The Screamer: Jose blames Roman for Euro failure

13 April 2012

Jose Mourinho has blamed owner Roman Abramovich for Chelsea's failure to win the Champions League last season.

Chelsea, who face Valencia tomorrow, went out to Liverpool on penalties in the semi-finals but Mourinho says Abramovich failed to sign the players needed during the transfer window.

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Abramovich, Kenyon and Mourinho endured a strained relationship

Mourinho, who left Chelsea 12 days ago, said: 'When we needed help to get a bit further, that help was denied us around December- January time.'

Valencia midfielder Joaquin wants revenge for his side's quarter-final defeat by Chelsea last season. He said: "This was the game we wanted to win and get one back for what happened."

Harford's chance

Mick Harford will be given a brief chance to make the QPR manager's job his own after John Gregory was sacked yesterday.

The axe fell after Rangers lost 5-1 at West Bromwich on Sunday to leave them three points adrift at the foot of the Championship.

Harford, 48, will take charge for the visit to Colchester tomorrow then has home games against Norwich and Ipswich and a trip to Preston to show new owners Flavio Briatore and Bernie Ecclestone he is the man for the job.

However, Gianluca Vialli, former QPR midfielder Martin Allen and Tony Adams are also in the running, while Paul Jewell is believed to have ruled himself out.

Harford, a coach at Colchester last season, said: "I'd be naive if I didn't think some big names would be applying but I'm going to give it my best shot.

"I'm sad about John Gregory as he brought me in, but when I told him that the chairman Gianni Paladini offered me the caretaker job he told me to go for it.

"I know what the situation is. You win games, you get the opportunity to be manager."

Harford moved quickly to stiffen his team, last night signing Preston's former Wigan midfielder Jason Jarrett on loan.

Joey will have to wait

Joey Barton returns to his former club, Manchester City, with Newcastle reserves tonight as he comes back from a metatarsal injury suffered before the start of the season.

He was hoping for a first-team return when Everton visit St James' Park on Sunday.

But boss Sam Allardyce said: "Joey has no chance. It will be four or five weeks, or three or four reserve games."

Usmanov slammed by Independence party MEP

Alisher Usmanov, tipped to become Arsenal's next owner, has been labelled a 'gangster and a racketeer' by Independence party MEP Thomas Wise.

In an EU debate on energy policy, Wise claimed Usmanov served a six-year jail sentence in the Soviet Union in the 1980s, his pardon coming at the behest of a mafia chief and heroin overlord.

Usmanov's lawyers said their client did not commit any offences and was fully pardoned.

Hull swoop

Hull City are set to sign Middlesbrough defender Andrew Davies and Birmingham striker Rowan Vine.

Boss Phil Brown will pay £1million for Davies, 22, who will join on loan initially before the move is completed in January.

Vine, 25, is arriving on a month's loan after a similar switch to Queens Park Rangers broke down following John Gregory's sacking yesterday.

Hull's Danny Coles and Michael Bridges will be loaned out to cut the wage bill.

Leeds bump up strikeforce

Leeds have signed Wayne Andrews and Mark de Vries after the club were left facing a striker crisis, with Tresor Kandol and Jermaine Beckford sent off in the 1-1 draw at Gillingham on Saturday.

Andrews, 29, and De Vries, 32, have agreed one-month loan deals from Coventry and Leicester respectively and are likely to face Oldham tonight.

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