Sunday 29th April

Premiership review: Chelsea 2 - 2 Bolton Wanderers

62 Comments

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 to half-strength Bolton and leaving themselves five adrift in a title race which should now become a triumphant procession for Sir Alex Ferguson and his charging front runners."

The Observer, Amy Lawrence: "Mourinho recognises the potentially crushing consequences of this...

Thursday 26th April

Champions League review: Chelsea 1 - 0 Liverpool

38 Comments

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 cunningly on the break in a first-half that might have settled the entire tie."

The Times, Oliver Kay: "A 1-0 lead is not to be sniffed at halfway through a Champions League semi-final, but the concern for Chelsea is that they should have had more than one goal to show for their...

Wednesday 25th April

Chelsea v. Liverpool: Pre-match links and quotes

14 Comments

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 within 12 days of each other in June 2004."

Atmosphere is unique Anfield calling card, The Times: "Are you ready for it Chelsea? You were not two years ago and we’re set to take things up a notch. Because that thing called atmosphere is Liverpool’s calling card. And if you are not four up going to Anfield, worry."

Monday 23rd April

Premiership review: Newcastle United 0 - 0 Chelsea

46 Comments

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, but momentum now returns to Sir Alex Ferguson’s team. Probably."

The Independent, Sam Wallace: "Jose Mourinho warning darkly about conspiracy theories against his Chelsea team, his players empty of ideas against a side...

Thursday 19th April

Premiership review: West Ham United 1 - 4 Chelsea

51 Comments

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 it. His pair of goals were the first he had scored in the Premiership for two years."

The Times, Matt Dickinson: "Mourinho was required to make a few changes last night just to give some players a rest but Shaun Wright-Phillips, the principal beneficiary, produced two...

Monday 16th April

FA Cup review: Blackburn Rovers 1 - 2 Chelsea

41 Comments

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 a joy. They negotiated this odyssey of an afternoon and found a course to their destination, the meeting with Manchester United at the new Wembley on May 19."

The Independent, Sam Wallace: "It is not just that Chelsea are still in the hunt for the three major trophies to put alongside the Carling Cup that will have...

Wednesday 11th April

Champions League review: Valencia 1 - 2 Chelsea (Chelsea win 3 - 2 on agg.)

51 Comments

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 Jose Mourinho it is almost certain to be against Liverpool."

Daily Telegraph, John Ley: "Before last night, Valencia had played 43 European games since January 2000 in this most imposing of settings - and had lost only four. Interestingly, two of those defeats were under former Chelsea manager Claudio Ranieri. And in 11...

Sunday 8th April

Premiership review: Chelsea 1 - 0 Tottenham Hotspur

29 Comments

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 Barclay: ""Sometimes we are guilty,'' said Mourinho of [Ricardo Carvalho], whom he brought with him from Porto in 2004 at a cost of nearly £20 million, "of always talking about the same players. But Ricardo has been a pillar for us this season. More than a...

Thursday 5th April

Champions League review: Chelsea 1 - 1 Valencia

28 Comments

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 become a convoluted, engrossing mystery for Chelsea and there were scant clues in this game as to the revelations to come in the return leg next Tuesday. True, Valencia foresee triumph now that they hold an away goal, but that could still turn out to be a red herring. Jose...

Monday 2nd April

Premiership review: Watford 0 - 1 Chelsea

29 Comments

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 Mourinho insists United can lose. 'Three points against Chelsea and other results going against them,' he said."

Sunday Times, Duncan Castles: "Usually so accustomed in holding possession until their opposition cedes chances, Chelsea’s short passing suffered on the uneven...