Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas wary of Mourinho ‘ghost’

 

Jose Mourinho, Real Madrid - André Villas-Boas - Chelsea

Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas has admitted that he is wary of the ‘ghost’ of former boss Jose Mourinho as the Real Madrid man reportedly searches for a route back to England.

The 34-year-old, in his first season at Stamford Bridge, faces a fight to qualify for next season's Champions League after an inconsistent season.

Despite insisting from the outset that he was drafted in under the premise of a three-year plan, the young manager had claimed Mourinho's possible return will have all the top managers looking over their shoulders.

"I have no doubts in my mind," Villas-Boas told reporters. "Speculation will always come when you are unsuccessful and you are unsuccessful at Chelsea when you don't finish first.

"It's perfectly normal bearing in mind our position, if you were top of the league or in Man City's position, you would speculate a little bit less.

"But still, there is speculation also about Man City and United and their future."

Villas-Boas, Mourinho’s assistant while at Porto and Chelsea, is fully aware that the Real Madrid coach will demand only the best jobs available.

"Jose is always a good 'selling point'," he continued. "The fact that there is the possibility of his return to England leads to speculation associated with the top clubs, for sure.

"Jose doesn't take anything other than the top, because he represents exactly the top in management.

"So whenever he becomes available, he'll for sure be a ghost on every bench in the Premier League."

Mourinho has never hidden his desire to one day return to the Premier League and although Villas-Boas has yet to finish his debut season he understands why his former mentor longs to come back to England.

"I think this is the best league in the world - we all agree with that - and after all of these years of absence he will want to make his return."

"It will be exciting. First we have to understand that his coming back would be excellent for the Premier League in terms of excitement and further competition and further competence, so fantastic."

Chealsea vs Manchaster United

More On :  Chelsea, Manchester United, Chelsea vs Manchester United

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PROBABLE LINEUPS

CHELSEA Cech Bosingwa, Luiz, Ivanovic, Bertrand Meireles, Romeu, Malouda Sturridge, Torres, Mata

MANCHESTER UNITED   De Gea Smalling, Ferdinand, Evans, Evra Valencia, Giggs, Carrick, Park Hernandez, Rooney

Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas will not be able to call upon full back Ashley Cole in the crunch clash against Manchester United, since the England international picked up two yellows against Swansea City and is now suspended for this fixture.

John Terry has been ruled out with a knee injury, which should see the back line being changed a little. One possible solution could be for Branislav Ivanovic to play at right back with Gary Cahill making his debut, while Jose Bosingwa would move to left back. But given the magnitude of the game and the amount of pressure and expectation that would be placed on Cahill considering that it would be his debut, Ryan Bertrand should be the one to slot in in place of the suspended Cole.

Meanwhile, Bosingwa would man the right back position with David Luiz and Ivanovic in the heart of the Blues' defense.

Frank Lampard (calf) is a doubt for this fixture, but could feature if he returns to fitness in time. Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou are unavailable due to being on international duty at the African Cup of Nations, while John Obi Mikel (hamstring) and Ramires (knee) join Terry in the treatment room.

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has Wayne Rooney and Nani pushing to be fit in time for the stratospheric encounter at Stamford Bridge. If fit, the striker should take the place of Dimitar Berbatov and play alongside Javier Hernandez, with Danny Welbeck on the bench. Nani would come in place of Park Ji-Sung if he returns to fitness in time.

The Scot recently said that Tom Cleverley and Ashley Young could make a return against Chelsea. But even if the duo are ruled fit, it will likely be a place on the bench given the amount time they have spent on the sidelines.

Anders Lindegaard (ankle) is out of action for at least a month, and David de Gea should earn a start despite Ben Amos having kept a clean sheet against Stoke City.

Anderson remains sidelined due to a knock he took in training last month, while Phil Jones (ankle) is out as well. Darren Fletcher (illness) and Nemanja Vidic (knee) have already been ruled out for the remainder of the season.

• Chelsea is undefeated in its last nine Premier League clashes against Manchester United at Stamford Bridge.

• But the Red Devils have the historical advantage, since they have beaten the Blues in their backyard on 29 occasions, losing 22 times in the process. A further 18 matches ended with points being shared.

• Andre Villas-Boas' men are at rock bottom in the Fair Play table, having seen more cards than any other team in the top-flight. This amounts to 50 yellows and four reds.

• Fernando Torres (pictured right) has gone 12 matches in the league without scoring a goal, which makes it his worst goal drought since his switch to the Premier League.

• Manchester United has been the most miserly team in defense on its travels, having conceded only seven times away from home this season.

• United is also the most successful side on the road this season, having accumulated 26 points in 11 away games. Interestingly, the Blues' home record does not measure up to United's exploits on its travels, since Villas-Boas' men have managed 22 points in their 11 matches at Stamford Bridge.

• In total, the Red Devils have scored 263 goals against Chelsea in all competitions, conceding 191 in the process.

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Chelsea target Gonzalo Higuain will not leave Real Madrid until he wins the Champions League, claims agent

 

Gonzalo Higuain - Real Madrid

Gonzalo Higuain has told his agent that he will not leave Real Madrid until he wins the Champions League with the Spanish giants, despite repeated interest from Chelsea.

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• Higuain not thinking about Madrid exit

The Argentina international is in competition with Karim Benzema for a starting spot in Jose Mourinho's team and speculation over the last six months has linked the South American marksman with an exit from the Santiago Bernabeu.

Despite this, agent and father Jorge Higuain has stated that there has been no contact from the Stamford Bridge outfit or Roman Abramovich and that his son is focused on attaining European glory.

"No one has called us," the striker's representative reiterated to Marca.

"Until we win the Champions League, we will not move."

The capital-city side was linked with a move for Sergio Aguero in the summer before he joined Manchester City from Atletico Madrid and reports in Spain have resurfaced that Los Blancos could try to sign Higuain's countryman once more at the end of this term.

Only then, if a third main striker joined the Madrid squad, would the 24-year-old consider a move.

"If they bring Aguero in then we will start to listen to offers," Higuain senior admitted.

The forward has scored 14 goals in 19 La Liga appearances this term for the current Spanish top-flight pace-setters and is in contention to feature against Getafe on Saturday.

Kevin De Bruyne undergoes Chelsea medical as he completes a 6.7m pounds move from Genk

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Kevin De Bruyne is at Chelsea’s training ground this morning undergoing a medical as he completes a move from Genk, Goal.com can reveal.

The Stamford Bridge club have agreed a fee of 6.7 million pounds with the Belgium outfit and he will then be loaned back to Genk for the rest of the season.

It is understood that the 20-year-old attacking midfielder will sign a five-and-a-half year contract with Chelsea.

De Bruyne will become the third Belgian youngster to join Chelsea in the last six months, following the arrivals of Romelu Lukaku and De Bruyne’s former Genk teammate Thibaut Courtois last summer.

The two clubs came to an agreement last night following weeks of negotiations and the winger flew into London in the last 24 hours to put the finishing touches to the move.

Andre Villas-Boas revealed last week that the pursuit of De Bruyne was being driven by others at Stamford Bridge as part of the club’s policy to target and recruit young players for the future.

“It’s not within my immediate projects. It’s a target that’s decided by the club, that I knew about for quite some time,” said Villas-Boas. “He was under the scrutiny of the club for some time, we’ve been following this player.

"Romelu Lukaku the same, and Petr Cech was the same when we arrived in 2004. In the sense that the club policy for the future, it’s the right thing [to buy him] and I’ll do everything in my power for him to reach maximum potential.”

 

Premier League Preview: Swansea - Chelsea

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PROBABLE LINEUPS

SWANSEA CITY Vorm Williams, Caulker, Taylor, Rangel Allen, Britton, Sigurdsson Dyer, Graham, Sinclair

CHELSEA Cech Ivanovic, Terry, Luiz, Cole Romeu, Essien, Meireles Sturridge, Torres, Mata

Ferrie Bodde (knee) is the only expected absentee for Brendan Rodgers, with the 39-year-old set to ring the changes following Saturday's 2-1 FA Cup defeat to Bolton.

Expect Nathan Dyer, Danny Graham and Scott Sinclair to return to the starting XI, while Joe Allen and Leon Britton should return to the side in place of Josh McEachran and Kemy Agustien.

Andre Villas-Boas will be without Ramires, who injured his right knee in Saturday's 1-0 FA Cup victory over QPR. Frank Lampard is a doubt for the match due to a calf strain, while Jon Obi Mikel is out with a hamstring and Didier Drogba also misses the tie due to African Cup of Nations duty.

Fernando Torres will likely continue in attack alongside Juan Mata and Daniel Sturridge for the visitors, and Michael Essien may be in line for a start as he looks to fully complete his injury comeback.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Chelsea has only lost once in the last 10 Premier League matches, but has only won twice in the last seven.

• Fernando Torres (right) hasn't found the back of the net for 16 matches in all competitions.

• The London club has scored 16 goals on its travels this season, less than any other top five side.

• The Blues defeated Swansea 4-1 at Stamford Bridge earlier this season with Torres, Lampard, Terry and Drogba all on target.

• Swansea has lost just once at the Liberty Stadium this term, collecting more points at home than any side outside the top six.

• Rodgers' men have conceded just six times on friendly turf this season, equaling Manchester City for best in the league.

• Swansea loaned midfielder Josh McEachran from the Blues in mid-January.



• Chelsea's John Terry will answer allegations of racism against QPR's Anton Ferdinand the day after the Swansea match.