The door remains open for Frank Lampard to make a move to Internazionale after Jose Mourinho admitted the Italian champions are still searching for a midfielder.

Mourinho won two Premier League titles with Lampard while at Chelsea and has had a bid rejected by the London club, who say they will not enter into negotiations over a transfer.

Lampard is reportedly torn over whether he should move to Italy and Mourinho is willing to wait.

"The transfer window is open until August 31 and we need a midfielder. Lampard is at Chelsea, but I have worked really well with him," Mourinho said on Inter's first day back for pre-season training.

The Portuguese coach, who left Chelsea last September, took over at the Guiseppe Meazza in June after Roberto Mancini's sacking.

Mourinho also has his eye on compatriot Ricardo Quaresma but wants to trim down a bulging squad first.

"I like Quaresma, but he is at Porto. Anyway, the squad needs trimming. I want to work with 22 players at most, plus the goalkeepers," Mourinho said.

The coach had words of wisdom for Brazilian striker Adriano, who has returned to Inter after recovering his form and fitness on loan at Sao Paolo.

Adriano arrived at Inter's training ground saying he would give his all and score lots of goals.

"The words I've heard are positive," Mourinho said. "But tomorrow I want to see him really tired after the first training session."

The charismatic Mourinho, who said he was pleased city rivals Milan had bought Ronaldinho because it reflected well on Serie A, also warned his new troops as a whole.

"If I arrive at training an hour and half early I cannot accept it if someone arrives late," he growled.

"Fines are not important but if I say 10 then training starts at 10. If there are only 14 players, I'll coach the 14. The others can go home and stay there also on Sundays."

Reuters

Didier Drogba is adamant he and Chelsea team-mate John Terry will be fit for next week's Champions League final against Manchester United in Moscow - but refused to confirm he will be at the club next season.


Both players sustained injuries in Sunday's 1-1 draw against Bolton in the Barclays Premier League, Drogba hurting his knee and Terry dislocating his elbow.


But the Ivory Coast striker is sure they will be fit to face United in the Russian capital next Wednesday as the Blues go in search of their first Champions League crown.

"I took a blow to my knee that was operated on (back in December), and it hurt at the time," he told French daily L'Equipe.

"I put ice on it immediately. But there is nothing serious. I will be at training this week."

On the fitness of Chelsea captain Terry, who was taken to hospital after colliding with his own goalkeeper, Petr Cech, Drogba added: "I have spoken to him - he will play in Moscow.

"No-one wants to miss this gigantic match, the match of our careers. That's the case for me anyway."

Chelsea lost out to United at the weekend in the race for the Premier League title as Sir Alex Ferguson's men secured the defence of their crown with a 2-0 win at Wigan.


United will head to Moscow looking to complete the double, but Drogba said: "This Champions League match is different.


"It will play itself out over 90 or 120 minutes, like in the FA Cup final last year (which Chelsea won 1-0 thanks to Drogba's goal in the second half of extra time).


"We know that we can beat United, we proved it again in the league a fortnight ago.


"But they deserved their title and were rewarded for their consistency. We made too many mistakes."


There has been plenty of speculation about Drogba's future at Chelsea - he was recently linked with a move to Inter Milan - but he insists the Champions League final is the only thing dominating his thoughts.


"At the moment, the only thing I have in my mind is the final in Moscow," he said.


"What will happen in June or July? I still don't know anything."


Drogba admitted earlier this season he found it hard leaving Marseille for Chelsea in July 2004, and was reported as saying he wanted to leave the London club.


He maintains his relationship with supporters in England has improved but admits he has found it difficult to settle.


"I didn't want to leave Marseille," he added.


"I had trouble getting used to Chelsea and I wanted to leave at the end of every season. Not because people were not treating me well, rather because of personal reasons.


"I have started everything again from zero in England. I had to replace a great striker in Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, who was a favourite at the club.


"It wasn't easy but my relationship with the English supporters has evolved.


"There was at first a dissension between us but I then understood what they expected of me. Now the rapport I have with them is like what I had with the fans at Marseille."



Sporting Life / Eurosport

Jose Mourinho certainly kept to his word and played a dynamic entertaining side which produced a pulsating game and a record busting 64th unbeaten game streak for the Kings Road Blues.


Incredibly the first half dominance was not reflected in the score with Birmingham exposing Chelsea's defensive frailties. The arial presence of John Terry was missed for the first goal and Glen Johnson still showed some naivity in allowing Kapo to get past him.


Having said that Chelsea could have won this game by a hatful on another day with a superlative performance which the critics loved indicated by the headlines The Times "Mourinho unleashes his entertainers" and The Telegraph headlines read "Chelsea make history in style" .


There were many positives with Wright Phillips playing with a real swagger, tormenting the Birmingham defence and punishing them by setting up Pizarro and Essien's goals. Pizarro scored on his home debut as did Malouda .


Playing this sort of football will certainly keep the critics quiet on that front - but they will probably just moan about something else instead. As for us supporters its great to watch and if we had scored some of the other chances this game could have been dead and buried as a spectacle. Lampard, Malouda and Kalou all had good chances to kill the game.


Personally I think you will see Chelsea only adopt this style playing teams in the bottom half of the table - and they will still play a conservative style against the bigger guns - unless they go behind - in which case they will open up again.


Looking forward to Reading game on wednesday - thanks for holding the Manks to a draw today. Hopefully lightening does not strike twice in that we lost to Middlesboro last season in the corresponding fixture and that Reading can't be expected to keep two clean sheets in a row and that Cech will get some payback by keeping a clean sheet against a side he has only played for a few minutes before last years horrific injury.


Blues Clues Prediction Reading 0 Chelsea 2 - revenge is sweet.

After the amazing & exilarating fightback against Everton, Chelsea almost threw away the points against Wigan. The emotion after the game was relief getting a result at Wigan as opposed to the elation experienced after the Everton game.


After some positive results (Arsenal & Everton) where the tactical change of moving Essien to right back - Mourhino decided to experiment from the beginning with Essien at right back. For the first 30 minutes it seemed to be working with Chelsea creating the chances and taking a seemingly easy & unassailable 2-0 lead.


However, the Chelsea team as a whole decided that Xmas holidays had come early and lost concentration and spirit allowing Wigan back into the game - Wigan slowly came back into the game creating chances and eventually Donkey Heskey took full advantage of the fact that Terry was missing easily losing his marker Drogba for a last gasp goal for a 2-1 scoreline.


In the second half Wigan roused by the hope of their goal won every 50-50 ball, the crowd spurred them on and Chelsea were really missing the Bison Essien in midfield. The tactical switch of Essien to right back is fine if the team are all fighting to get back into a game - but does not seem to work when defending a lead.


Wigan were rewarded for their efforts with an equaliser albeit a very offside Heskey - the linesman decided that Carvahlo who was off the field of play was playing Heskey onside.


This brought immediate tactical changes from Mourhino throwing caution to the wind once again - as he says one of these days Chelsea will be punished for throwing caution to the wind - but it has definately reaped its rewards in recent weeks with fightbacks and extra points against Man Utd, Arsenal and Everton. However, the change worked again with Chelsea creating chances once again and eventually reaping the rewards of Robben scoring his first goal for Chelsea and paying back Mourhino for getting his starting place back in the team.


Deja Vu for Wigan as Chelsea score their winner in the 93rd minute for the second year running. 3-2 for the Champions and hopefully a lesson learned about complacency. Kalou and Robben both impressed and scored thier first goals for Chelsea. Carvahlo was a rock in defence but Chelsea sorely miss Terry and Cech.


Bring on Reading on Tuesday - Chelsea need to make a statement of intent to Man Utd and with the contreversy surrounding the game at Reading where Cech and Cudicini were sterechered off it would be nice to give the visiting new boys a real drubbing - be ruthless Chelsea for a change. Essien back to midfield for this one please. Shopping list for January to include a right back and a central defender. Hurry back to fitness for Joe Cole, John Terry and Petr Cech. Merry Xmas to all Chelsea supporters in particular qand all fans of the beautiul game

A big week for Chelsea - one of many to come this season no doubt. Werder Bremen in Germany on Wednesday followed by the Manchester Buccaneers on Sunday.


The week started slowly with a comfortable 1-0 win over West Ham (if any one goal victory can be comfortable this was it). Great 25 yard free kick from Geremi sealed the points in a game Chelsea should have had dead and buried well before the final whistle.


It is easy to argue that Chelsea were saving themselves for the week ahead, with a one goal defeat being enough to see them qualify for the second round and a draw ensuring they win the group. Ballack returns to native Germany and with Lampard suspended will have the central midfield to himself. It's a Tough one to call with the game being so critical to the Germans, I'll go for the 1-1 draw - enough for Chelsea and keeps the second place in the balance with Barcelona missing a cutting edge without Eto'o and Messi will still be too strong for Levski Sofia.


The big game is of course this weekend's clash between the Blues and the Red Devils at the theatre of dreams. It has been a happy hunting ground for the Blues over the years - with Chelsea having the best record of any side in the Premiership at Old Trafford. Man United have a tough away game on tuesday as build up to the Chelsea game at Celtic and will want to avoid defeat for both morale and qualification purposes, but they do get the extra day of recovery. Obviously it is another game that could go either way but I am convinced that Chelsea are still the best team in the premiership and will probably win this one. It should be a great advert for the premier league with both teams going for glory, but Chelsea to emerge victors 2-1 in this one.


With a bit of luck and Mourhino's guidance by the end of the week Chelsea will have won Group A of the Champions League and will be back on equal points at the top of the Premiership.