Match reports
The Observer, Stuart Barnes: “Delight for Jermain Defoe, disappointment for Chelsea and another twist in a fascinating Premier League championship race from a match that ebbed and flowed entertainingly throughout.”
Independent on Sunday, Ronald Atkin: “In a midfield containing the world-renowned likes of Michael Ballack and Claude Makelele, Lassana Diarra shone like a Portsmouth harbour [...]
- by Mark · Permalink · 2824 views · 114 comments
- Tagged: Arsenal, Ashley Cole, Avram Grant, Chelsea, Claude Makelele, Florent Malouda, Fratton Park, Harry Redknapp, Jermain Defoe, Lassana Diarra, Michael Ballack, Portsmouth, Premier League
Match reports
The Independent, Conrad Leach: “It usually takes decades to build up an enmity on the scale that now exists between these two teams, but in their case it only took one match. That was last October, when Stephen Hunt accidentally collided with Petr Cech, his knee hitting the Chelsea goalkeeper in the head. It [...]
- by Nick Benfield · Permalink · 2050 views · 27 comments
- Tagged: Chelsea, Claudio Pizarro, Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard, Glen Johnson, John Terry, Jon Obi Mikel, Jose Mourinho, Lassana Diarra, Manchester United, Michael Essien, Paulo Ferreira, Premier League, Premiership, Reading, Ricardo Carvalho, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Stephen Hunt, Steve Sidwell, Tal Ben Haim
Did the earth move? Was the season lit with fireworks? Did Andriy Shevchenko seduce you with silky skills? Did Didier Drogba’s drive and dynamism send shivers down your spine? Did the essence of Michael Essien send you into a dreamy haze?
Or did it seem like the interminable season from hell at times? Did you look [...]
- by Tony Glover · Permalink · 10676 views · 144 comments
- Tagged: Alex Ferguson, Andriy Shevchenko, Anfield, Arjen Robben, Arsenal, Ashley Cole, Asier Del Horno, Barcelona, Bobby Robson, Carlo Cudicini, Champions League, Chelsea, Claude Makelele, Claudio Ranieri, Didier Drogba, FA Cup, Frank Lampard, Geremi, Gianluca Vialli, Glenn Roeder, Graeme Souness, Henrique Hilario, Joe Cole, John Obi Mikel, John Terry, Jose Mourinho, Ken Bates, Kenny Dalglish, Kevin Keegan, Khalid Boulahrouz, Lassana Diarra, League Cup, Manchester United, Michael Ballack, Michael Essien, Middlesbrough, Newcastle United, Paulo Ferreira, Peter Schmeichel, Petr Cech, Premiership, PSV Eindhoven, Reading, Real Madrid, Ricardo Carvalho, Roman Abramovich, Ruud Gullit, Salomon Kalou, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Spurs, Stamford Bridge, Tottenham Hotspur, Wayne Bridge, Wembley, William Gallas
Match reports
The Observer, Amy Lawrence: “After 116 minutes of uptight football, Chelsea delivered the FA Cup from the probability of its third consecutive penalty shoot-out. Didier Drogba, having lost out to Cristiano Ronaldo in the personal awards despite an exceptional personal campaign, stole the glory with a typically resilient example of the predator’s arts. A [...]
- by Nick Benfield · Permalink · 5401 views · 58 comments
- Tagged: Alex Ferguson, Andriy Shevchenko, Arjen Robben, Ashley Cole, Carlo Cudicini, Champions League, Chelsea, Claude Makelele, Didier Drogba, FA Cup, Frank Lampard, Joe Cole, John Terry, Jon Obi Mikel, Jose Mourinho, Lassana Diarra, Manchester United, Michael Essien, Nemanja Vidic, Paul Scholes, Paulo Ferreira, Peter Kenyon, Petr Cech, Premiership, Roman Abramovich, Ryan Giggs, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Stamford Bridge, Wayne Bridge, Wayne Rooney, Wembley
Match reports
Daily Telegraph, Henry Winter: “Chelsea had lost their title, but clearly not their determination. Good blood and bad was spilt here. Joe Cole, his cheek cut in pursuit of the ball, even had to change his stained shirt, but the abiding memory was of the ill-will between two teams who fought tooth and nail [...]
- by Tony Glover · Permalink · 2862 views · 41 comments
- Tagged: Alex Ferguson, Ben Sahar, Carlo Cudicini, Chelsea, Claude Makelele, Graham Poll, Joe Cole, John Terry, Jon Obi Mikel, Jose Mourinho, Lassana Diarra, Manchester United, Michael Essien, Paulo Ferreira, Premiership, Reserves, Salomon Kalou, Scott Sinclair, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Stamford Bridge, Wayne Bridge
Match reports
The Guardian, Kevin McCarra: “Who would have thought that Chelsea could turn themselves into gallant losers? If a third consecutive Premiership title was to be denied the Stamford Bridge side, they failed with a show of strength and talent. That let them come back for a draw despite being down to 10 men for [...]
- by Nick Benfield · Permalink · 3067 views · 48 comments
- Tagged: Andriy Shevchenko, Arsenal, Arsene Wenger, Ashley Cole, Ben Sahar, Cesc Fabregas, Chelsea, Didier Drogba, Emirates Stadium, Frank Lampard, Joe Cole, John Terry, Jon Obi Mikel, Jose Mourinho, Khalid Boulahrouz, Lassana Diarra, Liverpool, Manchester United, Michael Ballack, Michael Essien, Paulo Ferreira, Premiership, Ricardo Carvalho, Salomon Kalou, Scott Sinclair, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Wayne Bridge, William Gallas
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 · 2699 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: “[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 · 2900 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
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 · 3070 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 Guardian, Kevin McCarra: “If the first meeting had been enthrallingly spectacular, the replay of this FA Cup quarter-final intrigued with its element of surprise. No one could have anticipated the finish with which Andriy Shevchenko opened the scoring or the volley from Shaun Wright-Phillips that doubled Chelsea’s lead.”
The Times, Matt Dickinson: “Even [...]
- by Nick Benfield · Permalink · 4959 views · 43 comments
- Tagged: Aaron Lennon, Chelsea, Didier Drogba, Dimitar Berbatov, FA Cup, Frank Lampard, John Terry, Jon Obi Mikel, Jose Mourinho, Lassana Diarra, Martin Jol, Michael Ballack, Paulo Ferreira, Ricardo Carvalho, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Spurs, Stamford Bridge, Tottenham Hotspur, White Hart Lane