The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Chelsea

  • Manchester City in tricky Euro group

    Manchester City in tricky Euro group

    … Meet Bayern Munich, Roma, CSKA Moscow

    .… Liverpool to play holders in Group B

    English champions Manchester City landed in a tough looking group in the 2014/2015 European Champions League draw conducted Thursday at the Grimaldi Forum, Monaco, France.

    The Manuel Pellegrini tutored team will have to navigate past Bayern Munich, Roma and CSKA Moscow to reach the knockout stage, Goal reports.

    Last season semi finalists Chelsea will face Schalke, Sporting Lisbon and Maribor.

    Arsenal overcame Besiktas in a nervy play-off clash thanks to Alexis Sanchez’s first goal for the club to reach the Champions League proper for the 17th consecutive season and will square up against Dortmund, Galatasaray and Anderlecht in Group D.

    Liverpool mark its return to the competition for the first time since 2009 with clashes against Real Madrid, Basel and Ludogorets in Group B.

    The Anfield outfit has never lost to the Spanish giants in three previous meetings.

    The pairings:

    Group A: Atletico Madrid, Juventus, Olympiacos, Malmo

    Group B:  Real Madrid, FC Basel, Liverpool, Ludogorets Razgrard

    Group C: Benfica, Zenit St Petersburg, Bayer Leverkusen, Monaco

    Group D: Arsenal, Borussia Dortmund, Galatasary, Anderlecht

    Group E: Bayern Munich, Manchester City, CSKA Moscow, Roma

    Group F: Barcelona, Paris St-Germain, Ajax, Apoel

    Group G: Chelsea, Schalke, Sporting Lisbon, Maribor

    Group H: Porto, Shakhtar Donetsk, Athletic Bilbao, BATE Borisov

     

  • FIFA U20 Women World Cup: Omeruo backs Falconets to win World Cup:

    FIFA U20 Women World Cup: Omeruo backs Falconets to win World Cup:

    Super Eagles  defender, Kenneth  Omeuro, has backed the Nigerian female Under 20 team to win the FIFA U20 Women World Cup currently ongoing in Canada.

    The Falconets dismantled Oceania representatives, New Zealand 4-1 to qualify for the semifinals courtesy a brace each from Sunday Uchechi and Asisat Oshoala while Emma Rolston got the consolation goal for New Zealand.

    The Chelsea star, who is currently on loan at Championship side Middlesbrough, also represented Nigeria at junior level before graduating to the Super Eagles where he has been a constant figure.

    “I want to congratulate the Nigerian female team for advancing to the semifinals of the FIFA U20 Women World Cup. Come on get the trophy,” he charged them via his official twitter page.

    The Falconets will play Korea DPR in Wednesday’s first semi-final match while France takes on Germany in the other semifinal. Nigeria got to the final of the Under-20 Women’s World Cup in 2010 but lost to Germany 2-0.

  • Report: Khedira to join Chelsea

    Report: Khedira to join Chelsea

    Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has reportedly told Real Madrid midfielder Sami Khedira that he will sign the German international on a free transfer next summer.

    Khedira has just 12 months remaining on his current deal with Los Blancos and as it stands, contract talks between the two parties have stalled.

    According to Mundo Deportivo, Mourinho has informed Khedira that there will be a place for him at Stamford Bridge next season should he run down his contract at the Bernabeu.

    Despite the possibility of Khedira leaving on a free next summer, Madrid are reportedly against the idea of selling the World Cup winner this month.

  • Chelsea´s new additions pose genuine threat to City´s crown

    Aided by a pair of high-profile arrivals, Chelsea look set to provide the greatest threat to Manchester City’s Premier League title defence.

    In Jose Mourinho’s first spell in charge, Chelsea won back to back league titles in 2005 and 2006, but the Portuguese failed to repeat that trick on his return last season as they ended the campaign in third place, four points shy of champions City.

    Mourinho spent much of the campaign bemoaning his lack of quality striking options, and Chelsea were quick to address that during the current transfer window.

    In securing the services of Diego Costa, Mourinho has added a forward who netted 36 goals in all competitions for Atletico Madrid last term, while he has also conducted what appears to be a shrewd piece of business by bringing Didier Drogba back to the club.

    In Costa, Chelsea will feel they have the man to fire them to glory, while the acquisition of Cesc Fabregas from Barcelona should offset the loss of Frank Lampard’s goalscoring and creative threat from midfield.

    It remains to be seen how Manchester United will fare under the stewardship of a second new manager in as many seasons.

    Following the dominance of the Alex Ferguson era, David Moyes’ appointment proved a huge disappointment to all at Old Trafford, with the Scot failing to see out the season as United finished seventh – their lowest ever Premier League placing.

    Louis van Gaal, fresh from guiding the Netherlands to third place at the World Cup, has impressed in pre-season, winning the International Champions Cup with victories over the likes of Roma, Inter, Real Madrid and Liverpool.

    However, in working with much the same squad as Moyes, Van Gaal will have to show all of his managerial mastery if he is to bridge the 22-point gap that separated them and neighbours City last season.

    City, meanwhile, boast arguably the strongest squad in the division, with Manuel Pellegrini enjoying a plethora of attacking talent at his disposal.

    Pellegrini’s team held their nerve in the final weeks of last season, winning their last five matches to overtake Liverpool and claim their second crown in three years, two points ahead of the men from Anfield.

    If they are to challenge as closely this time around, Liverpool must learn to cope without the inspirational Luis Suarez.

    The Uruguayan has departed for Barcelona after a scintillating 2013-14, in which he scored 31 Premier League goals and struck up a lethal partnership with Daniel Sturridge.

    A 2-0 defeat to Chelsea and a 3-3 draw at Crystal Palace – having led 3-0 – cost Liverpool dearly last season, and another club likely to be wistfully asking ‘what if’ are Arsenal, who topped the table for long periods of the campaign only to fall away in what has become a seemingly customary spring-time implosion.

  • My nightmare is over – Moses

    My nightmare is over – Moses

    Chelsea winger Victor Moses is determined to put his Liverpool nightmare behind him and force his way into Jose Mourinho’s first team this season.

    The Nigeria international made his first appearance for Chelsea in a year when he was introduced for Azpilicueta on the hour in their 2-1 victory over Hungarian side Ferencvaros Sunday night.

    The 23-year-old is aiming to rebuild his career after making just six Premier League starts at Liverpool last term after being sent to Anfield on a season-long loan.

    He looked certain to leave Stamford Bridge this summer, but Mourinho is having second thoughts about the Nigeria international because he counts as a home grown player in the Premier League and Champions League.

    Moses, who played for his country at the World Cup this summer, is hoping to take the opportunity despite being linked with a loan move away and said: “There are a lot of quality players here but I will keep giving it all I have got.

    “I just have to forget about last season and think about this season, concentrate and keep working hard.

    “What happened at Liverpool – that’s football for you. It was a loan move, I wanted to play football but I unfortunately didn’t get as many games as I expected.

    “My fitness is getting there. It was my first pre-season game – I came back injured after the World Cup. I couldn’t join up with the lads and was just getting treatment at the training ground.”

    “I’m delighted I got on (against Ferencvaros) and had the minutes I had. You’re looking at three-four games before you get back to full fitness. I’m enjoying my football at the moment and will just keep working hard,” he further told London Evening Standard.

  • 2014/2015 SEASON: Moses’ Chelsea door beckons

    2014/2015 SEASON: Moses’ Chelsea door beckons

    Victor Moses may still leave Chelsea as the club are believed to be keen to dispose of the Nigeria international.

    While doubts over John Mikel Obi’s future have been cleared, the same cannot be said of his compatriot, Moses, whose future at Stamford Bridge still hangs in the balance.

    The London Evening Standard claims that Chelsea are keen to sell the Nigeria international winger, but are struggling to find suitors for the 23-year-old who had a disappointing loan spell at Liverpool last season.

    Only West Bromwich Albion and Aston Villa have reportedly shown strong interest in the player.

    However both sides are only interested in taking the player on loan, whereas Chelsea want an outright sale. Moses has already returned to full training at Cobham, following this summer’s World Cup.

  • Chelsea won’t miss David Luiz, says Mourinho

    Chelsea won’t miss David Luiz, says Mourinho

    Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has taken a parting shot at David Luiz, insisting the Premier League club will not miss the Brazil defender.

    David Luiz left Chelsea to join Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain on a five-year deal for a fee reported to be in the region of £50million.

    That move ended the 27-year-old’s three-year spell at Stamford Bridge, and it is a piece of business from PSG that has come under increasing scrutiny following the centre-back’s performances at the World Cup.

    Indeed, David Luiz was heavily criticised in the wake of the host nation’s humiliating 7-1 semi-final defeat to Germany, and the 3-0 third-place play-off loss to Netherlands that followed.

    And Mourinho has now given his assessment of the former Benfica man, stating that Chelsea do not need the services of David Luiz – who can also play in midfield – to be successful in 2014-15.

    “Last season he was not regular first choice for us. As a central defender not at all, it was John Terry and Gary Cahill the whole season,” Mourinho said.

    “In midfield, he was a physical guy and gave us important things, especially in the Champions League when [the cup-tied Nemanja] Matic couldn’t play. But this season Matic can play in the Champions League so we don’t lose that physicality.

    “The fact we have Cesc Fabregas moves us in a different direction. It’s something that our football needs, and we want to go in that direction.

    “David did important things here, was always a good professional and we will miss him as a good guy. But from a football point of view, we believe our squad is stronger this season than it was.”

  • Mikel ‘staying’ at Chelsea

    Mikel ‘staying’ at Chelsea

    Super Eagles midfielder, John Mikel Obi, is unlikely to leave Chelsea this summer despite reports claiming he is being touted around Europe.

    “Mikel has been given assurances by manager Jose Mourinho.

    “Although he is not the first choice, he`s the first person Jose turns to when he wants a particular job done,” kickOffNigeria.com quoted an unnamed source as saying to VitalFootball.

    “The manager knows he can just slot him in there and he`ll do a great job.”

    “Jose has told Mikel he is still part of his plans for next season.”

     

  • Mikel could still stay at Chelsea

    Mikel could still stay at Chelsea

    John Mikel Obi’s chances of staying at Chelsea received a huge boost when Chelsea Manager Jose Mourinho dropped a hint that Peter Cech might be moved on by eulogising Mark Schwarzer as a capable deputy goalkeeper and praised Thibaut Courtois as the best young goalkeeper in Europe.

    Mourinho admitted he has a tough decision to make as English Premier league  and UEFA Champions league clubs can only name 17 foreign players over the age of 21 in their official 25-man squads and Chelsea have 18 overseas stars at the moment meaning one player must be off loaded.

    Mikel, who has over 200 appearances for Chelsea since Mourinho signed him in 2006 from Lyn Oslo in Norway alongside Petr Cech and Fernanado Torres, are the three names listed as the likely departures from Stamford Bridge to help beat the EPL rule on foreign players over the age of 21.

    Two days ago Mourinho ruled out any potential sale of Fernando Torres despite bringing back Didier Drogba and signing of Diego Costa from Athletico Madrid.

    However speaking to London Evening Standard Mourinho hinted that long standing Chelsea number one goalkeeper Petr Cech might be the one to leave with Paris Saint Germain (PSG) reportedly interested in the 31-year -old.

    “Petr is ready to fight for his position but Thibaut is the best young goalkeeper in the world, no doubts about that. They will fight and for me it’s a good problem to have to make a decision.

    “We are a club that wants to be strong and wants to have a real possibility of competing for trophies and we want competition for places.”

    “But I know that Mark Schwarzer is a very good keeper, very stable and a good man, completely ready to be our second goalkeeper like he was last season and to give positive performances if we need him to play.”

    Thibaut Courtois recently returned from his three-year loan spell at Atletico Madrid where he won the La-Liga, Europa League and played in the Champions League final against Real Madrid last season and he has already indicated his willingness to challenge for the number one spot at Chelsea.

  • Fenerbahce deny Emenike’s move to Chelsea, Spurs

    Fenerbahce deny Emenike’s move to Chelsea, Spurs

    Going by the words of Fenerbahce President, Aziz Yildirim, reports linking Emmanuel Emenike with a plethora of teams in England and Juventus in Italy are paper – talk.

    The leadership of the Yellow Canaries has stated that the club have not received any bid from interested suitors that are hoping to acquire the Nigeria international.

    “Emenike nor another player’s departure from the club is not in question. We have not received a formal letter for any player. Please let’s be more careful in this regard,” Aziz Yildirim told reporters.

    A move to Tottenham Hotspur, Everton, Manchester City and Chelsea has been mooted this summer, with the Londoners said to be leading the race for the 27 – year – old’s signature.

    The Super Eagles forward still has a deal with Fenerbahce till the summer of 2017.