Match reports
The Guardian, Dominic Fifield: “Any sense of choking anti-climax which might normally have strangled Chelsea appeared to have eased by the time this squad strolled through their post-match lap of honour in the sunshine. The likelihood of their pursuit of Manchester United yielding the Premier League title had always been slim. In the end [...]
Match reports
The Guardian, Kevin McCarra: “The roars of the Anfield crowd at the close were solely of defiance. Lesser supporters would have been struck dumb by John Arne Riise’s own-goal equaliser for Chelsea four minutes into stoppage time that, improbably after this showing, makes the visitors favourites to stride on to a Champions League final [...]
Match reports
Daily Telegraph, Tim Rich: “Avram Grant’s attempt to convince the world that Chelsea were not especially bothered by the Carling Cup sounded false from the moment it left his lips. Not since Don Revie constructed his all-white machine at Leeds has there been a club who have set out so remorselessly to win everything. [...]
- by Tony Glover · Permalink · 2213 views · 77 comments
- Tagged: Arsenal, Avram Grant, Chelsea, Claudio Pizarro, David Moyes, Everton, Joe Cole, Juliano Belletti, League Cup, Nicolas Anelka, Petr Cech, Ricardo Carvalho, Roman Abramovich, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Spurs
Match reports
Independent on Sunday, Guy Hodgson: “Claudio Pizarro, the striker who Chelsea supporters feared might never score in the Premier League again, confounded doubters yesterday to maintain the push towards the top of the table. He might find goals hard to come by against everyone else, but against Birmingham City he is deadly.”
Sunday Telegraph, Duncan [...]
Match reports
Independent on Sunday, Nick Townsend: “After a match comfortably won with goals in each half, from Juliano Belletti and Wright-Phillips, who is thriving in a more central midfield role, no one should rule out Chelsea’s claim to the championship.”
Sunday Telegraph, Patrick Barclay: “In attack … Grant had devised an interesting formation which was almost [...]
- by Tony Glover · Permalink · 3610 views · 152 comments
- Tagged: Aaron Lennon, Alan Wiley, Ashley Cole, Aston Villa, Chelsea, Claude Makelele, Claudio Pizarro, Dimitar Berbatov, Florent Malouda, Joe Cole, Michael Ballack, Petr Cech, Premier League, Ricardo Carvalho, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Spurs, Tottenham Hotspur, Wayne Bridge
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 · 2645 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 Times, Matt Hughes: “If he could bring himself to tune into a freezing English winter from the sunshine in Setúbal, even José Mourinho would have been impressed with the resilience that Chelsea showed in holding out for three points against Blackburn Rovers yesterday. However, they will need even more fortitude in the coming [...]
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 · 2943 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
Daily Telegraph, John Ley: “Chelsea achieved another milestone last night when they extended their unbeaten Stamford Bridge record in all competitions to 50. Already assured of their place in next week’s Champions League knockout draw, and against a sadly inept Valencia showing nothing of their past brilliance, this was a canter and the result [...]
- by Nick Benfield · Permalink · 1872 views · 59 comments
- Tagged: Andriy Shevchenko, Arsenal, Champions League, Chelsea, Claudio Pizarro, Frank Lampard, Joe Cole, Jose Mourinho, Petr Cech, Salomon Kalou, Santiago Canizares, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Steve Clarke, Valencia, Wayne Bridge
Match reports
The Times, Matt Hughes: “Avram Grant’s mission impossible is to make Chelsea the most attractive team in the world while continuing to win trophies, although he can be grateful that his players have not cast off the resilience instilled by his more pragmatic predecessor. The visiting team needed all their fortitude and considerable fortune [...]
- by Tony Glover · Permalink · 2438 views · 45 comments
- Tagged: Alex, Avram Grant, Carlo Cudicini, Champions League, Chelsea, Claude Makelele, Didier Drogba, Florent Malouda, Frank Lampard, Joe Cole, Jon Obi Mikel, Jose Mourinho, Juliano Belletti, Michael Essien, Petr Cech, Ricardo Carvalho, Schalke 04, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Wayne Bridge