Fat Tom
14-02-2006, 11:29 AM
A week before the year's most-anticipated double date, the war of words between Chelski and Barcelona has already ignited with the Spanish champs accusing the Blues of deliberately allowing their Stamford Bridge pitch to turn into a cabbage patch.
Antagonism between the two clubs boiled over on and off the pitch when they met in the Champions League last season with Jose Mourinho questioning the integrity of referee Anders Frisk and then the managerial record of Frank Rijkaard.
According to the Catalans, Chelski’s latest underhand trick has been to let their pitch deteriorate to 'hinder their flowing football'. No doubt they might also find it suspicious that, just a week before the two clubs clash, reports have appeared all across Tuesday’s backpages claiming that Chelski want to sign Nou Camp striker Samuel Eto'o.
'Chelsea's pitch has been deteriorating for several months but for the first time in four years they have opted not to relay it in mid-season, a decision that has been noted with dismay in Catalonia. Barcelona, by contrast, have made a very public show of improving their own surface for the second time in six months, spending £130,000 on importing 1,100 sods of turf from Bordeaux to replace the top six inches of the existing pitch,' reports The Times.
Their report quotes a Barcelona source complaining: "We know what Chelsea have done and why. It's because they know we like to play the ball on the floor and they are just an aerial side."
Barca's former Arsenal full-back Silvinho confirmed that the state of Chelski's pitch was a regular topic of conversation inside their dressing room.
"I've heard that the conditions of their pitch are even worse than they used to be. It doesn’t surprise me because it's always cold in England and they don't stop at Christmas. I’m not going to say they’ve done it because they're playing us, but that is the culture in English football. We have to accept the situation and go out and play there whatever the pitch is like."
Quoted in The Sun, though, Silvinho was rather less diplomatic.
"I cannot believe it. I have heard they are making the condition of their pitch worse," he 'said'.
Start the countdown for a feisty Chelski response.
Meanwhile, The Guardian, among other publications, says that 'Chelsea have identified Samuel Eto'o as a priority transfer target for the summer. It is understood that Chelsea's owner Roman Abramovich covets the Barcelona striker as a player capable of producing the pulse-quickening football he craves for Stamford Bridge.'
'To that end, a scout was sent to the African Nations Cup with instructions to observe the Cameroon striker's progress at the tournament.'
Eto'o's departure would increase speculation that Thierry Henry will move to Spain in the summer.
However, Barca vice-president Ferran Soriano has denied reports which appeared on Monday claiming that they had already agreed a deal to sign the Arsenal striker.
"We have made no contact with Thierry Henry and no contract has been agreed with him," Soriano said.
Antagonism between the two clubs boiled over on and off the pitch when they met in the Champions League last season with Jose Mourinho questioning the integrity of referee Anders Frisk and then the managerial record of Frank Rijkaard.
According to the Catalans, Chelski’s latest underhand trick has been to let their pitch deteriorate to 'hinder their flowing football'. No doubt they might also find it suspicious that, just a week before the two clubs clash, reports have appeared all across Tuesday’s backpages claiming that Chelski want to sign Nou Camp striker Samuel Eto'o.
'Chelsea's pitch has been deteriorating for several months but for the first time in four years they have opted not to relay it in mid-season, a decision that has been noted with dismay in Catalonia. Barcelona, by contrast, have made a very public show of improving their own surface for the second time in six months, spending £130,000 on importing 1,100 sods of turf from Bordeaux to replace the top six inches of the existing pitch,' reports The Times.
Their report quotes a Barcelona source complaining: "We know what Chelsea have done and why. It's because they know we like to play the ball on the floor and they are just an aerial side."
Barca's former Arsenal full-back Silvinho confirmed that the state of Chelski's pitch was a regular topic of conversation inside their dressing room.
"I've heard that the conditions of their pitch are even worse than they used to be. It doesn’t surprise me because it's always cold in England and they don't stop at Christmas. I’m not going to say they’ve done it because they're playing us, but that is the culture in English football. We have to accept the situation and go out and play there whatever the pitch is like."
Quoted in The Sun, though, Silvinho was rather less diplomatic.
"I cannot believe it. I have heard they are making the condition of their pitch worse," he 'said'.
Start the countdown for a feisty Chelski response.
Meanwhile, The Guardian, among other publications, says that 'Chelsea have identified Samuel Eto'o as a priority transfer target for the summer. It is understood that Chelsea's owner Roman Abramovich covets the Barcelona striker as a player capable of producing the pulse-quickening football he craves for Stamford Bridge.'
'To that end, a scout was sent to the African Nations Cup with instructions to observe the Cameroon striker's progress at the tournament.'
Eto'o's departure would increase speculation that Thierry Henry will move to Spain in the summer.
However, Barca vice-president Ferran Soriano has denied reports which appeared on Monday claiming that they had already agreed a deal to sign the Arsenal striker.
"We have made no contact with Thierry Henry and no contract has been agreed with him," Soriano said.