Cesar a doubt for Blues clash

Inter Milan keeper Julio Cesar is reportedly a doubt for the Champions League clash with Chelsea after suffering minor injuries in a car crash.
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the Brazilian suffered bruising to his face following the incident, which happened when Cesar was driving his Lamborghini near the San Siro.
Although he was not seriously hurt, the 30-year-old missed training on Monday in order to rest.
While the club have moved to ease concerns, the incident calls into question Cesar's involvement at the San Siro on Wednesday as Jose Mourinho faces his former club for the first time since his acrimonious exit from Chelsea in September 2007.
Cesar a doubt for Blues clash

Mourinho Questions Blues Strength

Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho has stoked the fire ahead of his side's Champions League last 16 clash with Chelsea by claiming a "strong" team would not have dropped the number of points the Blues have this season.
Carlo Ancelotti's side head into Wednesday's first leg at the San Siro sitting pretty at the top of the Barclays Premier League, four points clear of champions Manchester United with 11 games remaining.

But Mourinho believes his former team are far from invincible, having drawn four and lost four of their 27 league matches under Ancelotti.

Quoted in several national newspapers, the Portuguese said: "The Premier League is never easy - every game normally is difficult.

"But when a team is strong, strong, strong, strong, strong, it doesn't lose so many matches, so many points."

Mourinho, who led Porto to Champions League glory in 2004 and Chelsea to consecutive Premier League titles in 2005 and 2006, is relishing the clash with his old club.

But he is hoping his former players will not take any extra delight in beating his team, should they manage to do so over two legs.

"If a Chelsea player is happier to beat me than to beat another manager I will be very sad," he said.

"I just don't understand that. I can't think there would be any special pleasure from that.

"Just as if I am happier to beat them than to beat another team, then I think they have a reason to be very unhappy with me.

"We're all professionals. I want to win, they want to win.

"Somebody will win, somebody will lose - this we know, this we accept. But there should be nothing more."
Mourinho Questions Blues Strength

Ashley Cole facing Chelsea action after latest scandal

Chelsea may take disciplinary action against Ashley Cole following further allegations over his private life.

The Premier League leaders insist the latest issues are a private matter for the England international, currently recovering from ankle surgery, but insist that any incidents found to have broken club rules will be dealt with internally.

The allegations in Sunday's newspapers come just 48 hours after Chelsea chief executive Ron Gourlay, acting on behalf of the owner Roman Abramovich, told the players in no uncertain terms that the club would not stand for its image being dragged through the mud any more.

A spokesman for Chelsea said: "This is a private matter for Ashley Cole. Where anything is alleged to have happened on Chelsea FC time, that is an internal club matter and will be dealt with internally."

Asked if Cole would be punished if found guilty of breaking club rules, the spokesman added: "Disciplinary issues are an internal matter and will be dealt with internally."
Ashley Cole facing Chelsea action after latest scandal

Palermo table contract offer to Juventus veteran Cannavaro

Juventus defender Fabio Cannavaro is interesting Palermo.

Sportsmediaset says Cannavaro's minders have attracted an approach from Palermo about next season.

Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini has tabled an opening round offer of a one-year deal worth €1.2 million.

Cannavaro could arrive as a replacement for Simon Kjaer at Palermo

Palermo table contract offer to Juventus veteran Cannavaro