Pienaar announces Spurs move

Everton midfielder Steven Pienaar has announced on his Twitter account that he has chosen to join Tottenham over London rivals Chelsea.

GettyImagesSteven Pienaar has joined Spurs for around £3m.

Both clubs had offers in the region of £3 million accepted for Pienaar, who told Everton he would not extend his contract which expires at the end of the season.

However, Chelsea were unable to agree personal terms, allowing Tottenham to conclude a deal for the player who made 104 Premier League appearances for Everton.

Pienaar arrived at Tottenham's training ground on Tuesday to undergo a medical and later confirmed he will be signing a contract, reported to be for four years.

Chelsea 2-0 Blackburn

Chelsea finally stopped the rot today as arguably their best Premier League performance for more than two months saw them beat Blackburn and climb back into the top four.

Looking to end their worst run in the league for almost 15 years after winning just one of their previous nine games, the Blues dominated from start to finish at Stamford Bridge.

Both their goals came from corner kicks courtesy of Branislav Ivanovic and Nicolas Anelka, with their final ball continuing to let them down in open play.

The duo also found the net against Rovers back in October to keep Chelsea five points clear at the top of the table, but their efforts today were arguably even more precious.

Wolverhampton 1-0 Chelsea

Chelsea's miserable Premier League campaign plumbed new depths with a 1-0 defeat at Wolves.

Jose Bosingwa's own goal after only five minutes decided the contest as Carlo Ancelotti's men saw their faint title hopes all but disappear completely.

Salomon Kalou missed a golden second-half chance, shooting wide when clean through, and Didier Drogba shot against the outside of the post, but resilient Wolves stood firm and could have had a second goal if Stephen Hunt's free-kick had dipped under rather than hit the bar.

The defeat means Chelsea have had just two wins from their last 11 league games, and they stand nine points behind leaders Manchester United having played a game more.

Drogba: Malaria still affecting my play

Didier Drogba has admitted the Chelsea dressing room has been an "unhappy'' place during their recent slump in form and says his own performances have been hampered by his battles with injury and malaria.

Both Chelsea and their Ivorian forward Drogba have been some way short of their best since a promising start to the season, with the Blues recording just one win in nine and Drogba contributing only eight goals in all competitions. His fitness problems have been well documented, not least the bout of malaria which was diagnosed in November.

Drogba told the Sun: "Injuries and the malaria have damaged my performances. I am still not 100% but I am fighting in each match to improve my playing levels and help the team. This season has been complicated for me by physical problems. It has not been easy to regain my strength but we need the points and my presence is necessary. I have always sacrificed for the team - and Chelsea need me.''

Chelsea 3-3 Aston Villa

Chelsea's amazing late fightback was in vain as Aston Villa scored a stoppage-time equaliser to leave the champions' Premier League title defence in considerable doubt.

Didier Drogba and John Terry looked to have snatched victory from the jaws of defeat with goals in the final six minutes at Stamford Bridge but the hosts' poor defending cost them when Ciaran Clark nodded home a late equaliser.

Both sides had held the lead in an exciting game, with Frank Lampard's penalty cancelled out by Ashley Young's spot-kick and Emile Heskey's header giving Villa the lead.

The result left Chelsea marooned in fifth place, six points behind Manchester United having played a game more, and crucially outside the Champions League places.

Chelsea 1-0 Bolton

It was ugly, scrappy and lucky, but Chelsea will not care one jot as they ended their worst Barclays Premier League run for more than a decade by beating Bolton 1-0.

Florent Malouda scored his first league goal for more than two months to send the faltering champions back into the top four and ease the pressure on manager Carlo Ancelotti.

Didier Drogba also hit the post but was forced to clear off the line as Bolton had more than enough chances to snatch a point.

Chelsea's first league win in seven lifted them back to within four points of leaders Manchester United, who have a game in hand.

Terry is back

LONDON (AP)—After two weeks off due to snow, Chelsea returns to action at Arsenal on Monday with captain John Terry accepting that the trimmed squad is struggling to cope with the demands of defending the Premier League title.

Without a win since Nov. 10, the champion has slipped from first to fourth in the Premier League and is three points behind leader Manchester United, which has a played a game less.

At the same time, Arsenal, which hosts Chelsea on Monday, has risen to second.

Chelsea’s dip in form—winning just one of its last seven league matches— has coincided with the absence of talent like Terry, Frank Lampard and Michael Essien as well as the departure of assistant manager Ray Wilkins.

Champions League Draws

• Arsenal gets the toughest match up in what should be a thrilling home and away match up versus behemoth Barcelona.
• Tottenham gets Italian power AC Milan, so there should be lots of goals in those two matches.
• Manchester United gets a bit of a break in drawing Olympique Marseille although Marseille is quite capable of pulling the upset.
• Chelsea gets the easiest matchup of the knockout stages for EPL squads with a match versus Copenhagen. 

Tottenham 1-1 Chelsea

Didier Drogba missed a stoppage-time penalty as Chelsea's Premier League winless run stretched to five matches with a breathless draw at Tottenham.

Heurelho Gomes looked to have gifted the champions the unlikeliest of victories when he clattered into Ramires having already handed Drogba an equaliser with a howler, but he redeemed himself by saving the substitute's spot-kick.

It meant Chelsea failed to regain top spot and stayed fourth, level on points with Manchester United, who have two games in hand.

The manner of the Blues' comeback may ease the pressure on manager Carlo Ancelotti, who continues to insist he has the full backing of billionaire owner Roman Abramovich.

Van Der Vaart out versus Chelsea

Rafael van der Vaart has been ruled out of Tottenham's clash with Chelsea on Sunday because of injury.

 

Van der Vaart has made a huge impact since making a summer move from Real Madrid, but fitness has been a problem.

He limped off early on in the 2-1 win over Liverpool on November 28 and has not featured since. He was said to be in contention for the midweek Champions League clash with Twente, but he remained on the sidelines and is still struggling with a hamstring injury.

Harry Redknapp had hoped to bring him back against Chelsea, but the midfielder has failed to respond to treatment and Spurs will go into the derby without one of their most potent creative forces.

Chelsea's knockout stage possibilities

Chelsea do have the advantage of winning the group and avoiding Barcelona and Real in the next round but bad form has lowered expectations significantly. 

Round of 16 Squads

Group A

1. Tottenham
2. Inter Milan

Group B

1. Shalke 04
2. Lyon

Group C

1. Manchester United
2. Valencia

Group D

1. Barcelona
2. FC Copenhagen

Group E

1. Bayern Munuch
2. AS Roma

Group F

1. Chelsea
2. Marseille

Group G

1. Real Madrid
2. AC Milan

Group H

1. Shakhtar Donetsk
2. Arsenal

Marseille 1-0 Chelsea

Marseille piled more pressure on Chelsea's under-fire boss Carlo Ancelotti as a second-half goal from Brandao brought their unbeaten Champions League run to an end.

Having already won Group F, the Blues were lethargic and passionless despite Ancelotti's call for a return to the free-flowing football they produced at the start of the season.

Although the game had nothing riding on it apart from pride, the English champions looked a shadow of the side that took defences apart with ease last season.

The Blues have now recorded just two wins out of their last eight games in all competitions and the storm clouds will continue to gather over Ancelotti until they reverse their alarming slump.

Olympique de Marseille v Chelsea FC Press Kit

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

2010/11 SEASON

MATCH PRESS KIT

Olympique de Marseille Chelsea FC

Group F - Matchday 6

Stade Vélodrome, Marseille

Wednesday 8 December 2010

20.45CET (20.45 local time)

Ancelotti losing sleep via Sky Sports

Carlo Ancelotti admits to finding it difficult to relax at the moment, but insists he does not fear for his job.

The Chelsea boss has fallen under mounting pressure over recent weeks after seeing his side slip from the Premier League summit.

A four-match winless run in the league, and only one victory in six, has seen the Blues topple into third place, two points behind leaders Arsenal.

The alarming wobble has seen Ancelotti come under fire, with last season's Double heroics counting for little right now.

Chelsea 1-1Everton

Chelsea's shocking mid-season slump continued after a late equaliser from Everton substitute Jermaine Beckford robbed them of the chance to go back to the top of the Premier League.

Didier Drogba's 41st minute penalty looked to have earned Chelsea all three points but Beckford headed a shock leveller four minutes from time.

The result left Chelsea with just one win in their last six league games and is sure to pile more pressure on under-fire boss Carlo Ancelotti.

Everton almost shocked Chelsea in the opening few seconds when Louis Saha's shot from 20-yards forced Petr Cech into a fine save at his near post. Moments later Leighton Baines fired high over the bar with Chelsea still struggling to get to grips with the high-octane opening from the visitors.

Chelsea 1-1 Newcastle

Salomon Kalou spared Chelsea's blushes as the champions had to come from behind to claim a point at Newcastle.


Getty Images

 The Ivory Coast international fired home the equaliser in first-half injury time to prevent his side slipping to a third successive league defeat for the first time in 11 years.

Andy Carroll had given the Magpies a sixth-minute lead when he capitalised on an error by Alex, and although the Londoners enjoyed the better of the game, they defended resolutely enough to deserve their point in front of a crowd of 46,469.

Chelsea 2-1 MSK Zilina

Chelsea fought back against MSK Zilina to preserve their 100% record in the Champions League and ease the pressure on under-fire boss Carlo Ancelotti thanks to second-half goals from Daniel Sturridge and Florent Malouda.


Getty Images

 Ancelotti's side had trailed to Babatounde Bello's shock 19th-minute opener for the Group F minnows but Sturridge levelled six minutes after the break.

Malouda then grabbed a vital winner for the Premier League champions when he slotted home at the far post four minutes from time to ensure Chelsea finish in top spot.

Press Kit for MSK Zilina v Chelsea FC

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

2010/11 SEASON

MATCH PRESS KIT

Birmingham 1 - 0 Chelsea

Birmingham keeper Ben Foster produced a superb performance as leaders Chelsea suffered successive Barclays Premier League defeats for the first time in more than four years.


PA Photos

 Lee Bowyer's opening-half goal - his first for nearly 12 months - earned Alex McLeish's side a shock victory.

But their hero was Foster who bounced back from his error on England duty in midweek with a series of stunning saves.

Chelsea dominated proceedings for the entire 90 minutes but they could not find a way past the former Manchester United player.