Feb 06

Chelsea sickened by draw against Manchester United, says Gary Cahill

• ‘It’s like we lost’ says new signing after 3-0 lead given up
• Owner Roman Abramovich addressed players after the game

André Villas-Boas must lift a Chelsea dressing room that, according to the new signing Gary Cahill, was “flat” and sickened after they surrendered a 3-0 lead to draw 3-3 with Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

The manager is under pressure to win silverware as he manages a transitional period for the squad and he was paid a training ground visit by the owner Roman Abramovich on Saturday, during which the pair spoke for 20 minutes. Abramovich also addressed the players after the United game.

Abramovich’s focus has been on his high court litigation battle with Boris Berezovsky – he is being sued for more than $5bn by his former business associate; Abramovich’s fortune is put at $13.4bn. But the hearing ended on 19

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Jun 25

Guus Hiddink was Chelsea’s first choice as manager, says agent

• Dutchman wants to honour his contract with Turkey
• Roman Abramovich forced to turn to André Villas-Boas

Guus Hiddink and not André Villas-Boas was Roman Abramovich’s first choice to become Chelsea’s new manager, according to the Dutchman’s agent, Cees van Nieuwenhuizen. The Portuguese coach was appointed last week by Chelsea, with a £13.3m fee paid to Porto to secure the 33-year-old’s release.

Van Nieuwenhuizen, whose version of events is disputed by senior Chelsea sources, said that Hiddink was approached first, but that his client’s determination to honour his contract as Turkey’s coach prevented him from returning to Stamford Bridge. Van Nieuwenhuizen said: “He has never broken a contract.”

Hiddink told Abramovich he intended to stay loyal to Turkey until qualification for next summer’s European Championship was achieved, and Chelsea respected his wishes “because of the good relationship Guus has with Abramovich”, according to Nieuwenhuizen.

“Every now and then they talk, they see each other, and Guus would say: ‘I have a contract so it’s no use considering a position for me at Chelsea.’ I think Abramovich has respected that position.”

Given the nature of that relationship and Hiddink’s success in winning the FA Cup when he took over as Chelsea’s caretaker manager in 2009 after Luiz Felipe Scolari was sacked, was it particularly difficult for Hiddink to turn the club down?

“No. When he signed with Turkey he realised he would be in this position in principle through at least to the European Championship, so he’s a professional,” Van Nieuwenhuizen said. The agent added that the 64-year-old was well-used to being linked with prestigious club positions. “Massimo Moratti [Internazionale's president] also mentioned last week that he wanted Guus Hiddink. And Guus has already been connected in the past a couple of times, related to big clubs, not only Chelsea.”

However, Van Nieuwenhuizen does not believe Hiddink will retire after his work with Turkey is done.

Guus HiddinkRoman AbramovichChelseaJamie Jacksonguardian.co.uk

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Apr 11

Roman Abramovich ‘obsessed’ with Champions League – Sir Alex Ferguson

• ‘The owner has very much nailed his colours to the mast’
• ‘To have an obsession is stretching yourself a wee bit’

Sir Alex Ferguson has claimed Roman Abramovich is “obsessed” with winning the Champions League. Chelsea have lost four semi-finals and also the 2008 final to Manchester United since Abramovich bought the club in 2003, and will have their hopes ended for another year unless they can overturn a first-leg deficit in their quarter-final at Old Trafford.

If they do go out, many believe Carlo Ancelotti will get sacked in Abramovich’s quest for European glory. But Ferguson feels the Chelsea owner has set himself a stiff target.

“It does seem to be an obsession with Chelsea to win the European Cup,” Ferguson said. “That is why they signed Fernando Torres. The owner has very much nailed his colours to the mast in that respect. I have felt that for quite a while with him.

“To have an obsession of winning the European Cup is stretching yourself a wee bit. At the end of the day it is a very difficult competition to win. But I can understand it because I had the obsession myself for quite a while. I lost semi-finals and you say to yourself you are never going to do it. When we achieved it in Barcelona [against Bayern Munich in 1999], it was the greatest feeling of all time. It took the monkey off my back.”

Ferguson’s side may still have the consolation of a Premier League title and the FA Cup to go for should it go wrong against Chelsea. But he wants to win.

“Chelsea are no more desperate than Manchester United, believe me,” he said. “For any club when the expectations are high you come to a situation where it is all or nothing. People talk about us winning the league but we are desperate to win this game.”

“A British team coming here is different,” he continued. “Though Juventus and Milan have played here a few times over the years, Chelsea play here every year. In that respect there is a familiarity about it. The stadium, the size of the pitch, the condition of the pitch, all these things are in their favour over other European teams.”

Champions LeagueManchester UnitedChelseaSir Alex FergusonRoman Abramovichguardian.co.uk

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