Malouda sparks Chelsea exit talk

Florent Malouda has threatened to leave Stamford Bridge if he is not given more playing time by Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas, with Paris Saint Germain looming as a possible destination.

Malouda has been used predominantly as a substitute since the arrival of Juan Mata last summer, managing just 15 appearances in all competitions this season.

Meanwhile, former Blues manager Carlo Ancelotti has been touted as a possible replacement for Antoine Kombouare at PSG, leaving many to speculate Malouda is set to re-unite with his previous boss.

“I’m not getting enough playing time,” Malouda is quoted as saying in the English press. “It’s too limited for the ambitions I have. I can’t be happy with that. If it is necessary, I will leave.”

Malouda, though, laughed off reports he will move to big-spending Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala if he decides to leave Chelsea in January.

“I couldn’t even manage to pronounce the name of this team,” he said. “I don’t know from where these rumours come, when they don’t have any base in reality.

“Me, I am someone who prefers transparency. I don’t have anything to hide, so I’m telling you the truth.”

Arsene Wenger: My players are feeling heat

Arsenal 1-1 Wolves: Arsene Wenger accepted Arsenal had let an opportunity pass them by after being held to a frustrating draw by 10-man Wolves at the Emirates Stadium yesterday.

The Gunners could have capitalised on dropped points from Chelsea to climb back into the Barclays Premier League top four with victory in a game put back by 24 hours because of industrial action by some London Underground staff on Boxing Day.

However, despite taking an early lead through Gervinho, Arsenal were pegged back before the break by Steven Fletcher’s close-range header.

The visitors then survived the second-half dismissal of midfielder Nenad Milijas by referee Stuart Attwell as inspired keeper Wayne Hennessey denied the home side time and again.

Wenger felt the expectation level had perhaps got the better of his squad.

“It was the kind of day where maybe we were not relaxed enough, maybe we wanted it so much, that we were a bit too in the ‘wanting zone’ and not enough in just the ‘technical zone’,” the Arsenal boss said.

“There are going to be a lot of twists and turns.

“When you have the luck of the results yesterday and you play today, you can take advantage of it, that is where the worrying thing is because in the season you have to take your opportunities.”

Wenger added: “We just have to keep going and take the positives out of the game.

“It is frustrating, but I am more frustrated by the result than the performance and the spirit. You cannot fault the attitude, commitment or the desire to win.”

In the 57th minute, Laurent Koscielny’s cross struck Wolves defender Christophe Berra on the arm, but referee Attwell was not interested – and instead showed a yellow card to Arsenal’s Thomas Vermaelen for complaining.

Wenger said: “What can I do? It looks like for us, to get a penalty we will have to fight very hard. I have seen the handball at Manchester City and it was definitely handball.

“I personally am responsible for the performance of my team, not for the referee. I have no influence over him.

“Despite that we could have won the game today and that’s what we have to look at.”

Arsenal were without winger Theo Walcott because of a stomach problem, but the England international is expected to be available for the New Year’s Eve visit of QPR.

Wenger, though, remained coy over suggestions of a loan deal to bring former skipper Thierry Henry back before the Major League Soccer season started again in the United States.

Wolves boss Mick McCarthy had punched the air in delight at the final whistle – which came after six minutes of stoppage time during which Arsenal bombarded the visitors’ penalty area.

“I am delighted and proud. It was a difficult place to come and play,” he said.

“Wayne is a good goalkeeper, one of the best in the league, and he gets a bit to do playing behind us.

“We know we can rely on him and trust him.

“It is fantastic – and it was a great performance today.”

Attwell had shown a straight red card to Milijas for a challenge on Mikel Arteta. McCarthy indicated Wolves could appeal.

“He did what he saw. If he sees it again then it can’t be [a red card]. He’s got his foot on the ground and makes contact with the ball,” he said.

“Somebody said to me ‘he’s got his studs up’. Well, you generally do if you tackle with your foot sliding in.”

McCarthy added: “It’s pretty pressurised out there for referees and I think there was a lot of pressure on him to do it.”

Wenger wrestles with Van Persie dilemma

Arsene Wenger is facing one of the toughest calls of his managerial career over whether to rest Robin van Persie for tomorrow’s game against Wolves – a move which could wreck the Arsenal striker’s bid to break Alan Shearer’s record for most Premier League goals in a calendar year.

Van Persie moved within two goals of Shearer’s six-year-old Premier League record last week when he slotted home a penalty against Aston Villa to take his tally for 2011 to 34 goals.

Arsenal face Wolves at home tomorrow before making the short trip to Loftus Road to face QPR on New Year’s Eve – two games in which Van Persie would be expected to add to his tally.

Wenger, however, has become acutely aware of Arsenal’s reliance upon the Dutchman’s talents and is also conscious of the fact that the injury troubles that have dogged the striker over the last couple of years could return if the is forced to play too many games.

Losing Gervinho and Marouane Chamakh for up to a month in January for the African Nations Cup will place an even heavier burden on Van Persie and Wenger admitted he faces an agonising call over whether to bench his star striker on Tuesday despite him being on the verge of breaking Shearer’s record.

“Can he start three games in seven days? We will see. It will be a big demand for him. I don’t know yet, we will assess the situation after every game,” Wenger said.

“You get his vibes, the medical vibes and you know the history with him. Then you make a decision.

“I rested him it in the Champions League because I thought we had enough security there and we could take a gamble.”

Wenger admits Van Persie is desperate to break Shearer’s record, but is confident that the prospect of writing his name in to the record books will not distract the former Feyenoord striker if he is selected against Wolves and QPR.

The Frenchman said: “I believe the great players know what is important. And what is important is that he is the leader of the team. He knows as well that what is important is to win the games. What is important on the pitch is to make the right decision for every situation you face. He does that very well.

“You do not have to make an obsession of it, just play naturally.

“It is strange because you score goals when you don’t think about it.”

Villas-Boas refuses to call in Alex

Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas has defended his refusal to “dial 911” for Alex as a matter of principle.

That is despite a potential injury crisis and Villas-Boas’ previous claims that defender Alex – and striker Nicolas Anelka – could yet earn a recall to his first-team squad.

If ever there was a time to bring Alex in from the cold, it is now, with Chelsea potentially down to just one fit centre-half for today’s west London derby with Fulham.

But Villas-Boas insisted he would rather play Jose Bosingwa, Paulo Ferreira or Oriol Romeu out of position than turn to a man he banished from his squad for submitting a transfer request.

“He’s not going to play,” Villas-Boas said.

“Because we have accepted a transfer request in anticipation of the market and we are not stupid people.

“We don’t push out people who submit transfer requests and put people apart to then dial 911 and ask for help.

“So, at the moment, we will stick to our principles and to our values.

“It was a decision we thought was good for the club.

“The request was accepted, so we have to let the market open and we have to continue to adapt ourselves if situations like this continue to arise.”

Asked if he now regretted acting so hastily with Alex, Villas-Boas said: “That was a decision that we felt sensible and competent at that time and we will stick to it.”

Villas-Boas reiterated why Alex and Shanghai Shenhua-bound Anelka were banished in the first place, with the decision also partly a response to Chelsea’s worst start to a season since Roman Abramovich bought the club.

He said: “We went on that run of results and we wanted everybody on the same tune regarding training and the same tune in terms of commitment, concentration and objectives – immediate club objectives.

“So it was not a thing to penalise anybody. It was just to fine tune the environment that we have.”

The Chelsea boss was also coy over Alex’s desire to leave, something that would appear to stem from his slide down the pecking order to third choice as John Terry’s partner.

“Everybody has ambitions,” Villas-Boas said.

“We are speaking about an extremely professional player and personality and I think he had his personal ambitions and that’s why we accepted.”

PETER: “WE MUST GO STEP BY STEP BEFORE THINKING ABOUT MADRID”

FC Barcelona striker analyzed the current boat from Tenerife and was wary of the tie against Osasuna copera considering that “we must go step by step” even though a cross with the Madrid “is possible”

The end Barcelona canary Pedro Rodriguez on Friday praised the hypothetical cross-quarter-final against Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey, where both clubs pass their respective heats.

Peter, who celebrated the victory over L’Hospitalet ”happy for the party and as it was since this tie was important for us,” he said about the possible crossing with whites that ”it is possible to cross with them but we’re going step by step. If you have to give, because as usual, to prepare well because it is a tough opponent. ”

The end Barca made the remarks in the context of another Charity Friends Meeting Vitolo, where he appeared next to exazulgrana Jeffren, now in the ranks of Sporting Lisbon, where he returned to make clear his hunger for titles. ”Hopefully we can finish the season with new successes and titles but know it will be difficult,” he said.

Peter also had words to show their enthusiasm to contest the European Championship next summer.”Hopefully I can go to the Euro,” he said, while admitting that “it will be a tough group but it is still early to know whether we go or not though forward to maintain because it is also a title that I’m missing and that I would get very excited. “

SUCH IS LIFE IN BARCELONA CESC FABREGAS

Is installed in an apartment halfway between the Camp Nou and the Ciutat Esportiva after living some months in a hotel

Cesc Fabregas will enjoy Christmas at home eight years after beginning his long hiatus from England, where he gave a qualitative leap in his football career in the ranks ofArsenal. His eight years in London accelerated maturity both personally and football. Learned and enjoyed it and go home a priori not so simple as might appear superficially.

Cesc was very attached to his London life, with habits and a different football culture ofBarcelona. The vertigo was inevitable, but has passed a brilliant adaptation. Start 2012 with a feeling of bliss. Everything has gone round and hopes the new year will continue reporting joy and many titles with the club.

This Christmas, unlike the previous ones, do not need to bring her grandmother’s carn `d ¿pot soup what` galets how long have Arenys. The family was always at his side during the holidays, when he had to stay in London for parties contesting the Premier League. The most beloved people moved to the English capital, days went by brought to his side and took the opportunity to go together to the theater or walk around the City. Now this mobilization is not required. Cesc will be one more holiday meals, just as a child.

The player will go to Arenys to visit his family but has decided to settle permanently in Barcelona to be near the Ciutat Esportiva and the Camp Nou. Football is his priority and the work was the factor that weighed more in his decision. In principle, Cesc settled into the Hotel Juan Carlos I. It had a suite `With all the facilities, but at home is not anywhere. David Villa and Ibrahim Afellay also settled in a ‘suite does it look when they arrived in Barcelona and in all cases, Guardiola gave the same advice.Cesc Pep recommended, as previously done with the other signings, seeking a home of their own. A hotel never brings the same level of comfort and privacy of a home. And after a long search, Fabregas has released his new apartment in Barcelona. The situation was paramount. The Camp Nou and the Ciutat Esportiva will be minutes by car, so you can get home early to rest after matches and training.

One of the fears I had Cesc in Barcelona was losing the peace available to players in England, where only they are approached in the street. However, the player has great respect from the fans at all times. This allows you to enjoy the city when free time permits. The Paseo de Gracia is one of his favorite spots. There are two of his favorite restaurants, a Japanese and a pasta, which comes often.In London he became a fan of sushi ‘in Barcelona what continues enjoying this specialty.

Exit occasionally necessary, but Fabregas has spent many hours in the hotel room. The rest is sacred to its preparation.

His departure to London at age 16 his life changed radically. He had to learn English in a rush to get along with his landlady Noreen and teammates, while Philippe Senderos, of Spanish origin, was pulling a cable with Castilian. When he was of age and sought a home and went to live in Enfield, a suburb of London.

Later he moved toward the center and bought a house in Hampstead, north of the City, where he has lived the last years. Cesc did not want to opt out of a city that feels like their own. He rented his house in Hampstead, but still maintains the property, like that of Enfield. Although his life returns to its epicenter in Catalunya, so London will be eternal in his heart.

The tight schedule of Barca and the need to be scrupulous and relaxation training have prevented a lot of traveling to London. Only what has been done in a couple of occasions. The first when he was injured earlier this season and recently, when Guardiola gave them two days off before facing the classic.

Cesc had in mind to surprise his former colleagues and Arsene Wenger of Arsenal, who still called `Mr. ¿, and finally could. Fabregas is culé GUNN `cradle and adoption. See all Arsenal matches on TV or internet and is in constant contact with his former teammates. You just have to return to the Emirates and maybe I can do in this edition of the Champions League again if the chance to match the English with the club. His response when asked about this possibility can not always be smarter.”I hope not. The Arsenal is one of the best teams in Europe and would be very difficult to eliminate. “Perfect answer, but sincere. Fabregas believes that Arsenal has the potential to beat anyone in a European tie, as shown in the Champions league leading a very tough group which included Marseille, Olympiakos and Borussia Dortmund.

The Arsenal is always a reference to Cesc, but their reality is at the club. In the locker room has had no difficulty to fit. Obviously, the advantage was to meet and share friendship with the hard core of homegrown players.

Within the working groups which divided the team with the specific plans that follow each player, Cesc was framed in the Emili Ricart. Other national players like Xavi and Iniesta, also have their work supervised by Ricart, who taught his methods Fabregas during injury recovery. The player knew first hand the landscapes of La Mola, the mountain valley where players can walk and run around in a much more relaxed than the Ciutat Esportiva or the Camp Nou.

Barca recuperators are taking care of the Arenys after injury ordeal you went through in his final year at Arsenal and has only suffered a minor setback in four months. A good rest, healthy eating and some methods specific to the equipment such as water recovery, we are laying great.

This specific plan has left him little time to visit your home Arenys. You can only do so on Sundays or after the free weekend workouts. The priority was to fully integrate the team and Barcelona.

Addicted to good TV series

While reset forces facing off Cesc television series. He continued to see some of what was already addicted in England, of course, in the original. Investigations of Jack Bauer in ’24 ‘caught him and other more relaxed as the series’ Gossip Girl’, ‘Desperate Housewives’ or’ Entourage ‘. The series has always liked and just when I was in La Masia Catalunya grew on average with the sufferings of the family Aiguader in ‘Cor de la Ciutat’. And both have achieved. Now have more time to travel to his village, where is a real idol. The school recently dressed Presentació, where he began to study, and all amazed by the children. Fàbregas Soler families are very dear to the people and everyone feels as its own victory Cesc. A path to success as Barca has not just begun

THE BEST AND THE WORST OF THE BARCA-HOSPI

The result was overwhelming and much of ‘blame’ the intensity that had made the club and, above all, the hunger of young people crowded from the subsidiary. Four players with over 25 dorsal performed at the party. Basin Isaac did start and struggled on offense to win the prize of two goals. Before the break out and Cristian Sergi Roberto Tello. Simple and elegant the first effective and incisive second. Taylor also signed two goals. Jonathan dos Santos also showed flashes in the few minutes he played. Four ensure the continuity of ‘project Guardiola’ and notify the owners. 

WORST: Iniesta’s injury 

When Iniesta came on the pitch before the half hour mark and Guardiola put his hands to his head, he feared the worst. After David Villa’s injury in the Club World Cup, just missing the Fuentealbilla also thickened the infirmary with an injury that was initially presumed more serious than the end it was. Finally, Don Andres is about two weeks off, just the Christmas holiday period, but could be a high price for the club in a match played a set with several regular starters.