Match reports
The Observer, Stuart Barnes: “After the Boxing Day goalfest against Aston Villa, Avram Grant’s side had lived on the edge again. Another draw would have been damaging to their chances of making up ground in the title race. Instead, this result, coupled with Manchester United’s defeat at West Ham, means they retain a strong [...]
- by Nick Benfield · Permalink · 2288 views · 61 comments
- Tagged: Avram Grant, Blackburn Rovers, Chelsea, Joe Cole, Jose Mourinho, Michael Ballack, Michael Essien, Newcastle United, Premier League, Salomon Kalou, Scott Sinclair, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Wayne Bridge
Unfortunately we missed this game and had to make do with radio commentary here in England because of a lack of any live television coverage. Leave your good and bad points in the comments.
- by Nick Benfield · Permalink · 2741 views · 46 comments
- Tagged: Andriy Shevchenko, Avram Grant, Carlo Cudicini, Chelsea, Claudio Pizarro, Frank Lampard, League Cup, Leicester City, Michael Essien, Roman Abramovich, Scott Sinclair, Shaun Wright-Phillips
Match reports
The Guardian, Louise Taylor: “Jose who? Admittedly it was against a Championship side in the Carling Cup but a vibrant Chelsea performance suffused with goals and improvisational attacking suggested that there just might be a life for the Blues post Mr Mourinho after all.”
The Times, Matt Hughes: “Avram Grant must have feared being fed [...]
- by Nick Benfield · Permalink · 3053 views · 80 comments
- Tagged: Andriy Shevchenko, Avram Grant, Chelsea, Hull City, John Terry, Juliano Belletti, League Cup, Salomon Kalou, Scott Sinclair, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Steve Sidwell, 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 · 2864 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 · 3068 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
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 [...]
- by Nick Benfield · Permalink · 1732 views · 10 comments
- Tagged: Brian Clough, Chelsea, Claude Makelele, Didier Drogba, FA Cup, Frank Lampard, Geremi Njitap, Jon Obi Mikel, Jose Mourinho, Lassana Diarra, Michael Ballack, Michael Essien, Nottingham Forest, Scott Sinclair
Match reports
The Guardian, Jon Brodkin: “Never mind that Chelsea remain overwhelming favourites to reach the Carling Cup final. Being held at Wycombe last night was the latest confirmation of their dwindling powers and this was no lucky outcome for the League Two side. Jose Mourinho’s team were second best for most of this game and [...]
- by Nick Benfield · Permalink · 1763 views · 25 comments
- Tagged: Ben Sahar, Chelsea, Football Manager 2007, Jermaine Easter, Jose Mourinho, League Cup, Matches, Michael Essien, Paulo Ferreira, Scott Sinclair, Wycombe Wanderers
For the second time in five days Chelsea play League Two opposition in a domestic cup game.
Having swept aside Macclesfield Town in the third round of the FA Cup on Saturday, the Blues travel to Adams Park to play fellow League Two outfit Wycombe Wanderers in the League Cup semi-final first leg.
With Tottenham playing Arsenal [...]
- by Nick Benfield · Permalink · 1659 views · 7 comments
- Tagged: Anthony Grant, Arjen Robben, Ben Sahar, Carlo Cudicini, Chelsea, Joe Cole, John Terry, Jose Mourinho, Khalid Boulahrouz, League Cup, Matches, Michael Essien, Paul Lambert, Paulo Ferreira, Scott Sinclair, Wycombe Wanderers
Match reports
The Observer, Anna Kessel: “Six-one, what a washout - or so you might think. Second from top versus second from bottom in the entire league: really, you had to be there. Andriy Shevchenko battling with the defenders of Macclesfield Town was in itself a marvel - a year ago you couldn’t have made it [...]
- by Nick Benfield · Permalink · 1952 views · 8 comments
- Tagged: Arjen Robben, Ben Sahar, Carlo Cudicini, Chelsea, FA Cup, Frank Lampard, Joe Cole, John Terry, Khalid Boulahrouz, Macclesfield Town, Manchester United, Matches, Michael Ballack, Michael Essien, Michael Woods, Paul Ince, Petr Cech, Reserves, Scott Sinclair, Yves Ma Kalambay
Chelsea are set to clinch the signature of rising Swiss star Jonas Elmer from Grasshopper Zurich.
Elmer caught the eye of Chelsea’s scouting network during last month’s European Under-17 Championship in Italy where Switzerland lost in the group phase.
The 17-year-old left-sided player was due to undergo a medical at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday before agreeing personal [...]