Carvalho, after an impressive first year at Stamford Bridge, has struggled to settle in England and his relationship with the manager, Jose Mourinho, has failed to recover after a public row at the start of the season which led to the 27-year-old being fined £100,000. The Premiership champions are also unlikely to take up the option to turn Maniche’s loan deal from Dynamo Moscow into a permanent transfer, leaving Paulo Ferreira as the club’s only Portuguese player. Substitutes not used: Jones (gk), Christie, Doriva, Wheater, Taylor.Referee: A Hamer (Luxembourg).. Ricardo Carvalho is set to leave Chelsea this summer with the defender hoping to secure a move to Real Madrid, who have been alerted to his availability. Substitutes not used: Cernea (gk), Balan, Cristocea, Nesu, Baciu,.Middlesbrough (4-4-2): Schwarzer; Parnaby, Ehiogu, Bates, Queudrue; Morrison (Parlour, 70), Boateng, Rochemback, Downing; Yakubu (Maccarone, 70), Hasselbaink. It was not to be, a fair result endured, but Middlesbrough know they have recovered from greater reverses than this.* In last night’s other Uefa Cup semi-final first-leg match, at the Parkstadion, hosts Schalke were unable to find a way past Seville’s inspirational goalkeeper Andres Palop in a 0-0 draw.Steaua Bucharest (4-4-2): Fernandes; Ogararu, Goian, Ghionea, Marin; Nicolita, Paraschiv (Lovin, 86), Radoi, Bostina; Dica, Oprita (Cristea, 89). The Steaua goalkeeper produced an outstanding reaction save to deny James Morrison at the resulting corner and yet his contribution was secondary to that of Schwarzer who made crucial stops from both the Bucharest defender and goalscorer Dica in the second half.”We began to look fatigued but our character, grit and determination held out,” McClaren said.Petre Marin should have broken Schwarzer’s resistance when he broke into the area only to shoot wide, and Fernandes almost fumbled Massimo Maccarone’s drive into the path of Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.

The yellow card was shown to three more Romanians before the interval and two, central midfielder Sorin Paraschiv and the impressive winger Banel Nicolita, now miss the second leg through suspension.Next week it would be remiss of Middlesbrough to rely as heavily on the long balls that peppered their performance last night, although it was George Boateng’s cross that almost delivered a precious away goal when the presence if not the final touch of Yakubu forced Carlos Fernandes to turn the ball on to his own crossbar. It was, in fairness, a fine forward’s goal against a side shorn of its first choice centre-halves through injury and suspension, and tarnished for the scorer when he was booked for raising his shirt in celebration. As more composure crept into their performance so a nervousness began to unsettle Middlesbrough and in the 30th minute their intended priority of a clean sheet was ruined by Nicolae Dica.A throw from George Ogararu found Mirel Radoi on the edge of the area and when the Steaua captain chested the ball into the goalmouth the Middlesbrough defence were found wanting for a second time as Dica was allowed to collect, turn and send a rising shot beyond Schwarzer. The sight of Sven Goran Eriksson mingling with the dignitaries at the Lin Manoliu Stadium was a clear show of support from the Swede for his England assistant and potential heir.
Eriksson would have recognised the caution in Middlesbrough’s opening, with both side’s midfields remaining deep and depriving the forwards of support. Bucharest are a very good side with a good away record, but I saw enough in the game to know we will have chances at The Riverside next week.” By which time his next career move may be clearer than Middlesbrough’s Uefa Cup prospects.McClaren had prioritised history above the future by imploring his players to grasp the opportunity of the club’s first European final and to ignore his possible succession to the England throne, a likely development that he is not prepared to discuss outside FA headquarters.

“I would have taken 1-0 as the game went on, most definitely,” admitted the Middlesbrough manager “Mark Schwarzer made some great saves to keep us in the tie. A third away defeat in succession befell McClaren’s men in Romania, although it was neither as severe as the quarter-final loss they suffered in Basle or as convincing as Steaua should have made it. His request was answered last night at the expense of Middlesbrough, but Steve McClaren will not have to seek spiritual salvation in Greece to keep his faith in the Teessider’s European journey. Gigi Becali, a devout Christian and the president of Steaua Bucharest, spent two days praying for victory in the monasteries of the Athos Mountains prior to his club’s appearance in the Uefa Cup semi-final. Stewards and other players are said to have broken up the fracas but punches are not believed to have been thrown.
Savage also upset Blues chairman David Gold by refusing to shake his hand, although Savage insisted he had not snubbed Gold.. Savage, who scored against his former club, is said to have been involved in an argument with two Birmingham players who confronted Savage outside the changing rooms, after taking exception to his goal celebration. The German public broadcaster, ZDF, reported on Wednesday that the 29-year-old had agreed a four-year deal with the Premiership champions and claimed all that was left was for the Germany captain to put pen to paper..

Robbie Savage is at the centre of more controversy today after reports he was involved in an altercation in the tunnel following Blackburn’s 2-1 defeat at Birmingham on Wednesday. I believe there is no one in the dressing-room who is more committed to Liverpool than Steven Gerrard. Maybe during the summer there will be further speculation, but he is a good player so that is to be expected.”. Michael Ballack may be Chelsea-bound – but not just yet.

The Bayern Munich midfielder yesterday denied reports he has already agreed a move to Stamford Bridge. We are focused completely on the FA Cup semi-final, not on things like that. Steven feels the same.”The two of us have had many discussions. We’re motivated enough already.”Chelsea’s attempt to prise Steven Gerrard from Liverpool 18 months ago also caused friction between the clubs. The England midfielder has been the subject of transfer talk again this week, but Benitez insisted that his captain would not be going to Real Madrid, or indeed anywhere.”I know a lot about the Spanish press and how they need to say something [to sell newspapers],” the former Valencia coach said “In this case, I am really clear: Gerrard is not for sale I don’t want to waste my time talking about it. Benitez said: “We don’t need to use such incidents to motivate us. Chelsea’s Michael Essien injured Dietmar Hamann by planting his studs in his right knee, a wild challenge that was punished retrospectively by a Uefa ban.In the Premiership tussle at Stamford Bridge in February, the Chelsea winger Arjen Roben collapsed holding his face after Pepe Reina raised a glove to him The goalkeeper was sent off.