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04 SoccerWeekjune 04 – june 10, 2009THE NEWS IN ENGLANDjustin zehmkeBlues hand Ancelotti thetask of conquering EuropeINSIDE ThePremier LeagueDawningof a neweraThe Premier League table hada very familiar look at theend of the season, with theusual suspects taking up thetop four positions as they have forthe recent past, barring Everton’spipping of Liverpool to fourth spotin 2004/2005.I am firmly in the camp that believesthis is a situation detrimentalto the excitement and viability ofthe league.I hate knowing the outcome beforea ball has been kicked and,while there are those that arguethat any of the top-four could win it,this just isn’t unpredictable enoughfor my liking.Luckily I expect this off-seasontransfer window to herald the dawnof a new age.Manchester City have not had theluxury of a full transfer window toindulge their stupendous new richesand are sure to lure a couplemore big names.News has started filteringthrough that City’s Abu Dhabiowners are prepared to meet the£32-million asking price for ManchesterUnited striker Carlos Tevez,set by Media Sports Investmentpresident Kia Joorabchian.They’ve also been linked with ahost of others, from Kaka to CristianoRonaldo.Whether they find enough qualityplayers of a mercenary bent andwilling to forego Champions Leaguefootball during the Eastlands club’srebuilding effort remains to be seenhowever.Another dark horse to start pushingfor European football is Sunderland,who have just been takenover by Texas businessman EllisShort, who has promised to make awhole pot of cash available duringthe summer.The Black Cats won’t break intothe top four anytime soon, no matterhow much money Short spends,but a team that just might are AstonVilla.Under the guidance of Martin O’Neilland the benign reign of owner RandyLerner Villa gave Arsenal a verygood scare this season, despite thefact that they have one of the PremierLeague’s smallest squads, beforethe Gunners caught up with avengeance. They look set to lose influentialmidfielder Gareth Barryduring the European summer, but afew astute investments may just seethem go the distance.This will be a very interestingtransfer window - one that couldsignal a sea change in the PremierLeague.I suspect that this time next seasonwe’ll be welcoming a new memberto the top four.chelseaCarlo Ancelotti has been confirmedas Chelsea’s new manager afterpenning a three-year contract atStamford Bridge.Ancelotti had long been expectedto replace Guus Hiddink in westLondon and his appointment wassealed on Monday, just hours afterhe stepped down as AC Milan.The former Parma and Juventusboss, who turns 50 on 10th June, wonthe Champions League twice and theSerie A crown during his eight-yearspell with the Rossoneri.Europe’s leading club trophy is believedto be the one which Blues ownerRoman Abramovich craves aboveall others, and Ancelotti will now becharged with guiding the club to continentalglory.A statement on the club’s officialwebsite read: “Chelsea Football Clubis delighted to announce that CarloSanta Cruz: Not saying a wordSanta Cruzquiet overhis futureblackburnRoque Santa Cruz has revealedhe plans to remain silent until hisBlackburn Rovers future is decided.The powerful striker has madeno secret of his desire to leave theEwood Park club during the transferwindow, and a clutch of clubs havebeen linked with an interest in hisservices.Rovers boss Sam Allardyce hasconfirmed Santa Cruz will be allowedto depart Blackburn shouldthe club receive an offer that matchestheir valuation.Santa Cruz, who scored six goalslast season, is wary of making anyfurther comments on his future followinga recent misunderstandingwith his Rovers manager.“I am going to try to avoid anycomment regarding my future,” saidthe Paraguayan during a press conferencein Asuncion.“Besides anything that I can say,it’s a decision of the officials ofBlackburn. I have always been professionalwith the team.”He added: “What I say in Spanishthen is misquoted when it is translatedto English so I don’t want to talkanymore about my future.”Ancelotti: Tough job aheadAncelotti has agreed to become ournew manager.“He has signed a three-year contractand will start on July 1, 2009.“Carlo was the outstanding candidatefor the job. He has proved over along period his ability to build teamsDIDIer DroGBa has reiteratedthat he is happy at Chelsea and doesnot want to leave Stamford Bridge.The striker’s future has been thesubject of speculation for some timeand he admits it can be frustratingwhen transfer talk keeps resurfacing.The 31-year-old maintains that heis committed to seeing out his contractwith the Blues and has no concernsabout the club letting him go.“I’m a bit tired of speaking aboutmy future because every time I stoppeople ask me about this. I have onemore year here, I’m happy at Chelsea,”said Drogba.“I’m not worried about my age orthe decision of the club. I’m just worriedabout being happy in my lifeand at the moment I’m really happywhere I am.“In football anything can happenand we all know that.“At the moment this is where Iwant to be, I’ve said it before and Iwill always say that.”The arrival of Guus Hiddink inFebruary rejuvenated Drogba followinga quiet few months underHaRRy RedknaPP has paid tributeto Heurelho Gomes for recoveringfrom a poor start to the season.The Brazilian goalkeeper arrivedat Spurs with a big reputation butmade a series of mistakes in the firstfew months of the campaign.He attracted ridicule from the mediaand Harry Redknapp was widelyexpected to replace him.that challenged for, and have beensuccessful in, major domestic andEuropean competitions.“He also had a highly successfulplaying career in those competitionsand therefore brings unparalleled allround experience to the job.“We are sure everybody at Chelseawill give him a warm welcome andwe are all looking forward to workingwith him.”John Terry believes Chelsea cango on to achieve ‘great things’ withCarlo Ancelotti at the helm. “Wewill all enjoy the time we have offnow and come back for pre-seasonas determined as ever and of courselooking forward to achieving greatthings with the new manager CarloAncelotti.”Meanwhile, Hiddink insists thathis short stint in charge was neverabout the money.“Chelsea is in my heart,” he said.“In all works of life, people comeHits out at rumoursLuiz Felipe Scolari.And Drogba, who scored in lastweekend’s FA Cup final to help Chelseabeat Everton, appreciates whatthe Dutchman did for him.“I’m going to miss him a lot, weare going to miss him. He gave memy chance, what I had been waitingfor and I was determined to take it,”Carlo Cudicini arrived from Chelseato compete for a place but Gomesremained in favour due to some improvedperformances. The 28-yearolderadicated the errors from hisgame and finished the season inexcellent form, but it is the way hebounced back from a difficult periodthat has most impressed Redknapp.“He’s been fantastic consideringthe start he had and the bad time hewent through,” Redknapp said.in for a short period and then go.Those left behind had no idea whothey were or what they did. It hasn’tbeen like that for me.“It is not just about where themoney was. I can honestly say I neverthought of it. That just would notwork. There has to be a foundationof a real club.”Hiddink also warned new boss Ancelottithat he should look to lowerthe average age of the squad withjust two players who started the FACup final - John Obi Mikel and JoseBosingwa - under the age of 28.“The older players showed theycan perform very well and it is goodto have a strong squad,” he added.“If you play 60 games a year, plusinternationals, you must have thepossibility to rest people.“But it is beyond question thatwhen older players get injured, it isharder for them to come back at thehighest level.”Didier Drogba: I’mhappy, so leave me alonechelseaRedknapp hails GomestoTTENHAm hotspurhe said.“Against Everton and in the lastfew weeks, it has felt like the oldChelsea.“This is really what we love, tofight together and I think we havebeen doing this all season, even if ithas been difficult.“When you play against a teamlike Everton you have to play yourown game and not just concentrateon their physical strength and that’swhat we did.”Drogba’s return to form has beenovershadowed somewhat by his behaviourat the end of Chelsea’s ueFAChampions League defeat to Barcelona.He angrily confronted refereeTom Henning Ovrebo, who hadturned down a number of penaltyappeals, and has since been chargedby Uefa. Drogba insists he will acceptwhatever punishment comeshis way, saying: “It’s not easy but Ithink that whatever I did and the decisionthey take I will accept it becausemy behaviour was not whatUefa and everyone wants to see ina football stadium.“I will do my suspension and, afterthat, I will come back stronger.”www.soccerweek.mobi