The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Chelsea

  • Omeruo, Moses not wanted at Chelsea

    Omeruo, Moses not wanted at Chelsea

       • Classified as second string players

    Nigerian international duo of Kenneth Omeruo and Victor Moses would be playing away from Stamford Bridge next season if the news coming from the London club is anything to go by.

    Omeruo was among the 31 returning loanees at the club’s training ground, Cobham, on Monday after a loan spell at various different clubs last season.

    According to reports in the English Press yesterday, Chelsea will place Omeruo, Moses and 29 other loanees in a special ‘loan squad’ for pre-season, away from the main group as they look to find new clubs.

    It was gathered from the club’s training camp that Eddie Newton, technical coach of Chelsea’s youth development programme and assistant Paulo Ferreira, will lead a squad comprising of players not wanted by Jose Mourinho’s touring first-team selection.

    Mourinho is back at work this week to begin preparations for Chelsea’s Barclays Premier League title defence. One of his first jobs before the first team depart for their pre-season tour next week is working out who to take to the United States.

    Chelsea’s list of retained players released last month, revealed that 72 were still contracted to the Stamford Bridge side, the largest roster of any English club.

    “We would have loved to have all the players back because we still see them as part of the club,’ Newton said about the pre-season group. ‘Sometimes it’s not possible because the deal’s been made with another club so therefore, best case scenario, they go to their new club.

    ‘Then Jose will take some on tour with him, it’s their chance to impress the manager and make sure that he understands why they are there.

    ‘Then the other scenario is that they come with me and Paulo and they come for pre-season as a group and we put them through their paces and slowly but surely they start dripping, falling out, because obviously the deal has been made and therefore, they go to their new club on loan.’

  • Cech’s farewell message to Chelsea

    Cech’s farewell message to Chelsea

    Petr Cech, goalkeeper of Premier League champions, Chelsea has finally completed his transfer to Arsenal.
    Cech recorded no fewer than 400 appearances during his 11 years career for the Stamford Bridge club.
    The 33-year-old goalkeeper seems to enjoy long-term contracts as he signs another long one with Arsenal Football Club.
    The transferred news was made public through a statement signed by the skipper himself.
    The statement reads in part: “I thought this would never happen but it is time for me to say goodbye to Chelsea Football Club. The club I have lived every single minute for since joining in July 2004, the club I though I’s hang my gloves and boots one day and finish my career. But life doesn’t always turn out the way you think it will.

    Read full text of his speech in the tweets below:

     

  • Chelsea keep N4.1bn for Emenike

    Chelsea keep N4.1bn for Emenike

    Chelsea’s search for a new striker has led them to Nigerian international Emmanuel Emenike, currently of Turkish side Fenerbache with words rife that the Blues are now favourites to land Emenike at a cost of around £16million (about N4.1billion).

    The 27-year-old striker is reportedly looking for a move to the Premier League and with Chelsea having made enquiries for the player last summer, it looks like a match made in heaven.

    Emenike has become disillusioned with life in Turkey after falling out with the clubs fans following a derby match in which he was jeered for recent poor form. The player was subbed at half-time and then left the stadium before disappearing for two days. The Nigerian is now facing a fine of 50,000 euros.

    Reports in the Daily Express suggest that Chelsea are looking to sign the striker at the end of this season, with fans favourite Didier Drogba and summer signing Loic Remy looking all but certain to leave.

    London rivals Arsenal, as well as Liverpool have both previously been linked with the striker but Chelsea now look favourites to land Emenike at a cost of around £16million (about N4.1billion). Mourinho will be hoping he leaves his poor form in Turkey though, with the player scoring just four goals in 27 games in all competitions this season for Fenerbache.

  • Chelsea Asian Star applications open

    Chelsea Asian Star applications open

    Chelsea Football Club has announced that its Asian Star initiative is set to kick off about three months away from now.

    According the Chelsea FC on the official website, this year’s Asian Star, now in its seventh year, will take play on 25 May at its Cobham training ground with nearly 400 youngsters aged nine to 12 bidding to follow in the footsteps of Sam Khan, former winner.

    Khan has however, expressed a strong believe that the youngsters who will part take in the initiative will enjoy ‘a day never to forget’.

    It would be recalled that Sam won the Under-9s age group in 2011 and became quickly recognised by Birmingham City Football Club for his many successes and talent and was invited to join their Academy.

    Thereafter the signing, the 13-year-old has moved across the Midlands, signing for Nottingham Forest at the back end of 2014 after impressing during a trial at the City Ground.

    Khan believes the day is about having fun first and foremost, but encouraged those attending to make the most of the opportunity the ground-breaking initiative gives them.

    Sam Khan in action
    Sam Khan in action

    “I still have great memories of Asian Star, it gave me so much confidence knowing the coaches at Chelsea were impressed with me,” Khan noted.

    The youngster was in attendance last year and was allowed to announce the years’ winners.

    “The event is so well organised and every player has the chance to impress. My advice would be to give it everything you have but make sure you enjoy the day as that is when you play your best and it can give you a great opportunity in football.

    “I am hoping to come along again this year and give my support. I think the level has improved since I won the event and I am looking forward to seeing what this year’s players are like.”

    Like Khan, the Asian Star programme has uncovered seven potential stars of the future who have proceeded to play for professional clubs’ academies.

    However, winners in each age group are invited to join the Chelsea Foundation’s Football Development Centres.

    Khan, who is part of the Nottingham Forest Under-13s squad and plays left midfield, further added: “I had a great time at Birmingham but felt the move to Forest would benefit me.

    “The training is more intense and it is another big club so I am excited to see how I progress.”

  • Schurrle: Leaving Chelsea stressed me out

    Schurrle: Leaving Chelsea stressed me out

    Andre Schurrle has revealed he was stressed out over his switch from Chelsea and feared a switch to Wolfsburg would not be completed in time.

    The Germany international completed his return to the Bundesliga for a reported €32 million on Monday, ending a week of intense speculation.

    Schurrle is said to have agreed terms early on in the negotiations, but talks between the clubs took the deal perilously close to the transfer deadline.

    “Towards the end, everything did draw out somewhat, which was stressful for me and really frayed my nerves,” the attacker told reporters. “Now I am finally at VfL Wolfsburg and I am very, very happy about that.

    “It wasn’t my first transfer, so I was aware that these things can take longer than expected before all parties have agreed on the terms.

    “That considered, I was a little tense, because I really wanted to make the move to Wolfsburg. Despite that though, I was always pretty convinced that it would work out in the end.”

    After 18 months of failing to break into Chelsea’s first team on a regular basis, the 24-year-old was keen to come back to the Bundesliga and saw second-placed Wolfsburg as an excellent opportunity.

    “It was my express wish to return to Germany,” Schurrle added. “I had offers from Spain and France too but, at the end of the day, I really wanted to return to Germany.

    “Wolfsburg made their interest known very early on. I took a look at the team and the prospects of the club, which seem very good.

    “For me it quickly became apparent where the journey was going to take me.”

    Schurrle was part of Germany’s World Cup-winning squad in Brazil last year, and says he took advice from national team coach Joachim Low ahead of his move.

  • Drogba: I’ll be at Chelsea next season

    Drogba: I’ll be at Chelsea next season

    Chelsea striker Didier Drogba says he will remain at the club next season, despite his current deal expiring in the summer.

    The 36-year-old returned to Stamford Bridge in July after stints with Shanghai Shenhua and Galatasaray, signing a one-year contract with the Blues.

    Drogba has made 27 appearances, many as a substitue, in all competitions for Jose Mourinho’s men this season and says he is happy to continue in west London.

    “My project for next year will be on a pitch with Chelsea,” he told Telefoot.

    Drogba was left out of Chelsea’s starting line-up for the clash with Manchester City on Saturday, despite Diego Costa’s suspension, featuring only as a late substitute as the Blues drew with Manuel Pellegrini’s men.

    Loic Remy was preferred to the Ivorian and scored the opening goal of the game, but Drogba says he has no problems with the decision to start him on the bench.

    “He played a great game against City. That shows that he is resourceful,” he added.

    “We’ve showed that we can present a strong offensive force despite the absentees.

    “It’s obvious that I would like to play, but I’m not miserable.”

  • Omeruo may quit Chelsea – Agent

    Omeruo may quit Chelsea – Agent

    Nigeria defender Kenneth Omeruo could sign permanently with English championship side, Middlesbrough at the end of the season according to his representative, Chika Akujobi.

    The 21-year old defender is on loan from English giants Chelsea to the Riverside stadium and has been an integral part of ‘Boro’s team this season. However, speaking to SL10.ng, Akujobi reckoned that Omeruo still has three years to run on his contract with Chelsea and any deal to secure Omeruo’s services on a permanent basis will be between the Blues and Middlesbrough.

    “He has a three year contract with Chelsea and at the end of the season he is expected to return to Chelsea. But right now Middlesbrough are doing good and they are second on the table and you never know what will happen at the end of the season.

    “I don’t know if he will sign with Middlesbrough because he still has three years to run on his contract but maybe it could happen. If the deal is going to happen, that will definitely be between them and Chelsea,” Akujobi revealed to SL10.ng.

    This will be Omeruo’s second spell on loan at ‘Boro, and had earlier spent another loan spell at Dutch side, Ado Den Haag and has never played a competitive game for Chelsea’s first team.

  • UCL: City to play Barcelona again

    UCL: City to play Barcelona again

    … Real Madrid hooks Schalke 04, Chelsea meets PSG

    Manchester City will play Barcelona in the Champions League last 16 for a second consecutive year.

    Chelsea battles Paris St-Germain, and Arsenal squares up against Monaco in ties to be played in February and March, the BBC reports.

    Champions Real Madrid will face Schalke, with last season’s beaten finalists Atletico Madrid taking on Bayer Leverkusen.

    Bayern Munich plays Shakhtar Donetsk, Juventus faces Borussia Dortmund and Basel tackles Porto.

    Manchester City narrowly qualified, needing a final-day win over Roma to progress, but finishing second to Bayern Munich in the group phase has seen the English champions come up against four-time European kings Barcelona.

    In last season’s first knockout game, the Catalans defeated Manchester City 4-1 on aggregate.

    Chelsea, who finished ahead of Schalke as group winners, will play Paris St-Germain for the second consecutive year, having beaten the French champions in dramatic circumstances in last year’s quarter-finals.

    There is added interest in that game as Chelsea sold defender David Luiz to PSG for a reported £40m in the summer.

    Arsenal, who finished below Borussia Dortmund in the group stage, comes up against a side handled by Gunners boss Arsene Wenger from 1987 to 1994.

    The pairings

    Manchester City vs Barcelona

    PSG vs Chelsea

    Schalke 04 vs Real Madrid

    Juventus vs Borussia Dortmund

    Bayer Leverkusen vs Atletico Madrid

    Arsenal vs Monaco

    Shakhtar Donesk vs Bayern Munich

    Basel vs Porto

     

  • Chelsea debut excites Nigerian starlet Solanke

    Chelsea debut excites Nigerian starlet Solanke

    • As Mourinho vows to continue fielding player

    Nigeria-born teenager Dominic Solanke was delighted to make his first-team debut for Chelsea at a bigger stage when he was thrown into the fray against Maribor in the Champions League on Tuesday night.

    At age 17, the midfielder lasted for 18 minutes. He was first named in the first team last weekend against Crystal Palace where he was an unused substitute.

    “Wow. What a moment. Making my debut for Chelsea in the champions league! Thank you so much for all the messages and support! #CFC,” Dominic Solanke tweeted.

    He may now make his English Premier League debut against Manchester United on Sunday

    Meanwhile, Jose Mourinho has said that  fielding Anglo – Nigerian striker Dominic Solanke in the Champions League will not be a one-off incident.

    Speaking to reporters, Mourinho said : “Solanke is at a level where we know he has the talent but he’s far away.

    “For him it was a perfect situation; the legs were tired even before he came on, the heartbeat was there before the first run but it’s a night he will never forget.

    “For sure, he’s going to play many Champions League matches because he will be a good player.”

    Dominic Solanke, an England youth – teamer, was the top scorer at the European Under 17s staged in Malta this summer.

  • Calabar fans mob Mikel

    Calabar fans mob Mikel

    • Take snapshots with Omeruo, Igiebor

    Chelsea of England’s mercurial midfielder, John Mikel Obi was at his ebullient self yesterday during his first training session with the Super Eagles as he was seen chatting with the fans after the team’s evening training session at the UJ Esuene Stadium, Calabar.

    He was consistently hailed by his fans who have special love for English Premier League side, Chelsea and Mikel was all smiles acknowledging their support for him.

    As the evening session expired  the fans formed a barricade around the exit  waiting for the Eagles and especially Mikel to pass.

    They touched him mildly and Mikel was also spotted making passes at his fans as he made his way out of the main bowl of the UJ Esuene Stadium, Calabar while his fans continued with their rendition of kerenke Obi! Kerenke Obi! on numerous occasions.

    SportingLife also saw fans taking photographs with some of their beloved Eagles’ stars including Kenneth Omeruo, Nosa Igiebor and Chigozie Agbim who was impressive during the practice session making various saves .

    Nigeria’s Eagles will entertain the Red Devils of Congo in an AFCON qualifying tie on Saturday in Calabar and thereafter proceed to Cape Town in South Africa for another date with the Bafana Bafana on September 10.

    The Eagles are the reigning champions of the AFCON and they must overcome Sudan, South Africa and Congo if they are to defend their title in Morocco next year.