Chelsea striker Torres looking £50m at last as AVB break ends midwinter blues

Around 800 miles from the pressure cooker of their Cobham training ground, Chelsea's players have finally seen a different side to Andre Villas-Boas. 

Six days in Majorca with the squad was a release; a chance for the young Portuguese coach to drain some of the tension after a turbulent start to his career with the club.

He prescribed rest and relaxation, dividing the time between the training pitches, the golf course and some fine dining in some of Palma's magnificent seaview restaurants.

Chelsea's players were instructed to leave their Dolce & Gabbana club suits at home, swapping them for swim shorts and 'club casuals' - the phrase used on the leaflet given to the players a few days before they took off on a charter flight from Norwich last Saturday.

The midwinter break, at the magnificently appointed Hotel Punta Negra in Costa D'en Blanes, was designed to be a cooling-off period after sliding out of the title race. The players responded, stripping off the layers each morning at Real Mallorca's splendid training complex 20 minutes from their clifftop apartments.

It allowed skipper John Terry time to focus his thoughts on Saturday's meeting with the player he is accused of racially abusing at Loftus Road last October, Anton Ferdinand, and his forthcoming court case relating to those allegations.

Others, such as David Luiz, Romelu Lukaku and Fernando Torres thrived, training with  intensity and gripped with enthusiasm. 

Torres must dread the sharp intake of breath Villas-Boas takes before the distinctive shrill of his whistle and shouts the words 'shooting drill'. Yet the striker was a class apart, gliding across the playing surface and stepping into side-foot volleys with the assurance of a World Cup winner. He drew gasps of admiration from Real Mallorca's coaching staff up in the stand whenever one of AVB's training drills ended with Petr Cech beaten cleanly.

It was the player Chelsea paid £50million for, converting chances under the comfort blanket that Villas-Boas created for his squad at their Son Biblioni training camp.

The manager demanded focus and in return he gave them freedom to enjoy themselves on the field, encouraging them to flash the occasional smile again after a frustrating season.

Frank Lampard worked alone, put through a series of sprinting drills before heading off for massage on his injured calf.

It was fun to be around Chelsea for a change, lifting the atmosphere and allowing the players to have some freedom at the team hotel. Some spent the afternoons on the tennis courts, while others took to the golf buggies and set off for the stunning fairways and greens of Son Vida or Alcanada. 

In the evenings a bus took them into town, down the winding roads to friendly restaurants such as the Vinotinto tapas bar.

He has failed to mask his insecurities, surprising Chelsea employees after his return to English football following a hugely successful season with Porto.

But he dropped his guard at times this week, allowing the players to gain a better understanding of his complicated personality.

Villas-Boas still has the support of Roman Abramovich but, crucially, he altered the mindset of some influential players too.

source: www.dailymail.co.uk 

and picture: www.mirrorfootball.co.uk, plus google and www.chelseafc.com

Nakumura's amazing free kick: curling a ball through the window of a moving bus

FORMER Celtic star Shunsuke Nakamura proves he's still got the knack at set pieces — by curling a ball through the window of a moving bus.

The free-kick expert — who now plays for Yokoham F Marinos — was filmed in an alley taking part in a stunt live on Japanese television.

Nakamura, 34, used mirrors to time his strike before rolling back the years to bend a beautiful shot through the vehicle's window — much to the amazement of passengers on board.

source: www.thesun.co.uk

New Liverpool turmoil: midfielder Downing arrested after allegedly punching ex-girlfriend

Liverpool face fresh turmoil after midfielder Stewart Downing was arrested on suspicion of assault following allegations of hitting an ex-girlfriend in a nightclub row.

The England international, 27, was arrested after a late night fracas at a club in the upmarket suburb of Yarm, near Middlesborough, at about 1am on Sunday morning.

It is the latest incident to rock the Anfield club, coming hot on the heels of the arrest of a 20-year-old man for allegedly racially abusing Oldham defender Tom Adeyemi on Friday night.

The club also remain embroiled in a second race row with Luis Suarez serving an eight-match ban for abusing Manchester United defender Patrice Evra.

It is claimed that Downing assaulted his ex-partner, with whom he is thought to have a child, after rowing with her while drinking at the Cross Keys club on Yarm High Street.

A local source told the Mail Online that there had been an incident between the two of them.

'She went over to one of his friends and said something that she shouldn't have,' the source said.

 'He butted in and they were arguing.' It's then that the source alleged that he hit her.

The source continued: 'Police got there as they were thrown out. He caused a scene outside the club as well, when he realised they were going to take him in.'

Referring to last night's incident, a police spokesman said: 'Police were called to an incident at a pub on Yarm High Street.

'A 27-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of assault and a 32-year-old woman has also been arrested on suspicion of assault.

'Both are in custody and inquiries are ongoing.'

 source: www.dailymail.co.uk