Bosingwa Out For Three Weeks

Chelsea's new right-back Jose Bosingwa will miss the start of the Premier League season after tearing a thigh muscle, says viewlondon.co.uk.
The 25-year-old will be missing for at least three weeks after suffering the injury 20 minutes into his Chelsea debut in the game against Guangzhou Pharmaceutical.
The £16.2 million defender underwent a scan in Macau on Friday and has returned to England for treatment.
"He is out for two weeks minimum for treatment and he won't be able to play for three weeks," said Luiz Felipe Scolari, the Chelsea manager.
"At the moment, he is out of the first game against Portsmouth."
Meanwhile Scolari has defended Chelsea's pre-season schedule after there were reports that the players are unhappy with the amount of travel involved and the time away from home.
They have played two games in China, and now travel to Kuala Lumpur to take on a Malaysia XI.
Then they will move onto Moscow where they will face Lokomotiv Moscow and either AC Milan or Seville in the Railway Cup.
"These games are important for me,' Scolari said.
"If I was able to choose the opposition, I would choose this team [Chengdu Blades] at this time in our pre-season. I do not want to play against strong teams, because my players are not fully match fit.
"Because I am new to Chelsea, I need to learn about my players. I have an idea about my players, but I need to work every day with them to learn more. For us, this is match training.
"We are here not only to play games, but for other things and for me it is better as I build my team for the games in Russia, and after Russia for the first game, against Portsmouth."

Chengdu Blades 0 Chelsea 7

Joe Cole's double strike helped Chelsea to a 7-0 victory over the Chengdu Blades in their pre-season friendly in Macau.

The game, played in a humid atmosphere, helped raise funds for the Sichuan earthquake appeal.
Nicolas Anelka began the scoring in the 15th minute when he picked up a Shaun Wright-Phillips cross and beat the keeper to knock it in from a yard out.
Wright-Phillips was the instigator again in the 31st minute when he crossed to Anelka who then passed to Saloman Kalou who calmly slotted past the goalkeeper.
Seven minutes later Frank Lampard added his long-range effort and at half time the Blues were 3-0 up.
In the 53rd minute boss Luiz Felipe Scolari brought Joe Cole on for John Terry. Two minutes later Cole scored his first goal. Then, ten minutes later, substitute Franco Di Santo also scored an easy tap-in goal just moments after coming onto the field.
England winger Cole scored his second in the 82nd minute also from a Wright-Phillips cross, which he whipped through his legs and into the back of the net.
Finally after playing a pivotal role all match, in the 84th minute Wright-Phillips scored a goal of his own, when Florent Malouda's drive ricocheted off his back and into the goal.
In their final match in Asia Chelsea will face a Malaysian Select XI in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday before they head off to Russia next week.

Guangzhou Pharmaceutical 0 Chelsea 4

Luiz Felipe Scolari's Chelsea reign began with a comfortable win over Guangzhou Pharmaceutical as Salomon Kalou, Frank Lampard, Argentinian teenager Franco Di Santo and Shaun Wright-Phillips scored to secure the win over the Chinese Super League side, reports the Daily Mail.
The Blues dominated the first game of their five-game pre-season tour of Asia and Russia at Guangzhou Olympic Stadium, with the only concern for Scolari seeing new signing Jose Bosingwa substituted after 20 minutes with a slight thigh injury after a brief but impressive debut in the right-back position.

Scolari fielded a strong starting side, with Deco making his debut in midfield alongside Lampard, who played the entire game, with Joe Cole and Andriy Shevchenko sitting the game out because of minor injuries.
Lampard and Deco pulled shots wide in the first few minutes as Chelsea completely took control with the Portugal international dominating midfield and international team mate Bosingwa looking lively pushing forward down the right flank.
Michael Essien also drilled a shot just over the bar after 14 minutes.

The Blues were rewarded as they opened the scoring six minutes later when Mikel Jon Obi's defence-splitting through-ball caught the home side flat-footed, allowing Kalou to coast in unmarked to fire into the bottom corner across Guangzhou goalkeeper Li Shuai.

Guangzhou came into the game as the game progressed, to the delight of the passionate 35,000 crowd, but Chelsea's chances continued to come as Essien was denied from close range before the Ghanaian saw a snap shot from outside the area saved by Li.
As half-time approached, Nicolas Anelka hit the post from inside the area, while at the other end Petr Cech turned a free-kick from Xu Liang onto his upright.
Following five half-time changes, substitute Wayne Bridge saw his deflected shot hit the post before Lampard showed brilliant vision to double the lead by chipping Li from 30 yards, the 'keeper only just outside his six-yard area.

Half-time substitute Florent Malouda shot wide twice in quick succession before Di Santo, a second-half substitute, struck the upright after threading his way through on the edge of the area. With 12 minutes left Frenchman Malouda broke down the Guangzhou left and pulled a low cross across the face of the goal for a sliding Di Santo to convert.
Wright-Phillips sealed the win in the closing minutes with a shot on the turn from inside the area.

Essien Signs Five Year Deal

Michael Essien handed Chelsea another major boost by signing up for another five years in a deal worth around £80,000-a week, according to the Daily Mail.
Essien, who joined from Lyon for £24.4m three years ago, committed his future to Chelsea until 2013 despite interest from Real Madrid and Inter Milan this summer.
The 25-year-old only signed a five-year contract last year, but such is Chelsea's determination to keep him that they made him an improved offer.
Essien, established as one of the best midfielders in the world during his time at Stamford Bridge, is now looking to help the club bounce back from the disappointments of last season, failing to win a trophy for the first time in four years.
The deal for Essien is a strong message of intent from the Blues and makes him the third player to have agreed new terms in a week after Wayne Bridge and Petr Cech.
The Ghana international, who is set to play in Chelsea's first game of their pre-season tour in Asia against Chinese side Guangzhou Pharmaceutical tomorrow, is now looking forward to competing for his place in Chelsea's midfield.
With Frank Lampard, Deco, Michael Ballack, John Obi Mikel as well as Essien in contention, Manager Luiz Felip Scolari has quite a choice.
Essien is happy that Deco, who joined from Barcelona this summer for £7.9m, has arrived and believes it will improve his game.
He said: "When the competition gets keener it brings out the best in players. Last season we signed new players and people thought I could lose my place. But I fought and stayed to maintain it."

Maka Moves On To PSG

Claude Makelele has moved on a free transfer to Paris Saint Germain.

After five years at the Bridge the player who made the midfield holding position his own, many pundits calling it 'the Makelele role', has moved back to France to see out his illustrious career.

His contribution to the Blues success should not be underestimated and it is uncertain to what effect Mikel or Essien can step into his vacant role. Remember that Real Madrid had a couple of seasons of underachievement when he left for the Bridge.

Thanks for your contribution Maka and the best of luck for the future.