Bleacher Report - Articles by Hemant Dua

Arsenal-Chelsea: Crucial, But Not the Title Decider

Hemant Dua — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 10:29:56 -0500

Do games get any bigger than this? Arsenal and Chelsea are all set to face off at the Emirates stadium on Sunday, this coming on the same weekend as the top of the table clash in Spain, El Clasico at the Camp Nou.

Most people would be busy deeming this as the potential title decider, just as was done before the Chelsea-Manchester United game.

But I'm afraid it isn't, once again. With every team having at least 24 games to play, it's just silly to believe that this one match will settle things. Everyone knows this, good teams take each game as it comes.

Having said that, let us turn our attention to this game.

First, the main talking points.

Both teams have won mid-week in the Champions League, and look well prepared for each other. Arsenal, however, lost last weekend versus Sunderland, which shows that they are still in the habit of dropping points against weaker opposition.

Chelsea, on the other hand, secured yet another comfortable win, this time hitting Wolves for four.

Based on current form, it's fair to say that it'll be a tight affair. Sir Alex Ferguson and Manchester United will have a close eye on this match, hoping for Chelsea to drop some points, and will look for maximum points against Portsmouth to put the pressure on the Blues.

Another interesting talking point is the fitness status of the players.

For the Gunners, Robin Van Persie will undergo ankle surgery next week and is expected to be sidelined for up to five months, which is a massive blow to Arsenal's title aspirations.

Goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski (knee) is close to a comeback but Abou Diaby (calf), Gael Clichy (back) and Johan Djourou (knee) are still out. William Gallas has an eye problem, and is rated as 50/50 for the clash.

Nicklas Bendtner and Kieran Gibbs are also set to miss out.

Chelsea, in comparison, don't have much of an injury problem.

Frank Lampard has recovered from a thigh injury sustained on England duty but despite flying to Serbia for placenta treatment, Chelsea has confirmed the midfielder will take part.

Jose Bosingwa (knee) remains sidelined, but Michael Essien has shaken off a knee injury to be included in the squad.

Now, to the battles that I think will decide this crucial Premier League fixture...

Cesc Fabregas vs. Michael Essien

From Arsenal's attacking, and Chelsea's defensive point of view, this is the super important. What can I say? Fabregas in devastating form, and Essien an integral part of the Chelsea diamond midfield.

It will be interesting to see how Essien handles Fabregas, and the rest of the Arsenal midfield try to stop him from venturing forward.

Didier Drogba vs. Thomas Vermaelen and William Gallas

Didier Drogba tends to save his best for games against Arsenal. And if that is true, then Arsenal are going to have a serious problem.

Vermaelen and Gallas have formed a decent partnership at the back, however, the defense has still been leaky, and they now have an uphill task to keep out an in form Blues attack. Vermaelen is good at set-pieces, and Arsenal will need him at his best.

The Wide Positions

With Sagna, Arshavin, Nasri, and a returning Theo Walcott, Arsenal can be very difficult to deal with on the flanks. However, they'll be without Clichy and Gibbs, so the left back position is a problem, and Chelsea can capitalise.

Unlike Arsenal, Chelsea is likely more of a threat through the centre. They will rely on Branislav Ivanovic and Ashley Cole to burst forward to ensure Chelsea doesn't limit themselves to just central areas.

My Prediction

Arsenal 1-2 Chelsea

Blues Down Reds at The Bridge, Chelsea Win 2-0: Player Ratings

Hemant Dua — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 13:24:08 -0400

A spirited second half performance saw Chelsea beat Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. French duo Nicolas Anelka and Florent Malouda were on target.

The first half saw chances limited for both sides, and the goalkeepers at both ends of the pitch didn't have much to do. Neither side came up with too many eye-catching moments.

The second half was dominated by Chelsea, and they were rewarded in the 59th minute, when Anelka put them in the lead. Malouda, in the first minute of injury time, doubled the lead with an easy tap-in.

Here is how I rated the Chelsea players on their performance:

Chelsea

Hilario - 6.5

Didn't have a lot to do, since the Liverpool attack did not cause much trouble. He made impressive saves on the few occasions when tested.

Branislav Ivanovic - 6.5

He definitely isn't the same attacking threat as Bosingwa, but did his defensive duties well. Wasn't really troubled by Riera.

John Terry - 7.5

Led by example. Gave very little space to the opposition attack. Dominant in the air. Good performance.

Ricardo Carvalho - 7

Dealt with Torres well. Did his job efficiently. Often moved forward to supply balls to the attack. He's getting back to his best.

Ashley Cole - 6

Mostly got the better of Kuyt, and kept him quiet. However, he hardly ventured forward to give width on the left, like he normally does.

Michael Essien - 7.5

Ensured that Gerrard wasn't a threat in the middle. Was useful going forward too. Played a good cross for Anelka to head, which was one of the few real chances in the first half.

Michael Ballack - 7

A dominant performance in midfield. Distributed the ball well. Could have scored with a header in the first half. He'll play better in a more central role, rather than on the right.

Frank Lampard - 6.5

Energetic throughout. Won possession in midfield in the build-up to the Anelka goal. However, even now not terribly comfortable at the tip of the diamond, and thus, couldn't contribute as much as he would like to.

Deco - 7

Played a nice pass to Drogba on the left, who crossed for Anelka to score. He uncharacteristically showed bursts of pace at times. His presence was helpful to the Chelsea midfield.

Nicolas Anelka - 7.5

He gave the Liverpool defense a hard time with his tireless runs and link up with Drogba. Dealt well with an awkward cross to tap in and score.

Didier Drogba - 8

Easily the best man on the pitch. Two assists, one a brilliant cross to Anelka, and the second, he out muscled two opponent defenders, and gave Malouda an easy tap in. The only negative was that he went to ground too easily.

Substitutes

Florent Malouda - 6.5

Came on late, and thus didn't feature much, but credit must go to him for getting himself into such a good position to score the second goal late on.

My thoughts on the match

Being a Blues fan, I'm absolutely thrilled. This win was badly needed to hit back at critics, as well as turn our Premier League campaign back in the right direction.

We played well, and thus there is no reason why we shouldn't be satisfied. Our season is back on track. Soon enough, Joe Cole and Yuri Zhirkov will be fully fit, and we can only be happy about that.

As for Liverpool, many would start ruling them out of the title race. But coming to such a conclusion so soon would be foolish. More than three-fourths of the season still remains, and with the quality of Liverpool, underestimating their ability to make a comeback would be ridiculous.

Blues Talk: Significance Of Chelsea's QPR Match Should Not Be Undermined

Hemant Dua — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 05:09:04 -0400

The spirits are high in West London at the moment. Chelsea have won their opening six games in the Premier League, most recently thumping Tottenham Hotspur 3-0. They have kick-started their European campaign with a win over F.C. Porto. All-in-all things are looking bright.

This Wednesday, they take on Queens Park Rangers at the Bridge in the Carling Cup. Since this is an early third round match against a lower league opposition, who are in 12th place in the Coca Cola Championship, most of us may expect this to be a comfortable win for the Blues, and might not realise the importance of this match.

This game is important because it will most probably see Joe Cole return to the starting line-up after an eight month injury lay-off. It is a massive boost to the Blues' hopes of fighting on four fronts this season. Having recovered from injury, he feels almost like a new signing.

The fans will be thrilled to have him back. His pace and dribbling, which are key features of his game, will add another dimension to the Blues' attack.

Pretty much the same can be said about Yuri Zhirkov, the difference being that Cole feels like a new signing, whereas Zhirkov actually is a new signing. He too is expected to play on Wednesday night.

Both these players will add width to the Chelsea attack, something that has sorely been missed in Carlo Ancelotti's formation so far. It will, thus, be interesting to see how they fit in the midfield diamond.

Cole is expected to play on the tip of the diamond, but I personally prefer him out wide on the right side. As for Zhirkov, it's quite obvious he'll be on the left wing. Thus, this game will allow Ancelotti to experiment.

The return of these two isn't the only reason this match is so important. It will also see chances for the younger players to show their potential.

That means that we might see the likes of Fabio Borini, Sam Hutchinson, Daniel Sturridge and Jeffrey Bruma feature.

I will, in fact, quote Ray Wilkins. He told www.chelseafc.com:

'They are all players that have impressed Carlo, he has watched the majority of reserve games since he has been here. It gives us an opportunity to bring these young men in and hopefully use them later in the season.

'If we progress in the Carling Cup then I am sure we will see a large number of these players used. [The transfer ban] is a great opportunity, and we will appeal against the ban, but it is a great opportunity for the young players to push themselves forward so the manager can see.'

They are our own academy players. And so, this is great to know. This way, we are finally taking that extra step towards nurturing our own talent. They will, hopefully in the future, be first teamers, and thus must be exposed to what the expectations are.

Fabio Borini will be crucial this term, especially during the African Cup Of Nations, when Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou jet off to their continent. And though the transfer window will be open around the time, we can at best get players on loan.

I saw him on YouTube and realised why Carletto was so eager to give this fellow a run in the first team. He's a natural finisher, and with some playing time, could become key member of the side.

The latest news I receive right now is that Daniel Sturridge won't play due to a slight calf problem. Regulars Bosingwa, Carvalho, Drogba and Anelka are all likely to be rested, while Paulo Ferreira will feature.

This means that reserves players may even start the game.

So, I think I am right in believing that this match is of quite importance, and this importance can't be undermined. By the end of it, we will have gotten a lot of answers we Blues fans have been waiting for.

Manchester United Beat City in Seven-Goal Thriller: Player Ratings

Hemant Dua — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 15:40:57 -0400

Manchester United just edged Manchester City 4-3 in a thrilling city derby at Old Trafford. Michael Owen got the winner, scoring some six minutes into injury time.

Mark Hughes was sick, angrily asking how referee Martin Atkinson had managed to come up with so much additional time. However, being fair to United, they came up with quite a spirited second half performance, and probably just deserved the luck, in the end.

Here is how I rated the players on their performance-

Manchester United

Ben Foster - 4

He was caught in two minds for the first goal, allowing Tevez to gain possession and square the ball for Barry, who wasn't going to miss. Wasn't convincing at all.

John O'Shea - 5.5

Was tight in defense, but did little to supplement the attack.

Rio Ferdinand - 4.5

Had trouble coping with Bellamy for most of the match. Then a disastrous error allowed Bellamy to equalise near the end. Wasn't himself today.

Nemanja Vidic - 6

Vidic wasn't particularly involved in the game. Got booked for a challenge on Wright-Phillips.

Patrice Evra - 7.5

Best in defense. Was good when he went forward too. Set up Wayne Rooney for United's first. He's been very consistent so far this season.

Park Ji-Sung - 6

Was average today. Never really looked like a threat down the right flank.

Anderson - 6

Not spectacular, but did put in a solid performance. However, was, at times, careless with his passing.

Darren Fletcher - 8.5

Scored a brace. Was quite a threat in the air. Scored two well-taken headers. Was otherwise efficient in midfield.

Ryan Giggs - 9

According to me, he was the man of the match. Dominant in midfield, dangerous on the left wing, and delivered good aerial balls for Darren Fletcher. Three assists, wow.

Wayne Rooney - 7.5

Always good going forward. Scored a good goal early on, and influential throughout most of the game.

Dimitar Berbatov - 7

Unlucky not to score. Came up with some good headers. On some occasions, went down too easily.

Substitutes

Michael Owen - 6.5

Didn't play long enough for me to give him a better rating, but did what he's best at, scored the decisive goal.

Antonio Valencia - 6.5

Did a better job on the right side than Park. But one problem that still remains—he needs to have more imagination and creativity.

Manchester City

Shay Given - 8.5

A brilliant performance. United could have scored quite a few more, but for some superb saves. Denied Berbatov a couple of times of headers, too.

Micah Richards - 5

His impressive performance against Arsenal seemed a distant memory. Was sloppy in defense. Was alright on the few occasions when he joined the attack.

Joleon Lescott - 6.5

Solid at the back. Didn't win too many aerial battles, though. Had a chance to score, but he blasted the shot well over the bar.

Kolo Toure - 6

Was also looking fine in defense. Didn't give Berbatov an easy time. Should have done better, though, to stop Fletcher scoring twice with his head.

Wayne Bridge - 6

Did his bit of job at the back, getting the better of Park mostly. Didn't venture forward much.

Shaun Wright-Phillips - 6.5

Was pacy down the right flank, dribbled well, but not particularly influential.

Nigel De Jong - 6.5

Helped the back four, but didn't see really dominate in midfield. Was useful when he had the ball.

Gareth Barry - 7

Scored off a pass from Tevez. Came up with a decent job in midfield, but like De Jong, didn't see much of the ball in midfield.

Stephen Ireland - 7

Wasn't his best day, but gave a satisfactory performance from midfield. Brilliant 180 degree spin to set up Tevez at 1-1, who hit the post.

Craig Bellamy - 8.5

Star man for City. His double kept them in the game till injury time. Stunning shot for the first goal, and capitalised on Ferdinand's mistake for his second, and City's third.

Carlos Tevez - 7.5

Caused all sorts of problems for the United back line in the first half. Set up Barry's goal, and unlucky to hit the post. Faded away in the second half, though.

Substitutes

Martin Petrov - 6.5

Only on for the last few minutes of normal time, but made a brilliant pass to Bellamy, who made it 3-3.

Blues Talk: Carlo Says No More Signings, but Is He Forgetting Something?

Hemant Dua — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 14:05:06 -0400

Only a few days ago Carlo Ancelotti came out and confidently said that he was content with his side and that no more new faces were needed to be brought in. But is he forgetting something?

This article is an attempt to urge him to make one last signing for this transfer window, because of some points that he may not have spared a thought to. I know Carlo is not reading this, but this is important, and thus I must do my best, write.

Fine, fine, I'll finally come down to what I'm thinking. Consider the following:

1) Didier Drogba is suspended for three UEFA Champions League matches.

2) He also has to leave for the African Cup of Nations in the winter. Along with him, Salomon Kalou, another forward, will also leave for international duty.

Most of you readers would have figured out where the problem lies. Nonetheless, I still mention the forwards.

You can't possibly expect Nicholas Anelka to anchor the attack all on his own, or Daniel Sturridge to play 90 minutes every match—he's only 19, or even expect Andriy Shevchenko to rediscover his old touch, somehow even Ancelotti doesn't seem to have much faith in him anymore.

Chelsea have just loaned out forwards Franco Di Santo, Miroslav Stoch, and Scott Sinclair as well, which isn't a wrong move, but probably has been done at the wrong time when there is a risk of having limited options up front as the season goes on.

Claudio Pizarro and Ben Sahar have been sold.

So, what's the plan, then?

Either Carlo is planning to fit Joe Cole into the diamond as a second striker behind Anelka or he is planning to revert back to the 4-3-3, which has brought the Blues so much silverware over this decade, and that would see Anelka as the lone man upfront.

The latter seems unlikely. If that's the case, then Chelsea will be left without plan B during the period when Drogba is missing.

This is a little complicated. If we are going to buy one more striker, who are we going for? It's a race against time. To be precise, there are only five days.

Who will it be, then? Here are the names I gave a thought to.

Hulk (FC Porto)

He's fast, dribbles well, and has a deadly left foot. He would add flair to the attack and is only 22 years old, but his buy-out clause stands at about £30 million.

Sergio Aguero (Athletico Madrid)

I don't need to say much about him. He is a match winner and can steal the show with a piece of magic. But he is cup-tied for the Champions League, having featured in Athletico's qualifier. Also, Athletico say he is worth £50 million. Just one word: overpriced.

Alexandre Pato (AC Milan)

Pato has said he won't leave Milan, though earlier he was said to have been flattered by Ancelotti's interest in him. He's 19, and in a few years time, could become the top striker in the world. But the Blues should not buy him if Milan's asking price is more than £25 million.

These are just some suggestions. The kind of striker we need is a goal-poacher like Lisandro Lopez. I was tempted to put him on the list, but he has been bought by Lyon only just this summer. He showed what he is made of only two days ago, with a hat-trick in 15 minutes.

Conclusion

I see it this way, a striker is definitely needed. It won't be a disaster if one isn't bought, but it will only make the club better. It is certain that Drogba will be missing from about 10 matches this year, of which at least three will be Champions League encounters. Kalou could also miss some five matches.

There are rumours that Andriy Shevchenko won't be included in the 25-man squad. The latest news that comes in right now is that Chelsea have been drawn against Porto, Athletico Madrid, and APOEL F.C. for the Champions League group stage.

I'd love to hear what you readers have to say, and have you suggest a striker. Comments and feedback are welcome.

Time for Chelsea's Younger Generation to Get A Chance to Prove Its Worth

Hemant Dua — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 08:13:40 -0400

For those of you who don't know, the player celebrating in this photo happens to be Ben Sahar. Yes, the 19-year-old Israel player, who recently got transferred from English FA Cup winners Chelsea to Spanish side Espanyol.

He is yet another example of a talented young player scouted by Chelsea, who wasn't given enough playing time to show his worth.

On loan with De Graafschap in the Eredivisie last season, he played 22 matches, scoring six goals and providing three assists. He, thus, earned himself a move to Espanyol.

And now, only a few days earlier, we come to hear that he has scored a brace for them, in a 3-0 drubbing they handed English giants Liverpool. I believe that he not only gave Liverpool a lesson on the given day, in fact he also taught Chelsea a lesson.

A lesson to learn to trust youngsters more, to give them more of a chance to show their true colours, to accept that if you don't help them realise their potential, then there are other clubs who will, and you can later only sit and think, if only.

I feel that bringing in Daniel Sturridge from Manchester City was a signal of intent to build for the future. However, talented youngster Miroslav Stoch was loaned out. The same with Franco Di Santo. These chaps, particularly Stoch, have shown a lot of promise.

Yesterday, news also came in that Scott Sinclair had been loaned out to Wigan. This clearly shows that Chelsea's policy with younger players must change soon.

The club must let this younger generation feature more often in matches. If you look at Manchester United, you'll see the likes of Federico Macheda, Danny Wellback, Darron Gibson, Johnny Evans, and Brazilian twins Rafael and Fabio playing a big part when they come on as substitutes. Quite the same at Arsenal.

In contrast, Di Santo, Stoch, Sinclair, and Mancienne, all of whom are just as good as their United and Arsenal counterparts, do not get enough playing time.

Chelsea have done a good job in the transfer market by snapping up Yuri Zhirkov, Sturridge, and Ross Turnbull, and they are all below 26-years in age. However, what disappoints most is that Ben Sahar and 17-year-old Frank Nouble were allowed to move permanently.

The positives are that the players loaned out will return with some valuable experience for the next season, however I did not see the point in sending them all out at the same time.

The last thing I'd want to see now is Michael Mancienne being used as makeweight for bringing in Andrea Pirlo, who I firmly believe, will only be surplus to requirements, should he come.

Finally, I'd like to mention a piece of transfer rumour that particularly interested me. It was on http://www.goal.com/en/ linking FC Porto striker Hulk to Chelsea.

If this were to come true, I'd be delighted, since he's only 22-years old and would be a signing for the future. He has the attributes needed to be a hit in the Premier League. He has good dribbling ability, is super fast, and has one hell of a left foot.

I was particularly impressed with the way he chased down the defenders in Porto's two-legged Champions League quarterfinal against Man United.

The only thing that put me off was his buy-out clause, about 33 million pounds.

Feel free to leave your feedback and comments. Thanks.

I Know Chelsea Won't Buy Him, But Still I Will Suggest: Wesley Sneijder

Hemant Dua — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 06:27:36 -0400

In this series "I Will Suggest" started by my friend Deepak Israni, I today write on Wesley Sneijder. Though this series is actually on Arsenal, I write on Chelsea with Deepak's permission.

Chelsea FC are known to have one of the strongest midfields in not just the Premier League, but Europe, with Frank Lampard, Michael Essien, Michael Ballack, John Obi Mikel and Deco all a part of it.

At first thought, one would think, why suggest another midfielder, and not a striker or winger, as Chelsea, it is believed, are yet to make their marquee signing.

So, I will look into the matter and give the answers to the questions in that are rising in your mind.

Wesley Sneijder: Fact-file

Age: 25
Position: Attacking Midfielder
Current Club: Real Madrid
National Team: Netherlands
Sneijder is an attacking midfielder who started his career with Ajax. He moved to Real Madrid in 2007 for 27 million euros, and has scored 13 goals in 60 games. He had a good first season but missed large parts of the second. With Real going on a spending spree, many have linked the Dutch players with moves away from the Spanish capital, including Sneijder.

Sneijder to Chelsea: Pros and Cons

Pros:

He will add creativity to the midfield.
He is young. Chelsea have Deco, Lampard and Ballack, all of who are on the wrong side of 30. He would thus be a better choice than Pirlo.
His arrival will decrease Chelsea's dependency on Lampard for attack.
His distant shooting, free kicks and crossing are brilliant.
He can also play as a winger, thus he would be a two-in-one signing.
Chelsea will be without Essien and Mikel during the African Cup of Nations for a month.
He is fast, good at passing, and strong.

Cons:

He cost a lot when Real bought him, and would be worth more now.
Chelsea's midfield is already crowded with big names.
Liverpool are lining up a Sneijder-Alonso swap deal with Real.
He may or may not adapt to English football (though I think he will), thus could be a gamble.
He had commited to Real in April, so prising him away might be difficult.

Conclusion:

To be honest, Chelsea don't desperately need him. Also, signing him would depend a lot on what Carlo Ancelotti feels. Ancelotti tends to trust older players more, so he may still want Pirlo.

Sneijder, nonetheless, would be a smart addition as he can operate on the flanks too. He could be the Stamford Bridge outfit's marquee signing. So, I think a 50% chance he may come.

So, let's wait and see.

Note: Many thanks to Deepak for letting me write this even though the series was started for Arsenal.

Chelsea and Manchester United: Struggling In Transfer Market?

Hemant Dua — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 08:57:02 -0400

It is the last week of June and that means about one month has passed since the season ended. So far, the transfer market has seen Real Madrid and Manchester City dominate.

With the way things have turned out, Liverpool and Arsenal have also managed to hold onto their key players and have managed to sign Glen Johnson and Thomas Vermaelen respectively.

So the real teams that are presently said to be struggling happen to be English heavyweights Chelsea and Manchester United. Though that is what it seems like, it isn't totally true.

Manchester United

Problem (As it Appears)

United have lost Ronaldo to Real Madrid, their European rivals. Real look to be building a team fit to win even the Champions League, having signed Kaka and Raul Albiol. Ronaldo was last term also a key figure to United's Premier League triumph.

Carlos Tevez's two-year loan deal has ended and he has rejected United's offer to re-sign. He has managed to net 15 times for United in 51 appearances last season, even though nearly 70 percent of those appearances were as a substitute.

With Berbatov staying on at Manchester this season, it's only a matter of time till Tevez confirms his move to Manchester City.

Losing two forwards means that United may have to splash the cash to rebuild the forward line.

Earlier, stories were emerging that Nemanja Vidic was looking to move to Catalan giants Barcelona. Those rumors have now died down.

Realistic Situation and Solution

Bidding farewell to Ronaldo can't have hurt that much if you get 80 million pounds in return. United now have enough cash to not only to replace him, they have more than enough to replace even Tevez.

Other areas of the pitch can be further strengthened, too. United have managed to hold onto all key players in defense and midfield.

Also, United have just signed Antonio Valencia. I was expecting Ferguson to make two signings this summer and he has made one of them.

Fergie prefers to go for young blood, and that is why I definitely think he will go for Karim Benzema. United have the cash and Ferguson has the reputation to convince Benzema and Lyon. If they don't get him, they will try for Huntelaar.

I expect Wayne Rooney to play the Ronaldo role, given his newfound freedom.

So, at Old Trafford, I see things still fine.

Chelsea

Problem (So-Called)

Even a month into the summer transfer market and the big-spending Roman Abramovich has yet to buy a new player. He is believed to have sanctioned money for any big-name signing, but Chelsea are reportedly struggling to convince these big names to join.

People feel that Chelsea's failure to capture Robinho in last summer's transfer market has meant a decline in the Blues' strength and position in the market.

A host of names, especially Carlo Ancelotti's players from his time at Milan, have been linked to Stamford Brigde, but have yet to materialise into a move.

Though Chelsea haven't lost key names like the Red Devils, their squad's average age is high and fans have expressed their hope for seeing young talent, who would be the future of the Stamford Brigde outfit.

Many Chelsea fans don't know if Andrea Pirlo is wanted at Chelsea or not, since he is on the wrong side of 30.

Realistic Situation and Solution

Carlo Ancelotti has only been one day into his job, so I think signings can only happen when a coach has a plan outlined, and has trained with the players. Only when Ancelotti has done this will he know who he wants at the club and who he doesn't. Once that happens, he can decide who to bid for.

So, I think signings will follow in another week or so. Chelsea's defense and midfield aren't what actually needs to be changed. It is our forward line.

Up front, they need only one signing. Ribery, Ibrahimovich, Villa, Zhirkov, Aguero, Pato, Sturridge, Tevez, and Ashley Young are some of the more-often heard names linked to the Bridge.

With Joe Cole returning and Florent Malouda signing a two-year contract extension, I think Ancelotti will go for a new striker. I would say the best choice would be David Villa, but this means a rat-race with Real.

It would be good to get a striker who has Premiership experience, and can cope with the pace of the league.

As for other signings, Andrea Pirlo's move is looking really possible. I'd rather have a young midfield player who can fight the seniors for a place in the squad such as Rafael Van Der Vaart.

Many see Pirlo as a potential "Deco" at Chelsea, but, as some on Bleacher Report have already pointed out, he is still at his best, whereas Deco was way off his best at Barca before coming to West London. Thus, I think he, too, would be good at Chelsea.

Therefore, I think both Man United and Chelsea are in a better shape for next season than people think they are.

Readers, do let me know what you think. Comments are always welcome, and so are POTDs.

Breaking News: Santa Cruz To City, Now What For Tevez?

Hemant Dua — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 21:16:25 -0400

It's official—Roque Santa Cruz has signed for Manchester City, becoming their second major signing of the transfer window after Gareth Barry.

It took Mark Hughes seven bids before he could capture Santa Cruz.

The club's official website has confirmed that the player has now signed, but there has been no official announcement of the fee involved, which has been rumoured to be somewhere in the region of £15-18 million.

This should bolster City's attacking options and will give Santa Cruz and Hughes an opportunity to reunite and turn the club's fortunes. In Santa Cruz's first season in England at Ewood Park for Blackburn, he scored 23 goals in 43 appearances.

Though he has managed to find the back of the net only four times in the Premier League last term, Mark Hughes has admitted that this signing is a vital one.

"It was really important that we signed him because it's an area of the squad that we have needed to address for some time," Hughes told mcfc.co.uk.

"The qualities Roque brings will be of great benefit.

"His ability in the air and his physical presence are things we have been missing. But he also has technical ability and good pace for a big man.

"He is a very good player and one I know well from our time at Blackburn."

With this move, there is more doubt raised about where Carlos Tevez will end up before season 2009/2010. Manchester United have confirmed on their official website that Tevez has rejected a five-year deal, which would have made him one of the highest-paid players at the club, and that he will not be staying at Old Trafford.

Now, with City close to settling their forward line, it remains to be seen where Tevez moves. Chelsea remain an option too, but City remain in pole position to sign him as a source close to Chelsea denied their interest.

So, where is Tevez headed?

Please take the time to tell me where you think he's off to.

Is Chelsea's Portuguese Contingent Set to Disintegrate?

Hemant Dua — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 15:38:48 -0400

In the previous fortnight, football headlines have been dominated by Real Madrid and their activity in the transfer market. They are ready to sign yet another big name, which could be any of David Villa, Franck Ribery or Xabi Alonso. Maybe even someone else.

But there is another team that has not been so active in the transfer market, but instead are quietly getting on with the job of building a team ahead of 2009-10.

The name is Inter Milan.

They are not grabbing attention of all like Real, but are busy trying to make a team that can not only win the Serie A, but also put up a tough fight in the Champions League.

Jose Mourinho, their manager, is reportedly moving for Chelsea duo Anderson Deco and Ricardo Carvalho. Ricardo Quaresma is most probably returning from loan to the San Siro. The thought that first occurs to me when I think about the two statements above is that all these players are Portuguese and all are currently at Chelsea.

Chelsea's Portuguese contingent is one that first emerged when Mourinho brought with him Paulo Ferreira and Carvalho from FC Porto. When Luiz Felipe Scolari took over, Jose Bosingwa had already been signed.

Scolari brought in Deco from the Nou Camp, where Pep Guardiola had told him that Deco wasn't part of his plans. In January, when Scolari was only just hanging on to his job at Chelsea, he captured Quaresma from Inter Milan on loan.

This left Chelsea with six players from Portugal; Namely Deco, Carvalho, Ferreira, Hilario, Bosingwa and Quaresma.

This contingent now might be set to come to an end. Paulo Ferreira might be moving, since he has been out of favour at right-back due to Bosingwa's arrival and Ivanovic becoming back up to him. I think he should move, not because he isn't good but because he has served Chelsea well and deserves first team action.

Ricardo Quaresma is surely going back to Inter as Jose Mourinho has said that he expects him back. In my opinion he was a part of Scolari's plan and Scolari's sacking meant that Quaresma was no longer a part of the club's plans.

Even though I thought he was impressive and deserved more playing time, it is unlikely that he will be signed permanently.

As for Deco, he has said that he wants out. Reportedly unhappy at Stamford Bridge, he apparently fancies a move to Inter and the opportunity to reunite with Jose, the Special One. Limited playing time under Hiddink has left him thinking his future is away from the Bridge.

Just like Quaresma, he was also part of Scolari's plan which went into the dumps with the Big Phil being fired. Also, the Chelsea midfield is already filled up.

As for Ricardo Carvalho, he is also being quoted as open to a move away from Chelsea. Inter are once again hot favourites for his signature. An injury-plagued season has meant only 13 appearances for him. Apparently, he has fallen down in the pecking order for centre-back position.

Brazilian Alex and Serb Branislav Ivanovic have impressed at the back this season, after getting more chances. Carvalho also wouldn't mind rejoining Mourinho, given the time they spent together at Chelsea.

So, the questions that arise are: How may Portuguese players will be at Stamford Bridge when the new season gets underway, and what kind of team will Inter have by then?

Do comment and let me know what you think is gonna happen.

Hurry, Get Them Quick: World's Biggest Forwards Up For Grabs

Hemant Dua — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 20:25:46 -0400

We are into the summer of 2009 and with the transfer market open, one of the most exciting times of the year for football fans is on, despite no action at club level. This transfer summer is arguably the biggest in years with almost all the star strikers open to moves to new clubs. With Manchester City's spending spree starting with Gareth Barry, Florentino Perez promising to make six big-name signings and Carlo Ancelotti taking over at Stamford Bridge and being linked to many players, we are in for a hell of a ride. Here I look at some of these "stars" up for the grabs and make out the possibility of a move, possibly a world record one.

Begin Slideshow

Carlo Ancelotti: A Blessing Or a Curse For Men In Blue?

Hemant Dua — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 15:22:44 -0400

Now that it's officially confirmed that Carlo Ancelotti will take charge at Stamford Bridge, many Chelsea fans don't know what to expect of the coming season. Quite a few fans are not totally convinced by his appointment as manager.

Till yesterday, I felt quite the same. But today, once I read about him being confirmed as the Blues' boss, I felt a strange bit of confidence for the coming season. Things are probably not as bad as we Chelsea fans think.

A few days ago, the possibility of Ancelotti becoming Chelsea manager left me cold. Surely he would prove to be another Scolari.

But, come to think of it, there are some significant differences between the two and the circumstances under which they were appointed. When I gave a thought to the following I have written, I personally felt much better about Ancelotti.

Scolari had never managed a club in Europe before Chelsea. He had instead been engaged for many years in coaching international teams in Brazil and Portugal. Managing clubs in Brazil, Kuwait and Japan is much different to managing one in England, particularly a big-four club.

He came in at a time when Chelsea had just had a crazy, yet trophy-less season. Jose Mourinho had left by mutual consent and Avram Grant never got the credit and support he deserved despite guiding the Blues to the position of runners-up in three of the four competitions they were involved in.

Chairman Bruce Buck said after Grant's sacking that a few second place finishes were just not good enough at Chelsea. Big Phil was seen as the ideal choice, one who could ensure stability, handle players with ego problems and get the team to win while playing beautiful football.

He turned out to be quite a disappointment and got sacked in February.

Many fear that Ancelotti will also turn out to be the same and don't think he is a choice for the long term. It feels even worse since Guus Hiddink had everything Chelsea needed and he only just left.

Ancelotti, in contrast to Scolari, has experience in Europe in abundance. He has spent eight years as AC Milan's manager, which has seen him help the Rossoneri win one Serie A title, two Champions League trophies (something Roman Abramovich craves for), one Coppa Italia and the FIFA Club World Championship once.

"Carletto" comes to Chelsea under much different circumstances than Scolari. Chelsea played an amazing last one-third of a season under Guus Hiddink, pushing Manchester United in the title race almost till the very end, having gathered 34 out of a possible 39 points since Scolari's sacking.

They have also won the FA Cup and come amazingly close to winning the Champions League, losing out on a spot in the final for the second year in a row only due to some poor finishing and some poor decisions by the referee. Most Chelsea supporters have been pleased with this season, which was completed with a deserved win in the FA Cup final versus Everton.

Thus we can't be so sure that Ancelotti will have the same fate as Big Phil, even though there are some striking similarities in their appointments. Both of them have taken over a Chelsea team that people have a lot of expectations of for the next term. Another thing is that, upon both the appointments, the official Chelsea Web site has said that they were the outstanding choice. But I don't think that really makes a difference.

Most of us saw Scolari's appointment as the right decision, but it turned out to be the wrong one. Now most see the confirmation of Ancelotti as manager a bad decision, so maybe it turns out to be a good one.

Barcelona-Manchester United: Key Battles To Be Fought Out

Hemant Dua — Wed, 27 May 2009 07:45:33 -0400

It's almost time for the UEFA Champions League final in Rome between the giants from Catalonia and Manchester. Many have said that this would be the perfect final in years.

Not just that, many on this site have already written previews and their opinions on what to expect from a match which promises free-flowing football. So I won't blabber on and on about who is going to play, who is suspended and what might happen.

Instead of writing a preview, which many have already done, I write on the individual key battles that will be fought out at different positions on the field as all players aim to sway the tie in their team's favour and help their team in winning the prestigious Champions League trophy.

Key Battles

Barca's front three v. United defense and Van Der Sar

How the United defense will deal with Barca's formidable front trio of Messi, Henry, and Eto'o will be highly decisive. If Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic are rock solid at the centre and Van Der Sar is able to keep out the formidable three, then the tie is in favour of United.

In contrast, it is very hard to see all of Messi, Henry, and Eto'o being kept off the score sheet. And if they score once, they don't just stop there. The three create their own chances at times even without being supplied from midfield. Messi himself will be a handful for United's full backs. So things aren't so simple after all.

Ronaldo, Rooney etc v. Barca defense and Valdes

This too will be critical as Dani Alves and Eric Abidal, both regular choices at right and left back respectively, are suspended. Dani Alves also is a crucial part of the Barca attack during wing play. Ronaldo could come up against former Arsenal left back Sylvinho, who believes he is up for arguably his toughest task ever. Rooney will be a threat both at the centre and on the wing.

At central defense, Carles Puyol and Gerard Pique won't have as difficult a task against Berbatov as they did in the semifinals against the irregularly energetic Didier Drogba. However, if Tevez plays, it would be a different ball game altogether. So once again, things are not so obvious.

Midfield Battle

This is possibly the most crucial factor in deciding who will win the tie and the trophy. Barca have Xavi and Andres Iniesta who are any day more creative than Anderson, Carrick and Scholes. But Scholes' and Giggs experience, Carrick's ability to read the game well and Park Ji Sung's energetic work, all add more features to an already strong United midfield.

This battle's result is also not so easy to predict. Both midfields have their own strengths and styles. So, I won't say what we can expect, but would say that Barca have a slight edge in this department.

Set Pieces

This is one front where United are expected to dominate, given that Barcelona's weakness is set-pieces, both while attacking and defending.

Cristiano Ronaldo, Nemanja Vidic, and Rooney will all be dangerous in the air off United corners and crosses. Plus Barca don't even have their first choice defenders except Carles Puyol playing.

In contrast, Barca can't be expected to score much of air balls.

Some Crucial Individual Battles

Messi v. Ronaldo (For next World Player of the Year Award)

Sylvinho/Keita v. Ronaldo

Messi v. Patrice Evra

Eto'o v. Vidic and Ferdinand

Puyol v. Rooney

Xavi v. Carrick

My Prediction: Barcelona 2-1 Man United (I don't see Ronaldo or Messi on the score sheet, though I might be wrong).

Do tell me what you think will happen.

Chelsea Plans for the New Season: Strikers

Hemant Dua — Fri, 22 May 2009 06:19:24 -0400

A few days ago, I wrote an article on Chelsea's plans for the new season and looked at what wingers we were going to sell, keep, and buy. Now I am looking at Chelsea's striker situation. This is another problem, not that serious, but important nonetheless.

The Blues' main senior strikers are said to be ageing, and it is being said that a new young forward is a more than likely addition for the new season.

Here, I will not be talking about youngsters in the first team like Franco Di Santo and Miroslav Stoch, as I feel it is quite obvious that they are staying with us for now, and I would like to see them get more playing time this coming season.

I shall mainly be discussing Chelsea's senior strikers and other strikers under the Blues' radar.

Current Chelsea Players

Didier Drogba

He is at times a blessing and at other times a curse. He has been brilliant in his performances on the field since Guus Hiddink was appointed as caretaker coach in February.

But even then he finds it so hard to stay away from controversy off the pitch. It is being speculated that his career at the Bridge is over ever since his post-match antics in the Champions League second leg tie against Barcelona.

Whatever said, he does add something special to the Chelsea attack, and he will be really hard to replace.

My suggestion: Keep him (at least for now, till we have an adequate replacement).

Nicolas Anelka

Nico has been very impressive this season and is joint top scorer in the Premier League.

Many people doubt if he has what Chelsea needs, but his goals and good link up with Drogba and Florent Malouda has meant he has been a regular for the Blues under both Luiz Felipe Scolari and Hiddink.

He stands at 24 goals this season and will most probably be staying at Stamford Bridge. I don't think he should continue playing on the wing though.

My suggestion: Keep him.

Andriy Shevchenko

Most people would know that Sheva was on loan at the San Siro and will return to the Bridge in the summer. But it is quite obvious that Chelsea will be looking to sell him, and Dynamo Kiev seems to be a likely destination.

He hasn't been able to cope with the pace of the English game, and I find it hard to imagine that he will manage now. Also, his wages are more of a joke now. His loan spell with AC Milan has seen him score just twice in 26 games.

My suggestion: Sell him under all circumstances.

Claudio Pizzaro

He has had a brilliant season with Werder Bremen, scoring 26 goals in 35 appearances. Opportunities at Chelsea had been limited last season, and it won't be much different now as Chelsea are definitely looking to buy a top young striker. Pizzaro is 30, so he doesn't fit the bill.

Despite his good scoring form this term, he won't get much playing time, and I don't expect him to continue scoring like he is if he only plays the last 10-15 minutes of most games.

My suggestion: Sell him permanently to Werder Bremen (best for both parties).

Players on Chelsea's radar

David Villa

Is there any Chelsea fan out here who doesn't want Villa at the Bridge? He was top scorer at the Euro 2008 and has scored 98 goals for Valencia over four seasons, averaging almost 25 goals per season.

Having proven himself in Spain and Europe, I think he will perfectly fill the void created by a possible transfer of Drogba to Inter Milan.

Valencia are deep in debt, owing a total of about £400 million; thus they have admitted that they may have to sell stars like Villa and David Silva.

My suggestion: Buy him and sell Drogba.

Robinho

Do I even have to remind you? This chap came so close to joining the Blues earlier under Big Phil.

He has proved that he can cope in the physical English game. He is the fourth highest goal scorer in the Premier League at 14 goals. He will add something new to the Blues, namely trickery and dribbling.

But his form in 2009 had been poor until just recently, which has seen him score three times in the last four games.

My suggestion: Don't buy (We don't need him unless both Drogba and Anelka leave).

Carlos Tevez

Despite his fine form at United, he hasn't started many games, and Dimitar Berbatov is being preferred up front. He has openly expressed his desire to quit since he isn't getting the playing time he wants. Liverpool, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Manchester City, and Inter Milan are all chasing his signature.

There is even a possibility that he stays put at Old Trafford. Though he would be a great signing, he is more likely to move to a club that is in greater need of his services like Liverpool or Inter.

My suggestion: If he comes, then great; otherwise, no serious problem.

P.S. Feel free to tell who you think will be coming in and who will be leaving Chelsea.

Chelsea Plans for the New Season: Wingers

Hemant Dua — Sat, 16 May 2009 07:46:53 -0400

Chelsea Football Club will probably look back at the 2008-09 season and realise how much better things could have been for them. At present, they can look forward to the FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium versus Everton. But they must also look out for next season and decide what the squad should be.

One of the problems that has plagued Chelsea this season and must be sorted out before next season is that of their wingers.

Here I have a look at who should be kept, who should be sold, and who should be bought, analysing the performance of current wingers playing for the Blues this season and also keeping a check on wingers targeted by Chelsea who are doing a good job at their present clubs.

Current Chelsea Players

Joe Cole

He is the wing king for the Blues. He has been an important part of the past three Blues managers' plans. He is able to open up and cut past the opposition defense, which is one feature that has been lacking in the Blues' play ever since Arjen Robben's departure.

He was in fine form this season until, of course, his season-long injury. Last year, he won the "Chelsea Fans' Player of the Year award."

My suggestion: Keep him under all circumstances.

Florent Malouda

Malouda was an expensive signing, costing around 13 million pounds. But his performances haven't justified his price tag. He struggled for starts under Avram Grant and was average under Luiz Felipe Scolari.

The arrival of Guus Hiddink helped him improve his performances a lot. But with Hiddink leaving and Carlo Ancelotti probably coming in, I think he will struggle if we keep him.

My suggestion: Sell him (keep only if Hiddink continues).

Salomon Kalou

He is still young and has put up some impressive performances this term. He says that he has changed from a striker to an out-and-out winger. I couldn't agree more. He isn't a regular scorer but scores quite a few crucial goals. He has decent dribbling skills. In a year or two, he could become a regular. At the moment, he is a good backup option.

My suggestion: Keep him.

Ricardo Quaresma

Quaresma is on loan from Inter, and stories have emerged on him going to Benfica, where Scolari is going to take charge. Quaresma is fast, dribbles like Ronaldo, and always has a bagful of tricks. People say he struggles at top clubs, but has he gotten enough playing time for Inter and Chelsea? I don't think so.

In five appearances for Chelsea, he has impressed in the little time he got on the pitch. I think a front three of Joe Cole, Drogba, and Quaresma would be perfect.

My suggestion: Keep him (only sell if Hiddink and Malouda both stay).

Players Chelsea are targeting

Yuri Zhirkov

Hiddink has suggested Zhirkov to Roman Abramovich, and Ancelotti is also keen to buy him. He is a really good dribbler and can also play at left-back. He is tipped to replace Malouda on the left wing. He had been nominated for the Ballon d'Or award in October last year. His trickery and dribbling have earned him the nickname "the Russian Ronaldinho."

My suggestion: Don't buy yet unless any two out of Malouda, Kalou, or Quaresma leave.

Ashley Young

Some dazzling displays by Young at Aston Villa earned him a call-up to the England squad. He had 17 assists in the Premier League last year and got included in the Premier League team of the year. He is known for his speed, passing, and shooting.

He has won the PFA Young Player of the Year award this year. In recent times, Villa have struggled, and Young hasn't been at his best lately. Ancelotti is said to want to make Young his first Chelsea signing.

My suggestion: Don't buy.

P.S. This is only my opinion. But do feel free to tell me what you think.

Title Race Not Over Yet As Reds Beat Hammers

Hemant Dua — Sun, 10 May 2009 08:20:57 -0400

Ever since Manchester United's 2-0 victory over Middlesbrough last weekend, everyone has concluded that the Premier League trophy will be heading to Old Trafford. I realise that that is what is most probably going to happen. However, even now, the title race isn't quite over.

Last evening, Liverpool thumped West Ham 3-0 at Upton Park, riding on Steven Gerrard's brace and Ryan Babel's late strike. And that means they are at the top of the league table on 80 points, ahead of United on goal difference.

United may have two games in hand, but are to face Arsenal in the league, with the Gunners waiting to take revenge. They also still have to play testing opposition like Manchester City and Wigan Athletic.

More importantly, they have to keep in mind the UEFA Champions League final. In contrast, all Liverpool have to focus on are their last two Premier League matches.

Liverpool's remaining fixtures aren't too easy either. They will face West Brom, who are fighting desperately for survival, and Tottenham, who have put up a good show lately.

United fans will feel the league is in the bag, and so will many neutral fans. But, to come to think of it, two slip-ups could change things so much. I am sure both Rafa Benitez and Sir Alex are very well aware of that.

I see the title race going down to the final day. I feel Liverpool deserve to win (no bias, as I am a Chelsea fan). Their "never-say-die" spirit is admirable and that is why, in my opinion, they have been the best team in the league this season.

But, at present, all of us must turn our heads to Old Trafford for the Manchester derby and see what happens there.

Winning The Primera Liga-Real Madrid's chances

Hemant Dua — Sat, 02 May 2009 12:09:16 -0400

Real Madrid, the defending champions of the Spanish Primera Liga who face league leaders Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday, should actually fancy their chances of winning the league.

It has been a while now since Real have been contesting only for the Primera Liga title, given that they have been knocked out of the Champions League and Copa del Rey.

This has so far proved to be a blessing in disguise as it has enabled Real to go on an unbeaten run of 18 matches in La Liga, of which 17 have been wins. This has boosted their hopes of winning a third league title in a row, bringing them to within four points of Barca, whereas at one stage, the gap was of 12 points.

With a win at the Bernabeu on Saturday, they could put themselves just one point off the pace with four matches remaining.

Their rivals and title favourites Barca, in contrast, have to focus on all the three competitons mentioned earlier. Barca's 2nd leg Champions League semifinal against Chelsea will come three days after the match against Real.

That will be crucial in Saturday's match as Barca may or may not consider resting some players for the Chelsea match. This could propel Real, for whom this is a must-win game.

Should Madrid win this game, the momentum for the remaining matches will be with them. They have only to focus on the league and ensure there are no slip-ups.

Also, in the past decade, every year Manchester United win the league in England, the same year the Spanish league is won by Real.

Since United's 2-0 victory over Middlesbrough puts them in the driving seat for the Premier League title, Real can believe this is also their year.

So, though I like both the Spanish giants and prefer Barca, I get the feeling the Primera Liga trophy will be heading for the Bernabeu.

Barcelona-Chelsea: A Preview

Hemant Dua — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 10:17:05 -0400

Barcelona entertain Chelsea at the Nou Camp in the first of the two Champions League semifinal matches on Tuesday night. Both teams have been in fine domestic form as of late.

Barcelona will be playing three key matches in a span of seven days. Real Madrid beat Sevilla 4-2 at the weekend to cut Barca's lead at the top of the table to just four points. So, not only do they have to focus on the Chelsea match, but also on the game at the Santiago Bernabeu against Real.

The front trio of Lionel Messi, Thierry Henry, and Samuel Eto'o will have a key role to play. Barca also must try not to concede any away goals.

Chelsea will look to grab some away goals against a Barca side that is comparatively weaker at set pieces. They will depend on the depth of their midfield and on the excelling Didier Drogba to score some away goals.

They don't have much worry about themselves besides the Champions League—Guus Hiddink admitted that Chelsea's hopes for the Premier League title are all but over now.

The key battles will be between Messi-Bosingwa (I assume he will start) and Drogba-Barca defense. Both teams will go for the kill right from the start.

For the Catalans, Andres Iniesta should return to the centre of midfield. There are no injury problems for them. They managed to rest Henry and Rafa Marquez on the weekend at Valencia.

For the Blues, Jose Bosingwa is likely to fill in for the suspended Ashley Cole at left-back. Also, Ricky Carvalho will miss out through injury, with Alex expected to pair up with John Terry in the heart of the Blues' defence.

My Prediction

Barcelona 2-Chelsea 2

The Factors That Have Helped Save Chelsea's Season

Hemant Dua — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 03:45:11 -0400

It has been a long, long season for Chelsea Football Club and things seemed much different for them two months ago, when they lacked that cutting edge.

Now, in April, they are flying high, having gone through to the final of the FA Cup and semifinals of the UEFA Champions League. Here I look back at some of the factors and events that, in my opinion, have helped revive the Blues.

The first factor, and perhaps most important one, was that of the sacking of Phil Scolari. Though I feel he was unlucky as the Chelsea board lost patience with him too quickly, he wasn't the right man for us as he had no experience as a club manager in Europe.

This led to arrival of Guus Hiddink, who immediately produced results, leading the Blues to an eight match unbeaten run of which seven were wins. His only loss as Chelsea manager is the 1-0 defeat at the hands of Tottenham at White Hart Lane. Not only in cup competitions, but also in the Premiership, the Blues have put up some fine performances which means their quest for silverware remains intact.

The second factor is Didier Drogba's return to form under Hiddink. Drogba has now come out all guns blazing.

He has scored some crucial goals in the past two months, most recently in the FA Cup semifinal against Arsenal, his goal steering us to the final. He scored twice over the two legs against Liverpool in the Champions League quarterfinals. His form is crucial as the season reaches its climax.

The third factor is the clicking of the midfield. Lampard, Ballack, and Essien are proving to be a dangerous trio. Lampard has been outstanding all season long and it is a shame that he hasn't been nominated for the PFA player of the year award.

Essien's return from injury proved to be a blessing for Chelsea as he has been in fine form. Ballack is also improving his form towards the end and linking up well with Drogba lately.

Yet another important factor is John Terry, who has been solid in defense and has been an inspirational skipper too. In the 4-4 draw against Liverpool at Stamford Bridge, Terry was suspended and the back four looked shaky. He, thus, has an essential role in Blues' defense, which has been weak recently.

The last factor is one that hasn't played a role yet but eventually will, in my opinion. Both Rafa Benitez and Sir Alex Ferguson are getting under each other’s skin and I can’t believe it’s doing either of them any good. If their war-of-words continues, then Chelsea can capitalise.

So, even the Premier League title race can go down to the wire. If this factor does play a role in the league, then it could be the most important factor in making this a season to remember for Chelsea fans.

Chelsea-Liverpool, Bayern Munich-Barcelona: Champions League Second Leg Ties

Hemant Dua — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 09:56:00 -0400

The crucial Champions League second leg ties are here. Here is a quick preview of the matches being played on Tuesday night.

Chelsea vs. Liverpool

Chelsea looks comfortable to book their place in the semifinals, as they are unlikely to concede three goals in such a crucial match at the Bridge. The three conceded against Bolton on Saturday in eight minutes. It was a late wake-up call for them though.

Liverpool have been boosted by their 4-0 victory against Blackburn and watching Bolton net three late goals at Stamford Bridge. We all know that Liverpool are famous for making comebacks in big games, thus they can't be totally written off.

But should Michael Essien again win his personal battle against Steven Gerrard, then I wouldn't be surprised to see the Blues go through.

John Terry has been suspended after being booked for a challenge on Pepe Reina. Ricardo Carvalho will return in centre of defense alongside Alex. Jose Bosingwa's hamstring injury rules him out of this match.

For Liverpool, Javier Mascherano will return from suspension. Rafa Benitez is likely to start Gerrard despite his groin injury.

My Prediction: Chelsea 1-1 Liverpool (with Chelsea going through 4-2 on aggregate)

Bayern Munich vs. Barcelona

Barcelona have all but sealed their place in the Champions League semis with the 4-0 win at Nou Camp, but must still be cautious of Bayern, who ran out 4-0 winners against Eintracht. Barca themselves won 2-0 against Recreativo Huelva.

But it will be Bayern who will be going for the kill. However, the fact that no club has ever overturned a four-goal deficit in the Champions League is against them.

It is more than obvious that Barca are favourites to go through.

Bayern hopes to welcome back Philipp Lahm to the starting lineup, but striker Miroslav Klose is out with a long-term ankle injury.

As for the Catalans, they continue to miss Eric Abidal and Gabriel Milito in defence. Rafael Marquez has been suspended following his late booking in the first leg.

My Prediction: Bayern 2-1 Barca (with Barca going through 5-2 on aggregate)

Pressure On United As Reds And Blues Win

Hemant Dua — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 03:21:27 -0400

Today Manchester United host an out-of-form Aston Villa knowing that yet another slip-up could prove damaging to their title ambitions.

Chelsea beat Newcastle 2-0 at St. James' Park courtesy of goals from Lampard and Malouda.

Liverpool also picked up maximum points at Craven Cottage thanks to Yossi Benayoun's injury time strike. This puts the Reds at the top of the table for at least 24 hours.

So United will look forward to pick up three points today and returning to the top again. The international break might have come at just the right time for them as they hope to bounce back against Villa.

However, they have Wayne Rooney, Paul Scholes, and Nemanja Vidic all suspended. Dimitar Berbatov is out for two weeks (ankle), though the good news is that Gary Neville is expected to return for the first time since January.

Aston Villa have also had a poor run of form which is proved by they being win-less for the past eight games. The 5-0 mauling by Liverpool demonstrates their low confidence level.

They haven't won at Old Trafford for 26 years now.

At the moment they lie in 5th place, six points behind Arsenal. It is still possible for them to capture the final Champions League slot as Arsenal still have to face United, Chelsea and Liverpool.

Anyway, it is a test of both team's determination to bounce back.

My Prediction: Manchester United 1 Aston Villa 1