EPL, Premiership, English Premier League

Fernando Torres was injured during Spain’s 2-1 World Cup Qualifying win against Belgium in Brussels. Torres limped off witha  hamstring injury only 16 minutes in compunding his earlier hamstring problems in September. Ryan Babel was also playing in World Cup Qualifyers and received an ankle injury during the Netherlands 1-0 win in Norway.

Benitez expressed his discontent with how many World Cup Qualifying games professional club players are required to play. He suggested that their should be 2 tiers to the qualifying games with stronger teams playing stronger teams and weaker teams only playing stronger teams once they have moved up. This would effectively minimize the number of games that teams would play. While I’m not sure if this is feasible, I do know that Liverpool will have some real challenges if Torres and Babel are not fit soon. In the next 10 days Liverpool will be playing Wigan, Chelsea, and a Champions League game against Atletico Madrid.

Xabi Alonso described the injuries as a real blow: “It is undoubtedly bad news. We have to wait and see what the tests say, but we do not stop now until around Christmas, and we have a big calendar coming up - we cannot let up. It is not the first time this has happened [to Torres] with the national side, and it is a blow to have an injury when he is in such a good streak of form.”

Torres is expected to be out for about 10 days while Babel’s injury recovery time has not been assessed yet.

Chelsea

Age: 30

Birthday: May 1th, 1978

Birthplace: Abidjan, Ivory Coast

Position: Forward

2007/08 Goals: EPL- 8 goals, 6 assists. Total - 16 goals, 9 assists.

Biography:

Drogba spent his younger years between France and the Ivory Coast. His parents sent him to live with his uncle in France when he was 5 years old. His uncle, Michel Goba, played professional football in the French Ligue 2 and played Internationally for the Ivory Coast. In 1991, Drogba’s parents settled in Paris and 15 year old Drogba moved in with them. He soon signed up with youth club Levallois while studying accounting. During the 2006/2007 season Drogba was the EPL top scorer with 20 goals and also won the 2006 African Player of the Year.

In 1998, at the age of 19 Drogba joined Ligue 2 club Le Mans though he did not sign a contract until he became 21. A year later he signed with Ligue 1 club Guingamp. The next season Guingamp finished in a club record 7th place with Drogba having scored 17 goals. Drogba was signed by Olympique de Marseille in the 2003/2004 season. Out of 35 appearances he scored 19 goals including 5 goals in the Champions League. He also won French Player of the year; at the end of the season he was signed in record transfer for Chelsea. The €24 million was well worth it for Chelsea as Drogba continued to play well: he scored 16 goals out of 40 appearances. Chelsea went on to win the League Cup with Drogba scoring in extra time in the 3-2 win against Liverpool.

The next season saw Drogba lead the league with 11 assists and 16 goals; Chelsea managed to win the League Title again becoming only the 2nd club to win consecutive titles.
The 2006/2007 season saw Drogba score a total of 33 goals with 20 in the EPL. He was named African Footballer of ther Year.

The 2007/08 season was upsetting for Drogba as Mourinho left Chelsea. Drogba stated his desire to leave the club: “Mourinho’s departure destroys a certain familiarity we had at the club. Many of us used to play first and foremost for the manager. Now we need to forget those feelings and find another source of motivation. I want to leave Chelsea. Something is broken with Chelsea, The damage is big in the dressing room.” He later said he regretted the comments and stated he was committed to the club. In March of 2008 Drogba suffered a knee injury which was operated upon. That same season he was attacked by Benitez who said he dived during a UEFA Champions League game.

“Benítez was a coach I used to respect a lot. I used to believe he had class but he has seriously disappointed me. His words have shown his weakness. A great coach will never attack a player so meanly. If he doesn’t want me to fall down he should focus on his team’s game and tell his defenders to stop fouling me. In the first leg, Carragher and Skrtel didn’t stop. At the end of the match I was covered in bruises. Last year, I picked up a broken rib during the Champions League semi-final against Liverpool.”

In April of 2008 Drogba could gain satisfaction from having scored 2 goals against Liverpool in the Champions League semi-final which Chelsea won 3-2. However, Drogba slapped Vidic in the Final and was sent off. Chelsea lost in penalties 6-4.

Drogba despite having a very rustic style managed to score goals. With time at Chelsea and with Mourinho’s coaching and trust Drogba quickly managed to become more elegant in his game-play. Around and in the box Drogba can score with his back to the box. He has very quick feet and an extremely accurate shot.

Liverpool

Age: 28

Birthday: May 30th, 1980

Birthplace: Whiston, Merseyside (England)

Position: Attacking Midfield

2007/08 Goals: EPL- 11 goals, 11 assists. Total - 20 goals, 19 assists.

Biography:

Steven George Gerrard started playing with the Whiston Juniors at a young age. He joined Liverpool’s youth academy at the age of 9. Gerrard played few games for Liverpool between the age of 14 and 16 because of late growth spurts. During this period he underwent trials with Manchester United and other club teams in order to pressure Liverpool into signing him. Gerrard was finally signed with Liverpool in 1997. In 1998, Gerrard started with Liverpools first string team against Blackburn. His first start was in the UEFA Cup against Celta Vigo.

During the 1999/2000 season Gerrard scored his first goal for Liverpool ahainst Sheffield. His late growth spurts caused him delayed back and groin pain during the season. By the 2000/2001 season his injuried were behind him. Gerrard scored 10 goals and Liverpool won the League Cup and FA Cup. He quickly began to create his classic presence in midfield and scored one of his first long-range goals. That season he was name PFA Young Player of the Year. The next year Liverpool succeeded in reaching their highest points level in the EPL and finished 2nd in the League. Durign the 2003/2004 season Gerrard earned the Captain’s band and showed his leadership qualities. He also obtained a €60,000 a week contract with Liverpool. As teh season ended he said that he was not “happy with the progress the club has made and for the first time in my career I’ve thought about the possibility of moving on.” Though Liverpool did not do well that season and despite Chelsea’s €20 million offer, Gerrard decided to stay.

In 2005, Liverpool played AC Milan for the Champions League Final. Gerrard scored the 1st goal and was awarded a penalty when he was brought down in the box. They went on to win the Final in penalty shoot-outs and Gerrard was named UEFA Club Footballer of the Year. After the Final, Gerrard was linked with a move to Chelsea. Liverpool’s chief executive Rick Parry said “Now we have to move on. We have done our best, but he has made it clear he wants to go and I think it looks pretty final.” But the next day, despite a €32 million, €100,000 a week offer Gerrard refused the offer. “Stevie’s decided to stay. It’s a little bit like last year, only even more dramatic…”
The 2005/2006 season saw Gerrard scored 23 goals in 53 games and received the PFA Player of the Year and led Liverpool to victory in the FA Cup. The next season saw Liverpool fail in most competitions except the Champions League where they reached the Final against AC Milan; this time however, they lost 2-1. The 2007/2008 season also saw Gerrard wear the Captain’s band in International play for England.
Recently, during the 2008/2009 season Gerrard scored his 100th goal against PSV Eindhoven.

Gerrard is well known for his dominance in midfield and his amazing long-range shots. He has become one of the most loved Liverpool figures showing great determination and vision during games.

Slovakian Martin Skrtel underwent a scan this morning and it was revealed that he has posterior cruciate ligament damage.”Martin underwent a scan this morning which showed damage to the posterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. He will see a specialist tomorrow to assess the extent of the injury and will then have an accurate idea of the timescales involved before he is back playing again.”

The injury most likely occured while battling for a ball against Manchester City’s Chad Evans. While Liverpool won (2-3) the injury to 23 year old Skrtel will probably last several months. After the game Benitez commented about Liverpool’s bid for the EPL Title saying “We have a clear idea of what we have to do. We have to go one game at a time. This was another great win and three points. The main thing from my point of view is the belief of the players.”

With Skrtel out Daniel Agger will most likely start; Agger suffered a metatarsal injury at the beginning of last season.
Agger Injured for season, Skrtel starts

Chelsea

Age: 27

Birthday: December 7th, 1980

Birthplace: Barking, London

Position: Defending Center back

2007/08 Goals: EPL-1 goal, 1 assist. Total- 2 goals, 3 assists.

Biography:

John George Terry began playing with the Youth Club team Senrab. He soon moved to the Chelsea developmental team at the age of 14. He made his debut in October or 1998 as a substitute against Aston Villa. He spent some time playing with Nottingham Forest in 2000 before really beginning to play for Chelsea. During the 2000/01 season he started 23 times and was voted the clubs best player of the year. That same year he became embroiled in as assault and affray allegation oh which he was later cleared. Around the same time he was fined 2 weeks of wages for having beleaguered several Americans who were grieving after the September 11 terrorist attacks.

During the 2001/02 season Terry was handed the captains band for the first time. He continued to solidify his presence at Chelsea through 2003/04 as he continued to intermittently hold the captains’ armband. In 2004/05 Jose Mourinho took charge and gave Terry the Captain’s armband. That season Chelsea won the Premier League with a record breaking defense. That year he was voted Player of the Year by his peers and scored 8 goals including one against Barcelona in the Champions League.

In the 2006/07 season Terry suffered back problems and had to undergo lumbar disc surgery. Despite his injury Terry came back and continued to serve as the backbone of Chelsea’s spirit and defense.
In a Carling Cup final against Arsenal he attempted a diving header while trying to score on a corner and was kicked unconscious by Abou Diaby. He was unconscious for 10 minutes and later said he could only remember walking out onto the field during the 2nd half. In December of 2007 Terry broke 3 bones in his foot while playing Arsenal when Emmanuel Eboue stomped on his foot. May 11th 2008 he suffered a minor injury and dislocated his elbow. May 21st 2008 Terry missed a crucial penalty against Manchester United in the Champions League Final. He slipped a moment before kicking the ball which then hit the post. Chelsea lost 6-5 in penalties. In August 28th 2008 he also received Defender of the Year from UEFA.

Manchester United

Age: 22

Birthday: February 5th, 1985

Birthplace: Croxteth, Liverpool (England)

Position: Striker

2007/08 Goals: EPL- 12; total-18.
[Total Assists- 14]

Biography:

Wayne Rooney, considered to be one of the youngest players to understand the game. He plays for the England National Team and Manchester United. At a young age he showed the ability and vision of experienced players with great dribbling, speed, and finishing ability. Rooney was born and raised in Croxteth, Liverpool (England). He grew up supporting Everton and his football hero was Duncan Ferguson (Scottish International). Rooney was signed when he was 11 years old after playing with the Liverpool Schoolboys and Dynamo Brownings. He played in the Everton youth team and then progressed to the starting lineup for 2 years. While he was there he lived his dream of playing for Everton; after scoring a beautiful goal he took off his shirt displaying an undershirt on which was written “Once a blue, always a blue”. Reportedly, Newcastle tried to obtain Rooney for €18.5 million. Unfortunately, for Everton and Newcastle, Rooney agreed to a deal with United for €31 million hours before the transfer deadline. He may have been the highest paid teenager ever.

Rooney became famous after a goal against Arsenal in October of 2002. Arsenal had been on an unbeaten 30 match run when Wayne Rooney got the ball 28 yards out and ripped the ball into the top left corner past David Seamen giving Everton the win (2-1). At the time Rooney was 16 years old making him the youngest scoring Premiership player. He later proved himself in the Euro 2004 by scoring 3 goals in 4 games.

Rooney has a very aggressive style. If he ever loses the ball he attempts to chase down whoever stole it. He often runs all the way to his goal to defend; he goes out of the way to win his team back possession. “I don’t think I will ever lose my determination. It is something I have always had. If we are not winning I get frustrated. I don’t like losing. If you are telling me that is wrong I won’t believe you. I am a team player. Everyone is saying I should score more goals. But we won the league and Champions League last season - if that happens again I would be delighted. I certainly don’t have any banter with Cristiano about who scores the most goals. Maybe he had a chat with the manager about it but I didn’t. Last season was unbelievable for Cristiano. More than likely he will be named world player of the year and everyone at the club will be delighted for him. Hopefully he can score the same number of goals again. Carlos [Tevez] likes to drop behind a main striker, which is probably his best position, so maybe I would have to stay up a bit more. I would have no problem with that. But hopefully we can bring another forward in to strengthen the team. It would allow us to spread the matches out and make changes for certain games. But if that forward does not come in, I am sure we can deal with it.”

Joe Kinnear, the interim manager for Newcastle United who took over for Kevin Keegan recently engaged the press in an amazing expletive ridden rant. Kinnear succeeded in cursing 52 times while defending his recent appearance at Tyneside in his first official press conference. Kinnear took over at Newcastle about 1 week ago and has apparently felt enormous pressure. He felt that the press was undermining his ability to manage the Newcastle for the short period of time that he will remain there (approximately 2 months). The 61 year old’s last football job was with Nottingham Forest 4 years ago. He insisted he was only defending himself from critics and stated he would begin censoring which journalists would be allowed at future press conferences. “I will stand up and fight for myself in any corner. You’re not going to frighten me in any manner. Whatever you do, or whatever headlines you run, you’re not going to embarrass me. I’m not going to stand for it. I’ve come up here for a simple chance to prove myself. Get off my back and let me get on with my job. That’s all I ask.”

Kinnear obviously needs to pay less attention to what the media says and instead focus on managing Newcastle. His rant will only hurt Newcastle’s image and worsen the focus of the team. Every football manager is subject to the English newspapers accusations at some point or another and his lack of composure is disappointing and humorous.
When the Daily Mirror asked questions about why he let Newcastle players have the day off on his first day in charge he responded by saying, “It is none of your f****** business. What the f*** are you going to do? You ain’t got the balls to be a f******* manager. F******* day off.  Do I want your opinion? Do I have to listen to you?”. He described players who may not have welcomed his appearance at the club as”f****” and reporters as “f****** so f****** slimy”.
He also is serving a 2 match ban from 4 years ago which Newcastle had not been aware of.

Joe Kinnear: Which one is Simon Bird [Daily Mirror’s football writer]?
Simon Bird: Me.
Joe Kinnear: You’re a c**t.
Simon Bird: Thank you.
JK: Which one is Hickman [Niall, football writer for the Express]? You are out of order. Absolutely f**king out of order. If you do it again, I am telling you you can f**k off and go to another ground. I will not come and stand for that f**king crap. No f**king way, lies. F**k, you’re saying I turned up and they [Newcastle’s players] f**ked off.
SB: No Joe, have you read it, it doesn’t actually say that. Have you read it?
JK: I’ve f**king read it, I’ve read it.
SB: It doesn’t say that. Have you read it?
JK: You are trying to f**king undermine my position already.
SB: Have you read it, it doesn’t say that. I knew you knew they were having a day off.
JK: F**k off. F**k off. It’s your last f**king chance.
SB: You read the copy? It doesn’t say that you didn’t know.
JK: What about the headline, you think that’s a good headline?
SB: I didn’t write the headline, you read the copy.
JK: You are negative b**tards, the pair of you.
SB: So if I get a new job next week would I take the first day off? No I wouldn’t. If I get a new job should I call my boss and tell him I am taking the first day off?
JK: It is none of your f**king business. What the f**k are you going to do? You ain’t got the balls to be a f**king manager. F**king day off. Do I want your opinion. Do I have to listen to you?
SB: No, you can listen to who you want.
JK: I had a 24-hour meeting with the entire staff.
SB: Joe, you are only here six weeks, you could have done that on Sunday, or Saturday night.
JK: No, no, no. I didn’t want to do it. I had some other things to do.
SB: What? More important things?
JK: What are you? My personal secretary? F**k off.
SB: You could have done the meeting Saturday night or Sunday. You could have had them watching videos, you could have organised them.
JK: I was meeting the f**king chairman the owner, everyone else. Talking about things.
SB: It is a valid point that was made in there. A valid point.
JK: I can’t trust any of you.
Niall Hickman: Joe, no one could believe that on your first day at your new club, the first-team players were not in. No one could believe it in town. Your first day in the office.
JK: My first day was with the coaches. I made the decision that I wanted to get as much information out of them.
NH: But why Monday, no one could believe it?
JK: I’m not going to tell you anything. I don’t understand where you are coming from. You are delighted that Newcastle are getting beat and are in the state they are? Delighted, are you?
NH: Certainly not. No one wants to see them get beaten, why would we?
JK: I have done it before. It is going to my f**king lawyers. So are about three others. If they can find something in it that is a court case it is going to court. I am not f**king about. I don’t talk to f**king anybody. It is raking up stories. You are f**king so f**king slimy you are raking up players that I got rid of. Players that I had fallen out with. You are not asking Robbie Earle, because he is sensible. You are not asking Warren Barton? No. Because he is f**king sensible. Anyone who had played for me for 10 years at any level … [but] you will find some c**t that …
Other journalist: How long is your contract for Joe?
JK: None of your business.
SB: Well it is actually, because we cover the club. The club say you are here to the end of October, then you say six to eight games which would take it to the end of November. We are trying to clarify these issues. We are getting no straight answers from anyone. How long are you here for. It is a dead simple question. And you don’t know …
JK: I was told the length of contract. Then I was told that possibly the club could be sold in that time. That is as far as I know. That’s it finished. I don’t know anything else. But I have been ridiculed. He’s trying to f**king hide, he’s trying to do this or that.

Steve Brenner (writer for the Sun): We are all grown men and can come in here and sit around and talk about football, but coming in here and calling people c**ts?
JK: Why? Because I am annoyed. I am not accepting that. If it is libellous, it is going to where I want it to go.
Newcastle press officer: What has been said in here is off the record and doesn’t go outside.
Journalist: Well, is that what Joe thinks?
JK: Write what you like. Makes no difference to me. Don’t affect me I assure you. It’ll be the last time I see you anyway. Won’t affect me. See how we go at Everton and Chrissy [Chris Hughton, assistant manager] can do it, someone else can do it. Don’t trust any of yous. I will pick two local papers and speak to them and the rest can f**k off. I ain’t coming up here to have the piss taken out of me. I have a million pages of crap that has been written about me. I’m ridiculed for no reason. I’m defenceless. I can’t get a point in, I can’t say nothing, I can’t do nothing, but I ain’t going to be negative. Then, half of you, most of you are trying to get into the players. I’m not going to tell you what the players think of you, so then you try and get into them in some way or another, so I’ve got a split camp or something like that, something like that. It’s ongoing. It just doesn’t stop.
Journalist: It’s only been a week.
JK: Exactly. It feels more like a year.
Journalist: It’s early days for you to be like this.
JK: No, I’m clearing the air. And this is the last time I’m going to speak to you. You want to know why, I’m telling you. This is the last time. You can do what you like.
Journalist: But this isn’t going to do you or us any good.
JK: I’ll speak to the supporters. I’m going to tell them what the story is. I’m going to tell them. I don’t think they’ll interpret it any different, I don’t think they’ll mix it up, I don’t think they’ll miss out things. I mean, one of them last week said to me … I was talking about in that press conference where you were there, I said something like “Well, that’s a load of bollocks …”
Journalist: “Bollocks to that” is what you said.
JK: Bollocks to that. And what goes after that?
Journalist: That was it.
JK: No it wasn’t, no it wasn’t. What was after it? I don’t know if it was your paper, but what went after it?
Journalist: I don’t know.
JK: It even had the cheek to say “bollocks to Newcastle”.
Journalist: I didn’t write that.
JK: That was my first f**king day. What does that tell you? What does that tell you?
Journalist: Where was that? Which paper said that?
JK: I’ve got it. I can’t remember. It was one of the Sundays, not a Saturday. It was a Sunday.
Journalist: But you didn’t say that to the Sundays, you said that to us. That was during the Monday press conference.
JK: I’ll bring it in and show it to you. Why would I want to say that?
Journalist: Are you saying that someone has reported you saying “bollocks to Newcastle?”
JK: Yes. Lovely.
Journalist: I don’t know who’s reported that.
JK: I’ll tell you what, I’ll bring it in.
Journalist: That’s obviously going to damage you. That’s not a good thing. But I don’t think someone’s done that. We have to have some sort of relationship with you.
JK: So have I. But I haven’t come in here for you lot to take the piss out of me. And if I’m not flavour of the month for you, it don’t f**king bother me. I’ve got a job to do. And I’m going to do it to the best of my ability. I’m not going to spend any more time listening to any crap or reading any crap. Stick to the truth and the facts. And don’t twist anything.
Journalist: You know, you know the game …
JK: Of course I know, but I don’t have to like it.
Journalist: Today we’ll print the absolute truth, that you think we’re c**ts, we can all f**k off and we’re slimy. Is that fair enough?
JK: Do it. Fine. F**king print it. Am I going to worry about it? Put in also that it’ll be the last time I see you. Put that in as well. Good. Do it.

Press officer: Let’s get on to football. Let’s have an agreement that everything said so far, if anyone has got their tapes on, it’s wiped off and we’re not discussing it.
Journalist: But that’s what Joe has said he thinks of us.
Press officer: I’m saying don’t push it. Let’s accept what’s been said and try and move on.
Journalist: Move on to not doing any more press conferences?
PO: No, to doing something now.
Journalist: What, one press conference only?
(Silence)
Journalist: Any knocks?
PO: Come on, let’s go football.
Journalist: What are your plans for training in the next three days? How’s the training going?
JK: It’s going very well. No problems at all.
Journalist: Enjoyed getting back in the swing of things?
JK: Absolutely. I’ve loved every moment of it.

Joe Kinnear curses 52 times !

Chelsea played CFR Cluj-Napoca in the Champions League recently and while they managed to pull out a tie they suffered another serious injury to a starting player. Didier Drogba suffered what appears to be a serious knee ligament injury in the 57th minute; Drogba was stretchered off and Juliano Belletti replaced him. Reportedly Alex and John Terry obtained small injuries in the game. With Deco, Joe Cole, Essien, and Carvalho all injured Chelsea could be in serious trouble. Chelsea fans will be hoping that these injuries will subside by the time of the next Champions League against Roma October 21st. Unfortunately, Chelsea will be playing Aston Villa (Oct. 5th) who have had a great start to the season (currently in 3rd place) and who will certainly try to capitalize on Chelsea’s injury woes.

Meanwhile United are also suffering some injuries with Scholes out with a twisted knee, and Rooney out with an ankle injury. But with Ronaldo back and Dimitar Berbatov playing well the impact is lessened. Manchester United will be playing Celtic in the Champions League October 21st, the same day Arsenal will be playing Fenerbahce.

Manchester City’s new chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has stated that he wishes to create a “dynasty” out of Man City in a “sustainable manner”. After the increasing worries about foregin investors buying Premeir league clubs it seemed that Al Mubarak felt it was necessary to assure fans that he would not be controlling player transfers. Instead he suggested that he would leave the work to the professionals and would not interefere. The Man City takeover by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al Nahyan and his Abu Dhabi United Group was completed soon after City’s 6-0 demolition of Portsmouth.

“We are genuine people and we want to develop this club in a sustainable manner. Nothing rash is going to happen, we are not going to do crazy stuff. We will work with (executive chairman) Garry Cook and Mark. They call the shots and we are here to support to help build a sustainable club. Mark is as good as they get and we are backing him all the way. He makes the football decisions and we are here to learn. We want to hear from the fans and the community. We want to bring this club back to the community and to the fans. We are here as long-term investors, and it makes sense for us to build a dynasty. Between Mark and Garry, I think we have a dynasty in the making. With our backing, with the commitment we are going to make to the academy in the next 10 years there is going to be a tremendous period for Manchester City and for us. And I think we are going to have a blast doing it!”

He continued to re-state what he had already said in order to assuage any fears that he would be over-controlling in his control of the club:
“One thing I have made very clear to Mark is that any player he wants comes from him. I am not an expert. It is Mark who runs the club and Mark who makes the football decisions. We are here to support and make financial decisions, but we are not here to teach Mark or Garry what to do. They are the professionals, we trust them, we have confidence in them and we are going to support them. Mark is an honest man, he’s a leader, he’s tough and he is everything you would want in a head coach. We trust him, he’s one of the gems we saw in this club once we came here. He will put a plan together to win trophies, but we will be patient. As long as it is being managed properly and the players are doing what they need to do, then it will take whatever it takes.”

Wenger recently criticized the move of the Abu Dhabi Group and questioned their motives:
“It doesn’t look like they are there to make any money. So if they are not there to make money out of it, then are they buying it out of love? Well, I am not sure these people are supporters of Manchester City from a young age. So then comes a further question: Why are they doing it? Why have they bought the club? I can’t really find a rational answer. If it is just a toy for them then it is even more dangerous. You can have 20 billionaires in the Premier League, still only one can win it and one will come last. The problem is that when these people who have bought into football get tired of it, what will they leave behind? That is the real question you can ask. If their investment is purely strategic, based on the market interest, then they could easily decide one day that it is not strategic to be in that market any more, and then they will leave.”

This comment lsuggests that if the Abu Dhabi Group one day decided that the City takeover was not profitable they would just leave. Al Mubarak responded to this by saying, “The watchwords are patient, committed, and long term. If you look at Sheikh Mansour’s track record and Abu Dhabi’s track record in general, they are always sensible investors, well regarded by everyone.”

He also believed that the City Academy should become one of the best in Europe. After meeting City Academy manager Jim Cassell he added, “That was one of my most enjoyable experiences. I have the highest confidence in him, we will be working a lot with him. We want to learn from the model that has been so successful here. My mandate from Sheikh Mansour was to spend as much time as I could with the academy, and I have promised him that’s what I am going to do. I have promised him that I’ll do what I can to ensure that this academy is the best not just in England, but in Europe.”

Recent controversies over Clubs taking too much control and not allowing managers to work include:

Newcastle
and…
West Ham

Chelsea have been hindered by a recent string of injuries including Deco who who obtained a torn muscle in his upper thigh while warming up before the game against Manchester United (Chelsea tied Manchester Utd 1-1). Carvalho also suffered an injury with a torn ligament in his knee which will likely leave him out for at least a month.

Fortunately, Deco’s disappearance could be made easier by the potential appearance of Brazilian midfielder Mineiro. “Mineiro is a player I need because I lost Essien for six months and only John Mikel Obi is there for us” said Scolari. “He won’t play this week but maybe after 10 days he will play. He needs to play in the reserve team and needs some time but that is good for me because he gives me some options.” Both Birmingham and Arsenal were reportedly interested in Mineiro but opted not to sign him.

Muricy Ramalho, his coach at Sao Paolo described him in superhuman terms. “The guy is incredible. He runs so much at times it makes you wonder whether he has got three lungs, not two, like the rest of us.” Mineiro is a defensive midfielder who played for BSC Hertha Berlin before joining Chelsea. The 33 year was nicknamed ‘Mineiro’ because he resembles a former Corinthian player, his real name is actually Carlos Luciano da Silva.