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

UEFA Team Ranking 2008

The UEFA team ranking is determined by the UEFA team coefficients in the last 5 years. The team ranking is used for the seeding of draws.



For the full figures, click here

Chelsea still have a full team in the tournament and have players in each of the World Cup Quarter Finals


Ballack's Germany takes on Crespo's Argentina in what looks like the game of the tournament so far. The bookies are evenly split in what should be a very entertaining game and one I will definately be sneaking away from work to watch.


The afternoon game sees Shevchenko's Ukraine taking on diving specialists Italy. Ukraine have failed to impress so far but then so have the Italians - but unfortunately I see the steely defence of the Italians winning this one. Our only hope is that the Italians fancy themselves and come out and attack otherwise this will be the drab game of the quarters.


England versus Portugal could pit up to seven Chelsea players against each other. I actually expect this game to be exiting as Portugal's style of play will encourage a more lively performance from England. It's going to be a really exiting game, close and could well go down to penalties - I hope for our sake England have been practising them.
Lampard is overdue a goal, Joe Cole is the second most fouled player at the World Cup and John Terry needs to have a leader's performance to thwart the pacy Portugese attack. For Portugal Carvahlo will have his work cut out at the back by Rooney. Ferreira and Bridge are likely to watch this one from the bench.


In the last game Gallas and Makelele will need to be at their best to stop the marauding Brazillian midfield and Adriano - but Gallas speed will nullify Ronaldo.

This too will be a great game of soccer and will give Brazil its first real test of the World Cup. If Brazil win the World Cup they now have to beat three very good sides in succession and maybe even have to win a penalty shoot out - so if they win it they will deserve it.


So by the end of the weekend we can hope that England will have reached the semis and therefore guaranteed to do better than they have done for 40 years. Chelsea will have at least four players in the Semi finals and as many as eight could still be in the competition come Saturday evening.

On the first day of the knockout competition both Blues players saw victory and passage to the Quarter Finals. Ballack had nine shots on goal of which five were on target but was thwarted by some great goalkeeping by the Swedish goalkeeper who kept the score reasonable in a very one sided game.


Crespo scored his third goal of the competition (even if it may have also had some help from Mexico & Bolton's Borgetti). Certainly the Argentina v Mexico game was the best of the tournament so far and the deciding goal by Athletico Madrid's Maxi Rodriguez was something special.


Tomorrow sees Eight Chelsea players in action with England (4) taking on Ecudor and Holland (1) taking on Portugal (3). We will all be hoping England can play to their potential against Ecuador and Holland v Portugal has the potential to be another World Cup classic.


On the club goal scoring stakes the current table reads as follows:

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