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Tag: Chelsea

  • Conte wants ‘perfect game’ from Chelsea against Barcelona

    Conte wants ‘perfect game’ from Chelsea against Barcelona

    Chelsea manager Antonio Conte said, the Premier League club must play the perfect game to beat a formidable Barcelona in Tuesday’s first leg of the Champions League last 16 ties.

    The Premier League champions have recovered from a poor run of form, winning consecutive matches over West Bromwich Albion in the league and Hull City in the FA Cup.

    However, Chelsea’s Italian coach is not getting carried away.

    “On one hand you know this team is one of the best in the world – maybe they are favourites to win this competition,” Conte told British media.

    “On the other hand we must be excited because we have a great opportunity to play a massive game against a really strong team and to show which our level is.

    “… We have to try to have the perfect game, the perfect game to try to make the best decisions. For this type of team.

    “They have fantastic characteristics with the ball. But they can have weaknesses without the ball and we have to try and exploit this.”

    Barcelona’s star forward Lionel Messi has never scored in eight matches against Chelsea and Conte is eager for his team to maintain that record.

    Read Also: How Antonio Conte Transformed Chelsea and Won the Title

    Chelsea last defeated the Spanish side in 2012 as the London outfit marched to their first Champions League title.

    Midfielder Cesc Fabregas, who moved to Stamford Bridge from Barcelona in 2014, is confident that Conte’s side can repeat the feat.

    “They try to put the first pressure very, very high – (they) always work towards the ball,” Fabregas said.

    “If we can (get) past this first phase of their pressure, then we have the content to do that, and not put ourselves under too much pressure, then I think we can hurt them because they will leave a lot of spaces at the back.

    “Hopefully we can give a good image of what we can do and do a good performance.”

    Chelsea next travel to second-placed Manchester United in the league on Sunday.

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  • Chelsea beat West Brom to move back into EPL top 4

    Chelsea beat West Brom to move back into EPL top 4

    Two goals from Belgian wizard Eden Hazard and another by Victor Moses earned Chelsea a 3-0 home win over struggling West Bromwich Albion in the English Premier League on Monday.

    It was a result which eased pressure on Coach Antonio Conte following two defeats for the champions.

    The lively Hazard twisted his way goalwards in the 25th minute before playing a neat one-two with new signing Olivier Giroud.

    The Frenchman held off defenders to place the ball for the Belgium international to smack it past goalkeeper Ben Foster.

    Moses added Chelsea’s second after sprinting down the wing and laying the ball off to Cesc Fabregas, whose flick was deflected back into the Nigerian’s path.

    Hazard’s second goal wrapped up the points as Chelsea moved back into the top four.

    In the 71st minute, he received a pass from substitute Alvaro Morata, and linked past defender Jonny Evans to lift the ball into the net.

    Read Also: EPL: Watford’s late goals stun 10-man  Chelsea

    Chelsea has 53 points from 27 games, one point ahead of London rivals Tottenham Hotspur and a point behind third-placed Liverpool in the race for UEFA Champions League qualifying spots.

    A beaming Conte, whose side had lost their previous two Premier League games at home to Bournemouth and at Watford, hurried round the pitch after the whistle, shaking hands.

    The Italian, who won the title in his first season in charge, has had a strained relationship with the club hierarchy since last summer after disagreements over buying players.

    There have been suggestions he would leave at the end of the season.

    But his players, so lacklustre against Watford, looked energised after a week’s rest.

    France international Giroud, who joined last month from Arsenal, provided a target man and combined well with Hazard and Fabregas.

    He left the pitch to applause in the 70th minute, his head swathed in bandages after he was kicked in a goalmouth melee in the first half.

    “He is a great target man,” Hazard said later on. “Maybe one of the best in England. So, we can pass the ball and go around him.

    “He is a good point of reference. We have plenty though as we have him, Alvaro and I can play striker also.”

    It was a miserable night for Alan Pardew’s West Brom side, who has won once in their last 25 Premier League games.

    In spite of a lively start they managed one shot on target.

    The disappointment was compounded with the loss of Daniel Sturridge barely three minutes into the game.

    The striker, on loan from Liverpool, limped off to be replaced by Jay Rodriguez.

    The visitors also failed to convert good chances that fell to Jonny Evans, Salomon Rondon and Rodriguez.

    Chelsea is still competing on three fronts.

    They face Hull City in the FA Cup fifth round on Friday before meeting FC Barcelona in the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League on Feb. 20.

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  • Is Morata really having back pain?

    Is Morata really having back pain?

     

    Elements of doubt now hover around Chelsea forward Alvaro Morata and his goal drought and reported persistent back problems.

    The 25 year old has been ruled out for the rest of the season on account of the pains.  But when footage emerged of the Spain international spinning around with his wife in his arms in their kitchen at home on Sunday night, there was an obvious question being asked by those watching

    What was a man facing possibly missing the rest of the season with a chronic back problem doing putting strain on the affected area and then publishing video of it online?

    Antonio Conte has admitted he is in the dark over how long Morata will be out for and, for a striker who hasn’t scored since Boxing Day, the questions are adding up.

    Chelsea’s £70.6million record signing has been out for almost a month and has been publicly courting a move back to Real Madrid. It is not a good look.

    Morata first started suffering problems with his back as early as mid-December.

    Chelsea were fresh from their Carabao Cup semi-final first leg against Arsenal with trips to West Ham and Huddersfield Town lined up for the coming days in the Premier League.

    Sunday’s release of the video footage, shared by his wife, only added to the scrutiny.

    Morata’s work in dealing with his back injury has included visits to doctor Peter Wehling, a specialist who has worked with basketball’s Kobe Bryant in the past.

    Chelsea have their striker in at their Cobham headquarters each day, trying to manage the injury and find a solution through physiotherapy.

    Despite Conte’s protestations about the problem this week, Morata was always thought to be hopeful of a return in time to face Barcelona in the Champions League.

  • Chelsea stunned 3-0 at home by buoyant Bournemouth

    Chelsea stunned 3-0 at home by buoyant Bournemouth

    Bournemouth stunned Chelsea with three second-half goals in a 3-0 Premier League victory on Wednesday, inflicting on the champions their first home defeat in four months.

    The visitors scored on the break in the 51st minute after midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko lost the ball and Callum Wilson played a neat one-two with Jordan Ibe before slotting home.

    Wilson was also involved in the second goal, when he pushed the ball to Junior Stanislas who flicked it into the net off sprawling goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois in the 65th minute.

    Former Chelsea midfielder Nathan Ake made it three barely three minutes later, prodding the ball in from a Stanislas shot.

    Chelsea’s first home defeat since Sept. 30 exposed the London side’s lack of firepower, with Alvaro Morata injured, Michy Batshuayi on his way to Dortmund on loan and Olivier Giroud signed from Arsenal only a few hours before kickoff.

    Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe expressed joy at the performance of his team, adding that it was the best result the club has ever achieved.

    The result matched Chelsea’s defeat at Roma in the Champions League on 31 October, and was also the joint-heaviest defeat of Conte’s two-and-a-half-year spell in charge of the Blues.

    “That has to be our best result and the best performance in getting the result,” he said.

    “We were very aggressive and everyone was magnificent. Our aggressiveness, work-rate and endeavour – it all came together. Although it was a game of few chances, we deserved the victory and scored some great goals.”.

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  • Tottenham win over Manchester United in front of record crowd

    Tottenham win over Manchester United in front of record crowd

    Tottenham Hotspur solidified their top- four credentials with a dominant 2-0 win over Manchester United in front of an English Premier League record crowd at Wembley on Wednesday.

    Christian Eriksen gave the hosts the lead after 11 seconds, the second fastest goal in Premier League history.

    Manchester United’s woeful defending was exposed again for Tottenham’s second, with Phil Jones turning the ball into his own net after 27 minutes.

    The win lifted Tottenham two points behind third-placed Liverpool and Chelsea in fourth as second-placed Manchester United dropped 15 points behind leaders Manchester City.

    Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino, speaking after the match, praised his players for putting up a fantastic performance.

    He added that the result had put his team in a good position for a top four finish.

    “It’s a fantastic dressing room after a fantastic performance. The performance was great and I congratulate the players because they deserve all the credit.

    “The first goal was a fantastic goal. Christian Eriksen believed that it would arrive in this situation. We tell the young players to always anticipate.

    “I am so pleased we are in the race for the top four.

    “There’s a lot of games to play and that is why we need to stay focused.

    Read Also: Man City go 15 points clear, Tottenham, West Ham & Palace win

    “The early goal for us was good so that we can go on and dominate the game. That goal gave us more confidence and belief.

    “Dele Alli was very good today, but all the team was great. The quality of performance was fantastic.

    “It’ll be tough against Liverpool now because they are one of the best teams — but it’s about taking it one game at a time.”

    Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho, on his part, said the goals scored against his side were ridiculous.

    “It’s a performance that starts with a ridiculous goal. That goal after a few seconds has a big influence in the game because Tottenham can play the way they like to play.

    “In the end, we played against a very good team. Both goals were ridiculous goals.

    “The first goal is an accumulation of mistakes in spite of the fact that everything happened so fast. My players have watched the Tottenham kick-off many, many times.

    “It was a really, really bad goal. After the first goal the team had a good reaction — we were there and tried to create.

    “The second goal mentally kills the team. A team to win matches needs to score goals and also defend well — on this occasion we were very bad.’’

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  • Chelsea complete Giroud signing

    Chelsea complete Giroud signing

    Chelsea have reinforced their attacking line with the signing of French striker Olivier Giroud from Arsenal FC on an 18-month contract, the English Premier League clubs confirmed on Wednesday.

    “Chelsea is one of the biggest clubs in the Premier League,” the 31-year-old said in a statement.

    “They have won maybe the most trophies in the last six or seven years. It’s a massive club and I am proud to sign for Chelsea, and I’m looking forward to playing.”

    Giroud has found it difficult to cement a place in the Arsenal starting line-up this season, with manager Arsene Wenger preferring to start Alexandre Lacazette as a lone striker.

    Giroud has made 16 appearances in the league, with 15 of them coming as a substitute.

    He joined Arsenal from French side Montpellier in 2012 and his goal tally has hit double figures in each of his last five seasons.

     

  • Olivier Giroud completes £18m move to Chelsea

    Olivier Giroud completes £18m move to Chelsea

     

    Chelsea have successfully beat transfer deadline to  finalise the signing of  Oliver Giroud from Arsenal for £18million.

    The Gunners agreed to sell Giroud to their London rivals after wrapping up a club-record £56m deal for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. Dortmund were prepared to sell Aubameyang once they knew they had a deal secured for Michy Batshuayi, who underwent his medical in Germany on Wednesday morning.

    The two clubs have yet to announce Giroud’s transfer, but he has also completed his medical and agreed personal terms for his move across London.

    The signing of Giroud ends Chelsea’s frantic search for a striker this January, with the club chasing Roma’s Edin Dzeko,

    Andy Carroll from West Ham, and even 37-year-old Stoke star Peter Crouch.

    Wenger hailed the ‘top class’ commitment of Giroud after the striker played in Arsenal’s defeat by Swansea despite being on the brink of joining Chelsea.

    The 31-year-old Frenchman, who spent five-and-a-half years at Arsenal, came on for the final 15 minutes of the surprise

    3-1 loss on Tuesday night even while the club ironed out the final details of his transfer.

    In the wake of his side’s disappointing display in South Wales, Wenger paid tribute to his departing forward.

    ‘It’s a tribute to Olivier (that he played) because he is a guy who gave great service to the club, he never let us down on the commitment front and saved us many times,’ Wenger said.

    ‘I have absolutely no doubt, when I ask him if he is ready to commit and he says yes. I have no problem with that and put him on because it was needed. Unfortunately he couldn’t help us.

    ‘I took him from Montpellier and made him a strong international player for France. We have come together through good and bad but always his behaviour was top, top class.’

    Giroud’s transfer had earlier reached an impasse as talks between Arsenal and Chelsea broke down over the fee. However, Wenger’s willingness to help Giroud achieve his move is understood to have been a key factor.

    Dortmund were refusing to sign off Aubameyang’s transfer without securing a replacement and they had also discussed signing Giroud on loan.

    However, Arsenal’s desire to complete a permanent sale, plus Giroud’s determination to move across London, helped get the deal over the line.

     

  • Moses caps Chelsea victory over Brighton H/ Albion.

    Moses caps Chelsea victory over Brighton H/ Albion.

     

    Super Eagles forward Victor Moses provided the icing on the cake on Saturday, converting 89th minute chance to round up Chelsea demolition of Brighton and Hove Albion.

    The Antonio Conte led side had no atom of mercy for their hosts as they ran away with a 4-0 victory. Signs that it was going to be a bad day for the host emerged in the 3rd minute when Eden Hazard shot the Blues into the lead.

    Teammate William increased the tally three minutes later after enjoying a a time assist from Belgium international Michy Batshuayi

    Chelsea were not only enjoying the goal feast  but also enjoyed 58% possession in front of 30,600 spectators at The American Express Community Stadium.

    Brighton and Hove Albion coach Chris Hughton and his boys had no answer had no solution to their woes as Chelsea continued the feast on resumption of the second half as Hazard returned in the 77th minute for his second goal of the match thanks to Williams assistance. The 89th minute strike by Moses capped the Blues party after getting an assist from Musonda.

    While Chelsea were busy counting their goals Brighton and Hove Albion were counting their cautions as three of the players received yellow cards in the 36th, 56th and 79th minutes respectively. The contribution of Moses is no doubt likely to tickle the fancy of Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr who is hoping that his players enjoy good playing time in their clubs with a view to remaining in super form ahead of the World Cup where they will face Argentina, Croatia and Iceland. Moses was in action for the entire duration of the match.

    Meanwhile Chelsea attacker Willian marked his 50th consecutive appearance in the Premier League, the longest current run of successive games in the division among outfield players, with a fine goal.

    Willian was named in Antonio Conte’s starting line-up for Saturday’s trip to Brighton and Hove Albion, with fellow forwards Pedro and Alvaro Morata missing through suspension after they were sent off in the midweek FA Cup replay against Norwich City.

    The 29-year-old Brazilian featured alongside Eden Hazard and Michy Batshuayi – given a rare start deputising for Morata – in the Blues frontline as Conte seeks to arrest a run of five straight draws in all competitions.

    And Willian scored his 23rd Premier League goal in the sixth minute, rounding off a stunning team move with a 20-yard finish after Hazard had put Chelsea ahead.

     

     

     

     

     

  • Allegri, Simone in battle to replace Conte

    Allegri, Simone in battle to replace Conte

     

    Chelsea have started the search for their new manager with Antonio Conte increasingly likely to leave Stamford Bridge at the end of the season.

    The Italian is preparing to move on a year before the expiry of his contract, with the Blues already looking at the contenders to replace him.

    Among the frontrunners are the Juventus coach Max Allegri, former Barcelona boss Luis Enrique, Napoli manager Maurizio Sarri and Atletico Madrid’s Diego Simeone.

    We compare the careers and achievements of the four bosses in the frame for the Stamford Bridge hotseat.

    Allegri was the man who succeeded Conte at Juventus and he has successfully managed to maintain their standards domestically as well as lead them to two Champions League finals.

    Though contracted to Juventus until 2020, having extended his deal just last year, Allegri does have ambitions to test himself outside of Italy for the first time.

    Having bossed two of the Serie A giants in Juve and Milan, Allegri certainly knows what it is like to manage under the pressure of sky-high expectations and still thrive.

    He also favours an exciting, attacking brand of football and gets winning results, which would certainly win the favour of Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich.

    Luis Enrique has not hidden his desire to coach in England and this could be an opportunity for him to achieve that dream.

    Although he is currently out of job, he  maintained Barcelona’s golden period of success during his three seasons at the helm, winning two league titles, three Spanish Cups and the Champions League when they defeated Juventus 3-1 in 2015.

    This impressive CV, his relative youth, and the attractive brand of football he championed at the Nou Camp will all be appealing to Chelsea. Next in line is Maurizio Sarri who served his time in Italy’s lower leagues before getting a break at Empoli and then his home city club Napoli in 2015.

    A tactical and technological innovator who makes a massively positive impression with his players, Sarri has been lauded for embracing a style of football that is very pleasing on the eye.

    No less than Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola described Napoli as one of the most exciting teams to watch in Europe right now and they are leading Serie A at the midway point.

    Though he would undoubtedly bring entertaining football to Stamford Bridge, he hasn’t coached outside Italy and he hasn’t yet won any silverware. Then enter Diego Simeone  who has been linked with a number of top clubs in recently but who will be difficult to price away from Atletico Madrid where he has a contract till 2020.

    Hailed for transforming an unfashionable and underachieving team into achievers both in Spain and the European competitions, Simeone certainly isn’t short on passion.

    His animated touchline antics are pretty similar to Conte’s, though his approach tactically may not be to Chelsea tastes.

    But guiding Atletico to two Champions League finals, beating a raft of top quality opponents along the way, has confirmed Simeone is a man who can mix it with the best bosses.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Hazard returns against Arsenal Barkley to wait

    Hazard returns against Arsenal Barkley to wait

     

    Eden Hazard is set to return for Chelsea’s EFL Cup semi-final against Arsenal but new recruit Ross Barkley is not yet ready for first-team action.

    Hazard sat out Saturday’s 0-0 FA Cup draw at Norwich City having sustained a knock to the calf but is available to feature when the Gunners visit Stamford Bridge on Wednesday.

    The Belgium star won and converted a penalty in the midst of a dazzling performance when Chelsea drew 2-2 at Arsenal in the Premier League last week.

    “Eden is in a good physical condition. He had a little problem but he is in contention for the game,” head coach Antonio Conte told a pre-match news conference.

    Barkley’s situation is not so straightforward, with the new £15million signing from Everton yet to play competitively this season following hamstring surgery.

    Conte is impressed by how the England international has taken to training with the Premier League champions but urged caution over his progress.

    “Wednesday night, I think is very soon for him but his physical condition is good. He has started to do the training sessions with us to understand our idea of football.

    “He must be pleased but he needs a bit of time to work on the physical and tactical aspect. But I think his condition is very good.

    “It is very difficult to say when he will play but, at the same time, I am very positive because the player is a good guy and showing great will and desire to work and help us very soon.

    “It’s positive and I am very happy to have Ross with us for the rest of the season.”

    Both legs of the semi-final will use the video assistant referee (VAR) system after the technology made its English debut in Brighton and Hove Albion’s 2-1 FA win over Crystal Palace on Monday.

    VAR has been used in Serie A this season and, although the implementation has not been without its problems, Conte feels the system has proved a positive overall in his homeland and can make a favourable impression in England.

    “I think this is a good opportunity to improve our football but at the same time it will be very important to have a bit of time to use this new option in the right way,” he said.

    “I am positive because, when there is a big mistake it is right to try and correct a big mistake.”

    Conte added: “At the start [in Serie A] it wasn’t easy to accept this type of solution, to stop the play and to wait for the right decision form the VAR.

    “But I think this could be a good solution because you reduce the mistakes, especially big mistakes, and I think it’s right for football to have a game with less mistakes.”