Source: FOOTYMAD
Chelsea In Turmoil - Or Just Another Day At The Bridge?
Alan Pardew said this week: "Man Utd obviously did us a favour beating Chelsea on Sunday" as the Red Devils all but took their 19th title. Chelsea must be GUTTED! Will changes be made at The Bridge? Ray Wilkins has insisted Chelsea would be making a mistake by sacking manager Carlo Ancelotti. Wilkins, who was Ancelotti's assistant until his own controversial dismissal in November, is also adamant wholesale changes are not need to the club's squad. Ray Wilkins: "I don't think it needs a radical change. "But they certainly need new players to freshen the place up. "Wholesale changes, starting from the coach, would be the wrong way to go." The departure of Wilkins has been cited by some as the catalyst for Chelsea's worst run in the Barclays Premier League for almost 15 years, which is set to ultimately cost them the title. There have also been suggestions their ageing squad is now past its best. But Wilkins, who is still in touch with Ancelotti, said: "Chelsea have a nucleus of players, I know a lot is spoken about how old these players are but, trust me, the fitness levels are exceptionally high. "The age thing does not really creep in. They do have the fitness levels of younger men." CHELSEA'S CURRENT FORM: Manchester United 2 Chelsea 1MAY 8: Barclays Premier League at Old Trafford. Chelsea 2 Tottenham 1APRIL 30: Barclays Premier League at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea 3 West Ham 0APRIL 23: Barclays Premier League at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea 3 Birmingham 1APRIL 20: Barclays Premier League at Stamford Bridge. West Brom 1 Chelsea 3APRIL 16: Barclays Premier League at The Hawthorns. Manchester United 2 Chelsea 1 (Agg: 3-1)APRIL 12: Champions League quarter-final second leg at Old Trafford. CHELSEA'S LAST GAME: MAN UTD 2 CHELSEA 1 Cech, Ivanovic, Terry, David Luiz (Alex 46), Cole, Mikel (Ramires 46), Lampard, Essien, Kalou (Torres 61), Drogba,Malouda.Subs Not Used: Turnbull, Benayoun, Ferreira, Anelka. Manchester United celebrated like champions at Old Trafford after a 36-second opener from Javier Hernandez and a Nemanja Vidic header took them to the brink of a record 19th league title. One point from the final two games against relegation-threatened Blackburn next Saturday and Blackpool on the final day of the season will be enough to seal a championship which will take them past the mark Liverpool have been on for so long. Sir Alex Ferguson felt victory over closest rivals Chelsea was worthy of a couple of bows to the Stretford End as he knows, as do all United's rivals, the prospect of them not getting over the line now is unthinkable. Built up as the title decider for a week, so important Ferguson selected a shadow side for a Champions League semi-final, these matches are so often a disappointment. Not this one. Not when United were ahead so quickly. Carlo Ancelotti must have been devastated to concede quite so simply so early in the game. Ryan Giggs began the move, stroking a short pass forward for Park Ji-sung, who turned out to be one of United's most effective players. The South Korean knew Hernandez would be right on the shoulder of the last defender. He could not legislate for that defender failing to cut out the pass. Ancelotti made his feelings known about that in the aftermath as he berated David Luiz from the touchline. Hernandez was not hanging about to consider it, darting forward before burying his 20th goal of the season into the bottom corner. Old Trafford erupted and then watched spellbound as their team produced an awesome display of attacking power. Wayne Rooney was agonisingly close on two occasions, Hernandez should have tucked home Park's far-post cross despite Luiz's touch. Park himself brought an excellent save from Petr Cech. From the latter effort United gained the corner that brought their second as first Salomon Kalou, then Branislav Ivanovic fell asleep. Kalou's crime was to allow Park to race past him and play a short corner with Giggs. The Ivorian was then beaten too easily as Giggs nipped to the byline before dropping a cross into the heart of Chelsea's box where Vidic strode past fellow Serb Ivanovic and powered home from close range. Chelsea did create opportunities themselves. Edwin van der Sar made an excellent save to repel Kalou and Didier Drogba went close on a couple of occasions. But those chances came against the backdrop of a game set up exactly as the Red Devils would wish, which made the otherwise outstanding Rooney's decision to react to the baiting he was receiving from the visiting fans all the more puzzling. Having expressed his concern about United being on the wrong end of a refereeing decision, Ferguson could at least console himself his side had established a winning position before Howard Webb turned down their penalty appeals for what seemed a clear Frank Lampard handball to block Antonio Valencia's cross. With no comeback in sight, Fernando Torres became the third Chelsea replacement after an hour. Having spent big in January to land some silverware, owner Roman Abramovich must be wondering whether his £75million has been invested wisely given Luiz, an accident waiting to happen on this occasion, had understandably been taken off at the break, along with John Obi Mikel. The changes brought the reaction Ancelotti was looking for though as Ivanovic climbed highest to reach a Ramires cross and headed down for Lampard, who prodded home from close range. United should have snuffed the visitors' lingering hopes out immediately though as Hernandez nicked possession away from Ramires and seemed to have presented Rooney with a tap-in, only for Alex to slide across to make a crucial goal-line clearance. Rooney then spurned three chances to seal the contest, firing the first wide, inexplicably failing to even shoot with the second, before finally having an effort deflected over by Alex. Hernandez wasted an even better opportunity when he nodded Valencia's teasing cross over from six yards. It was all happening at the wrong end for Chelsea though, apart from a Torres effort that never threatened. Indeed, the visitors were resigned to their fate long before the final whistle, with United knowing they could be celebrating history at Ewood Park next Saturday just as Manchester City are taking the field for their first FA Cup final in 30 years. MAGPIES IN EUROPE Although "Magpies In Europe" will not be launched OFFICIALLY until next season (when we get them into shops in the North-East) ... if you want a copy it is available NOW from this website ... and ONLY from this website! Sports Journalist Richie Everson: "At last a book that the fabulous Newcastle United fans can relate to. It's informative, all the facts and figures are there, plus the 120 match reports from all the fixtures ... but it is the articles by the supporters that amazed me. "I went to many of those games, and this is the only book I can honestly say 'hits the nail on the head'! "Yes we know the results and the scorers, but some of the facts in this book had me so wrapped up in it I couldn't put it down. "Was Benny Arentoft cup-tied when he played in the final? Big Wyn and his battle with John McGrath; McFaul scoring a penalty when the crowd had gone home; the trouble in Palermo; it is all amazing stuff. "I would honestly give this book 10 out of 10." MAGPIES IN EUROPE From Antwerp to Zurich Price: £9.99 (including post) The book is available NOW only from this website! Please include your address in a letter and send a cheque (or postal order) for £9.99 payable to Mr K Fletcher, to: 'MAGPIES IN EUROPE', K Fletcher, 5 Dunelm, Sacriston, Co Durham DH7 6NU. Or contact: Kevnumad@fsmail.net
