Cristiano Ronaldo: Chelsea nothing without Jose

Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo has said Chelsea would fall apart if boss Jose Mourinho left the club.

"Mourinho is a great coach and he is Portuguese, so I can't speak badly of him.

"I would like to see what would happen if he were to leave Chelsea. Perhaps they would stop getting good results."

United go into Sunday's Old Trafford showdown three points clear of champions Chelsea and Ronaldo believes that while United have improved from last season, the Blues have not moved forward.

"Chelsea are about the same as last year," added Ronaldo. "Andriy Shevchenko and Michael Ballack haven't changed them in terms of their superiority to everybody else.

"They have to work harder to win games and they only just do enough to win.

“This weekend’s game with Chelsea is vital". “We’re neck-and-neck and that is a good sign because we can’t allow them to go too far ahead like last year.

“We are in a better position to win the league this year, but I think we’re capable of winning everything.”

"The rivalry between us and Chelsea exists, but there isn't the same passion as the Manchester derby games or matches against Arsenal or Liverpool."


United's Dutch goalkeeer Edwin van der Sar, however, reckons it is the biggest game of the season.

"It doesn't get much bigger than this," said Van der Sar.

"When we played them at home last season we were 10 points behind, now we are three ahead, so it goes without saying we are in a better position.

"I am sure everybody will put what happened against Celtic on Tuesday to the back of their minds and be ready to try and get the result we want against Chelsea."

Kenyon's interview was quite ridiculous as ever.



We'll topple Reds and rule world


CHELSEA chief executive Peter Kenyon has taunted Manchester United by claiming: “We are the club of the future.”
Kenyon was chief exec at Old Trafford before joining the Roman Abramovich revolution.







KENYON ... cunt
And he insists the Stamford Bridge outfit will rise above United to become the top club — and brand — in the world.
Kenyon argued that United were built on history, whereas new Chelsea are a vibrant young club starting from scratch.
He said: “Chelsea as a football club and a brand is more dynamic, more relevant.
“We’re expected to do things a bit different and that’s part of the DNA of Chelsea, being based in one of the top three cities in the world, which is another difference from Manchester.
“It’s not a criticism of United, it’s in the context of where we differ. They are built around heritage.
"And if you look at their record of eight Premiership titles, two Doubles and the Treble in 1999, they’ve set the benchmark for every other English club.
“Chelsea didn’t have a tragedy, they didn’t have 10 years of unbelievable success in the 60s which culminated in winning the European Cup. It didn’t have the domination and success of the Fergie years.
“It hadn’t got any of those. It didn’t have an old boys’ network.
“We’re very different — but things like Sunday bring us together. We are not saying we have overtaken United yet.
“But the growth of our fanbase is quicker than other football clubs and our revenue has grown dramatically and is now on a par with United.
“By 2014 we want to be internationally recognised as No 1.”

Tweedledum wrote:

Referring to Ronaldo or Kenyon?

Ronaldo's spot on about Maureen, Ballack and Sheva.

Parks Lives wrote:Kenyon's interview was quite ridiculous as ever.

Well we all know where he learned to talk bollocks....

Roger_Hunt wrote:

Parks Lives wrote:Kenyon's interview was quite ridiculous as ever.

Well we all know where he learned to talk bollocks....

Fergie used to run lectures on the subject apparently...

Yes Ronaldo is right. There is no other coach in the world who would make a succes of Chelsea...

THE GOALKEEPERS

Chelsea must choose between Carlo Cudicini and Hilario, and there is not that much difference. I would probably go with Cudicini for his experience of these types of games.




Do Man Utd have the edge in the goalkeeping department?


He may have weaknesses, but we are comparing him with Petr Cech, who is arguably the best in the world.
In the absence of Cech, you have to say United have the edge in the goalkeeping department.
Edwin van der Sar brings vast experience and has been an excellent signing.
It took United a long time to get Peter Schmeichel's successor sorted out, with Mark Bosnich, Massimo Taibi, Roy Carroll and Tim Howard all getting a chance prior to Van der Sar's arrival.
A club of Manchester United's size and stature deserves a world-class keeper and Van der Sar is in that category.

THE DEFENCES

Some interesting selection decisions here. I think Chelsea will go for Khalid Boulahrouz at right-back because of his power, and despite criticism from some quarters, Ashley Cole will always get the vote as first choice ahead of Wayne Bridge on the other flank.
If you don't play an expansive game in terms of having wingers on the pitch, you need width from elsewhere, and there is no defender better than Cole at getting up and down the line.




Is Argentine Gabriel Heinze the best left-back in Britain?


Cole is not easy to pass, and he has relished clashes with Cristiano Ronaldo before at club and international level.
Patrice Evra has done well for United, but I regard Gabriel Heinze as the best left-back in Britain - and I think he is even better as a left-sided central defender. He would be my man for a game like this.
Defensively, I think United have the slight edge purely because of Van der Sar.
I think Chelsea are better through the middle with John Terry and Ricardo Carvalho, but United are better in the full-back department with Heinze and Gary Neville.
I think Neville has been outstanding this season. Much was made of his playing relationship with David Beckham, but I think he's better without him.
He gets beyond the midfield on more occasions and gets into better attacking positions, with Ronaldo inclined to move into the middle while Beckham remained static. Neville is playing a bolder game than we have seen from him and he has excelled.

THE MIDFIELD

Fascinating. You have United's classic midfield four, with two wide men, up against Chelsea's diamond formation without a traditional wide man.
Chelsea used a 4-3-3 or 4-5-1 last season, but the arrival of Andriy Shevchenko means they have switched to a 4-4-2.
I think if you cut Jose Mourinho open, it would reveal that in his heart he likes to play with wingers, but he is a pragmatist and will not play square pegs in round holes.




Makelele will attempt to break up Man Utd's forward momentum


Claude Makelele will lie the deepest of the four, playing a role that is not about tackling and negativity, but about intelligence and reading the game.
I can see him killing the space in front of the back four that Wayne Rooney is so brilliant at exploiting.
Neil Lennon did it in Celtic's Champions League win against United, and an added difference is that Makelele is the best in the world at it.
Louis Saha plays up front with Rooney just off, but I can see Makelele sitting in there to nullify this.
Chelsea will have Michael Essien on the left and Frank Lampard on the right of the diamond, with Michael Ballack at the point in the most attacking formation.
In truth those three are interchangeable, but I would have Ballack pushed forward.
United's midfield is more traditional, and it will be interesting to see if either manager blinks and changes formation. I would be surprised if they did.
I really admire United's attacking approach. Ryan Giggs, Ronaldo and Paul Scholes are all forward-thinking midfield players.
Michael Carrick has had criticism this season, but with that positive attitude, he is occasionally being asked to be the midfield. You can be out-numbered and it can lead to this sort of unfair criticism.
Usually United are in control of a game so it's not a problem. It is more of a problem when they come up against the best in the business and you are not controlling the game - so Sunday will be very interesting.

THE STRIKERS

People argue that Wayne Rooney is world-class. There is no argument that Andriy Shevchenko is world-class.
Throw in that Didier Drogba is playing as well as any striker on the planet at the moment, and you have quite a formidable strike force.




Could Shevchenko, Rooney or Drogba grab the all-important goal?


Shevchenko has not flown off the blocks as he adapts to the Premiership, but do not question him. He is world class.
I spoke to Drogba recently and put the point to him about whether he has benefited from Shevchenko's arrival.
He told me he is more mature now, and also that there was never any question of him leaving to accommodate Shevchenko.
Mourinho told him as soon as it became clear Shevchenko was coming that he would be playing alongside him, not being replaced by him. Bold words from Mourinho, but a decision that is proving fruitful.
He realised they would have adapt to each other, and that is what they are doing.
The credit, however, must be given to Drogba's development as opposed to Shevchenko's arrival.
Comparisons were made between Drogba and Saha some time ago, but now you would have to say Drogba is some way ahead.
This is not to say Saha is a bad player, it is simply a sign of how well Chelsea's striker is playing.
Rooney will be key, but watch out for Makelele.

THE VERDICT

The difference that decides the game may not be in keepers, defence, midfield or strikers - it could be on the bench.
Chelsea have options and a strength in depth United cannot match.
Ferguson can shuffle his pack, whereas Mourinho can make decisive changes with players like Joe Cole, Arjen Robben, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Salomon Kalou and Jon Obi Mikel at his disposal.
This is where United were caught short against Celtic. They needed a goal, but were only able to put Patrice Evra and John O'Shea on.
It is a game that is too close to call - not a decisive game in terms of the Premiership but the most important so far.
United must keep on Chelsea's coat-tails until January, when they can strengthen. If they don't get re-inforcements then, Chelsea will win the title again without any doubt.
A draw would leave United still up there, but I don't think Chelsea would even see a defeat as desperate because I believe the strength of their squad gives them a feeling that United will weaken before they do.

SpartaR wrote:Yes Ronaldo is right. There is no other coach in the world who would make a succes of Chelsea...

True. Who else could possibly make Chelsea champions after having 350 million Euros to spend within 3 years?

Torrente wrote:

SpartaR wrote:Yes Ronaldo is right. There is no other coach in the world who would make a succes of Chelsea...

True. Who else could possibly make Chelsea champions after having 350 million Euros to spend within 3 years?

None of your recent managers. (since Del Bosque) They've all tried.

I just don't see how Chelsea can improve the stadium/move either. People are forgetting that bastard Bates sold off all the land to build hotels when we were in debt. Where else could we now move to? Nowhere local for certain.

Maybe Russia.

S4P wrote:I just don't see how Chelsea can improve the stadium/move either. People are forgetting that bastard Bates sold off all the land to build hotels when we were in debt. Where else could we now move to? Nowhere local for certain.

Maybe Russia.

I hear the pitter-patter of an Olympic Stadium...


Think about this - when the Olympic project gets into trouble financially, which it will, as we all know, who has the immediate cash resources and direct interest in the project? The billionaire owner of Chelsea, perhaps?


And Kenyon did mention the date 2014 - a couple of seasons in the stadium to raise revenues, perhaps?

saintgoingmarching wrote:

S4P wrote:I just don't see how Chelsea can improve the stadium/move either. People are forgetting that bastard Bates sold off all the land to build hotels when we were in debt. Where else could we now move to? Nowhere local for certain.

Maybe Russia.

I hear the pitter-patter of an Olympic Stadium...


Think about this - when the Olympic project gets into trouble financially, which it will, as we all know, who has the immediate cash resources and direct interest in the project? The billionaire owner of Chelsea, perhaps?

Good point, and of course, with the fan base rising, it would seem a good move. I'm not sure how many seats the Olympic Stadium will hold but I'm sure it will be at least double the Stamford Bridge capacity.

Don't you have to use the Evening Standard to attract more fans, how are you going to get 70,000 - 80,000 fans to every game.

Parks Lives wrote:Don't you have to use the Evening Standard to attract more fans, how are you going to get 70,000 - 80,000 fans to every game.

pay them to go

Keano Is God wrote:

Parks Lives wrote:Don't you have to use the Evening Standard to attract more fans, how are you going to get 70,000 - 80,000 fans to every game.

pay them to go

Just saw this comment after a Guardian article on the big game:

PierreLittbarski


November 24, 2006 03:50 PMOaxaca/mex

What they really need to do is exploit Chelsea's weakest link, the slow-minded oaf John Terry.
Sunday's hero will inevitably be Scholes ( he scores goals ).

Parks Lives wrote:Just saw this comment after a Guardian article on the big game:


PierreLittbarski


November 24, 2006 03:50 PMOaxaca/mex


What they really need to do is exploit Chelsea's weakest link, the slow-minded oaf John Terry.
Sunday's hero will inevitably be Scholes ( he scores goals ).

Chelsea in the middle were average during the week. If Ballack plays the front point in a diamond formation then Carrick may see more of him. Both players have a point to prove for there new respective clubs will we see either one come out on top.

Come on Man u!