Chelsea vs CFR Cluj Match Report: Written on work experience at the Daily Star

When Chelsea supporters arrived at Stamford Bridge last night, they were treated to an early Christmas present from Roman Abramovich – a blue and white scarf awaiting all 40,000 of them on their seats.

But for Luiz Felipe Scolari, the real gift will be his side’s victory over FCR Cluj, and their place in the knockout stages of the Champions League.

Goals from Salomon Kalou and Didier Drogba – who cancelled out Yssouf Kone’s fine equaliser - capped off a somewhat nervy performance against the Romanian minnows, but one that banishes any uncertainty surrounding Scolari’s immediate future.

Amid rumours of training ground disquiet, increasing disgruntlement at a shortage of personnel and reports of the club censoring critical comments he made about their transfer policies, the Chelsea boss has shown signs of anxiety recently, and his side have faltered in recent weeks.

Scolari may have led Brazil to victory at the 2002 World Cup, but not without enduring some difficult moments along the way, most caused by the huge expectations of his native country’s population.

And it was much the same last night.

While the Blues’ supporters would not have expected the tie to be one with any significance in the first place, their nerves transpired to the players on the pitch.

Chelsea started anxiously, creating few chances and failing to link together passes in the final third, leaving many fans wearing their scarves – not swinging them in support as Abramovich might have hoped.

And two close calls from Cluj early on, did little to ease the tension inside Stamford Bridge.

After seven minutes, left-back Alvaro Pereira surged forward, but Petr Cech got down early, getting his strong hands behind the Uruguayan's swerving daisy-cutter.

And the Transylvanians continued to surge forward.

After leaving Bosingwa for dead, Culio sent in a deep cross, which was headed brilliantly by Alcantara and hacked desperately off the line by John Obi Mikel.

Chelsea’s dominance however began to show - they looked confident and were attacking much more freely.

And after Joe Cole wasted their first chance of the game following a neat cutback from Michael Ballack, Chelsea broke the deadlock on forty minutes.

Deco swung a forty-yard free-kick into the Cluj penalty area, and horrific defensive mix-up that followed allowed the ball to drop beautifully for the unmarked Salomon Kalou, who had the easy task of putting the ball in the back of the net from six yards.

But after the break, the game turned on its side.

After Nicholas Anelka brought a smart save out of Nuno Claro from a narrow angle, Cluj broke away, and after Cristian Panin curled a deep cross to the back post, the unmarked Yssouf Kone who headed in from a tight angle.

The Cluj striker has become used to scoring at Stamford Bridge - he contributed to Jose Mourinho's departure with the assist for Rosenborg's shock equalizing goal last season – and for a moment at least, it seemed that he might repeat the feat.

Chelsea were becoming increasingly frustrated - they were peppering the Cluj penalty area with crosses and through-balls - but were creating little much in the way of shots on goal.

But the arrival of Didier Drogba – who Scolari resisted pairing with Anelka from the outset - revolutionized the Blues’ almost immediately.

After Joe Cole dinked a delicate, perfectly weighted pass between two defenders and into the path of Drogba, he prodded it effortlessly past Claro before the goalkeeper even had a chance to settle himself.

The goal meant Chelsea fans went home content with their side’s display and equipped with a thermal scarf providing extra warmth for the journey home.

But after last night’s victory, which brought the club a whopping £15 million windfall, who knows what Chelsea fans will be getting for Easter.

A trip to Rome will most probably top most supporters’ lists.

Just been to Stamford Bridge for the Chelsea Press Conference ahead of tomorrow night's tie against CFR Cluj. Here is the write-up:

Luiz Felipe Scolari has shrugged off suggestions that he is cracking under the strain of managing Chelsea, claiming that he feels ‘zero pressure’ compared with his time as coach of Brazil.

The Chelsea boss takes his side into their crucial Champions League tie against CFR Cluj tonight, knowing a win will guarantee them a place in the knockout stages.

Anything less though and their hopes of progress could be dashed if Bordeaux overcome Roma at the Olympic Stadium.

But Scolari said the pressure he is under, is child’s play in comparison to his world cup glory days with his native Brazil.

"You know how many people live in Brazil? 180 million. And I was coach there. You think there is pressure here?" he said.

"This is zero pressure. Pressure was when I was coach of the Brazilian national team because all the people there are coaches."

Chelsea could only manage a draw against the Romanian minnows earlier in the competition and their erratic form in this season’s campaign has left them on the brink of embarrassment, just eight months after playing in the Champions League final.

But Scolari is adamant he won't press the panic button if Chelsea, who have never failed to qualify for the knockout stages in seven attempts, suffer an early exit.

"If we lose the game maybe we are out. It is possible. If I lose and I am out of the Champions League I won't feel good but not more than this," Scolari said. "This is life. This is football.

"It is one more game. It is important for our qualification for the next phase but it is the same as the other games. It is three points and we need to win for the second place.

"If we win we will be in a good situation in the next phase but it is not the most important game in the season."

It will be a nervous evening for a Chelsea side who will have to make do without the suspended Frank Lampard, after he was sent off in the draw with Bordeaux a fortnight ago.

Taking his place in the central midfield berth will be Deco, pulling the strings on the back of his goal-scoring display at Bolton on Saturday.

And the Portuguese starlet knows the Blues have their fate in their hands and will have only themselves to blame if they suffer a humiliating early exit.

"We know how important it is. We know that we need to win or maybe we don't go to the next round," he said.

"We know the responsibility we have but we just have to try to do our best.

"We have one game to qualify. It is a difficult game because of the pressure for us but we know we just have to win."

It should be straightforward for Scolari's side but their sketchy form at Stamford Bridge has unsettled the players.

And while 'Zero pressure' may be how Chelsea's brassed-off manager describes this evening's clash, if they lose, he may well find out what zero tolerance means.

PROBABLE LINE-UPS
CHELSEA (4,1,4,1): CECH, BOSINGWA, ALEX, TERRY, A.COLE, J.COLE, MIKEL, BALLACK, DECO, DROGBA, ANELKA.
CFR CLUJ (4,3,3):CLARO, PANIN, CADU, PEREIRA, MURESAN, DANI, DEAC DUBARBIER, CULIO, TRICA, KONE.

Had a go at producing a live match-report of the Liverpool v Marseille game...

Steven Gerrard’s goal secured Liverpool ’s place in the knockout stages of the Champions League after a nervy display against Marseille at Anfield.

Gerrard got on the end of a scrumptious cross from Arbeloa, where he stood completely unmarked to head into the back of the net.

The goal was the captain’s fifth in five games in this season’s campaign and the highlight of a poor Liverpool display that saw Marseille dominate possession for long periods of the match.

Taye Taiwo came closest for the French side with a wicked thirty-five yarder, which was turned onto the post by the ever-consistent Pepe Reina. Ben Arfa also tested the Liverpool keeper with a wonderful effort from a free-kick late on, but Liverpool managed to hold on and progress.

The Reds now enter their final game of the group against PSV Eindhoven in Holland , level on points with Athletico Madrid but with an inferior goal difference.

After an unconvincing opening, Liverpool eventually sprung to life after twenty-two minutes, when Fernando Torres hurtled down the right, but after cutting a nice ball back from the by-line, Dirk Kuyt’s header was parried by Marseille stopper, Steve Mandanda.

A minute later, however, the deadlock was broken.

After the French side failed to clear a Liverpool corner, Arbeloa curled a sumptuous cross to the back post, where Steven Gerrard stood completely unmarked and sent a powerful header into the back of the net.

The goal put Liverpool at ease – they started stroking the ball around at a leisurely pace – and a second looked imminent.

But the home side were wary of their opponents, with the French side having won 1-0 on their visit to Anfield last season. And it was Marseille who came closest to the game’s second goal, when Taye Taiwo unleashed a wicked low shot from thirty-five yards, which was turned onto the post by the ever-consistent Pepe Reina.

But Liverpool didn't sit on their lead and in the closing stages of the first-half, Albert Riera collected a Mascherano pass on the edge of the area, unleashing a stinging low drive, but Mandanda got down well to tip the ball behind for a corner.

The second half began as the first concluded, with both sides creating some good openings. Marseille went closest in the fifty-fourth minute, when Niang twisted beautifully past Carragher, but his feeble shot went straight into Reina's arms.

Three minutes later, Ben Arfa waltzed past Andrea Dossena but after smashing the ball across the face of goal, there was no one there to prod it home. And as the French side threatened, their supporters became more and more boisterous.

And they nearly had a goal to sing about. Ben Arfa fired in a wonderful effort from a free-kick after sixty-eight minutes, which Reina tipped behind for a corner.

Marseille were well on top by this stage and with ten minutes remaining, Mathieu Valbuena, curled in a delightful free kick and Zubar, up from the back but headed just wide.

It was certainly not the performance we were all expecting after Saturday’s stalemate against Fulham. But Liverpool 's defence, superbly marshalled once more by Jamie Carragher, held out and can now concentrate on topping the group and avoiding some potentially hazardous opposition in the last 16.

Quote based match report for Monday's press: Liverpool 3 v 0 West Brom

GIVEN the £250m windfall that Rafael Benitez has splashed out during his reign as Liverpool boss, he undoubtedly has a mixed record when it comes to buying strikers. In fact, take away Fernando Torres and some Liverpool supporters would opt for something far more derogatory.

The Liverpool manager never fully embraced the unique possibilities of Peter Crouch, while Dirk Kuyt is more likely to play on the wing and Fernando Morientes, Craig Bellamy and Andriy Vronin have come and gone having made – give or take the odd sparkle– a somewhat subdued impression to say the least. So Robbie Keane would not have been alone in being relieved after Saturday’s match.

Benitez, who celebrated his 150th victory as Liverpool boss, has spent much of the autumn justifying the £20m he spent on Keane in the summer, a task that would have been unnecessary if the former Tottenham striker was putting the ball in the net.

He makes chances, he works hard for the team was the gist of the Spaniard's argument. But the unspoken message was clear. He just wanted the Irishman to get himself on the score sheet.

And luckily for Keane, Benitiez and thousands of doubting Liverpudlians, he bagged his first and second league goals of the season, bringing with it as much comfort to Anfield's backroom staff, you suspect, as it did the player.

"We were talking about Peter Crouch before," Benitez said, "and once he scored one goal he got a lot. Hopefully it will be the same with Robbie. We told him he is not under pressure, 'Keep calm, you are playing well', but in the end strikers always want to score goals. This afternoon was very, very important for him."

Part of Keane's problem (make that most strikers) is that he is not Torres. It’s difficult enough attempting to replicate the Spaniard’s scoring record, but a prolonged baron spell quickly erodes a striker's confidence.

You could see that with Keane on Saturday, who was too hasty with his first chance, shooting straight at Scott Carson in the 13th minute when Torres you suspect would have calmly slotted the ball in the corner.

Yet once the Irishman put Liverpool ahead with a dink over the West Bromwich Albion goalkeeper 21 minutes later, self-belief pumped through Keane's veins, injecting renewed composure when it was sorely required.

A second followed nine minutes later when he beat a fragile offside trap, rounded the over-ambitious run of Carson and converted with the precision of a striker unburdened.

And afterwards the Dubliner insisted there was never any concern about his barren spell. "I used to worry about things like that when I was younger but you tend not to when you get older," he claimed.

"My first Premier League goal for Liverpool has been a long time coming but I knew it was only a matter of time. Hopefully that is Robbie Keane back to his best”.

But like clockwork, with almost 20 minutes of the match still remaining - and with a mini-game of attack v defense to follow - Anfield had to stifle its annoyance as Keane was substituted for the 13th time this season.

Benitez’s response - he had given the forward long enough. "I was waiting for him to get the hat-trick but then I decided to change it," he said.

Yet with the return of Fernando Torres, back from a hamstring injury to replace the Irishman, it seemed things could hardly have worked out better for the Liverpool boss. But they did.

Right-back Alvaro Arbeloa showed it is not just strikers who can score breathtaking goals with a stoppage time stunner, smashed in with his left foot. The game, however, was already over way before this point.

Albion may have been their customary neat and tidy selves but once again they were raw up front, naive at the back and ultimately outclassed all over the pitch.

"If we survive this season we'll come back stronger," their manager, Tony Mowbray, said afterwards.

Sadly for most neutrals that applaud Albion's commitment to a more uplifting style of play, that "if" appears to be getting larger by the match.

Daily Express Work Experience: England Under 21's press conference write-up

STUART PEARCE has ruled himself out of the vacant manager’s job at West Ham following Alan Curbishley’s resignation on Wednesday.

The England Under-21 boss, whose young lions take on Portugal tonight at Wembley in their final qualifying game for next summer’s European Championships, spent two seasons at the Hammers as a player and was among the early favourites for the post.

But Pearce insists that he is committed to his contract from the FA and will not be leaving the national team set-up anytime soon.

“You can bet with me, “he said. “I manage this team and I am very proud to do so and I will not be stepping down from this job, because I love the job I do.

“I said to the England bosses when I took this job that I will honour my contract. I have said many times before in the past, and that applies today. “

The 46 year-old, who previously occupied his role as England Under-21 boss on a part time basis while managing Manchester City, has also rejected taking up the West Ham position under similar terms.

He said: “I don’t miss the buzz of a Saturday. My job is this at the moment. Sometimes I go into Premiership clubs and look at the writing all over a Premiership manager’s face and think, “I’ve got it good.

“I go into clubs and watch them train, watch four or five games a week. It’s diverse. It would really water down what I do here. My commitment to the Under 21s is that Stuart Pearce is their manager come hell or high water.”

Ex-Hammers boss Curbishley walked out of the club following a turbulent tenure at Upton Park that lasted just 18 months and England Under-21 midfielder, Mark Noble, who played under Curbishley throughout his reign, was as surprised as anyone by the news.

“I didn’t have an inkling. We were just watching all this stuff about Kevin Keegan and that popped up!

“I was talking to Steven Taylor about what was going on at Newcastle, and then, suddenly West Ham’s popped up that we haven’t got a manager.

“As a player, I don’t know what was going on but that’s what’s happened, he’s resigned, that was his decision”

England currently top group three, ahead of tonight’s visitors by six points, and need only a draw to ensure a play-off place for the Championships, which begin in Sweden next May.

Nevertheless, Pearce isn’t allowing his side to relax just yet. “Our aim is winning the tournament and this is another step of that way,” he said. “If we can win the group and make sure Portugal do not qualify, then that will help us in the long run.”