Drogba seeking attention or serious???

Drogba quit stunner

By GARY PAYNE
July 17, 2007

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DIDIER DROGBA has rocked Chelsea by admitting: I could still quit the club.

Barcelona and Porto have both shown interest in the Blues striker this summer.

And he could be away if an offer comes in that is too good to refuse — with AC Milan also keen to sign him.

Drogba, 29, said: “For now things are still fuzzy, not clear. Yet any good offer could tip the scale in another team’s favour.

"I have heard there are offers from Porto, Barca and the rest. But I’ve not made up my mind.

“There is no season I don’t have many offers. Yet as a disciplined player I look at my career, which is uppermost, and my family.

“I would love to stay in England. I want to improve on my last season’s performance and to win more titles in England.

“But any strong economic pull can make me change my mind.”

Jose Mourinho would almost certainly block any move for the Ivory Coast star, who hit 33 goals last term and signed a four-year deal worth £90,000 a week last November.

Even so, Drogba’s latest warning will come as music to AC Milan’s ears.

They admitted yesterday that he is on their list of five summer targets.

Drogba added: “I always give my team 100 per cent. But if I feel I’m not being taken care of, I quit.”

FA Cup Final... ManU vs Chelsea @ Wembley

The stage has been set for a dream first FA Cup finals in the new Wembley stadium that grand stage for football in the world. The FA must be happy and laughing their way to the bakery as they get a dream stage for arguably two of the best team in the league right now going to play for the finals of the most prestigious open tournament in football ( in my biased English opinion).

You have to fancy what Manchester United has done this season with producing results and playing extremely entertaining football while they are at it. When you play them you know you are going to conceed it is just a matter of how many and how soon the dazzling open field antics of amazing players like Christiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney, Ryan Giggs etc will take to open the heart of your defense up. If you have to say there are any weaknesses about the Manchester United side it will be that they have a goalkeeper who is not very confident right now and they are missing key players in their defense but the depth of the team has kept them rolling and I think they have that belief that they are not going to be stopped this season. They handed Watford a beating yesterday even with a make shift defense and you can see that the Watford team was trying extremely hard but they were just out classed by the talent and skill of the ManU players.

Chelsea on the other hand have the never die attitude but I am not convinced that they deserved the win they got today but that is football. I listened to Sparky after the match and he felt his team deserved to be in the finals because they made Chelsea look very ordinary in the second half and I will say they actually did. They outplayed Chelsea in the second half and where United lacks confidence right now is where Chelsea thrive the most. Peter Cech is showing why he is the best goal keeper in the league. He kept his team in and you knew that eventually Blackburn will get tired and Chelsea will get a goal to win it. That was the story today... How many times have we seen Chelsea against the ropes and such studs like Cavallho and Essien dig them out with superb efforts.

Nevertheless it will be a very entertaining finals on the 26th of May and we'll see if it is the entertaining style of Manchester United that comes through or the boring do what you have to to get a result that works for Chelsea. I can say this though... this may go down as one of the more historical finals we've seen in a while just like the EPL and Champions League. Too bad the did the new tv deal last year... if they did it this year they would have gotten so much more as the quality of football is booming right now in England.

My prediction for the finals is ManU 3 - Chelsea 1.

'Deflection' Frank Speaks

While Abromovich was not in Valencia, Spain the other night as he had 'business' to tend to (read wooing the new missus on the French Riviera. I do not blame him by the way!). Chelsea were getting their business done in Spain. The London lads must have had a fine siesta on Tuesday as they pulled out an important win at the bitter end or perhaps their bitter ends! All of this and JoMo is still on the 'hot seat'! Here is what 'Deflection' Frank has to say,

"He is one of the best in the world and I don't see many better than him out there. I am fortunate enough to work with him every day and have a very good relationship with him. I love working with the man.

"He is the focal point and leader of our group so the things he does make a big, big difference.

"Of course the players have to go out and perform but the manager is fantastic.

"Huge credit to him for what he did in Valencia. You can't talk highly enough about the moves he makes because many times they work for us."

I agree. I think Jose Mourinho is a very cohesive part of that super-star studded squad. He will be missed at Stamford Bridge and it will be a spell before they achieve the ranks Jose did. Mark these words.

Chelsea 2 - 1 Valencia

Champions League Highlights
Joe Cole's little pass to Essien was a brilliant piece of work. I don't think I have to mention the finish Essien took.

Rumor Mill

BLUES CHASE TEVEZ

CHELSEA and big rivals Manchester United have joined Europe's top clubs in the battle to snap up Carlos Tevez.

West Ham's Argentine striker is already being chased by Juventus, Inter Milan and Real Madrid.

The Hammers have first refusal to buy Tevez, 23, at the end of the season.

But they will not pay the £25million price tag even if they survive in the Premiership.

Chairman Eggert Magnusson has made no attempt to open talks with Kia Joorabchian, the man who owns the rights to Tevez.

Joorarchian was behind the loan deal that took Tevez and fellow Argy Javier Mascherano to Upton Park in August.

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JOSE MOURINHO is willing to become the next England manager.

The Chelsea boss WANTS to remain at Stamford Bridge but has become increasingly aware that Blues owner Roman Abramovich will oust him this summer.

And Mourinho has told pals that if he is axed by Chelsea and the England job becomes available he WILL talk to the FA.

A source admitted: "If Jose is out of Chelsea in the summer and there is a vacancy with England he would listen to what the FA have to say."

England boss Steve McClaren's position is under intense pressure. Should England fail to win their European Championship qualifier in Estonia on June 6 then McClaren will be sacked.

But there are senior figures at the FA who already think McClaren was the wrong choice to succeed Sven Goran Eriksson and want a change in the summer.

Key members of the FA's international committee will be intrigued to know that Mourinho would be willing to step in.

Bolton boss Sam Allardyce has been identified as the No1 choice to succeed McClaren. But Mourinho's potential availability will force a re-think.

In the past Mourinho, 44, has suggested running a national side would only happen later in his career and that he would like to coach his native Portugal.

But circumstances have changed. Mourinho wants to continue at Chelsea, until his deal ends in 2010. He and his family enjoy London but his relationship with Abramovich seems to have broken down irrevocably.

Mourinho recently hinted he would be interested in a move to Real Madrid. But it now seems Bernd Schuster is ready to take over there.

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RAUL TO KOP

LIVERPOOL are set to make a sensational swoop for Real Madrid legend Raul.

Rafael Benitez has been tipped off Real's skipper will be sold at a cut-price £5million at the end of the season.

And the Kop boss is in pole position to snap up the striker, who has been revered by Bernabeu fans for the last seven years.

Raul, 29, was a regular visitor to Anfield last season to watch close friend Fernando Morientes in action.

He developed a rapport with Benitez, whom he also knew when the Anfield chief was second-team coach at Real.

A Madrid source revealed: "Real president Ramon Calderon is starting to think it is time to overhaul the squad and bring in younger and fresher players."

Raul's agent, Gines Carvajal, declared: "If he leaves Real his destination would be easy to choose. It would be England."

Benitez would also like Barcelona hitman Samuel Eto'o but fears he may not be able to afford the Cameroon star.