Chelsea prepare for 'football party' at Club World Cup against Corinthians

 

The boos from Chelsea fans aimed at Rafa Benitez may not have been completely silenced by the Stamford Bridge club's convincing win over Monterrey on Thursday.

But on the pitch at least, the mood was visibly lifted as Juan Mata opened the scoring, while Fernando Torres was also on target and David Luiz dominated the midfield.

And Mata summed up the atmosphere best after the game as he looked ahead to the Club World Cup final clash with Corinthians.

"We have confidence about winning but we know Corinthians are one of the best teams in South America," he said.

"It will be a football party and hopefully we will win."
 

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David Luiz shows Gary Neville how to play the game

 

David Luiz was once described by Gary Neville as looking like a Playstation character controlled by a 10-year-old.

But the Brazilian looked far from the liability he has been labelled to be in the Club World Cup victory over Monterrey, patrolling the Chelsea midfield for over an hour before being replaced by Frank Lampard.

And, prior to the game, the 25-year-old made it clear he was able to take criticism on the chin and move on.

“When you experience difficult moments, I know I’m strong enough to change things and move on," Luiz said.

“I know my personality and what it’s taken to get me here at Chelsea. It’s just another moment to be strong.”

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Wenger on thin ice after Arsenal defeat to Bradford

 

Ahead of Arsenal's trip to Bradford City in the Capital One Cup, the oft-derided tournament was starting look like the Gunners' best chance of ending their long wait for a trophy.

Indeed on paper, Arsene Wenger's side looked to have the pick of the ties having being drawn to face the League Two side in the quarter-finals of the competition.

The Frenchman even picked a strong team for the match, yet that did not matter to Bradford. The League Two side almost won the game in 90 minutes, before Thomas Vermaelen popped up with a late equaliser to take the game to extra-time

However, Bradford were not to be denied and took the Gunners all the way to penalties before beating them in the shoot-out to dump them out of the competition and leave under-pressure Wenger on thin ice at Arsenal. 

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Bonucci, Sergio Busquets' horrible student

 

Juventus striker, on loan from Arsenal's Nicklas Bendtner mocked his teammate Leonardo Bonucci, after the later tried to playfully dive, in order to get a penalty.

Danish international on his own account on Twitter joked "who fired on Bonucci? Haha :)"

It seems that Bonucci was a failure to learn scuba diving ...
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Balotelli made to work for Manchester City stay

 

Mario Balotelli frustrated many in Manchester City's derby defeat against arch rivals Manchester United on Sunday afternoon.

The Italian striker has just the rest of December to prove himself to chiefs at the Etihad Stadium, with AC Milan waiting in the wings to swoop for him if he cannot impress.

Roberto Mancini has regularly stood by his compatriot, but is he now facing a losing battle to help the 22-year-old become one of the game's most feared strikers?
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