Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho has said that Arsenal vice-chairman David
Dein
should resign from the board of the FA (Football Association) because
of a conflict
of interests. Dein was vice chairman of the FA between 2000-2004 :
"A person who works in the club should not work in the FA. The FA is
the FA and the
club is the club. Some are treated as devils, some are treated as
angels. I don't think
we are so ugly as to be treated like devils and I don't think Mr
Wenger and Mr David
Dein and so on are so beautiful to be treated like angels. After
Champions League
games Chelsea always have to play away from home and Arsenal are
always at
home. You have nothing to write about that? Or is Jose Mourinho the
only one
who can look at the fixtures and find something very strange?"
Chelsea play five games away from home on the weekend following
Champions
League matches and only play one game at home. Arsenal however play
give
games at home and only two games away. Mourinho added :
"I am not the most intelligent person in the world but I am not the
most stupid and
since I came here I understand things and they don't change. These are
the facts and
now you interpret them the way you want to. It is a fact that every
time after a
Champions League game Chelsea play away in the Premier League and
Arsenal
play at home."
Arsenal Confirm Approach for Vieira
"I gather Juventus have made inquiries, but we're very undecided
whether we are
going to talk to them or not. Patrick's aware they've approached us.
It all very much
depends on what they offer and what he wants to do. In a situation
like this, you
have to listen to what they say and tell the player about it. It would
be very, very
difficult to replace Patrick. We have a board meeting in about a
week's time and
I am sure we will discuss it then." Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood
Essien Desperate to Leave
Lyon President Jean-Michel Aulas has confirmed another meeting with
Chelsea over
Michael Essien :
"Kenyon (Chelsea Chief Executive) has come to Lyon. That was the
condition so that
Michael would stop being chased after by them. I have accepted to see
him, but only
to tell him that the player is not for sale. If a club like Lyon
cannot keep their best
players then I fear for the future of French domestic football. I
believe like coach
Gerard Houllier that if he stays we can win the European Cup."
Essien is adamant that he wants to leave :
"I want to go. I've thought it over during the holidays, I've talked
to my family, my
girlfriend. It's time for me to go and I won't change my mind. Lyon's
finished for me.
I want to play in England, for Chelsea. I've had two good seasons at
Lyon, I've
progressed and I feel it's time to move on. If I don't go I'll regret
it the rest of my life."
Gilardino Wait Continues
Milan vice president Adriano Galliani said :
"We agreed with Parma to wait till next Monday. Then it will be a
decisive yes or no.
However I am optimistic enough it will go through." -
