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 · 2052 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 · 3008 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
A few links I’ve come across recently that you might enjoy:
Official Chelsea FC Fantasy Football - It’s that time of year when fans should be thinking about their fantasy football teams. These days most fantasy football games are very much alike, so this season I decided to give the official Chelsea FC Fantasy Football a [...]
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 · 10684 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 · 5420 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
The Times, Matt Hughes: “Mourinho rested Ashley Cole, Michael Essien and Claude Makelele and was fortunate to keep an unbeaten home league record stretching back to FC Porto’s defeat by Beira Mar five years ago. In doing so, Chelsea equalled Liverpool’s record of 63 top-flight matches at home without defeat, although a more telling [...]
- by Tony Glover · Permalink · 2463 views · 40 comments
- Tagged: Chelsea, Didier Drogba, Everton, Frank Lampard, Joe Cole, John Terry, Jon Obi Mikel, Jose Mourinho, Khalid Boulahrouz, Manchester United, Michael Essien, Paulo Ferreira, Petr Cech, Premiership, Ricardo Carvalho, Roman Abramovich, Salomon Kalou, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Stamford Bridge, Wayne Bridge
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 · 2871 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 · 3070 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 · 2705 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 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, [...]
- by Nick Benfield · Permalink · 2377 views · 46 comments
- Tagged: Alex Ferguson, Chelsea, Frank Lampard, Glenn Roeder, Jose Mourinho, Liverpool, Manchester United, Mark Halsey, Michael Ballack, Michael Essien, Newcastle United, Paulo Ferreira, Premiership, Rafael Benitez, Ricardo Carvalho, Steven Taylor