Abramovich: Chelsea will cut down on buying players in future years, according to Roman Abra-movich. "Our strategy is to bring up our own players through the academy, which we have invested a lot in, and we hope that will give results," the Russian said. "We will be spending less in the transfer market in future."

Messi: Barca forward Lionel Messi hopes to have recovered from a broken metatarsal in time to face Liverpool on Feb. 21. The 19-year-old international will spend January in Argentina working on his recovery. "If everything goes well when I return to Barcelona I will have one more week of physiotherapy and then will rejoin the team. I would like to be ready for the Champions League," Messi said.

Andonov: Slavia Sofia have named Aliosha Andonov as their coach in place of Serbian Ratko Dostanic, who has taken over at OFK Belgrade. Seven-times Bulgarian champions Slavia are sixth in the standings with 23 points from 15 matches, 16 points behind leaders Levski Sofia.

Russian League: Saturn Ramenskoye director Mikhail Vor-ontsov was elected as new president of the Russian Premier Football League yesterday. Vorontsov, who was backed by all 16 Premier League clubs, replaces CSKA Moscow president Yevgeny Giner.

Ramon Diaz: Ex-Argentina international Ramon Diaz was named as coach of San Lorenzo. Diaz replaces former Argentina defender Oscar Ruggeri, who was fired at the end of the Apertura championship after a string of poor results.