Match reports
Sunday Times, Joe Lovejoy: “The pendulum swung to and fro throughout an enthralling afternoon before coming to rest firmly in Manchester United’s corner. Chelsea will strive with all their considerable might to get it moving again, but know they missed their last chance in the Stamford Bridge sunshine, conceding two priceless points at home [...]
- by Tony Glover · Permalink · 2707 views · 62 comments
- Tagged: Bolton Wanderers, Chelsea, Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard, Geremi, Joe Cole, John Terry, Jon Obi Mikel, Jose Mourinho, Lassana Diarra, Michael Essien, Premiership, Ricardo Carvalho, Salomon Kalou, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Stamford Bridge, Wayne Bridge
Match reports
The Guardian, Kevin McCarra: “It was a match to make grudges respectable. While Chelsea are out to avenge the loss to Liverpool in the Champions League semi-final two years ago, they were measured throughout a victory that makes them favourites to take their place in Athens on May 23. The Stamford Bridge side played [...]
- by Nick Benfield · Permalink · 3633 views · 38 comments
- Tagged: Andriy Shevchenko, Anfield, Champions League, Chelsea, Claude Makelele, Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard, Joe Cole, John Terry, Jon Obi Mikel, Jose Mourinho, Liverpool, Michael Ballack, Paulo Ferreira, Petr Cech, Rafael Benitez, Ricardo Carvalho, Stamford Bridge, Steven Gerrard, Xabi Alonso
A selection of links and quotes taken from the inordinate number of stories published in the build-up to tonight’s Champions League semi-final.
Mourinho v Benitez, BBC Sport: “The first leg of the Champions League semi-final between Chelsea and Liverpool will be the 14th time the two sides have met since [Mourinho and Benitez] arrived in England [...]
Match reports
The Times, George Caulkin: “United and Chelsea had cause to berate the “cursed North” over the course of the weekend, with Middlesbrough’s gallant draw at Old Trafford on Saturday followed by a fine performance by Newcastle United at St James’ Park. At its conclusion, the race for the Barclays Premiership title remains unaltered, [...]
- by Nick Benfield · Permalink · 2380 views · 46 comments
- Tagged: Alex Ferguson, Chelsea, Frank Lampard, Glenn Roeder, Jose Mourinho, Liverpool, Manchester United, Mark Halsey, Michael Ballack, Michael Essien, Newcastle United, Paulo Ferreira, Premiership, Rafael Benitez, Ricardo Carvalho, Steven Taylor
Match reports
The Guardian, Kevin McCarra: “[Chelsea] sustained their close pursuit of leaders Manchester United, with the gap now at three points once more. Jose Mourinho even flaunted the depth of his squad, with five changes from the FA Cup semi-final line-up. Shaun Wright-Phillips did not so much slip back into the first XI as dominate [...]
- by Tony Glover · Permalink · 2905 views · 51 comments
- Tagged: Chelsea, Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard, Joe Cole, John Terry, Jon Obi Mikel, Jose Mourinho, Lassana Diarra, Michael Ballack, Michael Essien, Paulo Ferreira, Premiership, Ricardo Carvalho, Salomon Kalou, Shaun Wright-Phillips, The Hammers, Upton Park, Wayne Bridge, West Ham United
Match reports
The Guardian, Kevin McCarra: “The season is coming to a close yet for Chelsea it must feel as if there is an infinity of football before them. That is no reason for distress when a game such as this FA Cup semi-final, which had to be settled in extra-time, can bring them so fierce [...]
- by Tony Glover · Permalink · 2736 views · 41 comments
- Tagged: Alan Wiley, Andriy Shevchenko, Ashley Cole, Blackburn Rovers, Chelsea, Claude Makelele, Didier Drogba, FA Cup, Frank Lampard, Joe Cole, John Terry, Jon Obi Mikel, Jose Mourinho, Mark Hughes, Michael Ballack, Michael Essien, Morten Gamst Pedersen, Petr Cech, Ricardo Carvalho, Roman Abramovich, Shaun Wright-Phillips
Match reports
The Guardian, Michael Walker: “What happens next at Chelsea is everybody’s guess but if it is change at the top then it will have to be justified and perhaps put on hold. Michael Essien’s last-minute intervention here takes Chelsea to a third European Cup semi-final in four years and for the second time under [...]
- by Nick Benfield · Permalink · 3648 views · 51 comments
- Tagged: Andriy Shevchenko, Anfield, Champions League, Chelsea, Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard, Joe Cole, John Terry, Jon Obi Mikel, Jose Mourinho, Liverpool, Manchester United, Michael Ballack, Michael Essien, Petr Cech, Roman Abramovich, Santiago Canizares, Valencia
Match reports
The Observer, Amy Lawrence: “Chelsea’s ruthless pursuit of Manchester United continued here, which is not surprising considering the hard facts: their winning sequence in the Premiership since they last conceded any ground (or even a goal for that matter ) - two-and-a-half months ago at Anfield - is daunting for any opponent.”
Sunday Telegraph, Patrick [...]
- by Tony Glover · Permalink · 2923 views · 29 comments
- Tagged: Aaron Lennon, Alex Ferguson, Andriy Shevchenko, Chelsea, Claude Makelele, Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard, Harry Redknapp, Jermain Defoe, Joe Cole, John Terry, Jon Obi Mikel, Jose Mourinho, Martin Jol, Michael Ballack, Michael Essien, Paulo Ferreira, Petr Cech, Portsmouth, Premiership, Ricardo Carvalho, Salomon Kalou, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Spurs, Stamford Bridge, Tottenham Hotspur, Wayne Bridge
Match reports
Daily Telegraph, John Ley: “Didier Drogba claimed the 30th and, incontrovertibly, most important goal of his season as Chelsea recovered from a listless first half and an early goal to claim a draw that keeps alive their hopes of reaching their third Champions League semi-final in four years.”
The Guardian, Kevin McCarra: “This season has [...]
- by Tony Glover · Permalink · 3077 views · 28 comments
- Tagged: Andriy Shevchenko, Arjen Robben, Ashley Cole, Asier Del Horno, Champions League, Chelsea, Claude Makelele, David Silva, Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard, Geremi Njitap, Joe Cole, John Terry, Jon Obi Mikel, Jose Mourinho, Lassana Diarra, Mark Hughes, Michael Ballack, Michael Essien, Paulo Ferreira, Petr Cech, Ricardo Carvalho, Roberto Ayala, Salomon Kalou, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Stamford Bridge, Valencia
Match reports
The Observer, Stuart Barnes: “Kalou struck in the 92nd minute to paper over a performance lacking shape and substance but containing one vital quality, a never-say-die attitude, that ruined all the commitment and hard work Watford had poured into the game. The goal kept their team six points behind Manchester United - a gap [...]
- by Nick Benfield · Permalink · 2281 views · 29 comments
- Tagged: Andriy Shevchenko, Arjen Robben, Ben Foster, Chelsea, Geremi Njitap, John Terry, Jose Mourinho, Manchester United, Michael Ballack, Petr Cech, Premiership, Salomon Kalou, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Steve McClaren, Vicarage Road, Watford