Match reports
The Guardian, Kevin McCarra: “The score, with a penalty for the visitors in the last minute, may have been tied up but this was a match in which logic unravelled to joyous effect. Only those with a vested interest can be immune to the delight of such a game. As the sides demolished one [...]
- by Tony Glover · Permalink · 2647 views · 65 comments
- Tagged: Alex, Andriy Shevchenko, Ashley Cole, Aston Villa, Avram Grant, Chelsea, Claudio Pizarro, Frank Lampard, Gabriel Agbonlahor, Gareth Barry, Joe Cole, Jon Obi Mikel, Martin Laursen, Michael Ballack, Michael Essien, Paulo Ferreira, Petr Cech, Phil Dowd, Premier League, Ricardo Carvalho, Roman Abramovich, Salomon Kalou, Shaun Maloney
Match reports
The Independent, Jason Burt: “Big games define big teams, Arsène Wenger reminded us before this encounter. They also define big players and Chelsea may have to again cope without John Terry after their captain suffered suspected ankle ligament damage in a spiteful challenge by Emmanuel Eboué as his side lost to Arsenal for the [...]
- by Nick Benfield · Permalink · 2944 views · 108 comments
- Tagged: Andriy Shevchenko, Arsenal, Arsene Wenger, Ashley Cole, Avram Grant, Cesc Fabregas, Chelsea, Didier Drogba, Emmanuel Eboue, Frank Lampard, John Terry, Jon Obi Mikel, Jose Mourinho, Paulo Ferreira, Petr Cech, Premier League, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Tal Ben Haim, William Gallas
Match reports
Independent on Sunday, Steve Tongue: “A lot of water has flowed under Stamford Bridge since Eriksson took tea with owner Roman Abramovich in the summer of 2003 to discuss becoming manager of Chelsea. Jose Mourinho was given the job and the rest is history; or was until Avram Grant took over eight matches ago. [...]
- by Tony Glover · Permalink · 3287 views · 75 comments
- Tagged: Alex, Andriy Shevchenko, Avram Grant, Chelsea, Claudio Pizarro, Didier Drogba, Florent Malouda, Frank Lampard, Javier Garrido, Joe Cole, Jose Mourinho, Juliano Belletti, Ken Bates, Manchester City, Mark Hughes, Michael Essien, Mike Riley, Paulo Ferreira, Petr Cech, Premier League, Ricardo Carvalho, Roman Abramovich, Salomon Kalou, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Sven-Goran Eriksson
Match reports
The Observer, Duncan Castles: “This match proved to be ugly viewing for Middlesbrough, but further testament to the strength of character at Chelsea. Few now contest the damage Jose Mourinho’s forced dismissal from the club did to the Blues’ dressing room, yet a team largely at odds with themselves, their under-qualified manager and their [...]
- by Nick Benfield · Permalink · 1990 views · 66 comments
- Tagged: Alex, Avram Grant, Chelsea, Didier Drogba, Florent Malouda, Frank Lampard, John Terry, Jose Mourinho, Middlesbrough, Paulo Ferreira, Petr Cech, Premier League, Ricardo Carvalho
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 · 2051 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
Match reports
The Times, Russell Kempson: “It was not quite thrill-a-minute - Mourinho could never be accused of throwing caution completely to the wind - and Roman Abramovich, the Chelsea owner, was pictured gloomily resting his chin in his hands near the end. Yet if this is the way forward for Chelsea, with Mourinho’s midfield diamond [...]
- by Nick Benfield · Permalink · 3006 views · 51 comments
- Tagged: Arjen Robben, Birmingham City, Chelsea, Claudio Pizarro, Daniel Alves, Florent Malouda, Frank Lampard, Glen Johnson, John Terry, Jose Mourinho, Liverpool, Manchester United, Michael Essien, Paulo Ferreira, Premier League, Premiership, Roman Abramovich, Salomon Kalou, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Stamford Bridge, Wayne Rooney
Match reports
The Guardian, Kevin McCarra: “While United, busier in attack, deserved to be victors, they will be conscious, too, that Chelsea’s line-up was a distorted reflection of the prowess that Jose Mourinho can call on when there are fewer problems. Didier Drogba has hurt his knee and, though a scan should confirm that he will [...]
- by Nick Benfield · Permalink · 2178 views · 24 comments
- Tagged: Alex Ferguson, Andriy Shevchenko, Ashley Cole, Chelsea, Claude Makelele, Claudio Pizarro, Community Shield, Daniel Alves, Didier Drogba, Florent Malouda, Frank Lampard, Glen Johnson, John Terry, Jose Mourinho, Khalid Boulahrouz, Manchester United, Michael Ballack, Paulo Ferreira, Portsmouth, Robert Huth, Salomon Kalou, Tal Ben Haim, Wayne Bridge, Wembley
Chelsea lost their unbeaten record in pre-season yesterday afternoon when they went down 2-0 to Rangers at Ibrox. Nacho Novo struck from 20 yards on 86 minutes, and Filip Sebo made sure of the win just a minute later when his shot from a similar range deflected off Ricardo Carvalho and looped over substitute goalkeeper [...]
- by Nick Benfield · Permalink · 1688 views · 12 comments
- Tagged: Andriy Shevchenko, Arjen Robben, Ashley Cole, Chelsea, Claudio Pizarro, Daniel Alves, Didier Drogba, Florent Malouda, Glen Johnson, Henrique Hilario, Ibrox, Joe Cole, John Terry, Jon Obi Mikel, Jose Mourinho, Pascal Chimbonda, Paulo Ferreira, Peter Kenyon, Petr Cech, Pre-season, Rangers, Ricardo Carvalho, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Spurs, Steve Clarke, Tal Ben Haim
I had originally been scheduled to work last week in Southern California so I could attend both games knowing the airfare and hotel was being paid for. Of course, that fell through so that I was obliged to watch both games on TV (the Stanford game was televised on a Spanish only channel I don’t [...]
- by Graham Nash · Permalink · 1255 views · 6 comments
- Tagged: Andriy Shevchenko, Arjen Robben, Chelsea, Claude Makelele, Club America, David Beckham, Didier Drogba, Florent Malouda, Frank Lampard, Glen Johnson, Harry Redknapp, Home Depot Center, Joe Cole, John Terry, Jose Mourinho, LA Galaxy, Major League Soccer, Michael Ballack, Michael Essien, Paulo Ferreira, Petr Cech, Pre-season, Ricardo Carvalho, Salomon Kalou, Sam Hutchinson, Samsung Bluewings, Shaun Wright-Phillips, 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 · 10680 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