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Rodgers desperate not to make mistakes in the transfer market as Liverpool chase top-four berth
By DOMINIC KING PUBLISHED: 22:16 GMT, 11 June 2013 | UPDATED: 22:16 GMT, 11 June 2013
Brendan Rodgers has admitted Liverpool cannot afford to make mistakes in the transfer market this summer if they are to become credible top-four contenders. Having drafted in Kolo Toure to provide cover for his defence, Rodgers will add Celta Vigo forward Iago Aspas to his ranks once he completes a medical, while Liverpool’s manager is also close to landing Sevilla winger Luis Alberto. Aspas and Alberto will cost in the region of £12.7million and Fenway Sports Group, Liverpool’s American owners, have promised Rodgers he will receive the necessary backing to boost the club’s chances of competing for a Champions League place.
Looking up: Rodgers is desperate to keep the momentum going in the transfer market
Signing another central defender is Liverpool’s next priority — Schalke’s Kyriakos Papadopoulos is his top target — but while he will not put a figure on the numbers he intends to bring in, Rodgers is aware each new face must be the right fit. ‘I’m looking to bring 20 more goals into the team,’ said Rodgers. ‘I’m looking at another offensive player to give us a real threat on goal and another attacking midfield player. We definitely need to do that, especially if we’re going to put some young ones out on loan to gain experience.‘But it’s not easy when you can’t make mistakes. We want to keep the acceleration and pushing on, so this is a very important window for us in the summer. We have to do our best to make it right, because the players who need to come in have to be effective right from the off.’
January dealings: Liverpool were savvy in January, bringing in Philippe Coutinho (left) and Daniel Sturridge
In or out? Suarez has reiterated his desire to leave Liverpool
This is going to be a big year for Rodgers, who has had 12 months to become settled into his role at Anfield. He is aware there will be scrutiny on his performance from the first game of the new campaign but is relaxed about the burden he will carry.‘I’m not here to be comfortable, to sit and earn the money and just enjoy being the Liverpool manager,’ Rodgers explained. ‘There’s a pressure that comes with (the role). And I believe we’re in a much better place to do that. What we showed last season was promise.‘There were moments of disappointment and moments of delight but when I look at the reality of it, we scored 47 goals last year and this time got 71 — and we hope to add to that amount. Defensively for a team that was supposedly very strong last year we’ve only conceded three more goals.
Movements: Iago Aspas (left) will have a medical at the club, while Rodgers has also brought in Kolo Toure
‘So in terms of numbers, and performance wise, then we have improved. I believe we will improve again and we have to because we want to sustain a challenge. I think we can do but it will be a tough ask because as we improve other clubs will have masses more money to improve also.‘But I believe we have built a real good base this year. It’s not my job to look for excuses, I have to find the solutions to try and push us in there and I believe we won’t be too far away.’
Luis Suarez, meanwhile, has reiterated his desire to leave Liverpool after again turning his ire on the British media. The Uruguayan, who wants to move to Real Madrid, will need to submit a written transfer request and a bid of more than £50million would need to be received if he is to get his wish.‘My agent (Pep Guardiola’s brother, Pere) has said to remain calm rather than quiet,’ Suarez said. ‘Liverpool is a club that I dreamt about playing for as a boy. Any player would like to play for a great team and Real Madrid is certainly that but I have had nothing concrete.’
Top target: Schalke¿s Kyriakos Papadopoulos (left) is on Rodgers' radar
Pellegrini holds strategy talks with City chiefs... and he's ready to fly in for unveiling
By IAN LADYMAN PUBLISHED: 21:56 GMT, 11 June 2013 | UPDATED: 22:14 GMT, 11 June 2013
Incoming Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini has held a strategy meeting with sporting director Txiki Begiristain and chief executive Ferran Soriano before he has even been unveiled.City hope to announce Pellegrini as manager on Wednesday or Thursday after agreeing terms with the former Malaga and Villarreal coach. But Begiristain, Soriano and academy head Brian Marwood flew to Spain last week to talk to the 59-year-old about signings and trying to overhaul Barclays Premier League champions Manchester United.
Incoming: Manuel Pellegrini will join Manchester City in the coming days
City on Tuesday night confirmed the signing of winger Jesus Navas from Sevilla for an initial £14.9million to take their summer spending close to £45m following the capture of Brazil midfielder Fernandinho from Shakhtar Donetsk. They also want a striker. Navas, 27, said: ‘Manchester City are an exciting project and this is the right moment for me to take this step.’Pellegrini will talk to unsettled Carlos Tevez, Gareth Barry and Joleon Lescott when he starts. City will travel to South Africa, Hong Kong and Helsinki in pre-season.
New boys: Jesus Navas (above) and Fernandinho (below) have already joined City this summer
Manchester City new-boy Navas eyes Champions League triumph
The winger completed a €17.5 million switch to the Etihad Stadium from Sevilla on Tuesday, and says he wants to win "important titles" with last season's Premier League runners-up
AC Milan were unfair to Ambrosini - agent
Moreno Roggi believes the Rossoneri could have done better by their captain as his 18-year association with the club comes to an end
Piazon unsure of Chelsea future and open to Premier League move
The Brazilian says he does not know how much playing time he will get at Stamford Bridge next season and will wait to see if any top-flight clubs are interested in his services
Bendtner set for Arsenal exit
The Gunners have agreed a deal with several 'good' clubs for the Denmark international, and he expects to decide on his destination in the next fortnight
Barton denies trying to force QPR to let him join Marseille
The 30-year-old refutes suggestions he demanded £3.5 million from the Rs to end his stay in west London and complete a permanent move to the Ligue 1 outfit, where he spent 2012-13
Arsenal eyeing Benfica defender Melgarejo, says agent
Both the Gunners, who have money to spend according to chief executive Ivan Gazidis, and Turkish giants Fenerbahce are tracking the 22-year-old, according to his representative
Juventus have no reason to be upset if Milan approach Tevez, says Galliani
The Rossoneri director is not impressed with the Serie A champions' supposed discontent and has stressed they will open talks with the striker whenever they want to
Phil Neville & Round to follow Moyes from Everton to Manchester United
The new manager is continuing his radical overhaul of the Old Trafford backroom staff, which is eventually expected to include six members of his Goodison Park inner circle
'Ajax cannot compete financially with Chelsea' - Overmars concedes defeat in Van Ginkel race
The Dutch giants had also set their sights on the promising midfielder, but he is destined to make the move to the Europa League winners instead
Chelsea is the 'right move' for Mourinho, says Carvalho
The former Chelsea centre-back, who also served under Jose Mourinho at Porto and Real Madrid, believes returning to Stamford Bridge is the right move for the 50-year-old
Moyes right to change Manchester United backroom staff, says Redknapp
The 50-year-old's appointment has seen several prominent staff members depart Old Trafford as the Scot moulds the club in his image before officially succeeding Sir Alex Ferguson
Essien: I will play anywhere for Chelsea
Essien, who hailed Mourinho's talents following his unveiling on Monday, played at the back and in midfield at Santiago Bernabeu and is ready for whatever the Portuguese needs
Juventus have no reason to be upset if Milan approach Tevez, says Galliani
The Milan director is not impressed with the Serie A champions' supposed discontent and has stressed they will open talks with the striker whenever they want to
West Ham in talks with AC Milan veteran Ambrosini
The 36-year-old midfielder's agent confirmed his client is talking to the Premier League club over a potential switch following his release from the San Siro outfit after 18 years
Draxler 'dreams' of Barcelona or Real Madrid move
The 19-year-old recently penned a new five-year deal with Schalke, but says a switch to either the Liga giants or Chelsea and Manchester United would be hard to turn down
Arsenal's tour of Asia will benefit squad, says Wenger
The trip aims to increase the Gunners' commercial profile, and the manager feels it will help broaden the older and younger members of the party's horizons ahead of the new term
Inter reject €18m Guarin bid by Spurs
The north London club are keen to bolster their attacking talent after again missing out on Champions League football, but the midfielder is not keen on leaving San Siro
No bids yet for Paulinho The Corinthians midfielder has been linked with a number of European clubs and has confirmed his agent is in England, but no offers have been made for the 24-year-old
Sheringham hails longevity of Manchester United veteran Giggs The former Red Devils striker holds the record for being the oldest outfield player in the Premier League, but is backing the legendary No.11 to surpass him next season
Suarez: Liverpool must listen to me The striker is looking increasingly likely to move club this summer after again hinting at his desire to join Real Madrid, but he acknowledges his loyalties lie with the Reds
I rejected Chelsea to join Aston Villa, claims Okore The 20-year-old, who sealed a switch from FC Nordsjaelland to Villa Park on Thursday, is looking forward to working with Paul Lambert after turning down the Europa League winners
Former Arsenal midfielder Denilson rejoins Sao Paulo The Brazilian giants claim the 25-year-old turned down offers from Santos, Gremio and Cruzeiro to return to Morumbi on a free transfer
Mata: Nobody at Chelsea has told me Mourinho wants me out It has been claimed that 'The Special One' views the former Valencia man - along with Fernando Torres and David Luiz - as surplus to requirements
Jesus Navas delighted with Pellegrini arrival The Chilean has signed a three-year deal to replace Roberto Mancini, while the club have already sanctioned over €59 million in spending as they bid to regain the title
Lucas fears Suarez exit The Brazil international is desperate for the wantaway striker to remain at Anfield, while revealing his own happiness at the club
I'm no Suarez replacement, insists Liverpool new-boy Aspas The Spaniard has been compared to the troubled Uruguayan in terms of his talent and temperament, but insists he will be his own man at Anfield
Arsenal set to begin Wenger contract talks The 63-year-old has already held preliminary talks with Emirates Stadium chiefs about extending his 17-year reign at the club beyond the end of this season
Manchester City want every trophy next season, declares Pellegrini The Chilean insists he never wavered in choosing City over several other interested clubs, and believes he has the squad and resources to challenge for titles straight away
Amorebieta: I did not join Fulham for the money The defender has rubbished claims that his switch to the Cottagers was influenced by financial gain but admits he would have preferred to leave Athletic on happier terms
Arsenal full-back Santos wanted Gremio stay The 30-year-old has been on loan at the Brazilian club since February and admits he would have rather stayed in his homeland than return to north London
There's no problem between Swansea City and Laudrup, says agent The Dane's representative, who no longer has links with the club's chairman Huw Jenkins, insists the 48-year-old will remain at the Liberty Stadium this summer
Liverpool striker Suarez focused on Confederations Cup amid Real Madrid rumours The 26-year-old has claimed it would be a 'dream' to move to the Spanish club but insists he is only concentrating on his summer campaign with Uruguay
Dzeko would be prolific in Serie A, says former Manchester City boss Mancini The 48-year-old claims the Bosnian would score between 20-30 goals in the Italian top flight and reiterated that Edinson Cavani has been a long-term target at the Etihad Stadium
Southampton sign Lovren from Lyon The 23-year-old Croatia international, who has penned a four-year contract with the south-coast club, is Mauricio Pochettino's first signing of the summer
Sir Alex is the best coach in history, says De Gea The Spaniard insists he is looking forward to working with new manager David Moyes and claims he still needs to improve to be considered as one of the world's best goalkeepers
Schurrle: Mourinho has a special personality The Germany international revealed the role Mesut Ozil and Sami Khedira played in his decision to join Chelsea, and insists Joachim Low also approves of the move
Torres flattered by Barcelona interest The 29-year-old is pleased to be linked with the Catalans but insists he remains loyal to Chelsea, and is looking forward to working with new boss Jose Mourinho
Arsenal appoint Sir Chips Keswick as new chairman Peter Hill-Wood has stepped down from his role after as a board member for over half a century and is to be replaced by the former Bank of England director
Pellegrini has everything to succeed at Manchester City The Chilean coach was confirmed as new Blues boss on Friday and, despite some negative press in the UK media, has all the attributes to shine in the Premier League
Manchester City confirm Pellegrini appointment The Chilean has signed a three-year deal to succeed Roberto Mancini at the Etihad Stadium after a protracted departure from Malaga, and will begin his duties on June 24
Bale would fit Real Madrid perfectly, says Modric The Croatian believes his former Tottenham team-mate would help his side take a step forward, as speculation mounts of a summer move for the Welshman
Police investigate racist abuse of Newcastle striker Cisse The Senegal international has been targeted by a Facebook group named 'Newcastle - English Defence League' over his objections to wearing the Wonga-advertised new club strip
Cavani in talks with Manchester City & Real Madrid, reveals mother The striker, who has notched 102 goals in 124 matches during his time in Naples, looks increasingly likely to leave the Serie A club
Schurrle signing adds new dimension to blossoming Chelsea attack A deal has been struck to bring the Bayer Leverkusen and Germany winger to Stamford Bridge, a move that will bolster an already-strong attacking line with the 22-year-old's pace
Welbeck pushing for 'much better goal return' for Manchester United next season The 22-year-old scored more often for England than he did for his club over 2012-13 but notes he has been adapting to different positions rather than focusing on his record
Marseille interested in Gervinho The 26-year-old has struggled to make an impact in the Premier League and has been linked with a return to France, two years after signing from Ligue 1 outfit Lille
Van Wolfswinkel wants to take Norwich to the ‘next level’ The 24-year-old Dutch striker is looking forward to his move to Carrow Road and says manager Chris Hughton is confident he will score goals
Liverpool confirm agreement to sign Iago Aspas The Celta Vigo forward will arrive at Anfield as the Reds' second recruit of the summer, "subject to documentation being completed", following his Wednesday medical
Ljungberg tips Arsenal for title under 'remarkable' Wenger The former Gunners midfielder believes that the north London club can build on their consistency and now have the foundations in place to challenge for silverware
Chelsea agree Schurrle deal with Leverkusen The Blues' long-running pursuit of the German international seems to have reached its climax after the club announced that a deal has been agreed subject to personal terms
PSV Toivonen considers Norwich switch The Sweden international insists style of play is important as he is linked with a summer move, but admits he knows little about the Canaries as they join the race to sign him
Matic rules out Chelsea return The Benfica midfielder has been linked with his old club as well as Manchester United, but the Serbia international believes he has more to achieve in Portugal
Mega-rich Monaco eyeing up swoop for Cabaye The Newcastle United midfielder recently hinted that he could leave St James' Park and the newly-promoted French club's CEO has admitted they are interested in the 27-year-old
Ballack: Chelsea will win titles under Mourinho The former Blues midfielder, who was signed by the Portuguese manager in 2006, believes the west London club will challenge for honours following the Special One's return
Darren Fletcher set for early Manchester United return to pre-season training The Scotland international is determined to prove his fitness to new boss David Moyes and will begin his summer regime ahead of his team-mates' comeback on July 3
Rodgers keen to expand 'paper-thin' Liverpool squad The Reds manager feels that his side were unable to give the FA Cup and Capital One Cup their full attention last season but aims to have "a proper go" after signing more players
Fabregas: Barca exit talk 'absurd' The Spain midfielder has rubbished suggestions he could quit Camp Nou this summer amidst reports linking him with Manchester United
Giroud backs Arsenal to be title contenders next season The France international believes team cohesion should allow Arsene Wenger's side to push the Premier League frontrunners next term, and hopes to establish himself in the side
Aspas 'excited' as Liverpool move edges closer The Spanish forward cautiously speaks of his enthusiasm after being understood to have completed a medical on Friday, with his agent confirming that an agreement is near
Ten years after Abramovich bought Chelsea to usher in the era of foreign ownership... has the Russian revolution been the ruin of English football?
By ROB DRAPER PUBLISHED: 21:00 GMT, 15 June 2013 | UPDATED: 21:07 GMT, 15 June 2013
The deal that revolutionised English football came together in the matter of days. In a world in which transactions often take months to complete, Roman Abramovich characteristically bucked convention.The buy-out that transformed the Premier League, which took place 10 years ago on July 1, came about with an immediacy that shook those involved. Keith Harris, the banker who was advising Chelsea at that time, remembers the moment well.‘I was in the City of London having lunch on a Friday when I received a call from the Chelsea chairman Ken Bates saying: “I need you here. At Stamford Bridge. Now!”’
So it begins: Roman Abramovich celebrates the first goal at Stamford Bridge after he took charge of the club
Launchpad: Ken Bates (left) next to the Russian's wife at the first game of the 2003 season against Liverpool
That was Friday, June 27, 2003, a different era in which Fulham’s Mohamed Al-Fayed was the only foreign owner in the Premier League.Bates had met Abramovich for the first time only the day before at the Dorchester Hotel. An offer had been made by the Russian, valuing the shares of the club at £60million. One person who has spoken to Bates about that meeting says the Chelsea chairman baulked at the first offer. Abramovich excused himself and had reached the door before Bates reconsidered and negotiations continued. Harris recalls a plaque erected above the boardroom at Stamford Bridge in which the negotiations took place.
It read: ‘Rome didn’t build its empire having committee meetings — it built it by killing people that got in its way.’He said: ‘At the end of negotiations, we asked for a gesture, for Ken Bates to keep the penthouse suite in the hotel. And that is what we got. By 6pm on the Tuesday night [July 1] it was all agreed and it was announced at 7am the next day. In my professional career, I hadn’t ever conducted a deal that quickly.’Trevor Birch, who was Chelsea chief executive at the time, was the man at the centre of the storm. It was only on the weekend of June 21-22 that he was first aware that something might be afoot, when representatives of the bank, UBS, called him saying a Russian group might be interested in the club. As ever in football around this time, the Israeli agent Pini Zahavi was involved.‘Pini was saying he knew someone associated with a group who were interested in investing,’ said Birch.
‘So there was a bit of a pincer movement.’Neither Birch nor Harris had heard of Abramovich before that week, but they quickly realised that a revolution was afoot. ‘I suggested that the new owners might want to make a commitment to win the hearts and minds of the fans and spend £25m on the team,’ said Harris. ‘They asked if I meant dollars or pounds. That summer they spent around £150m. Perhaps I’d been a little bit cautious in my initial figure!’Birch said: ‘We started to realise it would change English football pretty quickly and no one else seemed to be picking up on that. The previous summer we had signed Enrique de Lucas on a free transfer, then no one in January. Then we spent £150m that summer. It was like playing fantasy football.’Chelsea signed Glen Johnson, Alexey Smertin, Geremi, Juan Sebastian Veron, Damien Duff, Wayne Bridge, Joe Cole, Adrian Mutu, Hernan Crespo, Claude Makelele and Scott Parker.
Change in fortunes: The summer before Abramovich arrived, Enrique De Lucas (left) was the main signing
... then the subsequent summer the likes of Joe Cole, Juan Sebastian Veron and (below) Claude Makelele were brought to the Bridge by Claudio Ranieri
And a few more... (left-right) Glen Johnson, Damien Duff, Wayne Bridge, Marco Ambrosio and Geremi
Roman numerals
£1.5bn on wages £874m on transfers £680m on losses
3 Premier League titles 4 FA Cups 2 League Cups 1 Champions League 1 Europa League
Abramovich's personal outlay: £820m
Birch said: ‘It was the catalyst for change in English football. It forced other clubs to look for other sources of revenue and paved the way for further foreign ownership. Before that in England, we would sign foreign players at the tail end of their careers. Suddenly, we could sign players at the peak of their careers from Italy and Spain.‘The downside was that it created wage inflation throughout the League. So, if a Chelsea player was getting £200,000 a week, a player at another club would say: “Well, I must be worth at least £100,000 a week.” It permeated down through the leagues, so a lower league player would say: “Well, then, I must be worth at least £20,000 a week”.’David Dein, the former Arsenal and FA vice-chairman, summed up his club’s situation succinctly that year, saying that Abramovich had parked his tanks on their lawn and was firing £50 notes.‘Nothing has changed except that it’s not £50 notes but €500 notes!’ says Dein now. ‘With Roman’s arrival, I sensed a seismic change would occur in English football. We did have “The Invincibles” immediately after Roman arrived, which does prove that talent will come to the top.
Complaint: David Dein said that Abramovich had put his tank on the lawn and was firing money
‘Ultimately, though, money will talk as long as there is sound judgment behind it when it comes to the acquisition of players.‘Though football is never going to be a level playing field, it’s not healthy for the competition to be weighted in one club’s favour. Manchester United and Arsenal had the advantage prior to Roman coming, but primarily due to organic growth with larger fan bases. The genie is out of the bottle now and it will be impossible to put it back in.’Ten years on, UEFA are implementing the Financial Fair Play restrictions to prevent such unrestrained spending. Successive UEFA presidents, Lennart Johansson and Michel Platini, fought tirelessly for the rules. Johansson regarded the spending as ‘morally wrong’, believing it made the organic, sustainable growth of rival clubs impossible.Platini revealed recently that he pushed through the rules at the behest of Silvio Berlusconi at AC Milan and Massimo Moratti at Inter Milan. But by the time the restrictions were finalised, even Abramovich was an advocate, having broken into the cosy elite of top European clubs.
Plans: Michel Platini pushed through Financial Fair Play rules at the behest of Inter and AC Milan chiefs
But back in 2003, Chelsea were certainly not in that category, although they had beaten Liverpool on the final day of the season to qualify for the Champions League, a result that would prove crucial not just for securing their immediate financial future but also as a prelude for the drama about to unfold.Birch said: ‘It had been a difficult couple of years, financially. It’s not right that we were about to go into administration, but it was crucial that we qualified for the Champions League in that last game of the season.’Tottenham had earlier been approached by Abramovich’s aides and football history might have looked very different had that developed. But the location of Stamford Bridge, which had already been modernised, and the fact that Abramovich had an obsession with the Champions League for which Chelsea had qualified, were crucial factors.‘I think it probably was hard for Ken Bates to sell,’ said Birch. ‘It was the club that Ken had built. He lived there and when he walked around the stadium complex it gave him great pride that he had built it and owned everything.’Meanwhile, there was still some consternation at the club over what was unfolding. The entire fifth floor of the office block at Stamford Bridge was taken over by Abramovich’s staff and dubbed ‘the Russian floor’.
Rise to power: Marina Granovskaia (left) has become a director at the club
That was where Richard Creitzman, Eugene Tenenbaum, Eugene Shvidler and Bruce Buck, all aides of Abramovich, set up shop. A group of Russian-speaking secretaries were ensconced on that floor and in charge of them was a young twentysomething, Marina Granovskaia, who would rise to be one of the most important conduits of power and is now to be made a director of Chelsea.When they travelled to play their first game of the season, a pre-season friendly against Lazio at the historic Stadio Flaminio on July 18, the personnel still seemed a little startled by it all, none more so than manager Claudio Ranieri. They lost 2-0.
Frank Lampard recalls: ‘When the owner first came in, there was such uncertainty. We didn’t know how the club would be run. We thought it would be a complete upheaval, all these superstars would come and we’d all be gone.‘That happened in the beginning and there were periods of time when we brought in quite a lot of midfielders, particularly over the first two or three years. Every summer you thought, “Blimey, there’s more coming in! Am I going to play?” The ones that stayed were the determined ones, who fought to try to up their level to stay in the team; the John Terrys of this world, the Eidur Gudjohnsens.’When Abramovich arrived, plenty suspected it would not last. Ten years on, it might be time to take stock and acknowledge that he changed the English game and European football for ever.
A decade on: It's inarguable that Abramovich has changed the face of football as we know it
Hughes to bring in his own backroom staff at Stoke as Begovic prepares to leave
PUBLISHED: 22:23 GMT, 15 June 2013 | UPDATED: 22:23 GMT, 15 June 2013
Mark Hughes will start work at Stoke on Monday with the club in advanced negotiations to bring his long-time assistants Mark Bowen and Eddie Niedzwiecki to the club. Stoke goalkeeper Asmir Begovic, meanwhile, who is rated at £12million, looks likely to move to Arsenal should he leave the Britannia Stadium this summer.
Say hello, wave goodbye: Mark Hughes (left) will start on Monday but Begovic (right) is heading to Arsenal
Fergie told me he was retiring months ago and knew the only job for me was back at Chelsea, claims Mourinho
By ROB DRAPERPUBLISHED: 21:00 GMT, 15 June 2013 | UPDATED: 22:52 GMT, 15 June 2013
Jose Mourinho has claimed that Sir Alex Ferguson confided in him ‘months ago’ over his plan to retire as manager of Manchester United. And he insists that in the same conversation he told Ferguson the job he wanted more than any other was back at Chelsea. United’s appointment of David Moyes as Ferguson’s successor last month has been seen as a snub to Mourinho, considered by many as the natural successor to Sir Alex. But, according to Mourinho’s account following his return to Chelsea last week, he had already told Ferguson he would go back to Stamford Bridge if owner Roman Abramovich wanted him.
Friends: Jose Mourinho said Sir Alex Ferguson (below) told him he was retiring months before announcing it
‘I knew Ferguson was retiring many months ago,’ said Mourinho. ‘I am his friend to know he is going to retire, and he is my friend to know that the club I want to coach in England is Chelsea. I would turn down everyone in the world — not just the United job — for Chelsea.’Mourinho has been in conciliatory mood on his return to Stamford Bridge, praising Michael Emenalo, the technical director, and revealing what he says is the truth about the 2006 signing of Andriy Shevchenko, the deal thought to have soured his relationship with the club.Emenalo is said to have offered to resign in preparation for Mourinho’s return, a suggestion rejected by Abramovich, who told the Nigerian he will continue to direct transfer strategy.
Mourinho insists he is content with that. ‘You cannot just find a player when he is 24, 25, 26 and in the best moment of his career,’ he said. ‘You have to start before that, and you cannot do it without a structure. Michael and his staff will provide me with the kind of information I need.’Mourinho contends that no manager ever has autonomy over transfers and now denies that the purchase of Shevchenko in 2006, widely viewed as the pet project of Abramovich, was the cause of his downfall at the club.‘Nobody ever has total control,’ said Mourinho. ‘We wanted to buy Samuel Eto’o and the owner was more than ready to bring him here. In the end, Barcelona said: “We don’t sell.” After that we went for other options.‘I was happy with Shevchenko. But even when you buy for 40, 50, 60 million, sometimes it just doesn’t work.’
We can work together: Mourinho says he is not concerned about the presence of Michael Emenalo
Happy: Mourinho claims he was not upset by the purchase of Andriy Shevchenko
Mourinho will warn all of his Chelsea squad to do it his way next season or leave Stamford Bridge.Chelsea secured back-to-back Barclays Premier League titles under Mourinho's last regime, not to mention winning the FA Cup and also the League Cup twice. However, since his acrimonious departure in September 2007, the Blues have also endured more than their fair share of negative headlines - from air rifles fired in the training ground dressing room to John Terry's bust-up with former team-mate Wayne Bridge and subsequent race row with Anton Ferdinand. Ferguson often lamented the rise of player power within the modern game and the Portuguese sees no issue with maintaining the image of the club during his second tenure after agreeing a four-year deal to return following his departure from Real Madrid.
'What Sir Alex says in relation to football and management is doctrine, it is the bible, so if he says that (about player power) with so many years of experience, I think he is correct,' said the new Chelsea boss.Mourinho, who won the Champions League for a third time when manager at Inter Milan after leaving England, continued: 'There is something I say whenever I go to a new club and I am going to say it again when I meet the players on July 8 - and some of the boys will have heard it before from me.'It is a sentence I always say on the first day: 'If you are a top professional, if you are not a selfish person, if you put the club in front of yourself and if you are here to work 100 per cent for me, for your fellow players and for the club, then we will have a wonderful relationship.
New regime: Mourinho has issued warning to his players
Hard times: John Terry has been warned he will not receive any special treatment
'If you are selfish, if you think about yourself and you don't care about the club, don't care about the image, if you don't care about the fans then we are in big trouble, so it depends on you if the relationship is fantastic or if it is not fantastic.'Sometimes you have groups that adapt to this in a very easy way; sometimes you have groups that it becomes like a doctrine, and everything is easy.'Sometimes you have a couple of guys that are not too keen to accept these kind of rules and this is where you have some problematic relationships, and the club in that moment either supports the problematic player or the manager. "If the clubs supports the manager the two little guys - gone, easy.'Despite history proving second comings do not always turn out for the best, the man who once famously described himself as a "Special One" sees no reason why he cannot break the mould.
'These are like urban myths, football dogmas,' said Mourinho, who earlier this week moved to bring in 22-year-old Germany forward Andre Schurrle from Bayer Leverkusen as the club looks towards the future.'The club knows me, I know the club. I don't think this should work negatively, I think this should be a plus not a minus.'I come here now and it's completely different than if I arrived in a club for the first time. It should be a plus, something that helps us to do it well.'I am feeling I am coming back - it is my dugout, where I never lost a match, my stadium, my dressing room, it is my office at Cobham with the same table.'Emotionally you get it, but from a pure professional point of view it is not different to arriving at a new club, it is the same ambitions.'I don't want people to think that this is comfortable for me - it is more difficult, and that is what I want.
Torres: I don't want to go to Barcelona... I want Mourinho to make me the world's best striker again
By RIK SHARMA PUBLISHED: 13:40 GMT, 15 June 2013 | UPDATED: 14:16 GMT, 15 June 2013
Fernando Torres has dismissed the idea of moving to Barcelona and says he hopes Jose Mourinho can make him the best striker in the world again. The Spaniard has largely been poor in a blue shirt since his £50million move from Liverpool in January 2011. During the last three months of the season he seemed to be gaining some confidence and form but still nothing near the goal threat he was back at Anfield.
Back in blue: Fernando Torres wants to stay at Chelsea next season and work with Jose Mourinho
Hiding: Torres uses the umbrella to shelter from the rain as he travels with Spain to the Confederations Cup
In a wide-ranging interview with Spanish news site AS, Torres spoke of his hopes for next season. I want to continue, I want to complete the contract I signed and continue winning trophies and I would like to be the best in the world in my position again,' he explained.'There’s no better place than to be than at Chelsea with Mourinho.'He continued: 'His (Jose's) words motivate me. He’s said he doesn’t want to speak with the players that are in this tournament (Confederations Cup) until it’s over.'We will meet soon, he will explain what he thinks of me and my situation, and I’ll tell him what I think.His trophies and achievements speak for himself. Not all the best coaches have been footballers.
'If you start to think about the players that have been in his teams, the strikers, they have all had great years. When asked about a potential £20m move to Barcelona, Torres said he appreciated the link but wanted to remain in west London.'It’s always nice to hear about interest from clubs like Barcelona, but my plan is to stay at Chelsea,' said the 29-year-old. Chelsea have been pursuing strikers in the transfer market and it seems like both Torres and Demba Ba are not expected to be first choice. Highly-rated hitmen Edinson Cavani and Robert Lewandowski are the primary targets, with the latter likely to come at half the price of the former.
Magic touch: Torres says that he hopes Jose Mourinho can make him the world's best once again
Cavani will cost in excess of £50m while Lewandowski, who has been told he cannot move to rivals Bayern Munich, could be procured for around £25m. Torres also backed Mourinho, who is being maligned in the Spanish press after dropping national and club captain Iker Casillas from the Real Madrid side. Torres said: 'I don’t think any of us truly know what went on between them and it’s not a good idea to talk about that. No one can question Mourinho’s abilities as a coach or Iker’s ability as a player. 'He has a very good relationship with some players in this squad, with others less so, but it’s nothing to do with being Spanish. He fell out with the Spanish media, not the Spanish players.'
Fall out: Mourinho and Iker Casillas (left) did not get on at Real Madrid and the Spanish press were up in arms
Tiote seeks talks with Newcastle over Wonga kit deal after Cisse disquiet
By JOE BERNSTEIN PUBLISHED: 21:39 GMT, 15 June 2013 | UPDATED: 00:25 GMT, 16 June 2013
A second Newcastle player has taken legal advice over the club’s sponsorship deal with loans company Wonga. Cheick Tiote is set to meet the club this week to ask them not to use promotional shots of him wearing their new branded kit.Striker Papiss Cisse has already expressed his disquiet about the Wonga partnership but he and fellow Muslim players Tiote, Massaido Haidara, Hatem Ben Arfa and Moussa Sissoko did pose in the new strip emblazoned with the wonga.com logo in a photo session for the first-team squad in April to promote the company.
Disapproval: Cheick Tiote has sought legal advice over Newcastle's new shirt deal with Wonga
Cisse and Tiote were not aware at the time of the nature of Wonga’s business and feel aggrieved the club did not inform them. Muslims are prevented from benefiting from the lending of money under Sharia Law. Newcastle have released pictures only of Steven Taylor wearing the new Wonga strip — but those of other first-team players could be rolled out soon. Newcastle announced a four-year deal worth an estimated £24million with Wonga last October and the team will carry their name next season.Tiote spoke with his legal representatives last week and is keen to meet Newcastle chief executive Derek Llambias.
Disquiet: Papiss Cisse could be forced to leave Newcastle in the midst of the new shirt deal
Cisse, signed from Freiburg in Germany for £8m in 2011, may be sold if he does not agree to wear the Wonga strip.While aware of the delicate nature of the issue, owner Mike Ashley is reluctant to weaken the image of their partnership with Wonga by having players wearing unbranded tops. Players’ union, the PFA, have vowed to back Cisse if he refuses to wear the Wonga logo, with deputy chief Bobby Barnes saying: ‘If someone feels very strongly that it’s not compatible with their beliefs, then some sort of solution should be found.’There have been reports of Cisse being racially abused on Facebook since his stance was made public. Wonga specialise in short-term loans and charge an annual interest rate of 4,214 per cent. When the deal with Newcastle was announced, city council leader Nick Forbes and Chi Onwurah, MP for Newcastle Central, both described Wonga as ‘legal loan sharks’.
New look: Steven Taylor models Newcastle's away shirt for the 2013/14 season
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