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PRAGUE (AP)—Czech Republic defender Zdenek Pospech has been signed by German club Mainz to a two-year-contract.

Pospech’s agent Pavel Zika said Monday a deal has been signed for Pospech to move after this season when his current contract with Danish side FC Copenhagen expires.

The 32-year-old defender moved to Copenhagen in 2008 from Sparta Prague on a 3 1/2-year contract.

Pospech picked up a yellow card in a 2-0 home loss to Chelsea in the Champions League round of 16 on Feb. 22 and will miss the return leg in London.

He has scored two goals in his 24 caps for the Czech Republic.

Agences de presses

Labels: Copenhagen, defender, Mainz, Pospech, signs

By Philip O’Connor

COPENHAGEN, Feb 23 (Reuters) - The gulf in class and resources evident in FC Copenhagen’s 2-0 defeat by Chelsea showed that while the Danes have displaced Rosenborg as top dog in Scandinavia they are not about to threaten Europe’s elite.

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti had to decide which member of his 90 million pounds ($145.8 million) strike force to leave out of Tuesday’s Champions League clash and opted for Fernando Torres and Nicolas Anelka up front, with Didier Drogba rested.

In contrast, the Italian’s opposite number Stale Solbakken had little alternative beyond his starting pairing of Brazilian Cesar Santin and Senegalese Dame N’Doye.

Santin cost the Danish champions about $1.8 million when he signed from Swedish club Kalmar in 2008—less than one fortieth of what Chelsea paid Liverpool to bring Spain forward Torres to Stamford Bridge.

Danish international Martin Vingaard, who registered Copenhagen’s first shot on target after replacing Santin at the break, pointed to the gulf in striking class as decisive.

“When the game was being decided in the two penalty areas, they showed they are sharper,” he told reporters.

It is goals that have proved the problem for Copenhagen in this competition.

Anelka’s two strikes on the night brought his tally in this season’s Champions League to seven, which is how many the entire Copenhagen team have managed.

The winter break in Danish football has not helped, with Solbakken’s side looking sloppy and sluggish throughout the game. There was no sign of the slick, organised unit that had secured a draw at home to Barcelona back in November.

Without a competitive game since the beginning of December, Copenhagen tried to secure a high-profile friendly against top-class opposition but could not get anything arranged and had to settle for a selection of modest Nordic teams.

Though Copenhagen should improve as their league season resumes before the second leg in London on March 16, clawing back the 2-0 deficit away from home will almost certainly prove too much for the team that dominates Denmark’s domestic scene.

(Editing by Kevin Fylan. To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

Agences de presses

Labels: Copenhagen, options, Reuters, striking, suffer

{ John Terry - Chelsea (Getty Images)John Terry has urged his Chelsea team-mates to keep on fighting to ensure they find some consistent form off the back of their comfortable 2-0 Champions League victory over Copenhagen.

After abject performances in recent weeks, and a penalty shoot-out FA Cup exit at the hands of Everton on Saturday, club captain Terry echoed the fighting talk of manager Carlo Ancelotti before the match, and is hopeful that re-capturing the winning feeling could spark a fresh run of form.

The 30-year-old told Sky Sports: “It’s a good lift, obviously winning does that, you can see the buzz in the dressing room but it’s important now we continue this run again this could be the start of it as I said yesterday.

“The manager said we’re still not dead, there are still an awful lot of points to play for and we will keep fighting.”

Terry and his defensive comrades had little to do in a game which Chelsea eased through and the skipper was pleased with how his side executed their plans for the fixture, showering particular praise on the Blues strike force.

Quizzed on his views of the performance, Terry said: “Exactly what we asked for yesterday, I thought we set out our game plan very well, the two up top worked very well and with the pace of the two guys up-front it caused difficulties all night for them.”

Chelsea’s front pairing on the night saw Fernando Torres and Nicolas Anelka lead the line, with the Frenchman grabbing the headlines while the Spaniard came close to breaking his duck on several occasions.

Anelka put Chelsea in-front on 17 minutes and the Blues never looked in threat of losing their lead, only capable of extending it. The Frenchman obliged early in the second period when rounding off a sweet Chelsea move with a crisp drive across the helpless Copenhagen 'keeper.

Commenting on Anelka, Terry added: “Fantastic, it’s difficult for the strikers at the minute because there’s so much competition, but credit to themselves, Didier when he came on as well caused a lot of trouble, they seem to be clicking and working well.

“And obviously it’s always going to take a couple of weeks for the guys to settle in, hopefully this is the start of very good partnerships.”


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Agences de presses

Labels: build, CALLS, champions, Chelsea, Copenhagen, Goalcom, league, Terry, victory

{

FC Copenhagen / Kobenhavn (Getty Images)1. Be quick out of the blocks

FC Copenhagen may not have played a competitive game in over two months - their last such fixture was the final Champions League group stage game against Panathinaikos in December - but, in preparation for this last 16 tie, FCK have played a number of friendlies, remaining unbeaten save for a penalty shoot-out defeat to IFK Gothenburg.

In their most recent warm-up clash, they won 5-0 against Rosenborg, a side whom they conquered on their way to the group stage. Carlo Ancelotti claimed when the draw was made that the winter break would benefit the Danish side, who should be fresh.

They are under little pressure in their own domestic league, holding a 19-point lead in sharp contrast to Chelsea, who are battling just to finish in the top four. Furthermore, they went toe-to-toe with Barcelona in the group stage, earning a superb 1-1 draw, and the Catalans are a significantly better outfit than Chelsea.

As such, the home side should have nothing to fear when they step out onto the turf of the Parken and they should look to get at Chelsea early on and unsettle the three-time Premier League winners. To quote their coach Stale Solbakken: "Chelsea cannot afford to fail."

2. Get the best out of N'Doye

FCK are a side without any genuine superstars, but hard work and tactical discipline alone mean little without a quality player to lead the line, one who is capable of getting goals.

In Dame N'Doye, they have one of the more unsung heroes of this season's Champions League. At domestic level, he usually plays alongside the Brazilian Cesar Santin but against more formidable continental opponents, the former Kalmar FF striker is sacrificed, either to the bench or the right side of midfield. This will place a greater burden on N'Doye in terms of spearheading the Copenhagen attack but it is a task that he has warmed to and he is more than capable of giving what has been a less than watertight Chelsea defence problems.

The Senegalese hitman scored two goals in the group stage, the second of which came away to his former club Panathinaikos when he raced in behind the Greek defence and slotted the ball into the empty net. His direct running also contributed to the Gilberto Silva red card and should he get one-on-one with John Terry, he could show up the Chelsea captain's lack of mobility. He is also a powerful presence in the air and will not be found wanting in a physical confrontation.

3. Control the midfield

The Danish champions have a particularly strong central midfield axis, which performs the dual function of protecting the back four and providing a solid base from which the more offensive players can inflict damage.

Danish Player of the Year and captain William Kvist is the slightly more disciplined of the two as he sticks almost entirely to the area in front of the back four.

Claudemir for the most part holds that position but does venture forward slightly more and thus ends up covering more ground in the course of the 90 minutes.

The Brazilian, who showed his potential in a mediocre Vitesse Arnhem side, has finally flourished in this efficient unit and whilst he will have his fair share of defensive duties to carry out, he is also capable of getting forward and causing problems.

Just ask Barcelona, against whom he scored the equaliser with a very clever finish past Victor Valdes. Whatever system Chelsea decide to employ (4-3-3, 4-4-2 diamond, 4-3-2-1, or even 4-3-1-2 with Anelka in the hole), Copenhagen should have a numerical disadvantage in the middle of the park.

It may therefore be prudent for Jesper Gronkjaer, who plays a free role behind N'Doye, to drop back at times to make a three in the midfield. Claudemir, who covers a great deal of the pitch, will need to ensure that Ramires' tireless running does not open up the game too much.

This will be where the extra fitness training the side have undertaken recently will come in handy. Finally, both central midfielders will be loathed to allow Frank Lampard the opportunity to make those trademark late dashes into the penalty box.

4. Maintain a rigid shape

Stale Solbakken has acquired a reputation as one of Europe's best young coaches during his time with FCK.

The Norwegian tactician is well aware that his side cannot compete with the major continental powers in terms of spending power and sheer quality.

However, he leaves no stone unturned in his preparation and has a plan to combat each one of the three systems Chelsea have used in this campaign. 

Solbakken is not a dogmatic coach and his side are capable of different styles of play. Against Panathinaikos for example, they were content to play a waiting game but the chances they created, they took.

Such efficiency will be required tomorrow night. Patience is a strength of the Lions - one of their goals in the 5-0 friendly win over Rosenborg came from a move comprising of 20 passes. The defence know each other intimately and maintaining that rigid 4-4-1-1 shape will be crucial.

Neither full-back bombs forward a great deal and if Zdenek Pospech and Oscar Wendt can hold their position and force Chelsea's wide players inside, that will congest the central area and highlight Chelsea's lack of width other than the two full-backs.

5. Attack Chelsea's full-backs

In the same manner as the Danish national team down the years, FCK employ two genuine wingers, which carry a threat down either flank.

Martin Vingaard is the more heralded wide player and he will operate down the left-hand side. The 25-year-old is capable of putting excellent crosses into the box onto the head of N'Doye but he has the willingness to come inside as well.

Right-back has been a problem position for Chelsea and the likely custodian tomorrow evening is Jose Bosingwa, who whilst potentially devastating going forward, is suspect in defence.  If he is exposed one-on-one with Vingaard, the Danes could have joy down the left side.

Vingaard's fellow winger is the Costa Rican Christian Bolanos, who though a useful player, has not quite had the impact of the Dane in the group stages.

However, he will take heart from Seamus Coleman's superb performance in the FA Cup at the weekend as the Irishman nullified the offensive threat of Ashley Cole, as well as having the beating of him in attack.

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Agences de presses

Labels: Chelsea, Copenhagen, Goalcom