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Chelsea handed boost.
Written by JR Walker | 26th August 2006 | 1 Comment(s)
Much has been made of Chelsea's Champions League group involving Barcelona and Werder Bremen, but Friday evening should have given Jose Mourinho's team some confidence before that particular tournament begins.
Schalke 04 defeated Werder Bremen 2-0 in the German Bundesliga to inflict the first loss on last year's runners-up.
Bremen went into the game having won their previous seven Bundesliga matches, but were easily humbled by last season's fourth placed team.
The hosts needed less than seven minutes to open the score at the Arena AufSchalke in Gelsenkirchen. Goalscorer was former international striker Kevin Kuranyi, who headed home for 1-0.
Hamit Altintop, who replaced Kuranyi in the 69th minute, added the second goal only three minutes later to set the score to 2-0.
Even more importantly for Chelsea Barcelona proved they are only human as they crashed to fellow Spanish opposition in the European Super Cup encounter in Monaco.
UEFA Cup winners Sevilla claimed the trophy following a convincing 3-0 victory over the Champions League winners.
Sevilla were by far the more motivated side in Monaco, and needed only six minutes to take the lead. A shot by Luis Fabiano was blocked by goalkeeper Victor Valdes, but Renato stood in the right place to score in the rebound.
Things got worse for Barca in the last minute of the first half. Jesus Navas headed the ball into the penalty area and Frederic Kanoute did well to direct the ball past Valdes for 2-0.
The third and last goal came in the 90th minute, when referee Stefano Farina awarded Sevilla a penalty due to a Puyol foul on Puerta.
Enzo Maresca took the responsibility and his powerful strike flew past the goalkeeper to set the final score to 3-0.
Chelsea will themselves be looking to get back on track following their own reverse at the hands of Middlesbrough, although a trip to Blackburn may not prove an easy hurdle.
Mourinho did mention a few weeks ago that many of his squad may suffer from their extended participation at this summer's World Cup, but with Manchester United being quick out of the blocks the Chelsea boss won't want to concede any further ground even at this early stage.
Many believe Chelsea's major two summer signings, Andriy Shevchenko and Michael Ballack, have been brought to propel the club to Champions League glory, but Mourinho will want to improve on a domestic record that shows four defeats in five matches if you include the Community Shield.
However, the players will probably not make the same mistakes as on Wednesday night and should prevail at Ewood Park.
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yes i ade a misstake,my players no gel and i waiting for frank and mickey to kiss some gass kudos to kanoute,should have bought em instead