SOCCER NEWS ROUND-UP:CARLO ANCELOTTI has told Manchester City that their fabulous wealth is not enough to attract the game's biggest stars as he marked his first day as Chelsea's manager by insisting that it would be "impossible" for John Terry to leave the club.
Terry, the captain of Chelsea and England, has been the subject of interest from City since January and, last week, they made an offer of about €35 million for him, which was rejected.
City are ready to make an improved bid of €47 million and guarantee Terry a weekly wage of at least €233,000, and they remain convinced that the dizzying sums have turned his head.
However, Ancelotti, who was in charge at Milan when City tried and failed to sign Kaka for €106 million in January, stressed that the defender would stay at the club “forever”, while the Chelsea chief executive, Peter Kenyon, insisted he was not available at any price.
“Manchester City were very close to Kaka,” he said, “but Kaka . . . it’s difficult because City weren’t playing in the Champions League. For the players, it’s important to play in the Champions League. Football is not only money, salaries . . . it’s emotions, passion. Many other things.
“Terry is a great player but also a great man. When a great man says one thing, that’s it. Terry is not a normal player, he’s a symbol for this team and Terry knows very well that he is the symbol of this team.”
Chelsea issued a strongly worded statement when they rejected City’s bid last week, saying that Terry was not for sale, and Kenyon reinforced the message yesterday.
“John is not available at any price,” he said. “He’s got a three-year contract. He’s told us he doesn’t want to go and we don’t want him to go. End of story.”
Chelsea have completed the €21 million signing of Yuri Zhirkov from CSKA Moscow, the left-winger having flown into London on Sunday night to complete the formalities of his move, while the club have also added the goalkeeper Ross Turnbull from Middlesbrough and the striker Daniel Sturridge from Manchester City.
Ancelotti said the club remained interested in a “fantasy” player and the Bayern Munich forward Franck Ribery is their prime target, although Chelsea fear that Real Madrid might beat them to his signature. A back-up option is the Real midfielder Wesley Sneijder.
“Ribery is a great player,” said Ancelotti, “but I think he will stay at Bayern or Madrid can buy him, I know. Not only Ribery but Alonso as well.
“I think Chelsea are a strong team, a great team, a physical team, doing very well. They can be improved with some creative players.”
Ancelotti echoed Kenyon’s words when he said he knew Terry wanted “to stay forever”, although he had to be relying on second-hand information, given that he had only spoken to Terry on the phone “one month ago”.
Terry is due to report for pre-season training on Thursday. “Naturally, I will speak with him,” said Ancelotti, “but not about this. I will speak with him about the team. It is possible that he can speak with other teams but the most important thing is that he wants to stay here.”
Ancelotti is confident there will be no repeat of the underachievement of Felipe Scolari’s brief tenure. That is just as well given that Roman Abramovich’s lengthy pursuit of Ancelotti is unlikely to provide much job security should Chelsea’s form stagnate.
The Italian will not be perturbed at the thought of working with such a demanding owner given his long experience of life under Silvio Berlusconi. “At the moment there is no problem with the owner or with anyone, and I don’t think I will have a problem in the future,” he said. “Roman and I have the same objectives: to do well this season, next season, and to win trophies.”
Only Jose Mourinho and, with an FA Cup, Guus Hiddink have managed that in recent times at Stamford Bridge, though the new manager shrugged off any comparisons with the Portuguese. Asked if there was more pressure on him to be even more special than the self-anointed Special One, he replied: “I don’t know any ‘Special One’. I don’t want to do comparisons with other coaches. I have respect for all the coaches and a good relationship with all, and I want to do [things] my way.”
That rivalry with Mourinho, so fierce last season in Italy, will be rekindled when Chelsea play the second game of their tour of the US against Inter. The third match is against Milan, an emotional occasion for Rossoneri past and present, though the Italian’s focus cannot be blurred from the task ahead. Proving he can provide the stability – and silverware – this club demands will prove enough of a challenge.
GuardianService
