12 SATURDAY VISION, MAY 2, 2015 GOOAL! YOUR LETTERS

YOUR YOUR TEXTS You can comment on any topi- cal issue in Goal through sms. letters... Write SPORTS leave a space and then your comment. Send to 8338. Chelsea’s cutting QUOTE OF THE WEEK “If we are boring, and if the number of goals is what decides edge over the rest if a team is good or bad, boring or not, then we have in the Pre- hey are mier League 18 teams who are usually more boring than us. In this crite- STAR criticised LETTER for a bor- ria, only Man City are a team with ing style more quality than us, if football of play, the latest, criticism at the Emirates is about the number of goals you stadium for holdingT Arsenal to a 0-0 score. If a good team is one with draw to the grief of the ‘Gooners’. more points, we are the best. If a But the Blues didn’t have in mind ‘tippy tappy’ football like John Terry good team is one with most vic- called it, but rather a title. tories, we are the best team.” There is this strength that the ‘Pride of London’ possess over the other Premier CHELSEA MANAGER JOSE MOURINHO HITTING AT League giants. Since 2003 when Russian HIS OPPONENTS AFTER THE DRAW WITH ARSENAL billionaire Roman Abramovich took over, it has been a case of starting from the bot- tom and now Chelsea are surely at the top. BY DAUDI OCHIENG When Jose Mourinho took over Claudio Ranieri’s reigns at the club, he rebuilt it GOSSIP... and won them a league trophy immedi- Gary Neville has de- and Smalling acknowledg- ately, under serious criticism of boring scribed Wayne Rooney es that their performance football that saw them having one defeat as a ‘street footballer’ was nowhere near good all through— at the hands of Manchester who simply wants to be enough. “This is a mas- City. involved. The former Man sive wake-up call for us,” Today, it is the same manager who’s U defender was apprais- he said. “It was very disap- back for a second spell that has all but ing Louis van Gaal’s side’s pointing. I think that was won them a fourth league trophy, three of performance in the 4-2 win the first time this season which are his under the same kind of tac- over Man City when he that we were off the pace tics that spark criticism. But the question labelled Rooney. Neville from the first whistle. From is, what is his secret to making the club an said the England skipper the first moment to the last immediate powerhouse? One can argue has adapted well under we were second best.” that its the mind games he plays. van Gaal and suggests The 25-year old defender Chelsea plays ‘hard’ and balanced foot- the Dutchman would be also accepted that the ball. The attack in check with Hazard in delighted with the work his Everton players had a charge to put pressure on the defenders, forward does apart from willingness to win stronger the creative midfielder in Cesc Fabregas just scoring goals. “Hav- than that of United. and hard tackling Matic while their back ing played with Wayne four is a different story altogether with no Rooney for 10 years, Manchester City boss soft defender. Mourinho’s Chelsea will do all it takes to get maximum points having worked with him for Manuel Pellegrini insists If you actually realise, Mourinho’s Chel- England for three or four expectations of winning sea plays what you can call normal football for its a result you can’t see happening but was surely the worst for the home fans to years, I can say he is a titles every season is against the Premier League rivals whose can only hope for. watch. They played a defensive frustrating street football player who unrealistic. Pellegrini was objective is to continue playing in the top When Arsenal visit Stoke City, the Goon- game and caught the Reds on the counter, can chase the ball, wants speaking after victory over flight rather than ‘parking the bus’ like ers hardly want to be reminded or want Demba Ba using his once in a lifetime to be involved and wants Aston Villa. “We cannot against those that are capable of making to watch the game and a 3-point result at opportunity after Gerrard’s slip and Torres to be everywhere on the win trophies every year,” them drop points. Chelsea hardly drops the Britannia will feel like such a relief. playing himself and Willian onside to pitch,” Neville said.e said Pellegrini, perhaps points against the ‘small’ teams. They visit The same applies to an Everton trip by complete the win. sending a message to his the most difficult stadiums, intimidate the Manchester United and is the same for On a good day, their defence cannot be Man United defender success-hungry bosses home team, shrug off any pressure from Liverpool and Manchester City visiting split, their midfield maintains the control Chris Smalling has called in Abu Dhabi. “This year the away fans and go away with all three troubling stadiums. For Chelsea, a next in the middle and their aggressive strikers the 3-0 defeat against Arsenal spend more points. On a day Chelsea drops points, game is just another game and rival fans like Costa and Drogba give defenders a Everton a huge wake-up money, Chelsea spend their rivals jubilate for the unexpected only have to hope that they drop points. hard day on and off the ball, and of course call for the Red Devils. more, United spend more, result. Mourinho is surely a tactical magician a wonderful young goalkeeper. On paper, United were brushed Liverpool spend more and Take for example the 2-1 loss to New- and knows how to beat off pressure to win City are the strongest but on the field, aside by the Toffees at have very strong squads, castle that was their first of the season. It a game as they make they frustrate op- Chelsea are arguably the most balanced Goodison Park on Sunday same as our squad.” sparked life into a list of Chelsea’s rivals ponents. Their trip to Liverpool last season team in the League.