Chelsea and Drogba set for talks

Chelsea have revealed they will sit down with Didier Drogba to sort out the striker’s future at the club.

Drogba, who was sent off in extra time of Wednesday’s Champions League final, has been linked with a summer move to several clubs including AC Milan.

“Didier is a superb player generally,” admitted chairman Bruce Buck.

“Now that the season is over we have to sit down with him and see what the story is and what his future is. He is a great player, I hope he stays.”

Buck added: “But that is a decision the club and Didier will have to make collectively.

“There have been some comments reported to be made by Didier over that last year that maybe he would like to leave Chelsea. On most occasions he has said that he has been misquoted.”

Drogba suffered a number of injuries last season that affected his performances, but the Ivory Coast striker was also reportedly unhappy at the departure of former manager Jose Mourinho.

Hiddink ‘would say no to Chelsea’

Russia coach Guus Hiddink will not become the next manager of Chelsea, according to his agent.

Hiddink, 61, has been installed as one of the favourites to replace Avram Grant, who was sacked on Saturday.

But Cees van Nieuwenhuizen has told BBC Sport that Hiddink is planning for the 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign.

The Dutchman only has a verbal agreement to remain in charge of Russia beyond the Euro 2008 finals but van Nieuwenhuizen says he will stay on.

Hiddink has a formidable record at club and international level, having taken Holland and South Korea to the semi-finals of the World Cup.

He is known to have a strong relationship with Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, who is believed to have played a key role in his appointment as Russia boss in 2006, as well as helping to fund his salary.

Hiddink is yet to sign a new deal to stay on with Russia but BBC Radio 5 Live football correspondent Jonathan Legard said: “His agent says there is nothing suspicious about the unsigned contract.

“And his relationship with the Russian Football Federation is good, even if Hiddink himself expressed concern last week that the issue could become a distraction.

“By contrast, Hiddink’s fellow countryman Frank Rijkaard is readily available and may not object as much as (former boss) Jose Mourinho eventually did to Abramovich’s football involvement, which is reckoned to be as much as 30% of on-the-pitch activity by Richard Bevan of the League Managers’ Association.”

source:bbcsports

Evil Prevails!

Manchester United’s victorious players are on a flight back to England with the Champions League trophy after their thrilling win over Chelsea in Moscow.

The United squad celebrated the penalty shoot-out win well into the early hours at a party in their hotel.

BBC sports news correspondent James Pearce said the party had gone on until 1000 local time, and the team’s return has been put back by at least an hour.

Meanwhile, Chelsea have already begun their trip back to Gatwick airport.

In a dramatic final, Manchester United took the lead through Ronaldo before Frank Lampard equalised for Chelsea.

It went down to penalties, with John Terry missing the chance to win it for Chelsea before Edwin van der Sar saved Nicolas Anelka’s spot-kick to take the trophy.

The Chelsea players are expected to make a low-key exit when they land at Gatwick, after seeing their dreams of glory snatched away in the Luzhniki Stadium.