CHELSEA have paved the way for Ashley Cole’s arrival at Stamford Bridge by allowing Asier Del Horno to join Valencia.

Jose Mourinho has revealed the fear of losing any more of Chelsea’s stars has prompted him to trim his squad.

Valencia are hoping to complete the signing of Chelsea defender Asier del Horno this week.

The Spanish football federation are waiting to hear from FIFA if they can bring Getafe’s Mariano Pernia into their World Cup squad in place of injured Chelsea left-back Asier del Horno.

Spain’s World Cup preparations have been hit by an injury scare involving key midfielder Xabi Alonso.

Chelsea captain John Terry has revealed how he once had a tunnel bust-up with the club’s new signing Michael Ballack.

SPAIN coach Luis Aragones has defended his decision to pick Chelsea left-back Asier Del Horno ahead of Getafe’s Mariano Pernia in his 27-man squad for the pre-World Cup get-together.

England midfielder Frank Lampard will be rested for Chelsea’s clash with Newcastle after making his last club appearance of the season against Blackburn on Tuesday.

Blackburn 1 Chelsea 0

John Terry will miss his first Barclays Premiership game of the season at Blackburn tomorrow.

Jose Mourinho expects to have a fully-fit squad as Chelsea seek the point which would seal the Premiership title against Manchester United.

SO WHERE do I start? I am gutted. Even more disappointed than after the Champions League game, because I really wanted the FA Cup, and my desire to see us beat Liverpool was even greater.

Eidur Gudjohnsen is ill and will not play for Chelsea in tomorrow’s FA Cup semi-final against Liverpool.

The followng are the teams for today's Premiership matches with a kick-off time of 3pm.

Maniche may have to be content with a place on the bench as he returns to the Chelsea squad for what could be the decisive title encounter with Everton at Stamford Bridge.

Joe Cole was recalled by Jose Mourinho as Chelsea looked for the win over Bolton which would leave them just four points away from retaining their title.

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has no fresh injury concerns ahead of their trip to Bolton.

Birmingham regained their pride and picked up a precious point in their bid to stay in the Barclays Premiership against the champions elect at St Andrews.

Birmingham: Maik Taylor, Tebily, Cunningham, Martin Taylor, Sadler, Pennant, Clemence, Butt, Johnson, Heskey, Campbell. Subs: Vaesen, Latka, Forssell, Lazaridis, Kilkenny.

Chelsea winger Arjen Robben is available again after suspension for the trip to Birmingham after completing a four-match ban.

LET’S take this in chronological order, shall we? We’ll get to Saturday and another day at the office for Chelsea shortly, but the thought process began last Sunday as I was driving home from Newcastle.

These are today's Premiership teams:

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has a fully-fit squad to face Manchester City but Arjen Robben and William Gallas are both suspended.

Chelsea 1 Newcastle 0

Chelsea are missing versatile French defender William Gallas for their FA Cup quarter-final clash with Newcastle tomorrow night.

Arjen Robben misses Chelsea’s clash at Fulham on Sunday as he serves the second game of his four-match ban for a red card at West Brom.

Chelsea paid tribute to Peter Osgood before the first home game since the sudden death of their legendary striker.

Chelsea winger Arjen Robben starts his four-match for his red card at West Brom last week.

Chelsea striker Hernan Crespo has attempted to defuse the tension ahead of his side’s Champions League return clash with Barcelona.

Frank Lampard remains the biggest concern for Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho ahead of their trip to struggling West Brom at the Hawthorns on Saturday.

FRANK LAMPARD is facing a major battle to be fit for Chelsea’s European showdown in Barcelona.

Frank Lampard will undergo a scan today on the hamstring injury which ruled him out of England’s game against Uruguay.

Chelsea defender Asier del Horno will serve only a one-game Champions League suspension after UEFA agreed to reduce the punishment following his foul on Barcelona’s Lionel Messi.

Chelsea defender Asier del Horno has accused Barcelona of teaching Lionel Messi “bad things”.

Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp insisted he is still talking to Frank Lampard after his nephew netted the goal that pushed his side closer to relegation.

“CHELSEA are almost out of the Champions’ League,” said the man on the television news late on Wednesday night, making it sound like their imminent exit from the competition is a mere technicality, a matter of formal ratification in the Nou Camp.

Chelsea have condemned death threats made towards referee Terje Hauge on fans’ forums in the wake of Wednesday’s controversial Champions League clash with Barcelona.

LIONEL MESSI has accused full-back Asier del Horno of trying to hurt him after the Chelsea defender was sent off for his reckless lunge at the Barcelona forward.

Chelsea’s Eidur Gudjohnsen believes referee Terje Hauge ruined the chance for their clash with Barcelona to become another all-time classic by sending off Asier del Horno for his reckless challenge on Argentine striker Lionel Messi.

Former Premiership referee Jeff Winter has accused Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho of double standards for accusing Lionel Messi of play-acting to get Asier del Horno sent off.