Detailed coverage of Chelsea football club and its players, including match reports, transfer rumours and general football news.
We also have sections on Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho (including a dedicated Jose Mourinho quotes page), Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich and Chelsea players Andriy Shevchenko and Frank Lampard.
Today’s transfer roundup won’t be too long, because I’m being generous. I’m sure you all have much better things to do than to sit and read for an extended period of time…right?
Written by Eddie Griffin. One comment
Saying goodbye to the football season is very much like giving birth to a ginger child: after nine months of optimism, hope and anguish, you’re left with a genuine feeling of disappointment.
The final day is often emotional. Who could forget Arsenal pipping Liverpool to the title in 1989? Well sadly, my old man. In fact, if you see a small befuddled pensioner roaming the streets, you’ll be better off avoiding football trivia altogether; senility is no picnic.
Written by Gerry McDonnell. 25 comments
So, what’s going on in the world of transfer rumors today? As always, chime in and chip in with opinions - and with rumors!
Written by Eddie Griffin. 2 comments
Uefa’s Under-17 Championships have revealed many a burgeoning young talent to a wider audience in the last six years. It is the stage where Wayne Rooney (2002), Cesc Fabregas (2004), Nuri Sahin (2005), Toni Kroos (2006) and Bojan Krkic (2007) strutted their stuff and won the ‘Golden Boy’ award.
You have to wonder what happened to David Rodriguez after his 2003 performance, such is the mark of quality that goes with the recognition of being the best player on show. But who are this year’s likely lads ? Who cares which nation takes the trophy, we all want to know where the next generation of star names are going to come from!
From what I hear, he could come from an area of Liverpool called West Derby, via Madrid and Argentina and go by the name Gerry Brown (local translation), but we will have to wait and see. I’ve picked out eight names to keep an eye on for the duration of the event - May 4-16 in Antalya, Turkey.
Written by Betfair. 13 comments
The press should be ashamed of themselves. Their suspicion and fueling of non-issues forces players and managers in the game to lie, to think 10 times before they say something, to spout carefully prepared statements or just hide from the spotlight.
Honesty and friendship, it seems, isn’t allowed in football.
Written by Ahmed Bilal. Leave a response
Highlights from the midweek Champions League semifinals:
Written by goalcentre.com. 2 comments
Tubby Brazilian Ronaldo may be one of the greatest players to ever grace a football pitch, but he’s definitely a poor role model. The AC Milan man let himself down when he invited three members of the late-night entertainment industry back to a motel. It wasn’t just the fact that they turned out to be ladyboys; he shamefully offered to pay them for doing nothing. If I pay a builder to construct a conservatory, and he brings along a few superfluous tools, I’d expect him to keep his head down and finish the job.
This sorry tale was not the only case of mistaken identity this week; Rio Ferdinand kicked a female Chelsea steward after mistaking her for a wall. It sounds like a tall story, but I once kicked the wife by accident; I thought she was her mother.
Written by Gerry McDonnell. 4 comments
Main contenders for the English Premiership and finalists of UEFA Champions League. The title & crown of “Kings the 2007-08 season”, both domestically and in Europe, has come down to two clubs: Manchester United and Chelsea.
The former, defeating Spanish giants Barcelona after a 0-0 draw at the Nou Camp and a Scholes-painted 1-0 victory at Old Trafford, will be looking to repeat the glory from their 1999 treble year and win over Bayern Munich. The latter, victors of rivals Liverpool after a 1-1 tie at Anfield and an excitement-laden 3-2 extra time triumph at Stamford Bridge, have qualified for the tournament final for the first time in the club’s history. No doubt they will be looking to improve that record very soon.
On May 21, as Red Devils and Blues face each other in Moscow, venue of the big tournament final deciding this year’s winner of the “Cup with the Big Ears”, the Premier League will be a completed affair. The big question is: will it be a glorious double or a sweet revenge?
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Written by Marco Pantanella. 5 comments
According to Forbes.com Manchester United have been valued at $1.8 billion, ahead of the club traditionally known as the richest club in football (Real Madrid, $1.285 billion) and their chief domestic rivals Arsenal ($1.2 billion), Liverpool ($1.05 billion) and Chelsea ($764 million).
Have fun sorting the lists according to different criteria. Here are some highlights:
Written by Ahmed Bilal. 3 comments
The stench of defeat is unbearable, as is the joyous celebration of the the non-Man Utd football family. We love to build up teams and then knock them down, and as far as the mob is concerned it’s time for United to be knocked down.
Since yesterday a lot has been said (hardly in praise of United, hardly in criticism of Chelsea) about what happened (during and after the game) at Stamford Bridge. Personally I would have preferred a repeat of last year in terms of team selection - send out the reserve squad and give your first-teamers a day off. Throw the fucking game and focus on winning the league on goal difference and having your players fresh for Barcelona.
Written by Ahmed Bilal. 21 comments
Saturday 26 April 2008 - English Premier League highlights:
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Chelsea v Manchester United
Stamford Bridge, 12:45 BST
Chelsea make a strange phenomenon. While being under heavy criticism throughout the season, The Blues find themselves just 3 points behind highly respected Manchester United. It seems that all the noise surrounding Avram Grant made us forget that Chelsea have one of the most talented squad in the Premiership. This alone makes Chelsea a prime contender for the League title.
The most surprising thing about Chelsea is the fact they are in reach of the Premiership title despite the fact they are playing poorly, using their skilled players to complete a lot of defensive tasks, while leaving no room for flair and creativity. The result is a set of boring matches, which often end in a 1-0 result in favor of the more talented squad of Chelsea FC.
That is the reason that the Chelsea supporters chant “You Don’t Have a Clue” towards their manager, and as time passes by, it sure looks like Grant is in a problem. In more than one case Chelsea looked as a group of players who met for the first time a couple of minutes before kickoff. There are no planned moves, no strategy, no special free kicks. All that we see is an extremely talented group of players getting the most out of their talent, which is just enough to bring them those 1-0 wins.
This strange tactics will surely not work when Chelsea will face Manchester United on Saturday. United come very confident, knowing that even a defeat will not be enough to pip them from the top of the table, but more than that – United is a very good team, being led by the best manager in England. Sir Alex’s wits will help him to get his players ready to the Chelsea style of play, and when such strong squads collide – the side who will play as a team will be better than the collection of individuals.
This brings us to believe that Manchester United will not fall before Chelsea. Since Sir Alex knows that a draw will be more than enough to ensure United’s title (unless some catastrophe will happen in the next 2 matches), this is exactly what he’ll aim for. Manchester will take their advantage and use it to earn the all needed one point. Let the celebrations – Begin.
More then 50% of BetUknow community thinks that Manchester United will win this match, leaving only 18% to go with Avram Grant’s team. Both teams’ top predictors put their money on a draw.
Written by Soccerlens. 5 comments
The Chelsea 08/10 home kit is now available for pre-order.
The launch date for the the 08/10 Chelsea home kit is 8th May but you know how these things go out of stock, so if you’re the sort who can’t wait we suggest pre-ordering today.
Here’s the shirt itself:
Personally I like the gold trim and the collar is quite stylish as well (more imposing than the Liverpool one here). Overall, good kit (allowing for the adidas stripes on the shoulders which are a turnoff but nothing you can do about that).
Written by Ahmed Bilal. Leave a response
Liverpool players scored both goals with Dirk Kuyt giving the Kops the lead. Riise scored a shocker own goal which beat Reina all the way. Advantage Chelsea!
By the way, you can catch all coverage of the Liverpool - Chelsea semifinal here.
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Written by goalcentre.com. One comment
Photo Caption: Grant thinks Kenyon was joking when Chelsea picked AG as manager - the ironic bit is, Kenyon might have been.
Both Avram Grant and Rafael Benitez have been locked in various off-pitch wrangles lately. Grant with the press and the fans and if the media is to be believed, players. Benitez with the owners, the board and Neil Warnock.
Both managers recently wrote in to Soccerlens to let off some steam and get some answers to their problems. Here’s how that particular exchange went:
Written by Graham Fisher. 6 comments
On Wednesday, 9 April, Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson reached his fifth Champions League semifinal after his club progressed at the expense of AS Roma.
Only Carlo Ancelotti has reached so many semifinals as head coach in this competition. What’s interesting to note here is both Jose Mourinho and Rafael Benitez have made it to 3 semi-finals each, and at their (relatively) young age it’s quite likely that they will get to a few more semi-finals, assuming that they go in the upward trajectory that their career paths have suggested till now.
Written by Ahmed Bilal. 7 comments
Apparently, these clubs have (or have had) players with the most Champions League semifinal appearances.
Before you go through the list, try guessing who’d be on this list. Several Italians, of course, which is where Juve / Milan come in, and then there is the Madrid - Chelsea connection (bonus points if you can think of the 2nd player before peeking at the list), and there’s a record-breaking Champions League winner and a couple of underachieving continental strikers to round off the list.
Here’s the list:
Written by Ahmed Bilal. One comment
Here’s a list of the top scorers in this year’s Champions League (so far), plus their career stats for the Champions League:
Written by Ahmed Bilal. One comment
Liverpool v Chelsea, Semifinal, 2007/2008 Champions League
First Leg:
Anfield, Liverpool - Tuesday 22 April 2008 - 19:45 GMT
Second Leg:
Stamford Bridge, London - Wednesday 30 April 2008 - 19:45 GMT
Written by Ahmed Bilal. 13 comments
Everton hopes of qualifying of the Champions League is all but over after Essien gave Chelsea the winning goal
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Yes, we’re back to that age old rivalry between the Red-Men from Liverpool, and the Blues from London, the Angels of the North against the Arseholes of the South. So here is a very Liverpool view on why we will beat Chelsea, and then see Fergie in the final in Moscow.
Written by Shaun Daley. 17 comments
It’s that time of the season when the player of the season awards start being handed out. It’s also the time of the season when us fans argue about who has been the best player in each of the positions. It is unlikely that any two fans would select an identical ‘team of the year’ but for the purposes of debate and ‘friendly’ discussion I thought I’d have a go at putting my ideas on paper.
I have selected a squad of twenty-two from which I will select my final Premier League eleven. I just know that the players I select will be hugely proud to be recognised by me, a man who all the top players listen to. Mmm.
I’m going for a good old fashioned 4-4-2. Not because it is the only way to play but because it makes it easier to put down on paper!
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Written by Graham Fisher. 88 comments
Is it the end of Chelsea’s title chase after the draw against Wigan? Essien gave the blues the lead but Heskey gave Chelsea the blues with an equalizer late into the match.
Written by goalcentre.com. One comment
Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United have all progressed to the Champions League semifinals for the second season in a row which equals the record set in 2000/2001 when three of the previous year’s semifinalists again reached the last four.
Written by Soccerlens. Leave a response
Soccerlens welcomes odds man Gerry McDonnell for another round of playing offside, general debauchery and betting scams…although there is no evidence to suggest that Gerry McDonnell was involved in a scam, or in fact a scam actually took place, or that he’s actually paying for exclusive access to Lindsay Lohan.
I do enjoy a moral dilemma. An intellectual friend asked if I would kill a chicken to save a chicken’s life. I honestly replied that I’d happily slaughter a chicken if I missed breakfast.
He went on to ask if I would ever use inside information to profit from gambling. I once again answered in all honesty that I have never been involved in such a practice; but then again, I don’t know Harry Redknapp.
There is still uproar amongst the betting community whenever the controversial ‘next Portsmouth manager’ market is discussed. I must point out that there is no evidence to suggest that Harry Redknapp was involved in a scam, or in fact that a scam actually took place. I will just say that the 11/4 for a Newcastle win over Portsmouth should be investigated further.
Written by Gerry McDonnell. 12 comments
Trust a billionaire to go after the jugular when it comes to make long-term financial investments.
Chelsea are now boosting their involvement in grassroots development of football in Asia with China and India top of their list.
Written by Ahmed Bilal. Leave a response
Chelsea 2-0 Fenerbahce
Never really troubled by the Turkish champions with goals from Ballack and Lampard settled the match.
Brought to you by goalcentre.com.
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In the buildup to the second leg of the Champions League quarter-finals, both Barcelona and Chelsea have talked about the quality of their players and the fact that pound for pound, their teams are good enough to on and progress to the semi-finals (at the very least).
But that’s only half the story.
Neither Barcelona nor Chelsea are the same sides that squared off in the last 3 Champions League campaigns. Barcelona’s swagger, epitomized in part by Ronaldinho’s fiery performances, has faded and become fragile. Chelsea have, through a combination of a change of managers, mental fatigue and the opposition’s familiarity, become less of the invincible force they were 3 years ago.
Written by Ahmed Bilal. Leave a response
Arsene Wenger is adamant that Arsenal can not only beat Liverpool at Anfield but also pip rivals Chelsea and Manchester United for the Premier League title by winning the remaining games of the season.
To progress into the last four of the Champions League, Arsenal must score at least once on Tuesday evening and, having triumphed only twice in their previous eleven games, must rediscover the winning habit that appears to have deserted them in the last two months.
Wenger though, remains upbeat that his side can reverse their recent dip in form and - their league prospects having been helped by Manchester United’s failure to beat Middlesbrough - continue their double bid for silverware.
Written by Ahmed Bilal. Leave a response
Michael Ballack has said that Chelsea’s stars have to reach the Champions League semi-finals to make up for their self-inflicted misery in the FA and League Cups.
Chelsea face Fenerbahce tonight after trailing 2-1 from last week’s away game in Istanbul. Although Chelsea are only 3 points behind Manchester United with the champions still to travel to Stamford Bridge in the league, the season has been a difficult one for new manager Avram Grant who has been barracked by fans and press for his lack of prior credentials and his un-Mourinhoness.
Michael Ballack (on the Carling Cup and FA Cup defeats):
“We lost because we didn’t play well in those two games. We went to a final and we shouldn’t lose a final. It was our fault. It was not that Tottenham played fantastic football. And even against Barnsley, it was our fault.
We saw it in the first leg against Fenerbahce. It was our fault. When we play our best football we can win every competition. We didn’t do that in two competitions this year. Everybody knows that and it is our motivation.
We have a strong team with a lot of experience. We know the situation when you go to a quarter-final and have to win. We have showed this many times in the past. I have confidence we can win the game but in the first game after 45 minutes we thought it would be an easy win, then the game changes.
It shouldn’t happen again. We will prepare well to make sure it doesn’t.
We play at home and we have a fantastic record at home. But they have nothing to lose and that makes it very dangerous.”"
While Ballack is focusing on the performance of his teammates, the axe is more likely to fall on the manager’s head rather than the players. But Grant has handled the pressure (and abuse) well so far, and even without Mourinho at the helm Chelsea are the side more likely to progress to the Champions League semifinals.
