PICTURE 1 So, have been there before? This stadium have so many memorial that you can see there. If you are fan of this team you must visit this stadium then don't miss to get some nice memory there.
Chelsea Star Ballack Laughs Off Barcelona’s Criticism
The Pensioner’s German midfielder has responded to the criticisms and complaints leveled at his side by the Catalan giants.
Barcelona launched a scathing review of Chelsea and referee Wolfgang Stark’s performance in last Tuesday’s Champions League semi-final first leg clash at the CampNou.
Blues manager, Guus Hiddink utilized an ultra-defensive strategy and a physical approach to stifle the Blaugrana attacking tidal wave and duly earned a 0-0 draw, while the referee was condemned by numerous Barca figures for allowing the English side to get away with an excessive amount of dangerous challenges.
Now, midfielder Michael Ballack has chipped in with his own two cents about all the fuss surrounding the much talked-about game, starting with the match officiating.
“The referee did a great job. This is football and the Barcelona players should know this. Maybe they expected us to roll over for them and because we didn’t, they don’t think it’s fair,” he told The Sun.
“You have to play differently against Barca as you do against Liverpool. This was all part of our strategy,” he added.
The German then responded to his nemesis, Andres Iniesta, who was one of the more vocal players to criticize the referee as well as Chelsea’s ‘anti-football’.
“Iniesta is a great player and there’s no need for him to talk that way,” he declared.
“In fact, it was a game where it was not necessary to talk about the referees at all. But this is how players react when they do not obtain the result they want.”
Chelsea and Barcelona will square-off again this coming Wednesday for the second leg at StamfordBridge.
Pique Urges Barcelona To Forget Real Madrid And Focus On Chelsea
The ex-Manchester United defender wants his side to start thinking about the Blues and forget about the Blancos…
Barcelona celebrate their historic 6-2 win over Real Madrid at the Bernabeu in the Clasico (MARCA)
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Young Gerard Pique has exceeded all expectations in his very first season in the senior Barcelona team and was an impressive, towering figure again at the weekend when the Catalans demolished Real Madrid in El Clasico.
But the 22-year-old wants the team to quickly move on from the triumphant romp over their arch adversaries and focus on Chelsea in Wednesday’s do-or-die Champions League semi-final, second-leg battle at StamfordBridge.
“We must stop speaking about the 6-2 win against Madrid. It’s already in the past,” he said during the pre-match press conference.
“To talk about that game does not benefit us in any way. Sure, it was a nice result and we celebrated as we did, but if on Wednesday we do not progress past the semi-finals, what happened last Saturday will become secondary.
“It is necessary to keep our feet on the ground. We have the capacity and the quality but we have seen in the past few years how in the world of football, the big teams that look as though they would dominate Spanish or European football have disappointed.”
Pique then analysed the strategy Chelsea will likely employ against the rampaging Blaugrana.
“Right from the outset, they will tighten their lines. This is where we must be very solid ourselves and move the ball around well, as we did at the Bernabeu,” he offered.
“Barca only know how to play to win, which is why we will go out there and attack. If we can avoid giving away corner kicks and committing fouls on the edge of the area, then we can win.”
Finally, the tall centre-back spoke about his potential defensive partner, Martin Caceres, who looks certain to deputise for the injured Rafa Marquez and suspended Carles Puyol.
He said, “In all the games that he has played, he has showed that he is a very solid defender, he’s fast and he’s strong. For the match on Wednesday, he will be a vital player for us.”
KS Leong, Goal.com
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John Terry is Chelsea's hero as Barcelona are kept out
For all the breath-taking beauty of Barcelona’s football, for all that Catalan pulses were set racing by Andres Iniesta and Lionel Messi, Camp Nou was reminded on Tuesday night that football is about defending, as well as attacking and John Terry gave the locals a master-class. For the first time this season Barcelona had failed to score at home.
By Henry Winter at the Nou Camp
Job done: Petr Cech and John Terry show their appreciation after the gamePhoto: GETTY IMAGES
Super-man: Petr Cech makes a good save early in the first match as John Terry looks onPhoto: GETTY IMAGES
Terry was immense, a captain leading by example, the rock on which Barcelona’s celebrated attacking ambition foundered. He kept clearing danger in the air and on the ground and his example inspired all his team-mates. Alex impressed alongside him while Petr Cech made vital saves from Dani Alves and Alexander Hleb.
Chelsea would have loved an away goal, and will be aware that a mistake at the Bridge next week would leave them a mountain to climb. Yet such was Barcelona’s dominance of possession last night that Chelsea were entitled to a deep satisfaction for keeping Iniesta and Messi at bay.
The Catalans had not been short of confidence, their fans whistling derision at the visitors before kick-off while holding up a massive banner showing a map of Europe, their ports of call in this season’s Champions League and saluting "all the victories carry us to Rome".
Barcelona’s belief was rooted in the abilities of attackers like Thierry Henry, whose pace and control had embarrassed Branislav Ivanovic within 70 seconds of a chastening first half for Chelsea. Ivanovic simply could not live with the speed of the former Arsenal striker, and hauled him to the ground. Chelsea survived that scare but the warning was clear. Menace came in many forms here.
Barcelona’s technical class, their joie de vivre and quicksilver movement were all on parade. Andres Iniesta, outstanding in central midfield, glided around Michael Ballack and Alex in swift, elegant succession. Camp Nou almost gasped in disbelief when Lionel Messi miscontrolled the ball. He was human after all. Soon, though, the little Argentinian, prematurely compared to Diego Maradona but exuding the potential to reach such heights one day, began to live up to his billing.
Soon he was displaying remarkable acceleration to race away from Jose Bosingwa, who emulated Ivanovic, fighting flair with fire, introducing Messi to the floor. The ball seemed almost intoxicated with Messi’s company, almost beseeching to be placed permanently under the No 10’s cultured command. One pass from Messi to Dani Alves, squeezed through a thicket of thicket of yellow shirts, defied geometry, let alone belief.
Messi was mesmerising, joining Iniesta in running the show, delighting Barcelona fans and all who love the Beautiful Game. Here was an exhibition of how football should be played: with hunger, energy and sumptuous skill, taking on an opponent with a feint here, a flick there and no end of dribbles. Camp Nou was a canvas and Messi’s vivid brush-strokes were all over it.
His starting position on the left was merely a base camp for scaling the heights. Messi kept cutting inside, playing one-twos with Henry, then Samuel Eto’o, creating shooting opportunities, none taken.
The local prints had predicted a culture clash along the lines, make that headlines of "Beauty and the Beast’’. Chelsea had little compunction in using physics to combat the arts of Barcelona. Florent Malouda, usually as hard as Camembert, followed through on Victor Valdes. John Obi Mikel, starting ahead of Nicolas Anelka as Hiddink flooded midfield, clattered Xavi. Camp Nou was incensed, screaming for the experienced German referee, Wolfgang Stark, to clamp down on the visitors’ nihilistic streak.
Stark, commendably, was keen to play advantage, an approach that helped Barcelona, and started reaching for the yellow card only when the challenges increased in spite, particularly when Henry was targeted. First Alex poleaxed Henry, who was then caught nastily by Michael Ballack, another venomous incident for the Germany-France scrap-book.
While Stark reached for the book, Barcelona reached for the stars. Iniesta was putting on a glittering display, full of fine passing and surges through the middle. Iniesta has this neat way of rolling away from a marker, dragging the ball with him, so confident in his technique that he never fears losing possession. As the half wore on, as Barcelona dominated, Iniesta linked instinctively with Henry, whose shot was saved. Then Iniesta went himself, bringing a save from Cech.
Chelsea were in danger of being passed to death, their mettle and mobility tested by Barcelona’s pass masters. As the siege intensified, John Terry and Alex stood firm at the heart of Chelsea’s defence, heading away danger – but it soon returned.
Set up in 4-2-3-1 formation, Chelsea broke out only infrequently in the first half. Early on, Malouda and Michael Essien combined to set up Frank Lampard, whose shot curled wide. Seven minutes before the break, Drogba was gifted a magnificent opportunity. Rafael Marquez squared the ball across his box far too lazily, imparting insufficient power in the ball. Drogba scented blood, chasing down the ball, and sending it flying goalwards.
Sadly for Chelsea, Valdes was alive to the danger, rushing out and saving. Drogba was first to the loose ball, which he attempted to lift over the Barcelona keeper, who again impressed by clawing the ball away.
Chelsea supporters were finding their voice. They had failed to take up their full allocation, sending back 1600 tickets, but made themselves heard as the second half unfolded, particularly when Ballack headed a Drogba free-kick just wide.
Barcelona came calling again, re-examining Chelsea’s character. Dani Alves lacks exceptional defensive qualities but the Brazilian is formidable going forward, and unleashed a shot that Cech did well to see, let alone stop. For all the talk of Chelsea sweeping into town, attacking relentlessly, they had known the storm blowing towards them.
Hiddink’s centre-halves were outstanding. Terry slid in to nick the ball ahead of Xavi with Cech exposed. Then Alex leapt high to head clear an Eric Abidal cross. Alex was then outpaced by Eto’o, who would have scored but for a magnificent save from Cech.
The giant Czech Republic keeper has come in for criticism in recent times, but he was a towering figure here. With Barcelona sweeping forward in ever increasing waves, Hiddink made a defensive move, withdrawing Lampard, who had seen little of the ball, and sent on Juliano Belletti, who had scored for Barcelona in a Champions League final but was now charged with frustrating his erstwhile colleagues.
With Drogba increasingly isolated, barring occasional breaks from Malouda, Chelsea were living dangerously and Bosingwa was incredibly lucky that Stark did not spot his tug at Henry’s shirt, a ruse that knocked the French international off-balance. Worst offences have scarred elite fields this season but it was still a penalty. Chelsea had escaped.
Chelsea’s defending was awesome. Terry stooped in ahead of Messi to clear. Lady Luck then smiled on Chelsea, Bojan heading over when unmarked and Alexander Hleb denied by Cech and then firing wide. The Bridge promises to be tense.
Chelsea Boss Guus Hiddink: England Is The Place To Be
The Dutchman, on loan from Russia, is delighted to be in England...
EPL: Guus Hiddink, Chelsea v Everton (PA)
Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink has clearly been impressed with English football during his short time at Stamford Bridge, with the global reach of the Premier League particularly impressing him, as well as the competitive nature of the play.
He also went as far as to recommend England to any young, ambitious coaches who wanted to carve a reputation for themselves in the game.
"If you see the reaction after our games against Liverpool and after our game against Arsenal, not just here in England but worldwide - from South America, Australia, Asia - people know this is the place to be. Any manager who is young should be here," Hiddink told the clib's official website.
"It is the place to be. It is well-organised. Of course there are always incidents in any country but people respect each other here.
"Personally I am well-received in all the clubs I go to and there is respect and class in the Premier League. People love the football wherever their place is in society."
Chelsea travel across London to face West Ham United at Upton Park tomorrow, and Hiddink, although acknowledging it will be tough, has not yet given up completely on the Blues' bid for the league title.
"I said it is not off, but the big clubs are not wasting many points and it is very difficult, but I don't exclude it," he stated.
"We want to fight on three roads and it might cost you if your squad is not fully equipped. Sometimes you might pay a price too high if you fight on three roads."
After the astonishing boom of goals at Anfield the previous evening, the bust swiftly followed at Stamford Bridge as the rate of interest in the title race fell to virtually zero. This precursor to next month's FA Cup Final was half as uplifting and electrifying as Alistair Darling's delivery of his Budget, and there was no surprise about that.
Along with birth, death and taxes, one of the certainties of human existence is that intense pleasure must always be followed by pain. Drink too much and you suffer a hangover. Eat too well and you end up on that wonder drug with side effects too gruesome to be dwelt on here. Have sex and 14 years later you're staring across the breakfast table at a surly adolescent.
All in all, then, it was inevitable that the 4-4 feast served up by Liverpool and Arsenal would be balanced by scoreless famine when Chelsea and Everton renewed the London-Scouse rivalry 24 hours later.
When Guus Hiddink insisted, before this wretched game, that Chelsea still had a shot at winning the Premier League, he was speaking with precisely the same fake optimism Darling brought to his prediction that the economy will shortly begin to recover. He knew he was talking ritualistic nonsense but what else could he say?
Judging by the apathy that suffused them for the first 75 minutes, the Chelsea players were also well aware that their coach was talking cobblers about challenging Manchester United.
And even if it wasn't obvious to them before the match, it had become abundantly so within 10 minutes of the kick-off when it fell to a natural-born Evertonian to remove any lingering doubt about the title. Once Wayne Rooney had given United the early lead against Portsmouth, the evening's pointlessness was fully established and two teams with nothing but the avoidance of injury to concern them duly reflected the irrelevance.
Everton under the splendid David Moyes are neither elegant nor aesthetically pleasing but they are spirited and well drilled. These yeoman qualities were more than enough to frustrate Chelsea, whose lack of a playmaker with the vision to unlock defences has seldom been so apparent.
The other thing Chelsea sorely need is to concede the first goal. These days, their finest performances invariably come when they are invigorated by the shock of falling behind. In this, if nothing else, they were unlucky last night, because Everton striker Jo was wildly profligate when twice given a clear run on Petr Cech's goal.
Had the Brazilian taken either of those sitters, no doubt Chelsea would have been roused from their slumbers and gone on to win. Instead, with nothing to motivate them, they huffed and puffed in a first half of such dullness that Didier Drogba's mandatory pretend injury (a minute of agonised writhing, languid hobble off for treatment, return to the pitch within 11 seconds miraculously cured; the usual sequence) came as light relief.
The second half maintained the tedium, until with a quarter-hour remaining full-strength Chelsea decided that they might as well try to beat under-strength Everton. The tempo was raised, and a few decent chances were made, until in added time Drogba produced the game's only memorable moment, when he spun beautifully off his marker and quivered the bar with a half-volley. But the game didn't deserve a winner, let alone a glorious one, and it would have meant nothing to either side.
This feckless performance won't worry Hiddink a jot. His mind will be firmly focused on more momentous challenges, such as the rematch with Everton at Wembley at the end of May, and the small matter of the imminent Champions League semi-final against Barcelona.
What perhaps will worry him, when he gets round to watching the tape of last night's scintillating 4-0 demolition of Sevilla, is Barca's form. They are playing the football of the gods right now, so heaven help Chelsea if they perform at the Nou Camp as they did at Stamford Bridge last night. Something tells me that they will be back to their combative best in Spain, and will at the very least have the spark of falling behind to ignite the fire. If this pallid fixture was the calm (and it had the tranquillity of a controlled coma), the oncoming storm will be something to savour.
Chelsea FC's Brazilian defender Alex will be in the Talk Football chatroom at 16.00CET on Friday to answer your queries about his team's UEFA Champions League run.
Tickets to win You may want to ask the 26-year-old about Chelsea's quarter-final victory against Liverpool FC and his side's continental campaign thus far, or look ahead to the Blues' last-four encounter with FC Barcelona. Remember that you can win tickets to a UEFA Champions League game courtesy of Ford by participating in this webchat. Three prizes of two UEFA Champions League match tickets go to the users who post the best comments, questions and queries on the Talk Football website during every round of matches.
FA Cup Final tickets are being offered for sale on the internet before they are issued to football clubs, the BBC has learned.The FA said the practice is illegal and that its lawyers would be investigating websites claiming to sell seats for the Chelsea-Everton match on 30 May. One website is asking £1,040 for seats in the Chelsea section. The website owners say they are not breaking any rules because their business is based in Spain. The FA is also planning to launch a major anti-touting campaign later on Thursday. Reselling of football tickets is banned in England because of fears of trouble between rival supporters who are normally seated separately from one another.
We're concerned our fans are possibly considering buying tickets online - which the websites just don't have Everton spokesman Ian Ross But the websites, who cannot be named for legal reasons, claim to be selling tickets to whoever is willing to pay hugely inflated prices. One site is asking for £713 for seats behind the Everton goal. The price goes up to £845 for a view from what it refers to as "longside". Chelsea fans are being charged £546 for a seat behind the goal with up to £975 for a seat in what it calls club level. Peter Trenter of Chelsea Supporters Group said: "It's a common problem. Unofficial sites selling tickets at extortionate prices." But there is surprise that fans are being offered tickets, when seating arrangements and ticket allocation for the two sides have still to be finalised. The clubs are due to meet with FA officials on Thursday to discuss seating plans for this year's final. "The tickets haven't even been printed yet. It's physically impossible for them to have them," said Everton spokesman Ian Ross. One website told the BBC that it wasn't breaking the law because it was based in Spain. "It probably is illegal in England but we're in Spain so that's how we get around it," said a spokesman. The FA said the fact that the company was based abroad was irrelevant. "It doesn't matter if they are in Spain. It is illegal in England. That's all that matters," said an FA spokesman. The Premier League has also been trying to clamp down on internet ticket touts. It has in the past written to owners of websites to warn them to stop trading or risk prosecution. In the last six weeks it has closed down 30 websites selling Premier League tickets illegally. But fans say the only reason they turn to the ticket touts is because the FA is failing to make enough legitimate tickets available. Tickets sold Even though Wembley has a 90,000 capacity, only 52,000 tickets went directly to fans last year. Portsmouth and Cardiff both received 26,000 tickets each. A further 20,000 tickets were passed onto what's called the "football family." They include the regional FAs and referees. Sponsors and charity partners also got a share. In total, 17,000 tickets went to Club Wembley - the 10-year season ticket allocation which were sold to help cover the cost of building the ground. "The websites are there because of the way the FA allocate tickets," said Kenny Sweeney of the Mid Cheshire Everton Supporters Club. "Everton and Man Utd had 64,000 tickets for the semi-final - 24,000 went to other people. That's wrong." Because FA Cup Final tickets are likened to gold dust among fans, both Chelsea and Everton are expecting a huge demand when they go on sale. Everton has appealed to supporters to only purchase tickets through the club. "I think there'll be unprecedented demand from Everton fans. We're concerned our fans are possibly considering buying tickets online - which the websites just don't have," said Mr Ross.
In his column this week, Pat Nevin writes with excitement on tonight's game and with memories of being a player on Merseyside 20 years ago.
It is clearly the time of the season for the unexpected. The extraordinary 4-3 against Bolton Wanderers certainly quickened the pulse and hopefully it is the imperious start of the game rather than the perilous end to the match that was more realistic.
In many ways the 3-1 scoreline at Anfield was just as unexpected and all of us who expected to be using phrases such as cagey, tight and even boring were left to feel pretty stupid after a colossal 90 minutes from the Blues.
Once again you really have to stand up and applaud Guus Hiddink for preparing the team to perform at such a stunning tempo at this time in the season. There was also the tactical battle against Rafa Benitez that was won hands down by the Dutchman. It is also well worth mentioning at this point the impressively honourable reaction from Rafa in the post match interviews.
Clearly down after such a comprehensive and important defeat he was big enough to praise Chelsea warmly, not an easy thing to do in the circumstances and he certainly rose in my estimations there and then.
As we look forward to tonight's match the tactical battle is once again at the forefront of a few minds. It wasn't just that Guus knew that blocking out Torres and Gerrard was the answer, everyone had an idea that would be a good plan, the trick was figuring out how to do it. Michael Essien and his role were obviously pivotal at Anfield, but I expect some different ideas to be launched by Liverpool tonight. Do not forget also that Torres and more particularly Steven Gerrard will be desperate to have a much greater impact this time round, professional pride will come to the fore without even a shadow of a doubt.
So expect a totally different game this time, though Liverpool are in the awful Catch 22 position of having to be proactive from the start, knowing all along that losing a single goal at any point on the break will be tantamount to losing the tie. It goes without saying that no lapse of concentration is acceptable from the home side, after all if we lost an early goal then eyebrows would be raised along with the Reds' confidence, even if they still need another two.
Maybe the little fright against Bolton is just what the team needed, just to underline how games can change when teams get on a roll. Liverpool will also be clinging on to a famous Champions League final victory when they had just as big a mountain to climb with only 45 minutes to get there, and of course they did.
If all this seems a bit negative and bordering on scare mongering, it is simply to underline that Chelsea's major opponent tonight is actually themselves and any temptation to have it in the back of their minds that the job is done. It isn't and hopefully, actually definitely, Guus Hiddink will be driving home the same message right up until the second the lads walk out of that dressing room.
So tonight there are two huge jobs for the Chelsea fans, one as important as the other. An intimidating and positive attitude is needed again to match the phenomenal support the team had at Anfield, tonight is a night to go home hoarse. If that happens then I am sure there will be a world-class semi final to look forward to.
The second job is to my mind just as important, to show due respect to our visitors on a night that not only Liverpool, but Chelsea, English football and the entire game worldwide remember those football fans who died 20 years ago at Hillsborough. Below today's article I have included my own personal memories of that fateful day if you would like to read it. I know that everyone will behave immaculately on the occasion tonight and for tributes at the FA Cup semi-final on Saturday.
Last week I asked what was the combined score in all the previous Champions League meetings between Liverpool and Chelsea - the answer got by 99 per cent of you was 5-5, that is not including the penalties but yes including the Liverpool goal that never was.
The winner chosen at random who will be receiving a copy of Didier Drogba's autobiography was Alison Moriarty from East London. Well done and this week to be in with a chance of winning another autobiography, this time by Paul Canoville, could you tell me how many ex Chelsea players played in the FA Cup final in the year of Hillsborough? Answers as ever to pat.nevin@chelseafc.com
Good luck tonight for the lads and remember never take the latter stages of the Champions League for granted, this could be another one of the greatest nights in the club's history.
1989 There are very few days in your life that you can remember clearly 20 years later. On April 15th 1989 I played in an FA Cup semi final for Everton against Norwich City. Having spent nearly £1milllion on me at the start of the season and me having missed three months already with a cruciate ligament injury, I was desperate to start paying my way for the Toffees after having grudgingly left Chelsea a year before.
You will not have seen it, no one did. We won 1-0, I scored the goal, arguably the most important of my career, we played exceptionally well and walking off the sunbathed Villa Park I knew that I had rarely felt so happy, relieved or exhilarated in my life. Two minutes later myself, my team mates and all of our jubilant fans were plunged into the depths of despair.
As the news filtered through about what had happened in the other semi final at Hillsborough, at first it simply felt impossible, unreal. Trying to compute the enormity of the awful events on what had been for us a blissful afternoon just didn't make sense. The faces of the journalists who first informed us in the corridor was a shock in itself, by the time I got to the dressing room our backroom staff, Scousers to a man, were desolate and then it began to sink in. The champagne corks never popped, victory songs were never sung. We dressed quietly and left to join the rest of the nation in shock.
My next clear memory is two days later driving back down to Liverpool from Scotland were I had been visiting family. The streets of the city were like a bad horror movie, people were just walking about aimlessly, every bridge had others standing on their own looking lost and bereft, still more just sat in any random open space alone with their thoughts and memories.
I had already decided that the final, whoever progressed, should be cancelled and a blank space left on the old trophy as a reminder that football wasn't after all as important as life or death. The sight of a city that looked as if its soul had been torn out just underlined it.
The following days were if anything even worse as players from both Everton and Liverpool attended the funerals of the young and the old. I went to six, each one a trauma, but couldn't imagine how the Liverpool lads who had been on the pitch on the day could do the same and in most cases they attended many more. They say you can get 'compassion' fatigue, but that would have been impossible for anyone during those harrowing days. The memories of what the bereaved went through still haunt anyone who was there.
In the midst of it all there were moments that did restore your faith in football and humanity. Walking on to Anfield with the rest of the Everton squad when the pitch was covered with a huge carpet of flowers and then being respectfully applauded was truly moving. Maybe this should have alerted us to what the reaction would be from the families of the dead when football inevitably had to start up again.
I expected anger, resentment and hatred towards the game, at least for a while from those who had lost their loved ones. I certainly didn't expect them to demand that Liverpool FC should carry on in the tournament, play that cursed tie again and to try and win the cup in their memory.
They all seemed to be saying that their lost brothers, daughters, fathers, sons and friends had loved football, had loved their club so much that the only fitting memorial would be for Kenny Dalglish's team to go on and win it. I have always loved the game, but I know I never loved it that much, their attitude was an inspirational lesson to those of us who are fortunate enough to play the game, about the true level of passion that is out there.
In hindsight it was of course the right thing to do, a chance for the city to grieve and celebrate together. It was an all-Merseyside final that turned into a classic finishing 3-2 after extra time. It was not only the right decision to play it, it was also the right result, even if I was playing on the other side.
Everyone involved in the tragedy, and that means every football fan in the country, had to live with the consequences. The game had to change, after a decade that had also witnessed Heysel, Bradford and the culture of the vile hooligans who had hijacked the sport. It had to change or it too would die and at that moment many would not have mourned its passing.
For the next few years living in the area I continuously marvelled at how the Liverpudlians coped with what they had been through. For the derby games at Anfield and Goodison the fans were still intermingling with not even the slightest suggestion of trouble. Was there any big city in the world where two sets of rival fans could and did stand together without the police batting an eyelid, never mind raising a baton?
The city seemed to grow even closer together after Hillsborough but for me one of the saddest things to happen in the intervening years is that the special bond between the clubs has since broken down.
The Taylor report led to all-seater stadia and with the advent of stricter segregation, season tickets for seats that couldn't be moved, the blues and reds of Merseyside could no longer be shoulder to shoulder on derby day. In a classic case of ignorance breeding fear, that enforced segregation has slowly but surely led to bad feelings between some fans.
The two clubs have always had very different personalities, but the polarisation has grown over the past two decades in every area. Liverpool have been a successful Premier League club while Everton on the whole have been a more mediocre side. The reds have worked hard to become a world brand, while the story of the blues has been of a local side that still feels not only part of, but integral to, the community.
This week however both will look back to another time along with everyone else. A time that was certainly not better, but one when the city came together. When the position of football was shown to be more important than many of us had previously thought. A time that should never be forgotten, not only for the terrible things that happened but also for the understanding and humanity that came out the other side. A time when 96 football fans lost their lives with their friends and families having suffered ever single day since. No matter the colour of our scarves, we all still think of them and must respect them.
Chelsea confirmed last night what the rest of us have known for months. Manager Guus Hiddink will return to his full-time job with Russia at the end of the season and that Chelsea will be hiring their fifth manager in three seasons.
We have reported that Carlo Ancelotti will coach Chelsea next season and tamford Bridge chairman Bruce Buck admitted a new man is being lined up. Buck said:
“That is a process that we have started and is ongoing. When we have an agreement for our new manager we will announce it. Guus Hiddink came here on a temporary basis two months ago and it is thanks to the Russian FA that he was able to come.”
Buck also hinted at a big shake-up of playing personnel. He added:
“We are expecting some players to leave this summer. I don’t know whether it is three, four or five and several to come in.”
It sounds like Roman is going to dig deep into his pockets and fund a summer spending spree by Chelsea this year. Chelsea have not added much to their squad in the last two seasons and if they are planning on competiting with the likes of Manchester United , Liverpool, and Barcelona they need to bring in some fresh, younger talent.
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There will be a famous visitor at Stamford Bridge on Friday as the FA Cup Trophy Tour comes to our west London home.
The Football Association and lead FA Cup sponsor E.ON have joined forces to launch the unique nationwide tour of the FA Cup to showcase the competition's history, heritage and magic ahead of our semi-final clash with Arsenal.
Aimed at children between seven and 11 years old and their families, the Trophy Tour is a fully interactive experience which lasts approximately 30 minutes, leading visitors through a fun and engaging journey where they can relive the most memorable goals and classic Cup Finals from the past 128 years.
There's even a virtual FA Cup Final, where you can follow in Blues legend Roberto Di Matteo's footsteps by scoring an historic goal at Wembley, before lifting aloft the actual FA Cup trophy.
All these magic moments will be caught on film and be available for download from www.facuptrophytour.co.uk
The website also hosts a great FA Cup competition, with monthly prizes to win tickets to an FA Cup semi-final game, as well as a chance to win a place for a child to walk out and accompany the FA Cup onto the pitch in the 2009 Final.
Sir Trevor Brooking, the FA's director of football development, said: 'The FA Cup sponsored by E.ON is a great competition and it's fantastic to know that now, thanks to this new Trophy Tour, thousands of children around the country will be able to learn about its rich history.
'To be able to lift the Cup at Wembley is every child's dream and they'll now be able to get that little bit closer to actually doing it. The FA Cup Trophy Tour really does bring the competition to life.'
Interspersed with interesting energy information, the tour's interactive content will also provide an insight into how the FA Cup has evolved on and off the pitch.
Outside, visitors to the tour can get involved in the action by showing off their skills on the tour's mini football pitch. Those who want some competitive fun can try their hand at 'Power Kick', a football game where the speed of their kick is measured against that of the professionals. Entry to The FA Cup Trophy Tour at Stamford Bridge on 10th April is free, but places are limited so you will need to pre-register at here to guarantee your place click here.
Carlo Ancelotti has told Chelsea he is ready to take over from Guus Hiddink. The British paper The Sun reported Thursday that the AC Milan coach has promised Roman Abramovich he will join the club this summer.
Ancelotti was the Blues owner’s first choice to replace Big Phil Scolari but was unwilling to leave Milan during mid-season. However, sources at the Italian club have indicated that an agreement has been reached with Chelsea which will see Ancelotti named the new coach. A contract worth around £5.8million a season over three years has been discussed and should be signed in June.
Real Madrid have courted the 52-year-old but Abramovich’s personal intervention is understood to have helped swing the deal in Chelsea’s favor. The only remaining obstacle is whether Milan will demand compensation for their manager, who has one year of his contract left to run.
Ancelotti insists he has a gentleman’s agreement with Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi that he can leave with their blessing in the summer.
Answer a simple question and you could be on your way to see Manchester United v Everton
In support of E.ON's Family Football campaign, National Express, the Official Supporter of The FA Cup and Travel Provider to Wembley Stadium are offering one lucky fan the chance to take a friend to the FA Cup semi-final between Manchester United and Everton at Wembley Stadium on Sunday 19 April. Please note the tickets will be in the Manchester United end. As FA Cup fever sweeps the nation you could be taking a friend to this famous stadium between two of this country's best supported teams. For your chance to win this fantastic prize please answer the question below.
National Express are the Official Supporter of The FA Cup and run direct services to Wembley Stadium from 57 locations in the UK. Coaches depart Manchester's Chorlton Street coach station at 8.45am arriving at Wembley 1.30pm. For more information visit www.nationalexpress.com/football
1. The FA Cup competition (the "Competition") is open to residents of the UK aged 18 and over. 2. The Competition is not open to employees or agencies of Guardian News & Media Limited ("GNM"), its group companies, their family members or anyone else connected to the Competition. 3. Entry into the Competition is acceptance of these Terms and Conditions. 4. To enter the Competition, answer the question and fill in the boxes on this page as requested and click the 'Submit' button. 5. Entries on behalf of another person will not be accepted and joint submissions are not allowed. 6. No responsibility is taken for entries that are lost, delayed, misdirected or incomplete or cannot be delivered or entered for any technical or other reason. Proof of delivery of the Entry is not proof of receipt. 7. The Competition closes at 11am on 15 April 2009. Entries received after this closing date will not be processed. 8. The winner will be chosen from a random draw of all correct entries received. The judges' decision will be final and no correspondence will be entered into. 9. Each winner will receive a pair of tickets to see Manchester United v Everton in the FA Cup semi-final on 19 April 2009. Travel to the event, insurance, meals, personal expenses and any other costs not specifically associated with the prize are the responsibility of the winner. 10. The winners will be notified by phone by 5pm on 15 April and given details on how to collect the tickets. 11. Details of the winner can be obtained by sending a stamped addressed envelope to the following address: The Guardian Marketing Department, 119 Farringdon Road, London, EC1R 3ER. 12. The prize is non-exchangeable, non-transferable, and is not redeemable for cash or other prizes. GNM accepts no responsibility for any costs associated with the prize and not specifically included in the prize, including, without limitation, meals, personal expenses, insurance and travel expenses. 13. GNM retains the right to substitute the prize with another prize of similar value in the event the original prize offered is not available due to circumstances beyond its reasonable control. 14. The winners may be required for promotional activity. 15. No purchase necessary. 16. GNM accepts no responsibility for any damage, loss, liabilities, injury or disappointment incurred or suffered by you as a result of entering the Competition or accepting the prize. GNM further disclaims liability for any injury or damage to your or any other person's computer relating to or resulting from participation in or downloading any materials in connection with the Competition. Nothing shall exclude the liability of GNM for death or personal injury as a result of either party's negligence. 17. GNM reserves the right at any time and from time to time to modify or discontinue, temporarily or permanently, this Competition with or without prior notice due to reasons outside its control. 18. The Competition will be governed by English law. Promoter: Guardian News & Media Limited, 119 Farringdon Road, London EC1R 3ER, UK
The World Football Challenge will come to the United States this summer, so you’d better be prepared with the right tickets, the right jersey and a few of the basic facts. For Americans, who will be too invested in baseball stats to afford much time for European soccer study, we have arranged a little cheat sheet below. Now you’ll look and sound like a real Premier League hooligan when you use your World Football Challenge tickets.
Club Basics Chelsea Football Club, otherwise known as Chelsea F.C. or Chelsea, or The Blues, is an English Premier League soccer team based out of West London. Although Chelsea used to be one of the laughing stocks of the Premiership a few decades ago, in the mid to late 1990s the team sprinted to the top of the standings and found a good deal of success, both in their league and in international competition. Nowadays Chelsea is one of the most beloved (and most loathed by their rivals and the jealous types) soccer teams in England. They frequently secure the best and brightest soccer stars from the UK and around the world. In 2005 and 2006 they won the Premier League title.
Jersey Sponsor Known colloquially as The Blues, Chelsea has a distinct all-blue (save for some white stripes and white socks) uniform. They’ve traditionally worn blue shirts, but they have alternate jerseys that are all-black and all-yellow. This will be hard for American sports fans to get used to, because in the states team colors usually stay mostly the same, although they add more white or gray when the team is home or away. The Europeans must know something about branding and merchandise sales that the Yankees don’t.
Chelsea could probably be fully sponsored by their owner, Roman Abramovich, a Russian oil tycoon and head of Millhouse LLC, reportedly worth somewhere just the other side of $10 billion (with a b), but they instead have a huge Samsung logo on their jersey tops. Samsung is a Korean business famous for many different things, electronics, heavy industry, construction, etc. The brand has a good reputation, and fits well with the club, so nobody should be embarrassed to wear a Chelsea jersey to the stadium come game time.
Star Players John Terry - A defenseman and captain of the team, Terry is an English National Team veteran with many, many appearances. He’s a favorite for his smart, hard-nosed play and steady hand at the helm.
Frank Lampard - John Terry’s vice-captain, Lampard is an attacking midfielder most of the time. He has played with Chelsea since 2001 and leads the team in goals. He’s also a member of the English National Team.
Michael Ballack - A German National Team veteran, Ballack plays midfield and is one of the most recognizable players in soccer today. He earned a reputation as a good free kick taker while with Bayern Munich before joining Chelsea.
Bottom Line If you’re looking to root for one of the hottest teams on the planet, you can’t go wrong with Chelsea. StubHub can get you to the stadium to see this fantastic soccer team in action, so buy tickets as soon as you can. Chelsea has a large fan following in the United States, so their games ought to be packed.
Brent Warnken wrote this article in association with StubHub. If you are looking for World Football Challenge tickets, sports tickets, theatre tickets, concert tickets, or any other kinds of tickets, StubHub.com is one of the best places to find them.
It was a story that broke during the International break but it appears that Barcelona are interested in signing Petr Cech from Chelsea this summer. The Chelsea goalkeeper is widely regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in Europe.
El Mundo Deportivo reports that one of those clubs that is still interested is Barcelona, who are having trouble with their No.1 goalkeeper. Valdes has not yet signed a new contract with the Catalans, and it is believed that he is asking for more money than the club are willing to give him.
With his deal running out, Barcelona may well cash in on him if he does not extend his deal, and this would leave the door open for Cech. The goalkeeper has been linked with a move to Barcelona before, and the Daily Mail quoted him as saying in 2007 that a move would have to be considered.
“Can I imagine staying in England? That I cannot answer. So far I have been very happy at Chelsea and I have started to love the Premier League. I have got used to life in London and my wife and I like it,” he said. “But in the case of Barcelona showing interest, yes, certainly it would be worth considering.”
Two years down the line, it will be interesting to see what Cech’s reaction will be were Barcelona to lodge an official bid for his services especially with the revolving door on the manager’s office at Stamford Bridge
JAXX, official betting partner of Newcastle United, have got 3 pairs of tickets to give away for one of the biggest games of the Toon's season when Chelsea visit St James Park on Saturday 4th April 2009.
All you have to do is answer the following question: Which number shirt does Steven Taylor wear for Newcastle United?
1) 26 2) 27 3) 28
Please send you answer to website@nufc.co.uk with the subject line 'Newcastle' and include your JAXX username and contact telephone number in the email. All entries must be received by 9am on Friday, April 3, 2009 and three winners will be picked at random*
Take a look at the wealth of markets for Saturday's big clash on www.jaxx.com and don't forget to check out the odds for this weekend's football action.
Chelsea Football Club have expanded their preseason tour of the United States for the summer of 2009 to include friendlies in the following cities: Seattle, Pasadena, Baltimore and Arlington.
Chelsea kick off their tour on July 18 when they play Seattle. On July 21, the Blues will play Inter Milan at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena (the original destination was going to be San Francisco, but this has changed). Then on July 24, Chelsea play AC Milan in Baltimore. And, on July 26, Chelsea concludes their U.S. preseason tour with a game against Club America at the new Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Chelsea’s matches against Inter Milan, AC Milan and Club America are part of the inaugural World Football Challenge tournament, which pits the four teams against each other in matches around the United States this summer.
For each match, supporters will be glad to know that there will be home and away ends for all teams, so if you want to get a seat in the Chelsea end, you can order those tickets online. Ticket prices are affordable, too. At least 50% of all tickets will be $35 or less.
“We are delighted to be in the United States again for pre-season,” said Peter Kenyon, Chelsea FC chief executive. “This is our fifth pre-season out of six that we have toured here and it is always a pleasure to see our fans and train and play in excellent facilities in great cities. Chelsea, of course, will bring a full-strength first team squad and with the quality of the opposition, and the backing of our partners, this series of matches will be the best preparation and the most high profile we have played in America.”
All of the matches will be televised live on ESPN and ESPN 360. The TV schedule is as follows:
Sunday, July 19 Club America vs. FC Internazionale Milano at Stanford Stadium (Palo Alto, Calif.) 7 p.m. EST on ESPN2
Tuesday, July 21 Chelsea FC vs. FC Internazionale Milano at the Rose Bowl (Pasadena, Calif.) 11 p.m. EST on ESPN2
Wednesday, July 22 AC Milan vs. Club America at the Georgia Dome (Atlanta, Ga.) 7 p.m. EST on ESPN2
Friday, July 24 AC Milan vs. Chelsea FC at M&T Bank Stadium (Baltimore, Md.) 8 p.m. EST on ESPN
Sunday, July 26 AC Milan vs. FC Internazionale Milano at Gillette Stadium (Foxborough, Mass.) 5 p.m. EST on ESPN2
Sunday, July 26 Chelsea FC vs. Club America at Cowboy Stadium (Arlington, Texas) 7 p.m. EST on ESPN2
What’s most impressive about the TV schedule is that Chelsea against AC Milan will be shown in prime-time on a Friday night on ESPN, which definitely shows the strides that the sport has made in this country and the opportunity for huge TV ratings as well as the chance to win over new soccer fans in this country.
The tour is fantastic news for Premier League fans in the United States. The last time a tour of this size was organized was five years ago, in 2004, when Manchester United, Liverpool, Roma, AC Milan, Celtic and Chelsea played across the United States and one game in Canada.
This time it’ll be interesting to see how many seats are sold for the games. The new Dallas Cowboys stadium will open in June with a capacity of 80,000. The Rose Bowl, site of the 1994 World Cup final, has a capacity of 92,000, while the M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore can hold 71,000 people. Qwest Field in Seattle, meanwhile, has 67,000 seats. The opportunity for Chelsea and organizer CAA Sports to make this tour very lucrative is immense.
Two areas of concern for football traditionalists and Chelsea fans will be (1) how many of the above stadiums will feature artificial turf when Chelsea play, and (2) whether Chelsea are over extending themselves. They were originally scheduled to participate in the 2009 Barclays Asia Cup Trophy in late July in China.
For the latest schedule of preseason friendlies for all 20 Premier League clubs, visit EPL Talk’s preseason friendlies page which is updated as soon as fixtures are announced.
FORMER Aberdeen FC player Steve Tosh today insisted the blame for Aberdeen FC’s Scottish Cup catastrophes should not rest solely with boss Jimmy Calderwood.
The AFC Supporters Society turned up the heat on the under-pressure Aberdeen FC manager by calling for him to be sacked in a letter to Willie Miller.
Aberdeen FC director of football Miller responded by saying he still has faith in Calderwood.
Queen of the South’s Tosh was at Pittodrie when the last Aberdeen FC manager was dismissed, as Steve Paterson’s reign was brought to an end in 2004.
The midfielder claimed it is wrong for Calderwood to be in the firing line by himself and that the players should take some responsibility for the quarter-final defeat to Dunfermline.
Tosh believes the fans should lay off the club’s manager – asking who could do a better job at Pittodrie other than Calderwood with such limited resources.
He said: “The players should feel a responsibility and it should not be one-way traffic all directed at the manager.
“I’d ask the fans to take a step back.
“With the budget Aberdeen have to attract players, who would do a better job than Jimmy Calderwood? Who would the club replace him with?
“Other clubs pay players on a par with Aberdeen, but buying a house and the cost of living where they are based are cheaper than the Granite City.
“If it’s hard to get players, then it will be hard to attract a top class manager up there.”
Tosh knows all about Aberdeen losing crunch cup matches.
He was at the heart of the Queen of the South team that beat Aberdeen in last season’s Scottish Cup semi-final.
The Dons’ disastrous defeat to Dunfermline brought back memories of that day.
But Tosh reckons there is little more Calderwood could have done against the Pars.
He said: “I watched the Dunfermline game and I don’t think the fans in the stands would have done much different to what Jimmy did.
“He might have put Tommy Wright on earlier.
“But fans have to understand Jimmy is at training every day.
“He picks the team based on what happens during a week, and over five years at Aberdeen he has got more decisions right than wrong.”
As the fans vent their spleens, Tosh is sure Calderwood is the ideal person to make sure it does not affect the players at a crucial time in the season.
He said: “Jimmy Calderwood is a big character with strong shoulders.
“He will keep it away from the players.
“Under Jimmy, Aberdeen have been a mainstay in the top six, which is their remit at the start of every season.”
Manchester City are setting their sights high, with Bayern Munich midfielder Franck Ribery, Barcelona striker Thierry Henry, Chelsea skipper John Terry and Blackburn striker Roque Santa Cruz all transfer targets. (The Times)
Liverpool may make a £9m bid for Valencia centre-back Raul Albiol if Daniel Agger refuses to sign a new deal to keep him at Anfield. (Various)
Real Madrid’s Dutch midfielder Rafael van der Vaart says he would like to join Chelsea, if his compatriot Guus Hiddink stays on as manager. (The Sun)
Hiddink, meanwhile, has urged Chelsea to bid for Tottenham striker Roman Pavlyuchenko. (Various)
AC Milan are lining up a £15m summer bid for Arsenal left-back Gael Clichy. (Various)
Everton defender Joseph Yobo will be offered a new £6m contract in the hope of fending off interest from Arsenal and Chelsea. (Daily Mirror)
Wigan are interested in signing Newcastle midfielder Joey Barton and will move for him at the end of the season. (The Sun)
Tottenham midfielder Tom Huddlestone has alerted Aston Villa, Newcastle and Everton by admitting he has concerns about his future at White Hart Lane. (Daily Mail)
Jeremie Aliadiere will quit Middlesbrough if they are relegated and the striker could make a shock return to Arsenal. (Daily Mirror)
Boro defender Emanuel Pogatetz also says he will leave the club if they are relegated. (The Sun)
Blackburn defender Andre Ooijer has confirmed he will return to PSV Eindhoven next season. (Various)
Birmingham striker Kevin Phillips is wanted by Australian side Perth Glory. (Daily Star)
Arsenal’s highly-rated young midfielder Mark Randall is wanted on loan by Blackpool. (Daily Mirror)
Ipswich and Watford are keeping tabs on Barnet striker John O’Flynn. (Daily Star)
Bristol City striker Dele Adebola is a target for Sheffield United. (Daily Mirror)
England boss Fabio Capello has branded striker Wayne Rooney a “crazy man” after the striker’s red card in Manchester United’s defeat by Fulham. (Various)
Arsenal goalkeeper Manuel Almunia is considering an application for a British passport that would allow the Spaniard to play for England. (Various)
Tottenham left-back Gareth Bale has revealed he is having extra coaching in how to become a better defender. (Various)
Sunderland goalkeeper Craig Gordon is set to for showdown talks with manager Ricky Sbragia over his future. (Daily Star)
Uefa says it will bring match fixing charges against a European club within days. (Various)
Liverpool midfielder Yossi Benayoun is set to anger his employers by risking his fitness to play for Israel on Saturday. (Daily Star)
Former Portsmouth boss Tony Adams is hoping to rebuild his managerial career by landing the top job at Dutch side Sparta Rotterdam. (The Sun)
Former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has vowed to stay as manager of Inter Milan for the next four or five years, quashing speculation he wants to return to the Premier League. (The Telegraph)
Leyton Orient chairman Barry Hearn believes up to a dozen cash-strapped clubs will go into administration in the next year. (The Sun)
Former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson has admitted he will be sacked as Mexico boss if they lose to Costa Rica on Saturday. (Daily Mirror)
Manchester United and England defender Rio Ferdinand insists footballers do not have a flash lifestyle, despite their huge salaries. “Our lives are quite boring”, he insists. “I spend a lot of time watching Coronation Street and Eastenders.” (Daily Star)
Chelsea and Russia boss Guus Hiddink showed that managing two sides simultaneously can be confusing when he referred to Arsenal’s Andrey Arshavin as a Chelsea player. Hiddink only has the midfielder under his charge with the international team. (The Sun)
Worldfootballchallenge.com is the official website of the inaugural World Football Challenge. In this year, you can witness Chelsea's John Terry and Frank Lampard, Inter Milan’s Adriano and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, AC Milan's Kaka and Ronaldinho, Club America's Pavel Pardo and Guillermo Ochoa, and more soccer stars.
Sunday, July 19 Club America vs. Inter Milan Tuesday, July 21 Chelsea FC vs. Inter Milan Wednesday, July 22 AC Milan vs. Club America Friday, July 24 AC Milan vs. Chelsea FC Sunday, July 26 AC Milan vs. Inter Milan Sunday, July 26 Chelsea FC vs. Club America
World Football Challenge: Chelsea and AC Milan to visit area in July Chelsea FC's Stamford Bridge
If you can’t afford to fly to Europe to take in some European soccer, don’t worry. It’s coming to you!
Not sure what to make of yesterday’s announcement of the World Football Challenge, a six-city round robin soccer tournament that will take place across the United States from July 19-26. The tournament will take four of the world’s top futbol clubs — AC Milan, Chelsea FC, Inter, and Club America — and will have them disperse to differing cities across the country, playing in this tournament until one is decided the winner.
Is this strategy, assuredly created by American soccer bigwigs and their money-grubbing European cohorts, the one that is supposed to pull the world’s game closer to our heart?
I hope!
As long as they don’t play on football fields, with football lines, this may turn out alright, especially in Baltimore.
Baltimore’s M&T Stadium will host Chelsea FC and AC Milan on July 24. Tickets went on sale yesterday at www.worldfootballchallenge.com.
This is your chance to see David Beckham in action. Chelsea’s Joe Cole and John Terry. Milan’s Ronaldihno and Pato. Chelsea’s Mustang, Ricardo Quaresma. The man they call Alex.
But honestly, how cool is this, especially considering it’s so close to home? Thoughts?
Fans of international soccer who don't mind a relatively short journey can catch two of the globe's best -- Chelsea and AC Milan -- when those powers collide on July 24 at Baltimore's spacious M&T Bank Stadium. Kickoff is 8 p.m.
The Chelsea-AC Milan scrap is just one part of the World Football Challenge, a four-team round robin event that also will visit Stanford University, the Rose Bowl in Pasadena (Calif.), Atlanta, suburban Boston and Dallas, Texas.
Club America and Inter Milan are the other clubs involved.
Tickets for the Baltimore match can be purchased at www.worldfootballchallenge.com. They range in price from $35 to $125.
West Bromwich Albion manager Tony Mowbray hailed the impact made by bargain-buy defender Shelton Martis.
Mowbray signed the Dutch player from Darlington while in charge of Hibernian and then paid just £50,000 to take him to the Hawthorns in the summer of 2007.
The 26-year-old has been well down the pecking order and had spells on loan at Scunthorpe United last season and during the current campaign at Doncaster Rovers.
But injuries to several players, plus Albion's failure to find a solid centre-back pairing, led to him being handed his Barclays Premier League debut in the goalless draw at West Ham United nine days ago.
Martis impressed sufficiently alongside Jonas Olsson to be given another chance in the 1-1 home draw with Bolton Wanderers at the weekend.
total respect
Mowbray said: "All season, we have had problems in defence. The two experienced players we have got in terms of age around the 27 mark, Abdoulaye Meite and Jonas Olsson, have only played seven games together this season out of 30.
"There has been no consistency in that position. The other two youngsters, Leon Barnett and Ryan Donk, with total respect to them, are young boys working their socks off.
"Yet they have never been anywhere near the sort of quality that they play against week in and week out and they have found it tough.
"You get to the point where you can't keep going back to the same players who have had opportunity after opportunity after opportunity and Shelton has been given his chance almost by default."
Mowbray added: "Shelton has come in, been on loan to Doncaster this season, came to our club for £50,000 from Hibernian, and yet against West Ham and Bolton he looked like a Premier League player.
"He has got the opportunity because of circumstance really, because of injuries etc, and his performance level in training.
"Doncaster wanted to take him back on loan and yet his chance came at West Ham, we put him in the team, and he did exceptionally well. Hopefully he will take his chance in the remaining games of the season."
Carlo Ancelotti has told 
It was a story that broke during the International break but it appears that 
