Sturridge - Chelsea can compete

Striker keen to lay down marker against United

Daniel Sturridge: Calling for a defiant show of strength against Manchester United

Daniel Sturridge wants to show Chelsea can still compete with Manchester United when they host the champions at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

Chelsea are unbeaten in 2012 and have lost just one of their last 11 league matches.
But that run includes disappointing draws against promoted clubs Swansea and Norwich in Chelsea's last two Premier League outings.
And Sturridge knows the club need to start turning draws into wins if they are to close the gap on the leaders.
"Of course, against teams that aren't in the top six we want to be winning every single one of those games, if you maybe win four and then draw one that's okay," Sturridge told the club's official website.

"We haven't been as consistent as we would have liked but we're in a progressive stage where all the teams are improving.
"The mood in the camp is very good and everybody is looking forward to going out there and showing what they can do.

Unfortunate

"We played some great football against Swansea, we had some good chances and it was just unfortunate we didn't get the win."
Chelsea currently trail the leaders by 12 points and the club appear to be in a battle for the fourth Champions League spot rather than a title race.
But Sturridge still feels Chelsea are a major force in English football and does not think this is something that changes overnight.
"We are a big club, and I don't think anybody should forget that," added Sturridge.
"Just because we have had a bit of a bad spell and we haven't been winning as frequently as we have in the past, I think people are doubting the credibility of Chelsea which they should never do.

Great club

"We're a great club, and we are going to go out there on Sunday and prove to everybody that we can still compete with the likes of Manchester United.
"We've already shown by beating Manchester City that we can still mix it with the top two and we will be going out there on Sunday to show what we're about."
Sturridge is enjoying a productive season on a personal level, having added 10 goals for the club this season from his less favoured wide role.
"I can't score in every game because it's difficult from that position," acknowledged Sturridge. "But hopefully I can carry on producing my fair share of goals and keep getting assists as well.
"It's good that I'm scoring goals, that's what I love doing, I love scoring goals that help the team win games and that's what I'll be striving to do, I want to score as many as I can in order to help us climb the table."

Chelsea FC - Friday Night Live with Torres

Jose: I’ll manage Chelsea

JOSE MOURINHO is ready to make a spectacular return as Chelsea manager.

The Special One is quitting Spanish giants Real Madrid in the summer to come back to England.
And the two-time Champions League winner, who bagged six trophies in just three years at Stamford Bridge, is keen on resuming his old job in SW6.
A top source close to Mourinho revealed last night: "Jose would go back to Chelsea."
The only stumbling block is that this time Mourinho will insist Blues' billionaire owner Roman Abramovich gives him TOTAL control of team affairs, free from any interference.
That way he guarantees to bring the glory days back to the Fulham Road club.
The source added: "He knows things are a mess there right now. He also knows it would be difficult to go back and make the same impact as before.
"Winning the Premier League title back to back in his first two years at a club that had not been champions for 50 years was incredible. That's why he's still loved by the fans and why he still loves the club. They were special days.
"But before agreeing, he would want things very clear between him and Roman Abramovich.
"He would say 'Roman, you are the owner and I am the boss here. Let's work together and the power is in our hands'.
"For Jose that would be the perfect partnership."
Abramovich might well be tempted. The Londoners have tried a succession of managers since Mourinho's shock departure in 2007 — Avram Grant, Phil Scolari, Guus Hiddink, Carlo Ancelotti and now Mourinho's ex- scout Andre Villas-Boas.

But all have failed to match Mourinho's heroics.

Hiddink won the FA Cup and Ancelotti did the Double, while current boss Villas-Boas has Chelsea only fourth after a string of disappointing displays and results.
Villas-Boas was brought in at a cost of almost £25million — including a £12m three-year contract, £5m compensation to his former club Porto and severance pay for Ancelotti.
But Mourinho believes he has unfinished business.
He won all four domestic trophies — Premier League, FA and Carling Cups and Community Shield — but never captured the Champions League crown.
Adding Chelsea to his previous successes with Porto and Inter Milan would be his top aim — an ambition shared by Abramovich.

Chelsea FC - Blues news headlines

Lee Parker brings you all the latest news from the training ground.

Chelsea reward young duo

Walker and Deen-Conteh pen fresh terms

Sam Walker: Signed a new deal at Chelsea to keep him at Stamford Bridge until 2014

Chelsea have confirmed young duo Sam Walker and Aziz Deen-Conteh have signed new contracts at Stamford Bridge.

As revealed by skysports.com earlier this week, the Blues were set to reward both players with new deals to secure their long-term futures.
Highly-rated goalkeeper Walker, who is currently taking in a loan spell at League One outfit Yeovil, has signed a deal to keep him at Stamford Bridge until 2014.
Promising full-back Deen-Conteh, who has been with Chelsea since the age of 13, has inked a deal until the summer of 2013.
Both players are highly-regarded within the corridors of Stamford Bridge and are seen as future stars in the first-team.

Chelsea FC - Blues news headlines

Chelsea FC - Blues news headlines

Ben Andrews brings you all the latest news from the training ground after the 1-1 draw against Swansea.