He served in the German navy during the war, which he ended with shrapnel ‘in my entire body’

Captain is incredibly consistent for the Cottagers

Hangeland returned from suspension last night as Fulham recorded first win in eight matches

Fulham captain missed three games - with Fulham failing to win any of them

West Brom boss Steve Clarke has hailed the "drive and determination" of midfielder Zoltan Gera to return to action after eight months out of action.

Wolves owner Steve Morgan believes new manager Stale Solbakken has the pedigree to bring success to the midlands club and insists the Norwegian's appointment is astute rather than brave.

Carlo Ancelotti, the Chelsea manager, was simply relieved last night to have reached the last eight of the Champions League after the goalless draw with FC Copenhagen, on the anniversary of last year's elimination to Internazionale.

Carlo Ancelotti believes Chelsea's superior "strength and power" can help them beat Barcelona to this season's Champions League title.

Fernando Torres insists it was always going to take him time to settle at Chelsea as his search for his first goal for the club continues.

Ashley Cole is desperate to make up for his penalty shootout blunder in Chelsea's shock FA Cup defeat to Everton by helping them finally win the Champions League.

Carlo Ancelotti watched Chelsea cruise to the win at FC Copenhagen they so desperately needed before telling his players: "Now go and beat Manchester United".

Spirits are high at Scandinavia's new force with their players feeling the English champions are there for the taking tonight

Not for the want of trying, Carlo Ancelotti sometimes grasps for the right English phrase to express his feelings and finds himself empty-handed. His description of his club's three-month slump as a "bad moment" is one such example. But when the Chelsea manager attempted to convey his sense of determination yesterday he managed an appropriately dramatic rallying for a particularly bleak time.

The Abramovich era is stuttering but the man who launched it, and who plays against his old club tomorrow, tells Mark Fleming about the early days