The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Chelsea

  • Breaking: Chelsea UCL qualification in danger after draw with Burnley

    Chelsea’s hope of a top four finish that will guarantee Champion League football next season got slimmer on Monday evening following a 2-2 draw with Burnley.

    The Blues received a boost for the top four after Arsenal, Tottenham and Arsenal lost at the weekend.

    But Chelsea fell behind in the first half before Kante equalized. The club then went ahead with a well-taken Higuain goal before conceding few minutes later.

    Hopes of a goal-fest evaporated in the second half with Burnley shutting down all the attack threats of Chelsea to leave the Sarri-coached team with just a point to move to fourth place.

    Had the London team won, it would have leap-frogged Tottenham in the third spot.

     

  • Chelsea beat Slavia 4-3 to book Europa League last-four place

    Chelsea reached the UEFA Europa League semi-finals by beating Slavia Prague 4-3, helped by a Pedro double on Thursday.

    Pedro led Chlesea’s first half onslaught before withstanding the Czech’s comeback bid after the break in a pulsating game.

    The London side were cruising 4-1 at half-time but Slavia Prague added two goals early in the second period.

    Two powerful strikes by Petr Sevcik, narrowed the aggregate score to 5-3.

    The London side had won the first leg 1-0.

    Sevcik spurned a chance to cut the deficit further before Chelsea held on to see out the win and set up a semi-final against Eintracht Frankfurt.

    The German side won 2-0 against Benfica to go through on away goals after a 4-4 aggregate scoreline.

    Chelsea raced into a 3-0 lead within 17 minutes, starting with Pedro chipping goalkeeper Ondrej Kolar.

    The Spain winger hit the post four minutes later only for the ball to rebound into the face of Simon Deli and into the net for an own goal.

    Pedro carved out Chelsea’s third when he squared for a simple finish by Olivier Giroud and the scurrying Spaniard claimed Chelsea’s fourth goal in the 27th minute.

    A minute earlier, Slavia’s captain Tomas Soucek had given the boisterous Czech fans something to cheer at Stamford Bridge when he powered in a header from a corner kick.

    A Chelsea triumph in the UEFA Europa League, a trophy they won in 2013, would provide a way back into the UEFA Champions League.

    This will be if they finish outside the English Premier League (EPL) top four this season.

    They currently sit fifth on the league table.(Reuters/NAN)

  • Giroud demands important role at Chelsea FC next season

    Striker Olivier Giroud said on Wednesday he has been approached by other clubs to play for them next season, but he added he wanted to extend his stay Chelsea.

    The Frenchman however pointed out that staying at Stamford Bridge would depend on if manager Maurizio Sarri could offer him regular first team opportunities.

    Giroud, who is the top scorer in the UEFA Europa League with nine goals, is out of contract at the end of the campaign.

    Chelsea however have an option to extend it for another 12 months.

    The 32-year-old Frenchman has started just seven English Premier League games this season.

    He has seen limited opportunities since the arrival of Argentina international striker Gonzalo Higuain in January.

    “Trust me (to agree that) I’m very frustrated when I’m not on the pitch, but I just don’t want to show it,” Giroud told a news conference in London ahead of Chelsea’s UEFA Europa League quarter-final second leg against Slavia Prague on Thursday.

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    “You need to keep that frustration for you, and transform that into positive energy on the pitch.

    “I’m not happy to play the second role. That’s why I said next year I will need to have a more important role to play in the team.”

    When asked whether he has already had offers to go elsewhere, Giroud added: “Yes but I won’t reveal that now. The priority is Chelsea.

    “With what I’ve achieved here, there is no reason they won’t give me one more year. But I need to be happy, also.”

    Chelsea hold a 1-0 advantage over Slavia Prague from the away leg, courtesy of a late headed goal by defender Marcos Alonso.

    They will be without defender Antonio Rudiger, who limped out of Sunday’s 2-0 league defeat against Liverpool at Anfield with a knee injury.

    However, Chelsea’s assistant coach Gianfranco Zola expects the German international to return for the league trip to top-four rivals Manchester United on April 28.

    “It looks not as bad as we thought, luckily. When he came off limping, we were worried,” Zola said.

    “Yes, there is a strong possibility that we see him (against Manchester United). He’s a warrior and won’t want to miss a game like that.

    “The next few days will be very important to see if he can continue recovering.”(Reuters/NAN)

  • REVEALED! Chelsea allegedly offered Karlo Ziger £120,000  at  12

     

    The latest release of information from the infamous Football Leaks alleges that Chelsea offered a sum of £120,000 as a sign-on fee incentive for a goalkeeper who was just 12-years-old.

    Karlo Ziger now plays for the Blues’ youth set-up; though the leaks claim Chelsea agreed the payments for the Croatian youngster, who is now 17, including the initial £120K.

    The claims have been brought forward by German publication Der Spiegel, who detail how the goalkeeper moved from his native Croatia to London and how – in the process – he seemed to disappear from playing record

    The documents go on to claim the Blues paid the rent on a house in London for him and his family until he turned 16 and was legally able to sign for Chelsea.

    Der Spiegel wrote that, during an interview with a Croatian magazine, the player’s father Darko said that the family had moved to London in early 2014.

    Further admissions were made by the father that he was registered as a Chelsea employee during the process.

    A residency permit issued to the player was identified by the leaks and seems to suggest the same.

    Football Leaks also claim to have obtained an internal club spreadsheet which shows that Ziger trained with the Chelsea youth club on more than 250 days between 2014 and 2016.

    The same Croatian magazine who spoke to Ziger’s father, Nacional, state the overall cost of Chelsea acquiring the player was £808,000 and that Ziger’s name suddenly vanished from the records of the Croatian Football Federation.

    They purport that the last game he played with NK Zagreb was in September 2013. In February 2014, the goalkeeper was de-registered from the association.

    Ziger next reappeared on football records when he was 16-years-old, and then an official player of Chelsea.

    Croatian ‘keeper Ziger and the deal surrounding his switch is believed to be part of Fifa’s case against the Blues, which led to a two-window transfer ban commencing this summer.

    Chelsea are still in the process of appeal against the ban, and stated: ‘The club does not comment on speculation concerning confidential contracts or player-related matters.’

  • Chelsea ban 3 fans, ‘hunt’ 3 more for abusive Salah chants

    Chelsea says they have banned three fans for their part in an abusive video directed at striker Mohamed Salah from Premier League rivals Liverpool, local media reported on Friday.

    Six men were seen on a video posted on social media on Thursday abusing Salah, calling the Egypt international a “bomber”.

    Both clubs roundly condemned the video, each issuing a statement in which they pledged to work together to find the people responsible.

    Chelsea said that they had stopped three fans at the gates for their Europa League clash with Slavia Prague in the Czech Republic.

    Read Also: Late Alonso header gives Chelsea win in Prague

    Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud said the whole Chelsea sides were disgusted at the video.

    “I think these people shouldn’t belong to Chelsea.

    “I think the club and everybody condemn these kinds of things, and we are 100 per cent behind Mo Salah. I think nowadays it shouldn’t happen,’’ Giroud said.

    Salah played 13 times for Chelsea before joining Roma, and eventually signing for Liverpool in the summer of 2017.

    Leaders Liverpool hosts Chelsea in the Premier League on Sunday.

  • Late Alonso header gives Chelsea win in Prague

    Chelsea struck late with a header by defender Marcos Alonso to beat a stubborn Slavia Prague side 1-0 in their Europa League quarter-final, first leg on Thursday.

    Spaniard Alonso broke the deadlock for the west London side in the 86th minute when he sneaked behind two defenders to connect with Willian’s cross.

    Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri made seven changes to his lineup from the team that beat West Ham United 2-0 in the Premier League on Monday.

    Belgian talisman Eden Hazard had to come off the bench for the last half an hour.

    Alonso’s goal gave the Blues a vital away goal as they put behind them bitter memories of the stadium where they lost the 2013 Super Cup to Bayern Munich in a penalty shootout. (Reuters/NAN)

  • No Chelsea decision until end of season, says Hazard

    Eden Hazard has told ESPN that he will make a decision on his Chelsea future at the end of the season — and that it would be “hard” for the club to miss out on Champions League football for a second year running.

    Hazard has been linked with a summer transfer to Real Madrid, with his Chelsea teammate Gonzalo Higuain telling ESPN that it would be hard to stop the Belgian from leaving Stamford Bridge if he has his mind set on a move to the Spanish giants.

    Chelsea have reportedly set a price of £100 million for the forward, although manager Maurizio Sarri said following Hazard’s sensational performance against West Ham United on Monday that £100m would be “too cheap” for the 28-year-old.

    “I’m just focused on Chelsea,” Hazard told ESPN.

    “One month to play, top four, try to win the Europa League. For the fans I think the most important thing is when they see me on the pitch they just think that my head is with Chelsea.

    “So we’ll see after.”

    Chelsea face a battle to get back into the Champions League ahead of next season.

    Hazard’s two goals against West Ham sent Chelsea third in the Premier League table and back above Tottenham and Arsenal in the race for the top four but the side have a difficult run in with trips to Liverpool and Manchester United to come.

    The club could also qualify for the Champions League by winning the Europa League, where they face Slavia Prague in their quarterfinal first leg on Thursday.

    If Chelsea miss out it would be the second year in a row that had failed to qualify for the competition — after they finished 5th under Antonio Conte last season.

    And with the club unable to sign any players until July 2020 due to a two-window FIFA transfer ban, Hazard said Chelsea would be at a disadvantage if they are left playing in the Europa League again next season.

    “Two years in a row not playing Champions League is hard for the players but also for the club,” Hazard said.

    “Chelsea has to play in Champions League every year, but it’s hard because we are not the only team that is trying to play Champions League.

    “But that’s why we are doing everything at the moment to try and stay in the top four.” (ESPN)

  • Chelsea fans flag off operation keep Hazard at all cost

     

    Eden Hazard debate to leave or not to leave appears to have finally taken a new twist following his breathtaking brace against Watford on Monday night

    Eden Hazard demonstrated his class once again on Monday night as he single-handedly inspired Chelsea to victory over West Ham.

    The Belgian playmaker scored both goals as Chelsea recorded a 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge to move into third in the Premier League.

    Hazard’s first goal on 24 minutes was a thing of beauty as he waltzed through West Ham’s midfield and defence before firing past goalkeeper Lukasz Fabiansk

    The goal was so good it had his team-mates and pundits purring. And their sentiments were echoed on social media.

    Hazard could leave the Blues this summer with Real Madrid leading the way for his services but Chelsea fans are hopeful they can keep him, but fans are no longer interested in seeing his back as they took to the social media to flag off operation keep him at all cost campaign. Some don’t even mind to have the take home of some players reduced just to have a plateful for Hazard.

    ‘Give him 500k please, we need him,’ tweeted @GreatNalex. ‘Take [Marcos] Alonso’s wages/money and give him please.’ [sic] ‘Do whatever you can to keep this man,’ wrote @JaffarMuhamma15.

    ‘Cut them alonso, [Willy] caballero and jorginho wages to give him what he wants pleeease.’ [sic]@uphamcorey put it bluntly in block capitals to emphasise the point: ‘THAT IS WHY WE CAN’T SELL THE MAN. NEW CONTRACT NOW! Meanwhile, @djnelcraze said: ‘Give him a lifetime contract, release [Danny] drinkwater and [Gary] cahil and give Hazard all their wages.’ [sic] Coach Maurizio Sarri agrees that this is a no sale situation. His manager Maurizio Sarri described his brilliant Belgian as irreplaceable.

  • Superb Hazard double hands Chelsea 2-0 win over West Ham

    Eden Hazard’s stunning individual performance earned Chelsea a 2-0 win over West Ham United which hoisted them into third spot in the English Premier League (EPL) on Monday.

    The Belgian wizard tormented West Ham throughout at Stamford Bridge and scored both goals to move Chelsea above Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur in the race for a top-four finish.

    Hazard danced through West Ham’s defence in the 24th minute to put Maurizio Sarri’s side in front, and Gonzalo Higuain should have buried the visitors before half-time.

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    West Ham improved after the break and Manuel Lanzini and Felipe Anderson both had good chances to equalise, but Hazard sealed the points in the 90th minute with a clinical finish.

    A third successive victory means Chelsea have 66 points from 33 games, while Tottenham and Arsenal have 64 and 63 points respectively having played a game less.

    West Ham are 11th with 42 points from 33 games.(NAN)

  • Sir Jim Ratcliffe bent on buying Chelsea from Abramovich

     

    Britain’s wealthiest man Sir Jim Ratcliffe is still interested in buying Chelsea but his valuation is vastly below that of owner Roman Abramovich.

    Sportsmail broke the news of Ratcliffe’s offer for the Premier League side last year but a deal is not close to being done.

    Ratcliffe, who has net worth of £21billion, will become the owner of cycling giant Team Sky – naming it Team Ineos after his petrochemicals company, but would like to add Chelsea to his portfolio.

    However, Abramovich never took the British billionaire’s interest seriously, with the numbers being a long way off the £2.1billion he would consider.

    Abramovich has been absent from Stamford Bridge for most of the season following difficulties in obtaining a visa last summer amid deteriorating relations between Britain and Russia.

    The owner is understood to have an Israeli passport, which would allow him to visit the UK for up to six months without a visa, but he has not been seen at the club.

    Abramovich has also shelved plans for a rebuild of their Stamford Bridge home, which would see the capacity increased from the present 41,631 to 63,000 by the 2023-24 season. While Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s interest remains firebrand,Chelsea maintain the club is not for sale

    Obtaining the five-time Premier League champions would be a major addition to 66-year-old Ratcliffe’s portfolio.

    The Monaco-based billionaire invested £110m last year in Olympic sailor Sir Ben Ainslie’s Ineos Team UK with the aim of competing in the 2021 America’s Cup in New Zealand.

    It would not be his first foray into the world of football, however, as he bought Swiss top-flight club Lausanne-Sport in 2017. His interest in Chelsea, where he is a season-ticket holder, comes despite growing up in Manchester as a United fan.

    The 2018 Sunday Times rich list valued Ratcliffe at £21.05bn, compared to Abramovich’s £9.3bn valuation.