| | ||
 Didier Drogba throws a coin back into the away fans' end at Stamford Bridge Didier Drogba faces police and Football Association investigations after throwing a coin back into the crowd in Chelsea's Carling Cup loss to Burnley. The Chelsea striker apologised for his actions which followed Wednesday's goal goal but could still be in trouble. In a statement on Chelsea's website, Drogba said: "I tried to celebrate the goal and I received some things at me. "The big mistake I did was to throw it back so if someone was hurt I just want to apologise for it."
Burnley will investigate coin incident - Coyle There were no reports of any spectators being injured. However, the Metropolitan Police confirmed on Thursday that officers are looking into the incident. A spokesman said: "An inquiry is being conducted by the Football Unit at Fulham police station. No-one has been arrested." The incident happened after the Ivory Coast forward put the Blues ahead in the 27th minute of the match, which marked his return from injury. Drogba, 30, made a single-finger gesture before throwing a coin back into the Burnley section of the crowd. He said: "This is not something I should show in a football match. "It was an incident in the heat of the moment and I regret it. It was just a mistake and nothing more." A Chelsea spokesman said: "We will deal with this in the usual way. We are aware there is an incident. But we will not discuss it further until we have seen the referee's report."
Burnley manager Owen Coyle said he did not see the incident but the club have said they will investigate the matter. "Burnley Football Club is proud of the 6,100 supporters who made the trip to Stamford Bridge and offered magnificent vocal backing," the club said in a statement. "However, the club does not condone any misbehaviour from supporters and we will gladly co-operate with any inquiry into the incident, either from the FA or Chelsea Football Club." It was part of a miserable night for Premier League leaders Chelsea, who suffered a surprise exit 5-4 on penalties following a 1-1 draw.
Luiz Felipe Scolari says Didier Drogba was right to apologise The FA may now decide to take action after examining referee Keith Stroud's report. In 2002, Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher was sent off in an FA Cup tie against Arsenal at Highbury after throwing a coin back into the crowd. He received a mandatory three-match ban. And Gordon Taylor, the chief executive of the Professional Footballers' Association, said a similar punishment should be handed out to Drogba. "It's there for all to see, he's done something that's against the rules required of players, and a similar situation resulted in a three-match ban for Carragher," he said. "So it would be very difficult to avoid an accusation that they (the FA) are inconsistent if they don't follow that line." Taylor added: "In fairness to the lad, he knows he's done wrong, he apologised immediately after the game, but this happened in the heat of the moment and unfortunately there will be consequences now." Carragher was also interviewed by police but no further action was taken. However, he was fined by Liverpool and warned about his future conduct. Meanwhile, former Chelsea forward and current West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola has jumped to the defence of Drogba. "If he has reacted then maybe he has been insulted and that is bad for football," said Zola. "The crowd has to respect the players as much as the players have to respect the crowd. "From what I know of him, he is a fair and honest player who gives everything on the pitch. "You have to understand we are human beings and when you are playing an important match you can lose your composure when you are under pressure." Zola added: "It is not easy, you are walking on the edge all the time but the secret is to not give these moments too much importance. "I have come close to reacting a couple of times, it is not easy to control when you are getting abuse so it is understandable." | ||
Monday, November 17, 2008
Drogba faces police and FA probes
Thursday, November 6, 2008
KICK UP THE BACKSIDE
The team return to training today following the knock-back in Rome and the words of their captain will be taken on board.
John Terry followed Felipe Scolari on Tuesday night in highlighting areas of the performance that fell short during the 3-1 defeat and speaking to Chelsea TV, he disagreed with the many suggestions that the display was good before Roma's opening goal.
'We didn't start well and gave Roma a lift,' Terry insisted. 'We had plenty of possession but we didn't really go anywhere.
'Roma's line-up wasn't very attacking and things have been difficult for them at home with their fans and the pressure was on them and their manager.
'They hadn't won for two months and we gave them the perfect start by not getting out of first gear. It gave them the confidence they needed.'
Although the scorer of the 33rd minute first goal, Christian Panucci, has a good record of such strikes, Terry admitted something went very wrong with the Chelsea defending.
'Four of us were there including Big Pete [Cech] and we didn't deal with the ball. We needed to stay with the runners. After that myself and Alex were pushing on and trying to come back and the team was all over the place.
'Roma were going to sit back and make it difficult and frustrate us which they did and they got a good second goal. After that we really needed to kick on and it opened up for them; they got their third.
'Even after that we showed no sign of the fight and determination that over the last few years has got us to where we've been.'
Terry described that last observation as the most disappointing aspect of the night.
'Apologies to the fans, it was a great turnout and sorry for the result,' he added.
'We have been playing some really good football with brilliant movement of late but that has been collectively, as a team, and that is why we have been walking around teams and scoring goals.
'We didn't have any of that this time. We thought we could beat Roma as individuals and we could never do that.
'The result is maybe a kick up the backside that we needed. Maybe we need to realise we are not the best side that we thought we are.'
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
WOMEN'S WEEKLY
Chelsea Ladies progressed to the semi-finals of the League Cup on Sunday with a 3-0 home win over Fulham.
Things are really starting to hot up in the competition, with Doncaster Belles and Preston North End also in the semis. Arsenal take the one remaining place after beating Leicester City.
Chelsea's emphatic win was down to goals from Lianne Sanderson and soon-to-be Under 20 World Cup representatives Clare Rafferty and Katie Owen, who will be hoping to gain experience in Chile when England make their way there this month.
Elsewhere in women's football, Everton climbed to joint top of the league table with a 5-0 thrashing of Leeds Carnegie, putting Arsenal under pressure.
Despite Chelsea's League Cup campaign, the Blues have still played one more game than Arsenal and Everton, but even with a two-point gap to the leading duo, the challenge is truly on.
The other big task is the semi-final which takes place at the beginning of December - the opposition - Arsenal!
This will be the first meeting between the two sides this season, and after the Gunners lost out in the Cup last year to Everton, they will be extra keen to regain that title.
It could be the biggest match of the Ladies' season so far, and one that will be well worth watching, especially as the clash will take place on familiar turf, in front of home fans.
Regardless of the outcome from that match, improvements have already been made this season compared to previous campaigns.
The Ladies' have been putting in some truly outstanding performances, with goal tallies to match. There's still a long way to go and two league clashes with Arsenal and an away trip to Everton to come.
Today [Thursday], there is a fixture against Watford - the last competitive outing before December and that massive match against Arsenal.
Rafferty, Owen and Danni Buet will by then have played competitive games for their country, but, depending on how far England make it in the competition, that could have come to an end well before the Arsenal game.
The women's team will want to be 100 per cent match fit to stand a good chance of a League Cup Final place, although, considering the season's satisfying form, they have every chance of coming out on top.
CECH: WE DIDN'T DO ENOUGH
After conceding three goals in Chelsea colours for the first time since Boxing Day, Petr Cech was understandably disappointed with defeat in Rome.
Beaten by a close-range strike from Christian Panucci in the first half, we came undone at the start of the second as Mirko Vucinic added a second and then a third to condemn us to defeat, rendering John Terry's goal no more than a consolation.
The result will be a huge surprise to anyone who watched the first 30 minutes, where the Blues dominated possession and chances, as Roma goalkeeper Doni beat away shots from Deco and Frank Lampard.
Cech believes the home side, playing for their Champions League lives and under-fire manager Luciano Galletti, upped their game and left Chelsea shocked.
'I think that we started the game quite well, we had lots of possession, opportunities to score goals, but it was not enough to score a goal and I think when the time went on they got more confidence and then they got a goal and I think it changed the game.
'We knew it was going to be difficult because they are at a difficult moment, they needed some points as well, and they were not doing well in Serie A, and this can be a big factor.
'They were playing for everything and once they scored the first goal they had the advantage and in the second half we started too slow and conceded two goals,' he added. 'We started thinking too much bout scoring goals and they had the opportunity to counter-attack and they took it.'
Indeed the second period was a huge contrast to the first, and the 26-year-old explained the difficulties of conceding as early as the 48th minute.
'After two minutes we conceded a goal and then everything was much more difficult for us. We wanted to score a goal as soon as possible to get back in the game and we made some mistakes and they punished us for them.
'We are very disappointed, because we came here to get three points and our qualification and we got beaten, and we didn't play well.'
We travel to Bordeaux in three weeks with another opportunity to seal our progression into the knockout rounds, and Cech remains confident, firstly pinpointing our next fixture at Blackburn as the ideal time to recover from this result.
'We have another game against Blackburn in the league, so this is the first chance to bounce back. We are at the top of the league and we want to stay there, so this is the first opportunity,' said the goalkeeper.
'Until so far we have played really well, we have the confidence and we know we can go far in all competitions and one game in Roma cannot change that.
'We have two games to play, we have one away and one at home and we have enough quality to bounce back again.'
| Rate this article |
ARSENAL TICKET NEWS UPDATE
On Thursday morning, tickets for our Premier League game at home to Arsenal on Sunday, 30 November will go on sale to members with 18 or more loyalty points.
Fans can book their tickets from 7am online, or 9am at the box office.
SALA'S STRIKE RULED OUT
The Premier League's Dubious Goals Committee have ruled that Salomon Kalou's second strike against Middlesbrough last month was an own goal.
Kalou's second-half close-range finish ricocheted in off Boro defender David Wheater, and the panel have since decided that this was an own goal.
As a result, Kalou's tally for the season is reduced to three, with his other goals coming against Manchester United and Portsmouth.
You can view the controversial incident for yourself on Chelsea Plus, and decide whether the goal should be Sala's.
The panel's other decision concerning Chelsea was to confirm Robinho's free-kick for Manchester City should be credited to the Brazilian, after his shot deflected in off the Chelsea wall.
PETR CZECHS' BEST
Petr Cech continues to be marked out as the outstanding Czech footballer of his generation with the award of the Golden Ball in his country for the fourth year in a row.
In a poll of sports journalists in the Czech Republic, the Chelsea keeper has won the most votes over Arsenal midfielder Tomas Rosicky who was second and AC Milan defender Marek Jankulovski who was third.
It's the second such run of personal accolade for the Chelsea rearguard in recent weeks. Last month, John Terry was named in the FIFpro Team of the Year for the fourth year running, the result of a poll of players around the worldTuesday, November 4, 2008
Columnist
GILES SMITH: WHEN IN ROME
Well, that sucked. I blame myself, in a way. In all honesty, I don't have a great record away in Europe. Maybe I shouldn't travel to these matches at all. It rarely seems to work out for the best. My presence has resulted in defeats in Berlin, Barcelona, Moscow and now Rome. See the great cities of the continent and die.
And let's be frank - last night, I wasn't really match fit. I think we'd have to agree on that. I was full of Italian ice cream. And pasta. And not the healthy kind of pasta. The stuff with bacon and egg all over it. And then more ice cream. Rome can do that to you. It meant I lacked half a yard, pace-wise. At least.
Yet it had all been looking so good, in the run-up to kick-off. Unseasonably warm and sunny weather (on the Monday, at any rate), great buildings all over the place, nice people - plus the exciting sense, from talking to those nice people, that Roma, who had lost their five previous games, were whatever the Italian is for 'a busted flush' (una flucita bustarda?) and ripe for the taking by a team such as ours, high on the aftermath of another spectacular 5-0 Premier League demolition job.
And that impression continued right up until the 34th minute of the match when our central defence suffered an extremely rare brain-freeze (not ice cream related - at least, I assume not) and allowed Panucci, of all people, to walk the ball into the net.
Panucci! That Chelsea legend! What a fickle game football is. You would think he'd have had the decency not to celebrate. But unfortunately that kind of class isn't given to many. It's given to Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink. And to Cristiano Ronaldo, funnily enough. But not to Panucci, it seems.
Thinking back now, though, there were one or two omens before the match - signals of a darker outcome to the trip that I probably shouldn't have ignored. Like, for instance, the freak own goal that denied Napoli the point (at least) that they deserved at AC Milan on Sunday night (a match I watched on television in the apartment of righteously dismayed Napoli supporters).
And like the torrential downpour and the ominously angry thunder and lightning that hit Rome during yesterday afternoon. And like the fact that my third ice cream, though good, wasn't really as good as the first two.
Extraordinary venue, though, the Stadio Olimpico. It boasts, on account of the running track that surrounds the pitch, what must surely be the biggest technical area in Europe. You've seen smaller farms.
And it must have an astonishing atmosphere when it's full, though, these days, in Italy, not even the Champions League seems to bring out the punters. Not on a rainy evening, anyway, when the average Roman apparently chooses to stay at home and sponge down his Vespa.
If you're ever in the Stadio, be aware - you'll need a steady nerve for explosions. Those Italian football fans and their fireworks. Periodically a banger will go off that, judging by the scale of the noise, was, before it was lit, the approximate size of a dustbin.
Spectators of a nervous disposition, caught at the wrong moment, have been known to jump so high they ended up in another tier altogether and had to go out and come in again, lower down.
The other unusual feature of a big-match experience in the home of Roma is the stadium's habit of playing a burst of the Champions League anthem every time a goal goes in during one of the night's other ties. The score at the match in question then appears on the big screens.
In this way, the anthem is made to work a bit like the call-signal over the tannoy in a supermarket. Bing-bong-bing. "Atletico Madrid have scored at Anfield. And could a cleaner please go to aisle seven for a spillage."
But however you look at it, this is a worrying development. It's bad enough when stadia play bursts of music after goals in the match that you happen to be watching. When they play a burst of music in Rome because Basel have just scored in Barcelona, the whole music-for-goals situation is clearly completely out of control. Pray this doesn't catch on across Europe.
How to explain the mystery of last night's unpleasant and entirely unpredicted result? The game was men against boys for the first half an hour, until the boys somehow nicked one and then were given two more by the men, courtesy of uncommon slip-ups in midfield. And after that, at 3-0, it was all over.
Or was it? Ten minutes to go and we've got a free kick, with Deco standing over it. If something comes from this, it's 3-2 and the last 10 minutes become very interesting indeed. Deco takes the kick quickly - and gets a second yellow for not playing to the whistle.
But he was in a hurry, wasn't he? Understandably, in the circumstances. So that's like being penalised for not time-wasting. The law is an ass.
Maybe we'll just have to mark this result down as one of those strange blips that seemed to happen all over the Champions League last night, what with Basel drawing in the Nou Camp and Inter Milan being held by Anorthosis (which, incidentally, sounds like some terrible ailment affecting the legs.) 3-3: imagine how José Mourinho must have enjoyed the thrills and spills there.
Meanwhile we didn't bother getting too excited about the fact that, the last time we heard before our own match ended, Liverpool were losing to Atletico. Something, after all, was bound to turn up in injury time. A dubious penalty, more likely than not. Because this is Liverpool we're talking about.
What's that? Liverpool equalised from a dubious penalty in time added on? Somebody buy me another ice cream.
GILES SMITH'S MIDWEEK VIEW
Mid-air between Italy and England, columnist Giles Smith typed up his traveller's tales of away form, pistachio and pasta.
Well, that sucked. I blame myself, in a way. In all honesty, I don't have a great record away in Europe. Maybe I shouldn't travel to these matches at all. It rarely seems to work out for the best. My presence has resulted in defeats in Berlin, Barcelona, Moscow and now Rome. See the great cities of the continent and die.
And let's be frank - last night, I wasn't really match fit. I think we'd have to agree on that. I was full of Italian ice cream. And pasta. And not the healthy kind of pasta. The stuff with bacon and egg all over it. And then more ice cream. Rome can do that to you. It meant I lacked half a yard, pace-wise. At least.
Yet it had all been looking so good, in the run-up to kick-off. Unseasonably warm and sunny weather (on the Monday, at any rate), great buildings all over the place, nice people - plus the exciting sense, from talking to those nice people, that Roma, who had lost their five previous games, were whatever the Italian is for 'a busted flush' (una flucita bustarda?) and ripe for the taking by a team such as ours, high on the aftermath of another spectacular 5-0 Premier League demolition job.
And that impression continued right up until the 34th minute of the match when our central defence suffered an extremely rare brain-freeze (not ice cream related - at least, I assume not) and allowed Panucci, of all people, to walk the ball into the net.
Panucci! That Chelsea legend! What a fickle game football is. You would think he'd have had the decency not to celebrate. But unfortunately that kind of class isn't given to many. It's given to Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink. And to Cristiano Ronaldo, funnily enough. But not to Panucci, it seems.
Thinking back now, though, there were one or two omens before the match - signals of a darker outcome to the trip that I probably shouldn't have ignored. Like, for instance, the freak own goal that denied Napoli the point (at least) that they deserved at AC Milan on Sunday night (a match I watched on television in the apartment of righteously dismayed Napoli supporters).
And like the torrential downpour and the ominously angry thunder and lightning that hit Rome during yesterday afternoon. And like the fact that my third ice cream, though good, wasn't really as good as the first two.
Extraordinary venue, though, the Stadio Olimpico. It boasts, on account of the running track that surrounds the pitch, what must surely be the biggest technical area in Europe. You've seen smaller farms.
And it must have an astonishing atmosphere when it's full, though, these days, in Italy, not even the Champions League seems to bring out the punters. Not on a rainy evening, anyway, when the average Roman apparently chooses to stay at home and sponge down his Vespa.
If you're ever in the Stadio, be aware - you'll need a steady nerve for explosions. Those Italian football fans and their fireworks. Periodically a banger will go off that, judging by the scale of the noise, was, before it was lit, the approximate size of a dustbin.
Spectators of a nervous disposition, caught at the wrong moment, have been known to jump so high they ended up in another tier altogether and had to go out and come in again, lower down.
The other unusual feature of a big-match experience in the home of Roma is the stadium's habit of playing a burst of the Champions League anthem every time a goal goes in during one of the night's other ties. The score at the match in question then appears on the big screens.
In this way, the anthem is made to work a bit like the call-signal over the tannoy in a supermarket. Bing-bong-bing. "Atletico Madrid have scored at Anfield. And could a cleaner please go to aisle seven for a spillage."
But however you look at it, this is a worrying development. It's bad enough when stadia play bursts of music after goals in the match that you happen to be watching. When they play a burst of music in Rome because Basel have just scored in Barcelona, the whole music-for-goals situation is clearly completely out of control. Pray this doesn't catch on across Europe.
How to explain the mystery of last night's unpleasant and entirely unpredicted result? The game was men against boys for the first half an hour, until the boys somehow nicked one and then were given two more by the men, courtesy of uncommon slip-ups in midfield. And after that, at 3-0, it was all over.
Or was it? Ten minutes to go and we've got a free kick, with Deco standing over it. If something comes from this, it's 3-2 and the last 10 minutes become very interesting indeed. Deco takes the kick quickly - and gets a second yellow for not playing to the whistle.
But he was in a hurry, wasn't he? Understandably, in the circumstances. So that's like being penalised for not time-wasting. The law is an ass.
Maybe we'll just have to mark this result down as one of those strange blips that seemed to happen all over the Champions League last night, what with Basel drawing in the Nou Camp and Inter Milan being held by Anorthosis (which, incidentally, sounds like some terrible ailment affecting the legs.) 3-3: imagine how José Mourinho must have enjoyed the thrills and spills there.
Meanwhile we didn't bother getting too excited about the fact that, the last time we heard before our own match ended, Liverpool were losing to Atletico. Something, after all, was bound to turn up in injury time. A dubious penalty, more likely than not. Because this is Liverpool we're talking about.
What's that? Liverpool equalised from a dubious penalty in time added on? Somebody buy me another ice cream.
REACTION: MANY MISTAKES WERE MADE
'We lost because Roma played better than us,' were Felipe Scolari's straight-forward closing words to his post-match press conference after defeat in Rome.
It was a statement that drew applause from the assembled Italian media but before that thought, the Chelsea manager had highlighted a few ways his team had fallen short.
Mistakes when in possession, an over-eagerness to attack in numbers when just one goal down, and simple lax defending were some of his points. He was clearly not happy after his first away defeat in charge of Chelsea.
'We made mistakes at critical times and gave two good chances to Roma, and they took the goals and killed the game,' he said.
'The first goal there was a foul for us and we tried to play a short ball we shouldn't. Roma pressured us because two or three players were near the ball. We make a foul and after this, no-one followed Panucci in the area and they made the first goal.'
The former Chelsea loanee's close-range 33rd minute strike was a strong tonic for a side low on confidence and second best in this game until that point.
'Roma played some games in Italy not very well but they have very good player and when you make mistakes as we did, it gives chance to these players. And when Roma make the first goal in any game, it is difficult to draw.
'After this first goal, Roma play with five in midfield and they control the game. The second goal, the ball was for us. Then Mikel made a mistake and they make the third goal - finish!'
Deco's second yellow card, for taking a free-kick too early, would not have received the same punishment had it been a Roma player Scolari suggested. But by then there were only 10 minutes left with the scoreboard reading 3-1. The damage had been done.
'Until 30 minutes we had three or four very good shots and later we tried again with Drogba, Anelka and Kalou but Roma closed very well, Scolari said, agreeing with a comment that Chelsea's determination to surge forward in the second half left dangerous room for counter-attack.
'Many mistakes were made, we need to think for the next games what happened. Maybe for the future we need to be more relaxed at 1-0 - it is not the finish of the game,'
The defeat was Chelsea's heaviest in Europe since the 3-1 away loss in Monaco in 2004. That was a semi-final first leg and the deficit proved insurmountable at Stamford Bridge.
This time with a one-point lead over Roma and Bordeaux in Group A and three points over Cluj, there are two games to make amends.
'It is open for all,' Scolari summed up, before estimating, 'We have seven points and if we win one game we should be there because Roma play Bordeaux and they both can't win.'
MATCH REPORT: ROMA 3 CHELSEA 1
Away results in Europe continue to fall short of those domestically as the Blues were well-beaten in Italy after a promising opening to the game.
Chelsea were three goals down to a reviving Roma before John Terry netted one back - and it is only one win in eight now away from Stamford Bridge in the Champions League, this first defeat on the road under Scolari bringing to an end an 11-game undefeated away game run in all competitions.
To make the evening worse, Deco was sent off with 10 minutes to go and will now serve a one-match ban.
Joining the speculation before the game over whether Totti would be fit for Roma was another big question - would the game even take place?
Throughout the afternoon in the Eternal City, the skies had steadily darkened until about 4pm with it almost pitch black, the rain came down in torrents, accompanied by thunder.
Fresh in local minds was a match in the Stadio Olimpico just a week earlier that had been called off after just six minutes due to a waterlogged pitch, so there were serious concerns that Chelsea could be extending our stay.
Fortunately, on this occasion and despite the rain continuing up to kick-off, it was clear in the warm-up that the surface was playable so it was game on in this fourth round of group matches.
The answer to the sideshow Totti question was yes, Roma's captain would play, as would Panucci in a less familiar left-back role with Riise dropped to the bench.
Left-back was the only Chelsea change - the enforced one with Wayne Bridge coming in. There were no surprises in Scolari's selection.
The steady manner in which the Blues started the game could be measured in the number of extended whistles from the Roma crowd as we retained possession well.
The first corner went to the visitors, as was the first shot on-target - a 25-yard dig from Deco that had Doni scrambling it behind low by his post.
That was on nine minutes. Four minutes later Roma had an attempt of their own, Vucinic hooking over the bar after the Bridge's initial clearing header was returned to the edge of the box.
Chelsea were still looking good. Malouda curled a cross into the box just a little too far ahead of unmarked Anelka.
Joe Cole and Lampard threatened to unpick a tight Roma defensive lock for Anelka on the edge of the area and then Deco and Malouda had shots deflected behind for corners.
Then on 21 minutes Lampard seriously worried Doni with a near-post drive that once again was pushed behind.
Roma when they advanced were finding it tough to get past the formidable Mikel, let alone the Chelsea defence and when one quick pass did expose the backline, an Alex sliding block was enough to thwart Vucinic.
On 29 minutes, Lampard swapped passes with Deco and shot powerfully from 30 yards, Doni saving at full stretch.
Three minutes later, Deco was booked for tripping Totti as the Italian burst past him into space midway inside the Chelsea half, Mikel having lost grip of possession.
It was from that free-kick that the home side took a lead they had scarcely threatened.
Played out wide to the right, the ball was whipped in by unmarked Cicinho to Panucci who was let free by the entire defence to tap in from five yards with Cech helpless. Big questions asked in the Blues backline as the first goal of this European campaign was conceded.
A visionary Mikel pass put Malouda away six minutes before the break but opting not to use Anelka inside him, his blast skewed well, well wide.
Roma appealed a Joe Cole challenge on Pizarro as the break drew close but it was a good challenge, spotted correctly by the ref.
At the half-time whistle the Chelsea players must have been asking themselves how they were behind in a game they were largely controlling. The possession was split 58 per cent to 42 per cent in Blues' favour and until the goal, Roma had not mustered a shot on-target, but in the important statistic, they were ahead.
There were two half-time changes to the Chelsea side - both wide men, Joe Cole and Malouda withdrawn, Belletti and Drogba coming on.
Belletti was to play down the right with Anelka mobile behind Drogba but hopes that would turn the match in the away team's favour were hit hard after only two minutes, Totti poking the ball cleverly through to Brighi who worked a pass to Vucinic. The Montenegro striker, who had involved in the attack out on left before delaying a run, cracked a shot from 20 yards past Cech's dive.
Mistakes had crept into the Chelsea play as pressure bore down and the killer third goal came on 57 minutes as the wheels began to fall off the performance. Mikel had his pocket picked by Vucinic who ran from his own half with our young midfielder giving chase.
As the Roma man approached the area from out wide on the left, Mikel dived into the tackle but Vucinic escaped to drill the ball past Cech and inside the near post. Roma, playing in a half-empty stadium, were now a team reborn.
Lampard and Drogba, the latter with a free-kick, landed shots on-target, but they were comfortable for Doni.
At this point the Blues were looking at our biggest European defeat since a 5-1 extra-time reverse against Barcelona in 2000, or the heaviest in normal time since a 3-0 defeat in Zaragoza 13 years ago.
However Chelsea pulled one back on 75 minutes when the keeper did make a hash of a shot straight at him, Deco's attempt bouncing off to Terry to turn in. The skipper became the joint highest-scoring defender in Chelsea history, not that he would be interested in the fact at that precise moment.
Substitute Baptista went close to re-establishing the margin for Roma with a shot before another body blow came Chelsea's way - Deco dismissed, a second yellow card shown for the misdemeanour of taking a free-kick before the ref was ready.
It took a good Cech block to prevent Vucinic registering a hat-trick with three minutes remaining and Anelka had an attempt deflected wide at the other end - but a dramatic comeback never looked likely.
With a lead of just one point now over Roma and Bordeaux, there is still much work to do in the remaining two games.
Chelsea (4-1-4-1): Cech; Bosingwa (Kalou 62), Alex, Terry (c), Bridge; Mikel; J Cole (Belletti h-t), Deco, Lampard, Malouda (Drogba h-t); Anelka.
Scorer Terry 75
Booked Deco 33
Sent-off Deco 80
Roma (4-1-2-1-2): Doni; Cicinho, Mexes, Juan, Panucci; De Rossi; Perrotta (Taddei 71), Brighi; Pizarro; Totti (Baptista 61), Vucinic (Riise 87).
Scorera Panucci 33, Vucinic 47, 57.
Booked Perotta 67.
MINUTE DETAIL: ROMA 3 CHELSEA 1
Champions League group match against Roma at the Stadio Olimpico, Tuesday, 4 November, 2008.
Roma (4-1-2-1-2): Doni; Cicinho (Riise 88), Mexes, Juan, Panucci; De Rossi; Perrotta (Taddei 72), Brighi; Pizarro; Totti (Baptista 62), Vucinic.
Manager Luciano Spalletti
Chelsea (4-1-4-1): Cech; Bosingwa (Kalou 62), Alex, Terry (c), Bridge; Mikel; J Cole (Belletti h-t), Deco, Lampard, Malouda (Drogba h-t); Anelka.
Manager Felipe Scolari
Referee Luis Cantalejo (Spain)
Environment There's heavt rain in Rome on a warm evening in Italy's capital.
Crowd 35,038
Kit - Roma - red and yellow shirts, white shorts and black socks. Chelsea - blue shirts and shorts, white socks.
First-half
Kick-off Roma
9 Offside Malouda becomes a victim of the offside trap after Cech hoofs a clearance behind the Roma back line.
10 Shot Deco sends the ball hurtling goal-ward from 30 yards, forcing an acrobatic save from Doni, who sends the shot out for a corner.
19 Shot Deco sends a Malouda pull-back ricocheting off the Roma defence from 25 yards out.
22 Shot Lampard forces Doni to dive to his right and turn a low shot away from the bottom corner.
30 Shot Lampard sends a dipping ball curling towards the top-right, but Doni leaps to his left and sends it out for a corner.
33 Foul Deco cuts Totti to the ground and receives a yellow card for his efforts.
34 ROMA GOAL Panucci makes it 1-0 after latching onto a Cicinho cross to the near post.
40 Shot Malouda breaks into space down the left flank, but wastes the opportunity by sending a shot careering behind from the edge of the box.
Stoppage time 0 minutes.
Half-time Roma 1 Chelsea 0
Second-half.
h-t Chelsea substitution Belletti comes on to replace J Cole.
h-t Chelsea substitution Drogba comes on to replace Malouda.
Kick-off Chelsea
47 ROMA GOAL Vucinic makes it 2-0 from 20 yards out as he smashes a ball beyond Cech's reach after collecting a Brighi pass.
57 ROMA GOAL Vucinic breaks down the left with Mikel hot on his tail but the Nigerian commits to a sliding tackle and misses, allowing the Roma front man to smash the ball past Cech from just inside the box.
62 Roma substitution Baptista comes on to replace Totti.
63 Chelsea substitution Kalou comes on to replace Bosingwa.
67 Shot Drogba sends a free-kick flying into Doni's arms without really troubling the Roma keeper.
72 Roma substitution Taddei comes on to replace Perrotta.
75 CHELSEA GOAL Terry taps in a Deco shot that rebounds off Doni and into our captain's path.
80 Red card Deco is shown his second yellow for taking a free-kick too early, resulting in the Portuguese playmaker leaving the field early.
88 Roma substitution Riise comes on to replace Cicinho.
Stoppage time 3 minutes.
Unused subs. Roma: Artur, Loria, Tonetto, Menez. Chelsea: Cudicini, Ivanovic, Ferreira, Di Santo.
Shots on target Roma 5 Chelsea 6
Corners Roma 1 Chelsea 10
Fouls Roma 14 Chelsea 10
Offsides Roma 4 Chelsea 3
Comment
Chelsea suffer defeat in Rome, despite controlling possession and the run of play throughout the Champions League clash. Deco is shown two yellow cards, resulting in his sending off, meaning he will miss the Blues' next group stage game. John Terry's goal equals Chelsea's previous highest goal-scoring defender, Peter Sillett. We remain top of Group A by one points.
See the highlights on Chelsea Plus or the full 90 minutes on Chelsea TV, all from midnight on Thursday.
TEAM NEWS: ROMA V CHELSEA
There are no surprises in the Chelsea side with Wayne Bridge replacing injured Ashley Cole as the one change.
It has been raining hard for the last four hours in Roma, easing off in the past hour but the conditions should be testing for both sets of players.
Carlo Cudicini is the sub keeper in the stadium where he once played for Lazio. He is joined by Bridge, John Terry, Joe Cole and Frank Lampard as survivors from the 4-0 win over Lazio in this stadium exactly five years ago tonight.
Francesco Totti has been passed fit to play as the fulcrum of the Roma attack. Christian Panucci is left-back with John Arne Riise dropped to the bench.
Chelsea will line-up in a 4-1-4-1 formation as follows:
1 Petr Cech
17 José Bosingwa
33 Alex
26 John Terry (c)
18 Wayne Bridge
12 John Mikel Obi
10 Joe Cole
20 Deco
8 Frank Lampard
15 Florent Malouda
39 Nicolas Anelka
Substitutes: 23 Carlo Cudicini, 2 Branislav Ivanovic, 19 Paulo Ferreira, 35 Juliano Belletti, 21 Salomon Kalou, 9 Franco Di Santo, 11 Didier Drogba.
Roma are expected to line-up in the following 4-2-3-1 formation:
Doni; Cicinho, Mexes, Juan, Panucci; De Rossi, Brighi; Perotta, Pizarro, Vucinic; Totti.
Subs: Artur, Riise, Loria, Taddei, Tonetto, Menez, Baptista.
The referee is Luis Medina Cantalejo from Spain.SCOLARI: LONG JOURNEY TO ROME RETURN
The success of Chelsea's current visit to the Italian capital, also the venue for this season's Champions League Final, can only be judged after tonight's result, but Felipe Scolari is very happy with the team's reception so far and preparations for the game.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference on Monday evening, the Chelsea manager insisted the season's climax event in the Stadio Olimpico is far from his current thoughts.
'May is a long way away, we need first to win tomorrow,' he stated. 'Tomorrow the show is not for May, tomorrow we are here to beat Roma.'
Such a win should send the team into the knockout stages, a big step along the path to a return to Rome, and if that dream of Scolari and all Chelsea players and supporters is realised, he hopes arrangements for the game can be along similar lines
The squad has been staying in a hotel in close proximity to the stadium with stunning grounds and views over the city. Contrary to reports in some of today's newspapers, Scolari has not asked the club to book it in advance.
Asked in yesterday's conference: 'How do you like your hotel in Rome, and have you thought about booking it for May?', Scolari replied:
'No. But I like this hotel. It's beautiful and this area that is the hotel is fantastic. When we walk, it is a very good area. If they accept, we book the hotel for May. If the hotel accept, we try.'
Also speaking ahead of the meeting with Roma, Scolari is relishing the thought of a 'selection headache' when the squad is finally given a clean bill of health.
Ashley Cole's absence from tonight's match just as Didier Drogba is approaching readiness to start a game once more continues the one-in, one-out injury problem he has spoken about recently.
'Now I am not happy because I don't have all the players at my disposal,' Scolari said.
'When I have these players it is very good for me because then I decide who plays, who is on the bench; what is possible for this, what is possible for that. This is my job as a coach.
'My job is to talk. I need to explain it to a player why he does not play. It is a team and I am part of this team.'
Scolari has also discussed in the last week the need for Chelsea to have multiple methods of play to fulfil the potential of the squad. As well as giving him the challenge of man-managing players, a fully-fit squad brings the choices he desires.
'Only in one or two games we have not played well, and we paid for this.
'Everyday we try in training to make something more than before because maybe in the future we need it. And maybe in the future I have more options when I receive back Carvalho, Essien, Ballack and Ashley Cole.'
Salomon Kalou has spoken in Rome about player attitude to a big squad.
'Everyone is giving his best. It doesn't matter which team plays, the players on the pitch are trying to deliver a performance.
'We have a new manager and everyone is doing his best and to impress him. It is working out quite well and we have to follow what the manager says.'
MATCHNIGHT LIVE ON CHELSEA TV
Don't miss all the big match build-up tonight live on Chelsea TV, the only place for all the previews from Luiz Felipe Scolari's squad.
In addition to words from the manager and his opposing number Luciano Spalletti, there are preview interviews with three of the side's star names.
Deco, Joe Cole and Petr Cech all share their thoughts on the game that could see us book our place in the knockout stages of the Champions League, making it our sixth successive season in the later rounds.
Chelsea have history in Rome, having achieved two 0-0 draws there in 1965 and 1999. Marvin Hinton, a member of the 1965 side looks back at the eventful game he played in, while Ray Wilkins casts his mind back to '99, as well as giving his opinions on tonight's match.
There is also a betting preview with Paddy Power, and all the team news as it comes through, live from 6pm only on Chelsea TV. So join presenters Gigi Salmon and Tommy Langley as they take you through to kick-off on Sky channel 421.
Then, after the game you can air your views on the game on the post-match phone-in, again live from 10pm.
To subscribe to Chelsea TV call 08442 410 803. Existing Sky customers can subscribe through the Sky Products area on Sky Active via their remote control.
THE LAMPARD 100 GOAL PUZZLE
A degree of confusion has surrounded Frank Lampard's headed goal against Sunderland at the weekend and which milestone it represents.
chelseafc.com was joined by other sources in initially reporting the goal as his 100th Premier League success but since then questions have been raised.
While Chelsea club records are clear his total for the Blues is 76 league goals, a grey area over his West Ham total came to light with many sources quoting 24 league goals while others were on 23.
So chelseafc.com contacted West Ham's club historian John Hellier whose records show 23 goals. Hellier believes the confusion dates back to a game against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park in May 1998 when with Lampard about to score, Palace's Sasa Curcic slid in to tackle and accidentally turned the ball in for an own-goal. It was published as a Lampard goal in some reports.
Lampard's goal on Saturday remains a milestone. One goal scored on loan at Swansea means it was his 100th league goal. But he needs one more in the top flight for a century of Premier League goals.
Frank Lampard's 100 league goals
Swansea
1995/96 (1)
Oct 31 Brighton (away) W 2-0
West Ham
1997/98 (4)
Aug 8 Barnsley (away) W 2-1
Nov 23 Leeds (away) L 1-3
Jan 10 Barnsley (home) W 6-0
May 10 Leicester (home) W 4-3
1998/99 (5)
Nov 14 Leicester (home) W 3-2
Jan 10 Man United (away) L 1-4
Feb 13 Nott'm Forest (home) W 2-1
Feb 20 Liverpool (away) D 2-2 (penalty)
May 16 Middlesbrough (home) W 4-0
1999/00 (7)
Aug 7 Tottenham (home) W 1-0
Nov 21 Sheff Wed (home) W 4-3
Dec 26 Wimbledon (away) D 2-2
Jan 3 Newcastle (away) D 2-2
Feb 5 Southampton (away) W 2-1
Feb 12 Bradford (home) W 5-4
Mar 3 Sheff Wed (away) W 3-1
2000/01 (7)
Sep 23 Coventry (away) W 3-0
Dec 26 Charlton (home) W 5-0
Feb 24 Bradford (away) W 2-1
Apr 7 Aston Villa (away) D 2-2
Apr 14 Derby (home) W 3-1
Apr 16 Newcastle (away) W 2-1
Chelsea
2001/02 (5)
Dec 23 Bolton Wanderers (home) W 5-1
Dec 26 Arsenal (away) L 1-2
Feb 9 Aston Villa (away) D 1-1
Mar 2 Charlton Athletic (away) L 1-2
Mar 13 Tottenham Hotspur (home) W 4-0
2002/03 (6)
Aug 17 Charlton Athletic (away) W 3-2
Aug 28 Southampton (away) D 1-1
Dec 21 Aston Villa (home) W 2-0
Jan 28 Leeds United (home) W 3-2
Mar 1 Newcastle United (away) L 1-2
Mar 22 Manchester City (home) W 5-0
2003/04 (10)
Sep 13 Tottenham Hotspur (home) W 4-2
Sep 20 Wolverhampton Wanderers (away) W 5-0
Nov 9 Newcastle United (home) W 5-0 (penalty)
Nov 30 Manchester United (home) W 1-0 (penalty)
Dec 28 Portsmouth (home) W 3-0
(2) Feb 1 Blackburn Rovers (away) W 3-2
Mar 27 Wolverhampton Wanderers (home) W 5-2
(2) May 1 Southampton (home) W 4-0
2004/05 (13)
Aug 28 Southampton (home) W 2-1 (penalty)
Oct 30 West Bromwich Albion (away) W 4-1
Nov 13 Fulham (away) W 4-1
Dec 4 Newcastle United (home) W 4-0
Dec 18 Norwich City (home) W 4-0
(2) Jan 15 Tottenham Hotspur (away) W 2-0 (1 penalty)
Mar 19 Crystal Palace (home) W 4-1
Apr 2 Southampton (away) W 3-1
Apr 23 Fulham (home) W 3-1
(2) Apr 30 Bolton Wanderers (away) W 2-0
May 15 Newcastle United (away) D 1-1 (penalty)
2005/06 (16)
(2) Aug 24 West Bromwich Albion (home) W 4-0
(2) Sep 24 Aston Villa (home) W 2-1 (1 penalty)
Oct 2 Liverpool (away) W 4-1 (penalty)
(2) Oct 15 Bolton Wanderers (home) W 5-1
Oct 23 Everton (away) D 1-1
(2) Oct 29 Blackburn Rovers (home) W 4-2 (1 penalty)
Nov 26 Portsmouth (away) W 2-0 (penalty)
Dec 26 Fulham (home) W 3-2
Jan 2 West Ham United (away) W 3-1
Feb 25 Portsmouth (home) W 2-0
Apr 15 Bolton Wanderers (away) W 2-0
Apr 17 Everton (home) W 3-0
2006/07 (11)
Aug 20 Manchester City (home) W 3-0
Aug 27 Blackburn Rovers (away) W 2-0 (penalty)
(2) Sep 23 Fulham (away) W 2-0 (1 penalty)
Oct 28 Sheffield United (away) W 2-0
Dec 17 Everton (away) W 3-2
Dec 23 Wigan Athletic (away) W 3-2
Jan 13 Wigan Athletic (home) W 4-0
Jan 31 Blackburn Rovers (home) W 3-0
Feb 3 Charlton Athletic (away) W 1-0
Mar 14 Manchester City (away) W 1-0 (penalty)
2007/08 (10)
Aug 15 Reading (away) W 2-1
Aug 19 Liverpool (away) D 1-1 (penalty)
Aug 25 Portsmouth (home) W 1-0
Nov 3 Wigan Athletic (away) W 2-0
Dec 8 Sunderland (home) W 2-0 (penalty)
Mar 1 West Ham (away) W 4-0 (penalty)
(4) Mar 12 Derby (home) W 6-1 (1 penalty)
Aug 17 Portsmouth (home) W 4-0 (penalty)
Sep 13 Man City (away) W 3-1
Oct 18 Middlesbrough (away) W 5-0
Oct 29 Hull (away) W 3-0
Nov 1 Sunderland (home) W 5-0
ARSENAL TICKET NEWS UPDATE
On Wednesday morning, tickets for our Premier League game at home to Arsenal on Sunday, 30 November will go on sale to members with 19 or more loyalty points.
Fans can book their tickets from 7am online, or 9am at the box office.
BETTING: CHELSEA'S ETERNAL WINNING STREAK
One more win will confirm a place in the knockout stages for Chelsea and at 11/10 to beat Roma with Paddy Power, plenty of punters will be backing them to do just that.
Chelsea have looked very impressive in recent games and take their very own battle-worthy gladiator Didier Drogba to Rome to make their own piece of history.
5/2 Roma win
23/10 Draw
11/10 Chelsea win
Click here to bet and get a FREE £20 BET
Didier Drogba is back in the Chelsea squad but will he make it into a team that hasn't exactly been desperate for a goalscorer of late.
Nicolas Anelka scored a hat-trick against Sunderland, he's 5/1 to score the first goal against Roma and 40/1 to score another hat-trick in the Olympic Stadium.
Can the pair of strikers strike a partnership that will be the envy of everyone on Europe? Drogba has the power and steel whilst Anelka has lightning pace. You can back of them to score and Chelsea to win at 11/4 (separate bets) with Paddy Power's wincast betting.
First Goalscorer
5/1 Drogba
5/1 Anelka
13/2 Lampard
8/1 Joe Cole
12/1 Deco
12/1 Malouda
20/1 Belletti
Click here to bet and get a FREE £20 BET
Monday, November 3, 2008
Columnist
PAT NEVIN: BACKING IT UP
As ever I am always delighted to know that people from the farthest flung corners of the world, some with the most unusual tastes, actually read this column.
Last week after my gentle ribbing of Liverpool I did get a fair number of Reds sending me e-mails about how they suspected this would be their year after they went top of the league when beating us at the Bridge. Strangely there have not been just as many e-mails from them so far this week. There must be a reason for that but I can't quite put my finger on it at the moment.
Actually, I have to admit the abuse was very good-natured and pretty amusing from the majority of them. Quite surprising when you consider that not only am I dyed-in-the-wool Chelsea, but I also played for Everton as well.
Anyway it is our turn for gloating this week and I think 5-0 and 3-0 wins have been a fairly strong response to anyone deluded enough to believe that any bubbles had burst at the Bridge.
If Sunderland manager Roy Keane is known for one thing, maybe apart from crunching tackles, scary shark's eyes, calling Mick McCarthy everything under the sun and walking his dog at odd moments in the ensuing madness that followed, then it is for always being violently honest. And certainly he believes that Chelsea are the team to beat in the race for the Championship this season.
Maybe it is not that surprising that the former Manchester United stalwart says that after his side have been hit for five, but he was also saying that weeks before. Maybe he has looked at the regularity that Chelsea have been hammering in threes, four and fives already this season.
I am pretty sure he is also aware that not only are Chelsea the top scorers in the division but they also have what is now an extraordinary record in goals conceded so far as well.
Leaking only four goals after 15 games would suggest that Chelsea are being ultra cautious but this is patently not the case. So what is the reason for shipping only one goal ever 340 or 350 (remember the injury time pedants) minutes?
Well of course it helps to have a decent keeper and maybe a handful of good defenders isn't a bad idea either, but I suspect the real reason is to be found in a very old cliché indeed, 'attack is the best form of defence'.
If you spend the entire time in the opposition half peppering their goal, it is pretty tricky for them to get enough players forward to score themselves. The usual plan against very attacking sides like Chelsea is to counterattack, but with John Terry, Ricardo Carvalho and their co-defenders all comfortable in a one-v-one situation, we have very rarely been compromised so far.
Let's hope this god run continues, as the match in Roma tonight will almost certainly be a tough assignment. They are not having the best of seasons domestically but you suspect they will come good eventually as they have plenty of first class technical ability. I suspect however that they would prefer it if Chelsea were to attack them even on their own patch, so that they could play on the break.
So maybe this time Big Phil will be tempted to be slightly cagier with his tactics. We don't want to play a style that will completely suit our opponents after all.
Certainly away games in Europe are almost always totally different than home ties. Roma were incredibly defensive at the Bridge on their recent visit but that might have been for a variety of reasons. They were pinned back by our attack, they were low on confidence after an average start to the season and they also had rather painful memories of a recent visit to England when they suffered a seven-goal thrashing at Old Trafford. Whether consciously or subconsciously, that sort of result has an effect.
Suffice to say this week will be a totally different affair and the home side will have more of the game than they had in the 1-0 at the Bridge. Their problem is of course Chelsea's mean defence that hasn't lost a single goal in the Champions League so far.
Doubtless that will change, and maybe even tonight, but it is another big psychological hurdle for the opposition when they know that they may have to do something extra special just to score a single goal.
While we have all enjoyed the river of goals so far this season, it is of course always worth remembering who is keeping the damn secure at the other end. In the long history of football success, it has always been built from the back. So it is time to celebrate the clean sheets as well as the net rippling.
Talking of ancient history, last week I asked when was the last time Liverpool won the league. It was of course back in the days of the old First Division, pre-Premier League, and it was in 1989/90. The second part of the question regarding the internet was just a gentle ribbing of the Reds, but the internet had been invented, though wasn't available to the public on a large scale.
Just about everyone got it right this week but the winner picked at random by a teenage girl who has just demanded a new Chelsea top for Christmas, among other things it must be said, is Paula Jones from Pontypridd in South Wales.
This week to win a copy of the Blue Pride season review DVD, could you tell me who was the last player to score a competitive hat trick for Chelsea before Nicolas Anelka notched his at the weekend? Answers as ever to pat.nevin@chelseafc.com
PAT NEVIN: BACKING IT UP
In the build-up to tonight's game, Felipe Scolari stated defence is the basis for a good attack. Pat Nevin expands on that thought in this week's column.
As ever I am always delighted to know that people from the farthest flung corners of the world, some with the most unusual tastes, actually read this column.
Last week after my gentle ribbing of Liverpool I did get a fair number of Reds sending me e-mails about how they suspected this would be their year after they went top of the league when beating us at the Bridge. Strangely there have not been just as many e-mails from them so far this week. There must be a reason for that but I can't quite put my finger on it at the moment.
Actually, I have to admit the abuse was very good-natured and pretty amusing from the majority of them. Quite surprising when you consider that not only am I dyed-in-the-wool Chelsea, but I also played for Everton as well.
Anyway it is our turn for gloating this week and I think 5-0 and 3-0 wins have been a fairly strong response to anyone deluded enough to believe that any bubbles had burst at the Bridge.
If Sunderland manager Roy Keane is known for one thing, maybe apart from crunching tackles, scary shark's eyes, calling Mick McCarthy everything under the sun and walking his dog at odd moments in the ensuing madness that followed, then it is for always being violently honest. And certainly he believes that Chelsea are the team to beat in the race for the Championship this season.
Maybe it is not that surprising that the former Manchester United stalwart says that after his side have been hit for five, but he was also saying that weeks before. Maybe he has looked at the regularity that Chelsea have been hammering in threes, four and fives already this season.
I am pretty sure he is also aware that not only are Chelsea the top scorers in the division but they also have what is now an extraordinary record in goals conceded so far as well.
Leaking only four goals after 15 games would suggest that Chelsea are being ultra cautious but this is patently not the case. So what is the reason for shipping only one goal ever 340 or 350 (remember the injury time pedants) minutes?
Well of course it helps to have a decent keeper and maybe a handful of good defenders isn't a bad idea either, but I suspect the real reason is to be found in a very old cliché indeed, 'attack is the best form of defence'.
If you spend the entire time in the opposition half peppering their goal, it is pretty tricky for them to get enough players forward to score themselves. The usual plan against very attacking sides like Chelsea is to counterattack, but with John Terry, Ricardo Carvalho and their co-defenders all comfortable in a one-v-one situation, we have very rarely been compromised so far.
Let's hope this god run continues, as the match in Roma tonight will almost certainly be a tough assignment. They are not having the best of seasons domestically but you suspect they will come good eventually as they have plenty of first class technical ability. I suspect however that they would prefer it if Chelsea were to attack them even on their own patch, so that they could play on the break.
So maybe this time Big Phil will be tempted to be slightly cagier with his tactics. We don't want to play a style that will completely suit our opponents after all.
Certainly away games in Europe are almost always totally different than home ties. Roma were incredibly defensive at the Bridge on their recent visit but that might have been for a variety of reasons. They were pinned back by our attack, they were low on confidence after an average start to the season and they also had rather painful memories of a recent visit to England when they suffered a seven-goal thrashing at Old Trafford. Whether consciously or subconsciously, that sort of result has an effect.
Suffice to say this week will be a totally different affair and the home side will have more of the game than they had in the 1-0 at the Bridge. Their problem is of course Chelsea's mean defence that hasn't lost a single goal in the Champions League so far.
Doubtless that will change, and maybe even tonight, but it is another big psychological hurdle for the opposition when they know that they may have to do something extra special just to score a single goal.
While we have all enjoyed the river of goals so far this season, it is of course always worth remembering who is keeping the damn secure at the other end. In the long history of football success, it has always been built from the back. So it is time to celebrate the clean sheets as well as the net rippling.
Talking of ancient history, last week I asked when was the last time Liverpool won the league. It was of course back in the days of the old First Division, pre-Premier League, and it was in 1989/90. The second part of the question regarding the internet was just a gentle ribbing of the Reds, but the internet had been invented, though wasn't available to the public on a large scale.
Just about everyone got it right this week but the winner picked at random by a teenage girl who has just demanded a new Chelsea top for Christmas, among other things it must be said, is Paula Jones from Pontypridd in South Wales.
This week to win a copy of the Blue Pride season review DVD, could you tell me who was the last player to score a competitive hat trick for Chelsea before Nicolas Anelka notched his at the weekend? Answers as ever to pat.nevin@chelseafc.com
ROMA REVISITED
Just a fortnight since we beat Luciano Galletti's side 1-0 at Stamford Bridge, we re-introduce our opponents Roma before tonight's match.
The Italians were a stern test for the Blues on October 22 and it took a late John Terry header from a corner to earn all three points. A repeat tonight could see us through to the knockout stages with two games to spare.
Roma are currently third in Group A on three points, having also lost against CFR Cluj but beaten Bordeaux on French soil.
Domestically, the Giallorossi are having a difficult campaign. They sit 17th in Serie A and were beaten 2-0 at Claudio Ranieri's Juventus on Saturday, a fourth straight league defeat.
Runners up to Inter in last season's Serie A, Luciano Spalletti's side finished just three points behind the champions, and ten ahead of nearest challengers Juventus, as well as reaching the European quarter-finals before elimination courtesy of Manchester United.
Roma had also played United in the group stages, finishing second and knocking out Real Madrid in the first knockout round.
Champions just three times in their 81-year history, they were most recently crowned in 2001 under the leadership of one Fabio Capello, who utilised star man Francesco Totti with a frontline of Gabriel Batistuta and Vincenzo Montella to bring the Scudetto back to the Stadio Olimpico, their 72,000 capacity home.
2. Christian Panucci
Defender
35-year-old full-back who had a brief spell with Chelsea in 2000/01, making eight appearances. Panucci has been with Roma since 2001, and was previously a Champions League winner with Milan in 1994. Later spells with Real Madrid, Inter and Monaco followed, before being resigned by Capello for Roma. He scored in the 2-1 defeat against Cluj, and has more than 50 Italy caps. Booked at the Bridge two weeks ago.
3. Cicinho
Defender
Signed in 2007 from Real Madrid, making 30 appearances in his first season in Italy. Now 28, the pacy wing man played 25 times for Madrid, following 69 for Sao Paolo in his native Brazil. He represented his country at the 2006 World Cup. Played 90 minutes at right-back against us a fortnight back.
4. Juan Silveira Dos Santos
Defender
Another 2007 signing, the Brazilian arrived from Germans Bayer Leverkusen after making 139 Bundesliga appearances in five years. A Brazilian international, Juan was involved in both the 2004 and 2007 Copa America successes. Last season he played 22 league games, and eight in the Champions League.
5. Philippe Mexes
Defender
Booked for a foul on John Mikel Obi at the Bridge, Mexes arrived in Italy in 2004 from Auxerre, taking with him a huge reputation and bags of potential. A product of the French club's academy, he made his debut as a 17-year-old, eventually playing 133 league games. He opened the scoring in May's Coppa Italia final with an exquisite goal against Inter. A France international, Mexes has struggled to hold down a regular place at the top level.
7. David Pizarro
Midfielder
A 2006 signing from Inter, Pizarro has become an important member of the Roma squad, renowned for his passing ability and diminutive size. At the San Siro he made 24 Serie A appearances in a single season, joining from Udinese where he spent five seasons, split with a loan spell in his homeland with Universidad de Chile. The 29-year-old is an experienced international.
8. Alberto Aquilani
Midfielder
Highly rated youth product who has graduated into the full Italy squad, 24-year-old Aquilani is a strong passer of the ball with a fierce shot. Named in the Euro 2008 squad, he played in the quarter-final penalties defeat to Spain. Highlighted as a threat before the last game by Ray Wilkins, he made little impact in the hour he played.
9. Mirko Vucinic
Forward
Montenegran forward who has just turned 25, Vucinic arrived in 2006 after six years with Lecce. Last season he scored the winning goal in Madrid, one of four Champions League strikes, added to his nine in Serie A. Missed the 2006 World Cup for Serbia and Montenegro through injury. Another who figured two weeks ago, mainly down the left side.
10. Francesco Totti
Forward
Now 32, Totti is synonymous with Roma, and is now in his 17th season with the club. A mercurial talent, he was a key member of the 2001 Serie A winning side, as well as the Italy team that won the World Cup in 2006. Vastly experienced, Totti is Roma's top goalscorer and highest capped player of all time. Suffered cruciate ligament damage earlier this year, but is now back to fitness. Will be interesting to see how he does against John Terry after the pair's encounter last time.
11. Rodrigo Taddei
Midfielder
A Brazilian midfielder, Taddei arrived in Italy with Siena in 2002, spending three years there before joining Roma in 2005 on a free. A smart dribbler, the 28-year-old can play either on the right or in the middle of midfield, and averages a goal every five games. Replaced at the Bridge by Jeremy Menez in the last 10 minutes.
12. Pietro Pipolo
Goalkeeper
22-year-old youth product still awaiting his Serie A debut, having spent last season on loan with Serie C1 B side Potenza.
14. Filipe Gomes Ribeiro
Midfielder
21-year-old Brazilian, native to Rio de Janeiro. Signed for Roma as a youth but still awaits a league debut.
15. Simone Loria
Defender
A late developer in the pro game, Loria only made his Serie B debut at the age of 26 after six years in Serie C. He first arrived in Serie A with Cagliari in September 2004, and joined Roma this summer from Siena in the summer. Now 32, he began as a trainee with Juventus.
16. Daniele De Rossi
Midfielder
Tenacious midfielder now capped more than 30 times by Italy, De Rossi was sent off at the 2006 World Cup for an elbow on USA's Brian McBride, serving his suspension and returning as a sub in the Final, replacing clubmate Totti. Also a Euro Under 21 champion in 2004, he is approaching 200 league games for the club. Another threat, he showed his confidence from set pieces, trying his luck from around 40 yards.
17. John Arne Riise
Defender
Will need no introduction to Chelsea fans as the man who helped us on the way to last season's Champions League Final, scoring a crucial own goal as a Liverpool player at Anfield. Joined Roma this summer after seven years in England, which brought 234 league and 58 Champions League games. A pacy wide man with a ferocious shot, especially at dead balls. Subbed in the last 10 minutes a fortnight ago.
19. Julio Baptista
Forward
Nicknamed 'The Beast', Baptista will be remembered from his season-long loan with Arsenal in 2006/07, in the middle of his time with Real Madrid. A powerful attacking midfielder or forward, Baptista was a regular goalscorer for Sevilla before joining the Bernabeu side. Originally with Sao Paolo in his homeland Brazil, for whom he scored important goals at the Copa America in 2007. Returned from injury to face Juventus this weekend.
20. Simone Perrotta
Midfielder
Born in Ashton, England, Perrotta moved to Italy as a child, signing for Reggina in Serie B, where he spent three seasons, moving on to Juventus in 1998, ending up at Roma in 2004 via spells with Bari and Chievo. He has been a regular at the Stadio Olimpico since, and has amassed over 40 Italy caps, winning the World Cup in 2006. Replaced Aquilani on the hour two weeks ago.
22. Max Tonetto
Midfielder
Nearly 34, Tonetto is with his ninth club, arriving in Rome in 2006. He has now made over 60 Serie A appearances, for the club, and is approaching 20 Champions League games. A late sub at the Bridge.
23. Vincenzo Montella
Forward
Experienced forward who spent 2006/07 on loan at our neighbours Fulham, scoring some vital goals to keep them up, before joining Sampdoria for 2007/08. Now 34, Montella formed an impressive partnership with Gabriel Batistuta to land the Serie A title in 2001, having joined from Samp in 1999. He won 19 international caps, the last coming in 2005.
24. Jeremy Menez
Midfielder
Tricky and skilful wideman, Menez has long been touted as a tremendous prospect for France, having started out at Sochaux before moving on to Monaco in 2006. 14 goals in 54 league games prompted this summer's move to Italy. Another who came on late in the first meeting.
25. Artur
Goalkeeper
Brazilian goalkeeper who arrived in Italy last season, playing for both Siena and Cesena. 27-years-old, awaiting a Roma debut.
27. Julio Sergio
Goalkeeper
Now approaching his 30th birthday, still awaiting his Roma debut after two years with Santos between 2003 and 2005, where he made 41 appearances.
32. Doni
Goalkeeper
A third Brazilian goalkeeper in the Roma ranks, Doni has been first choice since joining in 2005, making his debut against city rivals Lazio. Like our own Petr Cech, he has conceded less goals than games he has played in. Five previous clubs in Brazil, and an impressive performance a fortnight ago.
33. Matteo Brighi
Midfielder
Much-travelled 27-year-old midfielder, who has also represented Juventus and Parma among others. Signed for Roma in 2007 and played 24 league games last season. 90 minutes at Stamford Bridge.
77. Marco Cassetti
Defender
31-year-old who signed from Lecce in 2006, he has now played more than 50 league games. Prior to this season had amassed 15 Champions League appearances.
89. Stefano Okaka
Forward
Italian national of Nigerian descent, he made his Serie A debut in 2005 as a 16-year-old, scoring a first Serie A goal nine months later. Spent last season on loan to Modena, scoring seven times in 33 appearances.
Coach
Luciano Spalletti
The 49-year-old Italian is in his fourth season as Roma coach, and is searching for his fourth piece of silverware, having already won the Italian Cup in 2007 and 2008, and the Super Cup in 2007. Roma is his seventh managerial post, with previous spells at Empoli, where he finished his playing career, Sampdoria, Venezia, Udinese twice and Ancona.
