tanpa penyokong di stadium. Denda ini secara tidak langsung akan menjatuhkan moral para pemain kerana sepertimana kita tahu, kekuatan moral pemain KELANTAN terletak pada sokongan padu oleh para penyokong.

Oleh hal yang demikian, perkara ini secara tidak langsung telah menjadi gunting dalam lipatan kepada skuad Kijang kerana mereka bakal mengalami zaman kejatuhan kembali. Justeru, saya yakin bahawa kehangatan saingan Liga-M akan kembali hambar kerana secara langsung kita dapat menyaksikan bahawa kehadiran skuad KELANTAN begitu memberikan impak kepada Liga-M dari segi sokongan juga saingan.

Sebagai kesimpulan, saya menyatakan disini bahawa tindakan FAM mendenda KAFA dengan berat adalah suatu tindakan yang LANGSUNG TIDAK WAJAR!!

Scolari Still Invite Robinho

Chelsea boss Luiz Felipe Scolari still hasn’t given up on his summer target Robinho and announced that the Stamfort Bridge side's doors are “always open for him ”.

Chelsea were linked with the Brazilian international attacker throughout the summer but on the final day of the transfer window, Manchester City snatched the player for a 32million deal from Real Madrid.

During that time Scolari was fuming with Anger for not having being able to bring Robinho to Stamford Bridge and claimed that the former Real Madrid man could have been the best player in the world if he was at Chelsea.

"I am sure that Robinho would be the best player in the world if he came to play at Chelsea," he told Brazilian daily O Globo. "The Chelsea doors are always open to him."

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - CHELSEA - TERRY AIMING FOR KNOCKOUT STAGES

Chelsea captain John Terry wants the Blues to bounce back from their Roma mauling to make sure of a place in the knockout stages of the Champions League.

The club head to Bordeaux on Wednesday looking for a victory to erase the nightmare 3-1 defeat in Rome.

Chelsea gave the French side a 4-0 hammering at Stamford Bridge and Terry is confident they can bounce back from the disappointment of the Rome game.

"The lads bounced back from the disappointment of Rome with everyone showing a great attitude to give a great performance in Blackburn (a 2-0 win)," said the England skipper.

"Blackburn is a notoriously tough place to go but with the bad weather and Rome behind us, it was an even tougher fixture.

"Rome apart we are not conceding many goals and Nicolas Anelka is on fire, not just with his goalscoring but in his all-round link-up play.

"It is tight at the top both in the Premier and the Champions League, so we cannot afford to slip up.

"The defeat in Rome put a little bit of a bad taste in our mouths and was a bitter reminder that we have to keep on winning until the other teams crumble around us.

"It is not just the management who can be important after a result like the one in Rome, it is all the backroom staff.

"They play a big part in getting us right. Darren, the young chef, brings his guitar along now and sings a few songs. There were a few Elvis Presley numbers played before the Blackburn game."

Although Anelka is in the best form of his Chelsea career, Luiz Felipe Scolari will have Didier Drogba available for the Bordeaux match even though he is serving a domestic suspension.

But it is the timely return of Germany midfielder Michael Ballack that has team-mate Deco drooling.

Ballack played half-an-hour as a substitute in the 3-0 win over West Brom last week and is set to start against the French side.

"It is good for us to have him back because he is a great, great player," said Deco.

"We need more players because we are playing many games and have some injuries.

"It is difficult to play against him because he is a strong player, very competitive and experienced. I have played against him three or four times for Portugal."

The Drog Returns Again!

Didier Drogba is set to return to the Chelsea side as they prepare to face Champions League opponents Bordeaux on Wednesday. The Ivorian has missed the first match in a three game ban that was imposed after he threw a coin into the crowd during the Carling Cup match at Stamford Bridge in which Chelsea were beaten by Burnley.

However, the ban does not apply to European matches and, after Chelsea could only stutter to a goal-less draw last Saturday against Newcastle, manager Phil Scolari will be hoping that Drogba will give his attack the bite that they lacked in the league game.

His team mate Florent Malouda has spoken in support of Drogba's return saying: It will be a good thing for us because with what is happening now. I think he will be angry and show he has things to do for the team."

The French winger continued: "Didier is the type of player who can find a solution when you play these teams but as you can see Nicolas Anelka is doing well at this moment."

He added: "We had the players and the mentality to reach victory against Newcastle but we have to keep on trying and we hope the next game at home will find the solution."

Chelsea will need record 97 points to win league title, says Luiz Felipe Scolari

Chelsea only head Liverpool on goal difference despite having dropped just seven points from the opening 13 games of the season.

And manager Scolari believes it will take a record-breaking campaign to guarantee Chelsea their third title in five years in his debut season in charge.

The Brazilian, who spoke glowingly of the harmony inside his squad, said: "We know that if we want to win the Premier League, we need to win 85 per cent of the points on offer.

"We have a focus for the Premier League games. Three points is important for every game. But we have a good balance and the players know this.

"After the games we lost, we showed the players why we lost and they tried to change that for the next game. In each case, in the next game we have played well."

Scolari's 85 per cent target equates to 97 points over the season, two more than Jose Mourinho's Blues side accrued to set the current record mark and take their first title in 2005. After Manchester United's 2-1 defeat at Arsenal, which has left them languishing eight points behind Chelsea and Liverpool, United manager Sir Alex Ferguson said: "We have got to get above 85 points to have a chance of winning the league, so we must keep going for it."

Chelsea are behind the schedule set for them by Scolari, although back-to-back wins over Newcastle today and Bolton next week would take them within a fraction of the target figure.

Scolari added: "I need to look at the schedule again. After we have played Newcastle and Bolton I will have a better idea about the points we have and what we wanted to have. I will tell you then."

The Brazilian, however, was far more emphatic about the value of a squad willing to exchange views and opinions without it descending into damaging acrimony.

And while he pointedly insisted he was not referring to Arsenal, Arsene Wenger or William Gallas, the contrast between the sweetness and light he described at Stamford Bridge and the apparent civil war across the capital could not have been more evident.

Scolari, set to have Frank Lampard, Joe Cole, Ashley Cole and Petr Cech all back this afternoon, added: "Having a good atmosphere in the squad is 50 per cent, minimum, of what you need to win a game, because if that atmosphere is not good, you start the game in a bad situation.

"It is something the players create between themselves and with me and my staff. But once it is there it is easy." Scolari insisted that, for all his image as a hardliner, he actually encourages argument between his players - but only when it is for constructive purposes, and on the condition that nothing is allowed to fester.

"I want the players to speak their minds, to talk between themselves and me, even if it's negative," he added.

"We need to look and talk and think about what has happened, before games, even at half-time. But after they have spoken, it is my time.

"Bad results can create problems.

But what is important is that you've involved the players so they understand one bad result doesn't change our focus.

"In that time what you have to say i s: 'Remember, remember, remember; OK, go'. I'm the man who needs to decide what happens."

Scolari said he had been in such situations many, many times, but that he was happy for players to speak their minds as long as they did not breach his code of respect for the structure of the club.

"Sometimes you give the players the chance to say something and they go too far," he explained. "Then we need to say: 'Look, the position is this'.

"I am a coach, and at times I am a friend or a father too, because I am older than them and have had more experiences.

"But when I am a coach, I need to be able bring a player into my office and tell him the way we have to follow and if it is required, to say: 'You are wrong; out'. My job is to solve the problem and finish it."

LAST 11 WINNING POINTS TOTALS
2007-08: MAN UTD 87PTS
2006-07: MAN UTD 89PTS
2005-06: CHELSEA 91PTS
2004-05: CHELSEA 95PTS
2003-04: ARSENAL 90PTS
2002-03: MAN UTD 83PTS
2001-02: ARSENAL 87PTS
2000-01: MAN UTD 80PTS
1999-00: MAN UTD 91PTS
1998-99: MAN UTD 79PTS
1997-98: ARSENAL 78PTS

Lampard fit for Chelsea's Premier match with Newcastle

LONDON, Nov. 22 (Xinhua) -- Chelsea coach Luiz Felipe Scolari was slightly relieved as England captain Frank Lampard is expected to be fit for the Premiership leaders' home match on Saturday.

The midfielder missed England's win in Germany on Wednesday with sore ribs but will return to the field for Chelsea this weekend when they host Newcastle United at Standford Bridge.

Joe Cole is also back in the squad and goalkeeper Petr Cech is also fit again after recovering from a calf strain that kept him out against West Bromwich Albion last week.

Striker Didier Drogba, however, begins a three-match ban, while Scolari was sweating over his Portuguese contingent who played the international friendly for their country in Brazil.

"I didn't receive Deco, Jose Bosingwa or Paulo Ferreira because they arrived from Brazil at 6pm (on Thursday). After 15 hours flying it's impossible to train," he told Chelsea's website.

Chelsea VS Newcastle United

VS

Chelsea face Newcastle at home on Saturday with some of the injured players making a comeback this weekend, while others still sit and wait. Cole and Cech are confirmed, Lampard is a very slight doubt. Ballack is back, but the newly returned Drogba is banned for 3 matches and won't be making an appearance until December.

With 6 players still out with injuries, the bench line is looking rather sparse. But the squad is full of talent.

So what will the starting line look like? Here's my prediction.


Cech
Bosingwa - Ivanovic - Terry - Bridge
Mikel
Lampard - Deco
Cole - Anelka - Malouda


Bench: Cudicini, Ferreira, Mineiro, Sinclair, Ballack, Kalou, Woods

Newcastle at times has proven difficult, and Chelsea has struggled at home at times, although the last Premier League match at Stamford Bridge had a fantastic result. So here's hoping that the boys can keep the momentum going.

My Verdict: A win of course

EPL 2008-09 Season: English life suits Scolari but Chelsea come first

LONDON: Luiz Felipe Scolari has quickly grown to love life in England but the Chelsea manager has put sight-seeing to the back of his mind as he tries to keep the Londoners on top of the English Premier League.
Scolari and his family have settled well in their new home near Chelsea's training ground in leafy Cobham, south of London, but the Brazilian has made only a handful of trips into the capital because he is so focused on winning silverware this season.

Like Arsene Wenger, who once claimed he only knew the way to Arsenal's stadium, training ground and Heathrow airport, Scolari is too consumed by success to worry about trips to Big Ben and the Tower of London.

That didn't change this week ahead of Newcastle's visit to Stamford Bridge today, even though he had only a handful of players to work with due to the international friendlies.

"My life in England is a normal life as a coach. I have more time for the club, for training, and I spend some time with the family when I have time for this," he said.
"My family like to stay in England, my son is studying at a beautiful, big school and he visited some more places than me and has more friends.

"London? No, I have visited three or four times when I was free with my family, but when I go to London it is to play at Stamford Bridge!"

Scolari has more pressing concerns as he waits to see whether Frank Lampard and goalkeeper Petr Cech can shakes off their injuries.

Seven other first team players are expected to be out of action too, as Alex, Joe Cole, Juliano Belletti, Ricardo Carvalho, Michael Essien, Ashley Cole and Franco Di Santo are all still struggling.

With a third of the season now played, the signs are looking good for the Blues.

Didier Drogba was wrong, but blame the fan

Chelsea striker deserves to be punished but whoever threw coin at Stamford Bridge is real villain of the piece

All the talk is about how long Didier Drogba's ban should be and that's taking the focus away from the person who started the whole thing - the fan who threw the coin at him.

There's no doubt Drogba was irresponsible and deserves to be punished by the FA, though not in my opinion the police. But it would be ridiculous if he paid a heavier penalty than David Norris, the Ipswich Town player who made the “handcuffs” sign in support of Luke McCormick, the goalkeeper who was sent to prison for causing the deaths of two kids in a car accident. That idiotic gesture must have been premeditated on some level while Drogba's was spontaneous. To me, Norris's behaviour was worse.

Incidents of players abusing fans, as the Chelsea striker did, are very rare while week in, week out, footballers are on the receiving end of disgusting abuse. It's human nature that occasionally some will crack. I certainly did a couple of times in my playing days. When Eric Cantona karate-kicked that Crystal Palace fan, a lot of players thought: “Good on you, Eric.” No player runs on to the pitch planning to start trouble with supporters, but at every game a percentage of fans turn up intending to dish out verbal abuse or worse.

In my Millwall days in the 1980s, I remember warming up at Upton Park and fans in the Chicken Run terrace were calling out my name for ages until I finally looked round - and 30 of them chorused “w***er”. Apparently they used to do it to someone every week, like it was their hobby. Grown men.

During a game at The Den, David Byrne, our winger, told a Millwall fan who was running along the terrace and giving him stick to “f*** off”. The fan took out a knife and said he was going to “do him” after the match. David went as white as a ghost.

Footballers don't worry about security arrangements at stadiums, but deep down they know that if a fan really wants to invade the pitch and get at them, he will. It is a shame that Aston Villa were not able to catch the supporter who threw a coin at Harry Redknapp last month and hit an assistant referee. A heavy punishment for that might have made the Burnley supporter think twice.

Drogba is not a popular player. He's done and said some daft things, but he wasn't trying to wind up the Burnley fans - he scored and in the adrenalin rush that followed he probably didn't realise where he was celebrating. He's got a big ego, so he's not the kind of character to laugh off having something chucked at him, spoiling his moment of glory. He reacted because he felt insulted.

Drogba must be held accountable, but he's not the main villain here. Stop fans abusing players and you stop the problem of players being pushed past breaking point.

Old foes Germany and England are in friendly mode - Feature

VS

Berlin - Neither Germany nor England will be at full strength when they meet on Wednesday in a match both coaches will use to test some new players. However a meeting between the two old foes is never one to dismiss even though the friendly nature of the international will be more pronounced than previous meetings.

"Everyone has told me that it is not a friendly game against Germany, but I think this will be a friendly game," England manager Fabio Capello said. "We will do some experiments and after this game I will know better some different players."Germany coach Joachim Loew has some experimentation of his own planned, with new caps likely for some or all of the three players called up for the first time.

England will be without Liverpool's Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard in midfield, who has a rib injury, as well as the Manchester United pair Wayne Rooney and Rio Ferdinand. Captain John Terry, who was a doubt, is now expected to play, but Chelsea teammates Ashley and Joe Cole are missing with hamstring injuries, while Manchester United defender Wes Brown and Wigan striker Emile Heskey are among others absent.

There was no place in Capello's squad for former captain David Beckham, who is one cap away from equalling Bobby Moore's tally of 108 caps, and striker Michael Owen has again been overlooked. The injuries prompted Capello to call up Fulham's Jimmy Bullard and Scott Parker of West Ham United on Monday. Germany meanwhile are without captain Michael Ballack and defender Philipp Lahm, whose recoveries from injuries have come too late for Wednesday's match at the Berlin Olympic Stadium.

Loew also left out Werder Bremen midfielder Torsten Frings, and there were some surprises when the names of Hoffenheim pair Marvin Compper and Tobias Weis along with Wolfsburg's Marcel Schaefer appeared on the roster. Schaefer, who could fill in for Lahm at left-back, is seen as having the best chance of starting. The Werder Bremen goalkeeper Tim Wiese, who had featured in recent squads but has yet to make his debut, can also hope for some action at some stage. "It is important that all our energy is focused on this match. I haven't seen an England team as strong as this for several years," Loew said.

"England are the team of the moment. They have made an incredibly strong impression. They are compact, get forward quickly and are technically very good."Loew is using the occasion to lay down the law at a team meeting on how he expects his players to behave from now on. It follows a turbulent time for the coach in which he has had to meet Ballack and Frings over critical media interviews, and deal with the walk-out of striker Kevin Kuranyi. The Schalke forward will not be returning as long as Loew is in charge, the coach confirmed Monday.

There will be "no new rules" but some guidelines set down on what Loew expects from his players from now on. "I will say that we are gladly prepared to talk about possible problems internally but not via the media," he said. Germany have never beaten England in Berlin in seven previous attempts but Loew is convinced his side will end the year on a positive note. "To play against England in such a large stadium is always something special," he said.

Although England will be without several first-choice players "they have a team which has not been as strong for a long time," he said. Having started the World Cup qualifying campaign with four wins, Capello sees the match as an ideal opportunity to test some fresh faces. The decision to call up Chelsea defender Michael Mancienne - who has yet to play for the Blues and is currently on loan at Championship side Wolves - was a surprise.

Uncapped Aston Villa duo Curtis Davies, 23, and Gabriel Agbonlahor, 22, also add to the youthful nature of the England squad which also features Tottenham Hotspur striker Darren Bent and Manchester City's Micah Richards. Capello will be hoping the newcomers can tap into the new-found confidence in the England camp. "I think the confidence of the players is different now," he said. "I remember the first time we played against Switzerland and we played without confidence. "But now we have played and won four qualifiers for the World Cup, and I can see the confidence in the players. This is the most important thing."

Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard out of England’s friendly match with Germany

The midfielder has been ruled out for seven to 10 days and so should be available to feature in Liverpool’s next game - the meeting with Fulham at Anfield the following weekend.

Liverpool spokesman Ian Cotton said: “Steven picked up an injury in yesterday’s game at Bolton.

“A scan this morning has confirmed a tear in the adductor magnus muscle in his right leg, and he is expected to be out between seven to 10 days.”

The central midfield places are likely to be taken in his absence by Gareth Barry and the in-form Frank Lampard. David Beckham was left out of the squad due to his lack of recent competitive action.

Manchester United pair Wayne Rooney and Rio Ferdinand, neither of whom featured in the weekend’s victory over Stoke City, have already been forced to withdraw from the squad due to illness and injury respectively and John Terry, too, is only rated as 50-50 at best to start the game.

“Rio did his back in training on Friday and Wayne has a chest infection and a calf strain so we have pulled them out,” said United manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

Terry still hopes to be available, despite needing a scan to asses the damage done to his foot during Chelsea’s 3-0 win over West Brom.

“I got shoved in the air and landed awkwardly,” said Terry.

“It felt like a sharp pain in the bottom of my foot which is throbbing at the moment. But I will have a scan and hopefully it will give me the all clear.

“I am desperate to go away with England for the game with Germany as I’ve missed our last two matches. I have not been ruled out.”

Bent targets regular England spot

Darren Bent has vowed to make a strong claim for the one England striking spot he believes is available.

Bent concedes Wayne Rooney is an automatic choice for one of the forward roles, although the Manchester United star has been ruled out of Wednesday's friendly international with Germany in Berlin through injury.

But the Tottenham Hotspur player is keen to resurrect his own international career after having his confidence restored by the arrival of Harry Redknapp at White Hart Lane as Juande Ramos' successor last month.

Bent said: "There is definitely a vacancy for a goalscorer. I have always been a firm believer that, if you can score a lot of goals for your club, then you can do it for your country.

"That is especially the case with England given the calibre of players in the squad who can create chances.

"Wayne Rooney has been fantastic for England for a number of years and it does look like the rest of us are all fighting away for one spot.

really well

"As long as I can keep myself fit, score as many goals as I can and play well, it will only stand me in good stead."

Bent is hoping the Redknapp factor can help him with his England aspirations in the same way as with Jermain Defoe and Peter Crouch at Portsmouth.

He said: "Harry helped Crouch and Defoe get back into the England set-up after going to Portsmouth and they are playing really well.

"Jermain was in a similar position to me at Tottenham where he was not playing too much, then went to Portsmouth and now he can't stop scoring.

"Now Harry has come to Tottenham and funnily enough I've got back into the England squad. He is a fantastic manager and he is a man manager who keeps things simple."

Robinho: Big Things Ahead For Man City

Robinho insists Manchester City can become one of the best clubs in the world and has set his sights on winning silverware in his first season at Eastlands.

The 32.5-million-pound ($AU 75,512,423) Brazilian star has settled well to life in the English Premier League, scoring seven goals since his arrival on transfer deadline day, and has lofty ambitions for both himself and his new team.

Mark Hughes' troops have nevertheless been a disappointment so far this season, winning just four times in 13 games to sit 12th in the English top flight, well below the aspirations of the club's new owners, the Abu Dhabi United Group.

But the 24-year-old Robinho is remaining upbeat about his new life in Manchester.

He said: "I have great ambitions for the team and myself. I want to be the best player in the world and for City to be one of the best teams."

"The rest of the players and myself admire the ambitions of the owners of this club."

"We all want to strive to make it one of the best in the world. I like the way the game is played here. You still get great goals and great movement."

"It is a physical game here in England but I can cope with it."

"I am adapting well to life here. I get on well with my team-mates, they are good players, and I am learning the language."

"I am in a very good phase and hope this will continue. The best form of my career? Maybe."

While City's league form might leave something to be desired, their exploits in Europe have been more encouraging, and reaching the group stages of the UEFA Cup raised hopes of a successful season at Eastlands.

A win against Steve McClaren's FC Twente in their opening Group A game has further boosted confidence in the camp, and Robinho believes there is quality enough within the camp to go all the way to the final - and to one day become as big as his former employers Real Madrid.

"We can win the UEFA Cup, it is one of our targets for this season," he said.

"We know we are a side that is developing and growing but we also know we are capable of great things when we play well."

"I want to stay here for many years and make history at City and become one of the great heroes. Doing well in the UEFA Cup would be a great start."

"I came to Manchester City because I see them growing and getting bigger. Can they be as big as Real Madrid? Yes, I hope so."

West Bromwich Albion VS Chelsea - Match Result.

0 - 3

Nicolas Anelka continued his free-scoring form as Chelsea regained leadership of the English Premier League with a 3-0 rout of bottom club West Bromwich Albion in Saturday's late kickoff.

Anelka has prospered since Luiz Felipe Scolari took charge at Chelsea.

Chelsea head Liverpool on goal difference with both teams on 32 points after 13 matches.

Champions Manchester United are eight points adrift, with a game in hand, in third place.

Full-back Jose Boswinga opened the scoring for Chelsea on 34 minutes at The Hawthorns with Anelka all but wrapping up the three points with a double strike just before halftime.

It was the French international's seventh goal in his last three Premier League games and continued his

improved Chelsea form since the arrival of manager Luiz Felipe Scolari at the start of the season.

West Bromwich manager Tony Mowbray had predicted a tough test and his worst fears were confirmed as a comprehensive defeat leaves them propping up the standings on 11 points.

After a quiet start, Chelsea found their rhythm and Frank Lampard tested Scott Carson with a powerful drive.

A superb strike from Boswinga gave the Blues the lead after 34 minutes.

There appeared to be little danger but Boswinga suddenly unleashed a powerful left-footed drive from 25 meters out which Carson could not prevent from finding the back of the net.

After 38 minutes Anelka doubled Chelsea's lead as the excellent Florent Malouda headed the ball into his path and he ran on to dink the ball past Carson.

In first half injury-time Anelka struck again from a narrow angle with Salomon Kalou giving the assist this time.

Anelka, who had kept Didier Drogba on the bench, had chances to complete a hat-trick after the break.

The first came as he unselfishly chose to set up Deco rather than shoot from 12 meters out and later Abdoulaye Meite threw himself in front of his goalbound shot.

Malouda should have capped a fine individual performance with Chelsea's fourrth but shot across the face of goal with only Carson to beat.

Scolari was pleased to see his team back to their best after a penalty shootout defeat to Burnley in the League Cup in midweek and was particularly pleased by Anelka's contribution.

"When you receive the ball one or two times, 10 times, and you don't score, some players in the team lose confidence in him," Scolari told the Associated Press.

"But when he receives the ball one or two times and scores, players try to give more chances to Anelka for him to score more."

CHELSEA VS BURNLEY - Match Result.

VS

Burnley caused the biggest upset of the round as they ensure Chelsea leave Stamford Bridge with a case of the blues as the visiting Clarets claim victory through a sudden death penalty shoot out. Both teams ended the affair with ten men. Chelsea 1-1 Burnley (Burnley win 5-4 on pens)

Lower league Burnley traveled to west London this evening looking to cause an upset in an old fashioned English cup tie. The league cup threw up some interesting results last night, and the 6,000 fans making the trip down from Lancashire would have been hoping for another this evening.

Chelsea are the only member of the top four that do not treat the tournament as an opportunity to test out either their youth players or their younger squad players, and the Blues had two time Champions League winner Deco; three Brazilian internationals: Alex, Belletti, and Mineiro; and two Ivorians, Kalou and Drogba, all making the starting eleven.


FIRST HALF

It took both teams a long time to settle into the fixture, and neither goalkeeper had a save to make for the opening stages of the game.

The most considerable piece of action arrived in the 20th minute when Salomon Kalou was clean through on goal but Burnley's Jensen was there to deflect the ball clear. Drogba then pounced on the rebound but Jensen stayed strong to ensure Chelsea's scoreline remained at zero.

The Blues got off the mark seven minutes later, though, when Didier Drogba, who has an arduous task knocking Nicolas Anelka off pole position considering the Frenchman's form, burst into the penalty box and slotted a right foot shot over the line and into the net.

Frank Lampard, who came on in place of Belletti, was largely responsible for Chelsea's improved passing play.

Burnley did not roll over after the Blues' opener, but lacked creation and vision in the final third despite playing with an increased pace and urgency.


SECOND HALF

Burnley's reaction after the break was in a similar vein to their play in the first half. They were lively and eager for the ball, but Chelsea dominated possession.

The visiting Clarets desperately tried to level the scoreline but the home side were, in typical Chelsea fashion, solid in defense.

Burnley's efforts were finally rewarded in the 70th minute, though, as Christopher Eagles, formerly of Manchester United, sent a low drive toward Cudicini, who couldn't claim the ball cleanly and spilled the shot.

Akinbiyi, with a true goal-poaching instinct, pounced on the rebound and made no mistake in thrashing the ball into the net.

The Blues could have won the game moments before the whistle for the full 90 when Di Santo was teed up an opportune strike but sent his shot wide of the marker.


EXTRA TIME

Franco di Santo injured his hamstring during extra time and because Luiz Felipe Scolari had used all three substitutes the Blues were forced to play the rest of the fixture with ten men.

Lampard had the ball in the net within four minutes of the restart, but he was flagged for offside and any celebrations in the crowd were premature.

Both sides have chances to score, with Lampard firing a shot high and wide after being set up by Malouda, and Elliot for Burnley had a volley saved by Cudicini.

In the second half of extra time it appeared as though both sides were content to play for penalties as Chelsea kept the ball around the midfield areas, and the initial energy that Burnley showed in normal time had taken an understandable back seat.

Relentless drama ensued in the closing stages of added time. Chelsea may have rued their spurned efforts as Wayne Bridge sent in a well-weighted cross only for Alex to miss the target from inside the six yard box.

Then, a minute later, Clarets captain Caldwell was sent for an early bath for a second bookable offense. Due to the earlier limping off of di Santo for Chelsea, the game finished ten against ten.


PENALTIES

Burnley - Graham Alexander - GOAL 1-0

Chelsea - Frank Lampard - GOAL 1-1

Burnley - Alan Mahon - GOAL 2-1

Chelsea - Wayne Bridge - MISS 2-1

Burnley - Chris Eagles - GOAL 3-1

Chelsea - Salomon Kalou - GOAL 3-2

Burnley - Alex Macdonald - GOAL 4-2

Chelsea - Paulo Ferreira - GOAL 4-3

Burnley - Wade Elliott - MISS 4-3

Chelsea - Florent Malouda - GOAL 4-4

Sudden death

Burnley - Michael Duff - GOAL 5-4

Chelsea - John Obi Mikel - MISS 5-4


LINE UPS

Chelsea: Cudicini, Ferreira, Alex, Ivanovic, Bridge, Mineiro, Kalou, Deco, Belletti, Malouda, Drogba.

Burnley: Jensen, Alexander, Duff, Caldwell, Jordan; Elliott, Gudjonsson, McCann, Eagles, Blake, Paterson.

Lampard fires warning to United

Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard says Manchester United cannot afford any more slip-ups if they are to successfully defend the title.

Lampard has helped Luiz Felipe Scolari's side set the early pace this term, opening up an eight-point gap on the Red Devils along the way though United to have a game in hand on the Blues.

That advantage was helped by United's 2-1 defeat at Arsenal Saturday, while Chelsea made light work of Blackburn at Ewood Park 24 hours later.

The Emirates setback was United's second loss of the season, while Chelsea have lost just once in the Premier League.

And with that in mind, Lampard believes the Blues' fellow contenders for the crown can't afford anymore slip-ups.

"It's a nice gap for us," the England international told the Evening Standard.

"It is far from over, but in the last two years it's been the other way around. We've been five points behind and it is not easy. When you are chasing, you really can't afford to lose games.

"You have to remember Liverpool are neck and neck with us. But Man United and Arsenal, who are always big contenders, are those few points behind."

Chelsea came desperately close to taking the title last season, eventually ending the campaign just two points adrift.

Their failure to keep pace with United at the top ultimately proved costly and Lampard is determined to avoid a similar occurrence this time around.

"It is not easy to chase, the pressure builds up and if you drop points you fall further behind," he added.

"It's difficult either way, because the big four don't lose too many games or drop too many points.

"You certainly don't want to be too far behind at this point.

"We did it last year and we made a lot of ground up. However, in the end we lost the title by two points, so it feels nice to be in the lead at the moment."

CHELSEA : Scolari plays down Chelsea's greatness

By Jason Burt in Rome
Tuesday, 4 November 2008

He wrinkled his nose at one invitation to sing his own praises – after Luciano Spaletti, Roma's coach, said Chelsea were currently the "best side in the world" – by declaring there were maybe "10 or even 50" top sides but Luiz Felipe Scolari decided, with a smile, to accept a second opportunity.

Did he, he was asked, like the team hotel that Chelsea were using ahead of tonight's Champions League tie and would he like to book it – now – for the final next May which is also to be played in the cavernous bowl that is the Stadio Olimpico? "If the hotel accepts, we'll book it for me," Scolari said. "If they accept, we'll do that."

The Cavalieri Hotel – a cool £776 a night for a standard room – is indeed one of the most beautiful in this most beautiful of cities and even though Scolari was in playful mood and even though, in truth, it is Uefa, the European governing body, which selects the team hotels for its showpiece game, there is a hard-edged belief to the comment by the Brazilian – of Italian descent, of course, with his father Benjamin hailing from Venice – in wanting to emulate the achievement of reaching last season's final in Moscow.

That was Avram Grant's last match in charge and although Spaletti was touted by some agents as a possible successor, the Italian was never really in the running to pip Scolari to the post. His star, however, has waned. Now Spaletti, after Roma's worst start to a league season in 45 years, and with four consecutive Serie A defeats leaving them fourth from bottom, is clinging to his job. He took time yesterday to praise Chelsea – and perhaps defuse expectation with his players struggling so wretchedly – by lauding the advances that Scolari has made with this talented squad.

"It [Chelsea] is one of the best 10 teams in the world, but not the best. We are one," Scolari said quickly as he anticipated the potential for hubris although there was also a little boast when he declared that he was "more beautiful" than his predecessor. That was in jest, of course, designed to relax Salomon Kalou who was sitting next to him and had been asked how Chelsea this season compared to last. "I was joking with Kalou, because he is shy," Scolari said when urged to expand upon his comment on looks. "I try to make him more free, only this."

Liberation, and a lighter touch, has been his aim so far and despite, by his own admission "one or two games [in which] we haven't played well and we paid for this" it has been a success. "We are playing very well," Scolari said. "But we need to get into more finals, win more finals."

The big one is this one and a victory this evening in Group A would probably see Chelsea through to the knock-out stages although they will have to perform without Ashley Cole. After a scan the left-back has been diagnosed with a small tear to his calf, which also rules him out of Sunday's league meeting with Blackburn Rovers. Injuries have had to be accepted by Scolari, who has coped brilliantly with depleted resources and will continue with Nicolas Anelka in attack this evening as Didier Drogba is still some way short of match sharpness with the suspicion lingering that he is not central to Scolari's plans.

For so long he was Chelsea's talisman and Roma may well spring a surprise by including their own, Francesco Totti, who trained yesterday and declared himself fit despite fears that the inflammation on his knee, a legacy of surgery last season, would rule him out. Roma need him.

Chelsea's last visit to this city came in the first flush of Roman Abramovich's ownership when they thrillingly brushed aside Lazio, who share the stadium, 4-0. Such is Chelsea's prowess that they could easily repeat that scoreline tonight as they attempt to give themselves the chance to book a place – if not yet a hotel – for the Eternal City next May.

Roma (4-1-4-1, probable): Doni; Cicinho, Panucci, Mexes, Riise; De Rossi; Taddei, Brighi, Pizarro, Vucinic; Totti.

Chelsea (4-1-4-1, probable): Cech; Bosingwa, Alex, Terry, Bridge; Mikel; J Cole, Deco, Lampard, Malouda; Anelka.

Referee: L Medina Cantalejo (Spain).