Without Didier Drogba, Chelsea mauled AC Milan in a 5-0 battering. Frank Lampard got 1 whilst Nicolas Anelka helped himself to 4 before being replaced in the 66th minute for Andriy Shevchenko.  New boss Scolari said:

"Today was good not because he scored four goals but because he played more free and with more quality than in other games. He was playing against a big club and to get four goals against Milan, for his confidence it is fantastic and Anelka today and in the last game played more inside the penalty area than before. 

MEANWHILE, Didier Drogba has revealed he wants to sign a new four-year contract at Chelsea.

"I am confident talks with Chelsea will lead to a positive resolve about my future,"

"Money is not the main factor and if Chelsea show they want me it is possible to accept a proposition."

AND FINALLY, Robinho has asked both his president and manager Bernd Schuster to let him go to Chelsea.

Robinho made the request during a meeting in London today,

"I want to go to Chelsea  (unlike Elvis Costello!)  just as Cristiano wants to go to Madrid – it’s the same thing.” 

Things are looking bright for the blues up front.....at last.

It's not as easy to pick a team as it might look.  Only one player from each club allowed.  Anyone better this team?

GK David James - POR

RB Micah Richards - MCY

CB John Terry - CHE

CB Jonathan Woodgate - TOT

LB Steven Warnock - BLA

MID Ashley Young - ASV

MID Tim Cahill - EVE

MID Cesc Fabregas - ARS

MID Cristiano Ronaldo - MNU

STR Michael Owen - NEW

STR Fernando Torres - LIV

With a sad heart, we at the bridge wave goodbye to Europe's finest defensive midfielder of the past 10 years bar none - Claude Makelele. He has been a huge favourite since joining us from Real Madrid for an absolute bargain of £16.8m. Madrid possibly lost out on their most important player, even in a squad containing Zidane, Figo, Roberto Carlos etc.  It's no surprise they won nothing for many years after he left

It was Zinedine Zidane who posed the rhetorical question, when Real Madrid let Makelele go to Chelsea in order to buy David Beckham from Manchester United in the summer of 2003, "Why put another layer of gold paint on the Bentley when you are losing the engine?" When the Frenchman arrived at Stamford Bridge, Zidane's words made at least one of his new team-mates sit up and take notice.

"I didn't know Maka when he was at Real Madrid," Lampard said at the pre-match press conference, "but when I heard Zidane say that I was interested to know what he meant. In the last five years, I've found out. He's an absolute dream to play with, especially if you're an attacking midfield player. He's one of the greatest midfield players in the world, he has been for a long time, and all of us players know exactly why."

It is looking more and more likely that Jose is going to be our next manager.  He and Abramovich have been building bridges recently (Roman just bought him a Porsche) and Jose has openly admitted he would like to manage Chelsea again.

When you look at the available candidates for the job, it becomes even more possible.

Rijkaard - He seems to fall out with everyone both as a player and manager, also he is somewhat unproven, sure a CL winner, but with a squad to die for.

Mancini - Again somewhat unproven, yes he did win the Scudetto with Inter Milan, but this seasons Serie A race was one of the weakest yet.  AC Milan were very poor and Juventus aren't even a shadow of the team they one were.

Hiddink - He would be a fine manager for the Blues, but has turned down plenty of high profile jobs as he wants to stay with Russia and carry on doing what he's doing. Has just signed an extension until 2010.

Ericsson - Although I personally like Sven, I just can't see him being the right kind of personality for the Chelsea job.  It seems the powers that be have realised we need a big personality to increase our public profile and Sven doesn't really fit the bill.

All this leads us back to Jose Mourinho.  He really is the perfect man for the job.  The players and fans love him, he loves the club and admitted recently he wants to come back

(March 07 "Asked if he would go back, he said: “Yes, why not. I would love to do that, of course, of course."). 

If Chelsea want to be the main story of the off season and want the majority of the media spotlight then bringing back Jose would send the press into an absolute frenzy - Mourinho would love it.

I think it may well become a very special summer.

Chelsea's victory over Fenerbahce last night summed up our season so far. We looked like we should have won comfortably, but made hard work of it and struggled to control the game for long periods.  Although they threatened very little, it seemed as though the Turks were going to get back in the game and repeat the 1st leg result.

However, in true Chelsea style this season, we manage to get through and put ourselves in a position to go all the way.  Considering how we have played at times this season and how little we've dominated games, I'm still pinching myself when I see that with 5 games left we're in 2nd and only 3 points behind Utd, and we're in yet another Champs League semi final.

As for calling the Semi? Well my blue tinted glasses mean I am expecting a Chelsea win and our 1st CL final appearance.  Liverpool, however, just seem to do it in this competition.  They're in form at the moment, Torres is on fire and they know how to get to CL finals.

I think Chelsea's saving grace could be the fact that the 2nd leg is at the Bridge this time, unlike the other 2 semis the clubs have played.  This has to be advantageous to us, but there is so much more still to do.  I'm unbelievably excited about the prospect, but hugely wary too.

Whatever happens, 4 CL semi finals in 5 seasons is a fine record.  We just have to take the next step.  Come on you blues!

I seem to keep hearing the same kind of thing at the moment. Even footballsfailing wrote in his most recent blog on here "I think United probably deserve it"

People keep saying to me things like "Chelsea don't deserve to win the league" or "Arsenal deserve to be above you" or "United deserve to win the league"

What a load of old tosh!  I don't buy this for one minute.  As Arsenal have perennially proved, it matters not how you play, it's the results that matter.  You don't win silverware by playing attractive football alone, you don't win titles by winning your victories by a landslide.  Without wanting to state the obvious, you win titles by racking up the most points, regardless of how you go about it.

If Chelsea win the league, then we will fully deserve it for our tenacity, our strength of character, our form, but most vitally our amount of points!  If we don't win it, then we didn't do enough.  Sounds obvious, but so many seem to disagree already.

If United win the league, I will be the first to say they deserve it.  I believe the winners always deserve it.  You don't get lucky for 38 games in a row.

I'm re-posting a blog I wrote a few months ago because it is more appropriate now than ever.

It has always bemused me when I hear so many people speaking about how Arsenal supposedly play the finest football in England....perhaps Europe.  I'm sorry, but I just don't buy it.  I think their style of football is overrated. 

Don't get me wrong, I fully appreciate the beauty of their style of play and I'm also not so naive to not realise they have consistently played more attractive football than my team Chelsea....perhaps not as successful, but certainly more attractive.

The problem that I have with their style, is that it so often doesn't go anywhere.  It's all very nice but sometimes I just wonder "What's the point in that??", especially when they mess around like that for much of the game and end up with a 1-1 draw.  It has happened quite often in the past few seasons....is it really that wonderful if they can't convincingly win games on a regular basis?

I'm really not saying this due to my dislike for them, because in all honesty I have no feelings for them either way.  I also have no feelings either way for Man Utd (all my emotions are wrapped up entirely within Chelsea.....love, hate, anger, delight etc.)

I have always personally found Man Utd's style of football far more exciting to watch.  Thrilling brake neck speeds, direct, skillful, always plenty of goals.  They absolutely destroy teams when their on song and have been doing it for absolutely years and years now.  As a Chelsea fan, I am far more keen for my team to emulate Man Utd's style than Arsenal's, it's way more exciting, far more attractive and infinitely more successful.

Couldn't resist that sorry dlred! 

For the first time this season, I actually think Chelsea could win the league, quite amazing really after the awful run of injuries, players out in Africa and some really extended runs of poor form.

What makes our current 2nd place in the league even sweeter, is how fans of other teams, pundits and other managers have written us off time and time again.

Bring on the Champions League!

Yet again the special one hits the nail on the head.......

Of course, one day he will come back to play Chelsea with a sting in his tail, but lets face it he'll cause problems for any team in Europe.

 QUOTE:

 The former Chelsea manager said: "Arsenal were incredible against Milan and across the two matches there's no doubt which team deserved to go through.

Having listened to David Bentley on the radio this morning, it yet again struck me what a fine ability footballers have to speak in riddles........or rather in cliches. Bentley is actually one of the more articulate young players and yet he just churned out the usual garb.

Yet for some reason, when my teams captain, talisman and all round action hero - John Terry - speaks in a post match interview (or any other player with the CFC or 3 Lions crest on his chest) , I shush my wife....  "ssshhhh!! I need to hear this....just wait.....I can't miss what he's about to say!"  Is it any wonder she doesn't share my passion for the beautiful (though perhaps not intellectually stimulating) game.

SO WHAT ARE YOUR FAVOURITE CLICHES? 

Here's my top 3

"He's got a great touch for a big lad" 

 (Should small lads have the monopoly on a good touch?)

"A cultured left peg"

(What about his left foot?  Does his peg enjoy the opera?)

"A sleeping giant, just waiting to be woken" 

(Think Newcastle, Man City, Leeds, Sheff Wed, Wolves or any club who's played in the top flight with 20,000 fans or more)

When the FA come knocking at my door to manage a representative Premiership XI against other league rep teams, this is the team I'll be picking......I know, it's rather attacking, but thats the English spirit isn't it?  We'll score more than you!

GK - P. Cech

DF - M. Richards

DF - J. Terry

DF - N. Vidic

MF - C. Ronaldo

MF - F. Lampard

MF - F. Fabregas

MF - M. Arteta

ST - W. Rooney

ST - D. Drogba

ST - E. Adebayor

Subs:

GK - B. Friedel

DF - K.Toure

DF - R. Ferdinand

MF - S. Gerrard

MF - M. Essien

ST - F. Torres

ST - R. Keane

Without Ronaldo, Tevez, Neville (c), Giggs (vc) and  Scholes in the starting line up, could you call this their reserve team???? ;)

Well done to Barnsley, kept the FA Cup dream well and truly alive!! 

Another piece from the telegraph, this time the worst.  Bluejay, they had James Beattie £6m Southampton - Everton in 13th place.  Other interesting ones outside the top 10 were Morientes Monaco - Liverpool £6.3m (15th), Andy Reid Charlton - Spurs £7m (Yes.......£7m!!!)(17th), Scott Parker Charlton - Chelsea £10m (16th).

Do you agree with these? Surely Andy Reid should hbe a top 10 contender

10. Anthony Stokes Arsenal to Sunderland - £2m 2007. Has failed to live up to his reputation at Arsenal and Falkirk.

9. Greg Halford Colchester to Reading - £2m 2007. Record signing made just three appearances before leaving for obscurity at Sunderland.

8. Luis Boa-Morte Fulham to West Ham - £4.5m 2007. A lot of money for a player already past sell-by date.

7. Michael Ricketts Bolton to Middlesbrough - £2.5m 2003. Won an England cap in 2002, and has been on the slide since.

6. Eric Djemba-Djemba Man United to Aston Villa - £1.3m 2005. Alex Ferguson passed on his mistake to Villa; he didn't improve there.

5. Nigel Quashie Portsmouth to Southampton - £2.1m 2005. Three managers in consecutive seasons thought he was the answer to their troubles. West Brom and Southampton went down, but West Ham survived - after Quashie was dropped.

4. Nigel Quashie Southampton to West Bromwich - £1.5m 2006.

3. Nigel Quashie West Bromwich to West Ham - £1.5m 2007.

2. Matthew Upson Birmingham to West Ham - £7.5m 2007. Lasted a combined 41 minutes in two games last season; improved since.

1. Jean-Alain Boumsong Rangers to Newcastle - £8m 2005. Accident-prone defender who did much to undermine Graeme Souness' position.

An interesting piece from the Telegraph on the top 10 transfer window signings.

Anyone think of any better Window Signings?

10. Lucas Neill Blackburn to West Ham - undisclosed 2007. The rugged, reliable backbone in West Ham's great escape of last season.

9. Ashley Young Watford to Aston Villa - £9.5m 2007. Quickly become one of the most exciting players in the Premier League.

8. David Bentley Arsenal to Blackburn - undisclosed 2006. Blossomed as Blackburn's midfield orchestrator and graduated to the full England squad.

7. Emmanuel Adebayor Monaco to Arsenal - £5m 2006. The Togolese striker has developed into the powerhouse leader of the Arsenal land and aerial attack.

6. Mikel Arteta Real Sociedad to Everton - £2m 2005. Has become an integral part in the Moyes-inspired resurrection of Everton.

5. David Unsworth Sheff United to Wigan - undisclosed 2007. Scored goal that kept Wigan up, thereby relegating team who sold him.

4. Dean Ashton Norwich to West Ham - £7m 2006. His goals and presence helped West Ham to the FA Cup final.

3. Nemanja Vidic Spartak Moscow to Man United - £7.2m 2006. Serb was a crucial signing in the construction of United's title-winning side last season.

2. Christophe Dugarry Bordeaux to Birmingham - free 2003.Galvanised struggling Birmingham and scored five goals in four games to ensure their safety.

1. Pedro Mendes Tottenham to Portsmouth - £7m (joint fee) 2006. Archetypal transfer-window signing: the catalyst in a successful battle against relegation.

OK, so there's clearly not a shift in power in North London and won't be for quite a long time yet. However, it has to be said, I'm very surprised that Arsenal didn't sign Woodgate, especially in light of the injury to Toure and the continued below par performances from Senderos. Woodgate would have fitted in very neatly......his English passport aside perhaps.

I honestly believe that Woodgate is an excellent defender and had Chelsea not bought Alex and Ivanovic to go with Terry and Carvalho, then I would be wondering why not.  In fact I was hoping we were going to sign him last summer and was a bit disappointed that we didn't.

Woodgate, King and Dawson provides very good cover for Spurs, the only problem being that of injuries. What are the chances of all 3 being fit for more than a couple of games?

Be honest now gooners, do you think AW should have made a move for him?  He said he didn't, but why not? This will surely make Spurs stronger in a department where Arsenal are buckling a bit.