YOU'RE NOTHING YET, AND NEVER HAVE BEEN

Marcel Desailly:

“Five-nil against a title rival like Newcastle following a 4-0 Champions League win in Rome against Lazio has sent out a massive psychological message to our rivals.

“I know previously they were all thinking, ‘Chelsea have decent players but they still can’t play well enough together’.

“We have forced a total reassessment. Now they know we can handle pressure but, most importantly, can also fight to the death to win crucial matches.

“Suddenly I can see other players and managers understand that this is a Chelsea side which is going places — and going there fast.

“After the win in Rome we needed to come back to England and show everyone we were still focused and belonged at the top. We did it and it will have a huge effect. Morale is absolutely sky-high and our psychological strength is simply formidable.

“We know we have the quality to make the difference in any game we play.”

Meanwhile:

Peter Kenyon is expected to lose his place on two key UEFA committees as a result of his decision to quit Manchester United and become Chelsea chief executive.

Kenyon is still on 'gardening leave' as United and Chelsea attempt to thrash out a compensation deal but is expected to be replaced as vice-chairman of UEFA's European Club Forum when the directors meet on November 20, and possibly to lose his place on UEFA's club competitions committee too.

As Manchester United chief executive, Kenyon was appointed as the forum's senior vice-chairman working under Bayern Munich vice-president Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.

Theoretically there is nothing to stop Kenyon continuing in the role when he takes over at Chelsea. But a representative of United was chosen originally on the basis of the club being the English side with the highest UEFA ranking - and so it is very likely David Gill, his successor at Old Trafford, will be invited to take on his roles.

Gill has already replaced Kenyon as vice-chairman of G14, the group of Europe's 18 elite clubs.

Meanwhile - following a meeting between Rummenigge and UEFA president Lennart Johansson yesterday, a review of the distribution of money to clubs and national associations will be carried out.