DAMIEN DUFF could make his first league appearance of the season tonight when Chelsea travel to Crystal Palace in the Barclays Premiership. Duff played for Ireland against Bulgaria last week but has not appeared in Chelsea’s opening two Premiership games. José Mourinho, the manager, says that he will make at least “two or three” changes to the team that beat Birmingham City 1-0 on Saturday.
“I believe in fresh blood. I always feel that when you put fresh blood in crucial positions you get a little bit more,” Mourinho said. “I knew in advance who was not going to play in Birmingham and who will play the Crystal Palace match, so instead of preparing for and recovering from the Birmingham effort, some of the players were working and thinking about the Crystal Palace match. In my experience, this can make the difference.”
He also responded to criticism aimed at Chelsea’s hitherto cautious tactics. “My philosophy is to try to win and at the same time play good football,” he said. “If you can play beautiful, I want to play beautiful.”
Lyons have said that they are interested in Nicolas Anelka, the France forward and there are rumours that Juventus may make a bid, but Manchester City are playing down the speculation. “I wouldn’t want to see players like Anelka walking out of the door. I didn’t come here to dismantle a team,” Kevin Keegan, the manager, said.
His side face Birmingham tonight at St Andrew’s without Richard Dunne, who is suspended. Keegan may turn to Mikkel Bischoff, a 22-year-old Danish centre back who has made only two senior appearances for the club.
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Tottenham Hotspur are close to signing Noé Pamarot, the Nice and France defender, for about £1.7 million. Pamarot, 25, who had an unproductive spell at Portsmouth five years ago, has agreed terms. “Jacques Santini is a coach with a great reputation. I want to prove myself after a bad season with Portsmouth,” Pamarot said.