"If Carlo wants to bring a player or two into the squad then we will look at that, It has to be the right player to fit into the squad and obviously at the right price. If these things all come together then fine, we'll strengthen the squad. But only if Carlo feels it's necessary."Obviously I wouldn't have thought it would be on a par with Manchester City but if you think back to the success we had last season and the financial rewards that come with that success, and not forgetting the fact that we never spent massive amounts of money last season in both the summer and January, I would imagine it's a fair few quid!.
I know there has been a bid for me from Chelsea, this is a great honour, it is like a dream come true, I have dreamt of playing in the Premier League and now to have the opportunity to play for the best team in the Premier League and for a club with so much history - it would be my dream. I hope this can happen, and I hope that I can help Chelsea to regain the Double and also to win the Champions League next season(Source ESPN SOCCERNET)
I am looking forward to playing with the likes of John Terry, Petr Cech, Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba, they are amongst the best in the world, to play with players like this under a manager of the stature of Carlo Ancelotti whom I admire and respect, in a club with so much spirit and winning mentality, would be a tremendous privilege. In the process I would like everyone to know I had a fantastic year at Benfica, and I respect them a lot, but this is a dream that I cannot let go."
"Training so far has been good and I feel fit, we worked very hard and it will be harder and harder until the beginning of the season. After a few days you want to be out playing matches again, I like my football so when I come back, I can't wait to be on the pitch and playing.
I have been playing for so long and I still want to play and win every game. When you have this kind of mentality and play at this kind of club you want to play, enjoy your football and win your games.
We have two games in Germany, so we play them and we want to win them, that's the most important thing, It is good to start in that way before the season, we have a good team and when you play for Chelsea you have to win all your games, so we will go there and try to come back with good results.
When we are back from Germany, we have the Community Shield which is a big game, but for the players the most important is to be fit for the first league game against West Brom.
"We talk about winning youth tournaments as progress and getting debuts and appearances, and getting lads out on loan, but ultimately it is all about getting players into the first team squad. When Carlo says maybe five lads in you start thinking okay, this year is really starting to show a light at the end of the tunnel because it has been difficult. We are getting there but we are still a way off."
"I know nothing about that as far as I know. He's looking forward to coming back here, he's back on Monday, He's enjoying a holiday and a well deserved break, I don't think he's had one for three years. He's spending a lot of time with his family. As far as I know he's keeping a very low profile and not really speaking to anybody. But he has told us that he's looking forward to Monday and getting back to work.To me anyway this seems a remarkable turnaround from Hodgson. He only said the other day that he "has a problem with the club" so to now say he is happy to stay at Liverpool this season is strange.
He's looking forward to playing for Liverpool next season. That's what I know and I would suggest that any other reports are erroneous."
Is it all a smoke screen?
"Unfortunately, I cannot do much more. His beef is with the club and not me. Fernando's situation has nothing to do with me, he made that perfectly clear over the phone during the World Cup and when I met him face to face.
He knows what I would like to do with the club. He knows how much I value him. But his issues are with what has gone on in the past rather than the future. If he has problems with the club for things in the past, it is difficult for me to dismiss that.
A lot of effort has been put in by the club to make Fernando feel comfortable at Liverpool this season and I can't do much more. It is now for the club to satisfy him in whatever ways he needs satisfying."
Would you swap Cole for Kaka?
"Today he's at Chelsea. Maybe there will be surprises before August 31. I haven't spoken to just anybody. The only contact I've had directly was with City. At his age I can no longer hide the financial aspect. The club that want Didier will have to meet the price."Of course we all know what agents are like especially when it comes to the financial value of their players. For me though the worrying aspect of what he said comes down to two things. First he acknowledges Didier's age and being 32 has probably one or maybe two seasons left in him performing at the same standard he has latley. The money City are reported to have offered is something I am sure he would want Didier to consider.
Who got the better deal?
"Our aim is to do better than last year in the Champions League, We went out too early last season. It is not easy to be competitive in every competition. If it's possible then we want to repeat what we did last year in the other competitions."So does that mean that our focus this season is Champions League alone and if we can do well in the Premier League and domestic cups then so be it?. Or does he mean he wants to add the Champions League with the same success we had last season?. For me I want the Premier League again aswell as the Champions League.
1. What's the priority for you personally this season?.
2. What would be a realistic successful season for you that you would take right now before the season starts?
"My thoughts are that John Terry won't be on the team sheet. You don't cross Fabio and he won't want anybody disrupting his tournament again.
It was absolutely the correct decision for the English FA to keep Fabio on. He can make this England team his own now - and I would actually make them the favourites for Euro 2012.
I don't want to speak for Fabio but I'd be surprised if more than five of the players who started against Germany start the opening game of Euro 2012. For me, the only two players that can be guaranteed to start in 2012 are Ashley Cole and Wayne Rooney. By then Fabio will have had enough time to build his own team and I think it will be unrecognisable compared to what it was at the World Cup.
Spain will be there but if Fabio gets rid of egos, I think England will see exactly why it was a good decision to keep him on."
"Chelsea will have to decide whether they want him to stay. City's offer will be tempting considering Didier's age."Its reported that if this is in fact true he could earn £18m over a three year contract.
"As a player I only hope that if somebody leaves, he will be replaced with a player at least with the same quality or better. I think this is important for the group then you know that if someone leaves, their departure will not create any gap between the quality of the last season and the new season."So I ask the question why not turn our attention to Wesley Sneijder?.
He is a very good one-on-one defender and comfortable on the ball, We feel there is a lot of potential in the player, and we feel at the minute it is the right time to get him, but it would be good for him to stay there and get first team experience, and we look forward to him joining us next year. Obviously we will stay in touch and he will come across here when appropriate. He is a right-sided centre-half who can play right-back."
"Would you spend £20m+ on a player this summer and if so who would it be?"
'I am very excited to come to a club like Chelsea, it is a big club and I think it is a dream for every player. Hopefully we will be successful'
'We are happy to have this new player. Yossi has a lot of quality in midfield and can play in lots of positions. I like his behaviour on the pitch and he will do a great job for us next season.'
I am Chelseadaft a lifelong Chelsea Fan. Have been an avid fan for over 30 years now. Back in March 2009 I decided to Blog about the Chels!.
