Match reports The Guardian, Kevin McCarra: “These sides grappled with one another so fiercely that it was as if neither would ever let the other go free to reach the final in Greece on May 23.” The Times, Matt Dickinson: “The idea that his team might be rattled by the raucousness of a febrile occasion had seemed [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

Match reports The Guardian, Richard Williams: “Roman Abramovich stayed away from this one, preferring to spend the weekend watching teams from Israel, Russia and Ukraine compete in a friendly tournament mounted with his money. Maybe he knows more about football than we think. Back in west London there was nothing of significance to be learnt from [...]

Remember the good old days? Remember the two consecutive seasons that we actually went through Christmas unscathed? Maximum points anyone? Of course you do because they were the last two glorious years. Prior to these two glorious years, no matter who was at the reigns we would all rush headlong into the Christmas period blinded by [...]

First half bad, second half good – this might well be the chanted mantra of the average Chelsea supporting alpha male these days as he tears off more meat with his teeth whilst his wife toils away at the ironing and washing (well maybe that’s just my house on a cold Sunday afternoon when we [...]

For a while, Chelsea seemed to be out of favour with Fox Sports so that for some weeks they hardly figured at all. In the last couple of weeks, however, things have improved, at least in this respect. I have been able to watch all of Chelsea’s recent Premiership games, starting with that against Manchester [...]

Match reports Daily Telegraph, Henry Winter: “This was a good point for Chelsea, one they are convinced will be a turning point in the title race. All draws are equal, but some are more equal than others. Chelsea left Old Trafford last night with a smile and a belief that they can keep the title at the [...]

Match reports The Guardian, Jon Brodkin: “Chelsea beating West Ham did not even register on the Richter scale. Mourinho’s players will need to raise their level in Bremen and Manchester but it felt as though they would have stepped up a gear had West Ham equalised Geremi’s nicely curled free-kick.” Daily Telegraph, Clive Tyldesley: “Both of the [...]

Match reports Sunday Telegraph, Roy Collins: “For once without a hint of controversy or histrionics, Chelsea calmly set their bid for a third successive Premiership title back on course. If their title rivals, whom some might dismiss as wishful thinkers, were hoping that last week’s defeat at Tottenham might be the start of a full-blown crisis, [...]