The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Chelsea

  • Omeruo impresses Mourinho in Chelsea training

    Omeruo impresses Mourinho in Chelsea training

    Kenneth Omeruo has caught the eye of manager Jose Mourinho during Chelsea training, MTNFootball.com reports.

    “Kenneth has impressed Mourinho at training with Chelsea and it is looking very good for him now since his surgery for a shoulder problem,” the player’s adviser Chika Akujobi informed MTNFootball.com

    “The ‘Special One’ has taken special interest in the player. He wants to give him a chance but first Kenneth must regain full match fitness.”

    Mourinho is expected to soon take a decision on the immediate future of the 20-year-old defender, whether he stays put at Chelsea or goes on a short-term loan.

    Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi, has already said he hopes to call up Omeruo for next month’s World Cup final playoff against Ethiopia in Calabar.

     

     

  • Omeruo trains with Chelsea

    Omeruo trains with Chelsea

    Super Eagles defender Kenneth Omeruo has resumed training with the Chelsea first team after three months on the sideline.

    The Nigeria international uploaded a picture of himself with the likes of Oscar, Michael Essien and Frank Lampard training at the Cobhams ground.

    “Finally back to training,” an elated Omeruo tweeted on Friday with his picture at training.

    The 19-year-old central defender injured his shoulder during the last FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil and has since not featured for both club and country.

    Now ready for life at London with Chelsea, Omeruo spent all of last season on loan at Eredivise side ADO Den Haag. ADO finished comfortably mid-table and for his efforts, voted him their player of the year.

  • My first EPL goal a bonus – Mikel

    My first EPL goal a bonus – Mikel

    Mikel Obi has described his first-ever EPL goal as a bonus after Chelsea beat Fulham 2-0 to shoot to the top of the table.

    Mikel hit target in the 84th minute to seal victory for “The Blues.”

    It was the Nigeria midfielder’s first league goal in 185 appearances for Chelsea, who he joined in 2006.

    His last goal for Chelsea was in a Carling Cup game against Macclesfield in January 2007.

    “It was good. But I think today’s game was all about winning. You know we lost two games in a row and today I am glad we got the three points,” said Mikel.

    “As for my goal, it was just a bonus. I am pretty happy, it’s been a long time and the guys in the locker room would say to me that I score in the national team and don’t score for Chelsea.

    “So, I mean it’s good for me to get a goal here today, I mean my first Premier League goal, I have scored in the FA cup a couple of times, but I am very happy today.”

    Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho said, “Good for him, good for us. It’s good for his confidence. He played well, giving balance to the team.”

    Ex-Nigeria stars Jonathan Akpoborie and Nwankwo Kanu saluted the effort as “classical.”

    Kanu said it was an important goal which confirmed Chelsea’s victory.

    “Congrats Mikel, what a good goal and when they need it. Keep it up and keep going Onyegwu,” Kanu tweeted.

    Former VfB Stuttgart striker Jonathan Akpoborie said Mikel was clinical in front of goal.

    “It was a classical goal and clinical finish by Mikel,” Akpoborie told MTNFootball.com

     

  • Mikel: Chelsea can lose again if…

    Mikel: Chelsea can lose again if…

    Super Eagles midfielder John Obi Mikel has dropped a bombshell that Chelsea may lose more games if they continue to play the way they did against FC Basel in their UEFA Champions League group opener on Wednesday September 18 2013.

    Mikel who revealed that his teammates failed to do any of what was expected of them by Coach Jose Mourinho in the shock home loss to Basel advised that they have to go back to training to get things straightened.

    “If we play the way we did here, we have a chance of losing to anyone we play,” Mikel was quoted as saying on express.co.uk.

    He continued: “We go back to training now and must look at the things we have done wrong and try to put it right. It was really, really bad – a very bad result for us. We knew the kind of team we were playing against. We knew how good they are on the ball and what they can do.

    The Basel defeat was the third for Jose Mourinho’s side in recent time and Chelsea faithful will hope the poor run can end as quick as possible.

  • Keshi rues Moses ‘snub’ at Chelsea

    Keshi rues Moses ‘snub’ at Chelsea

    Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi , has expressed serious concerns over Victor Moses snub at his English Premier League club Chelsea.

    Moses has not been listed for Chelsea since the beginning of the new season and was also not part of the squad for Friday’s UEFA Super Cup clash against Bayern Munich.

    “I am worried about Moses situation at Chelsea,” Keshi told MTNFootball.com

    “I called him the other day to know what was wrong and sincerely the boy is also concerned. They had said he reported late to Chelsea after the South Africa game and that is not true because Moses confirmed to me that he did not miss any training session.”

    Keshi added: “I don’t know the plans of Jose Morinho but sincerely am worried at the continued lack of action for Moses. The boy wants to play, he loves to play and it hurts that he is not playing because we need him to be playing week in, week out.”

    In the meantime, West Bromwich Albion is the latest club to be linked with the unsettled Nigerian winger.

    Steve Clarke is considering a move to land Moses after saying WBA do not stand a chance to land Romelo Lukaku.

    The 2013 AFCON hero has been on the wanted list of several clubs namely Liverpool, Everton, West Ham Southampton and Hull City.

     

  • Oliseh wants Moses out of Chelsea

    Oliseh wants Moses out of Chelsea

    Former Super Eagles skipper, Sunday Oliseh, has added his voice to the growing debate on whether Victor Moses should stay on at Chelsea to fight for a jersey or go elsewhere where he is guaranteed more playing time.

    Oliseh however favours a move out of Stanford Bridge for the ace Nigerian winger as he posited that Moses needs regular playing time in the run to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

    “Victor Moses will be better off leaving Chelsea Now! At least for this season. He needs regular playing time before the World Cup 2014,” Oliseh wrote via his twitter account on Monday.

    Oliseh’s advice for Moses is coming on the heels of reported interest by Liverpool in bringing Moses to Anfield first on a season loan deal and perhaps wrap a permanent deal if need be.

    Also there have been talks of Everton Boss, Roberto Martinez also seeking a reunion with Moses having worked together at now relegated Wigan Athletic.

    Moses made a switch to Chelsea from Wigan back in 2012, but has failed to establish himself as a regular start in the team making 23 appearances in the Premier League.

    With the new arrivals this summer, he has fallen further down the pecking order.

  • Shaky future for Mikel at Chelsea

    Shaky future for Mikel at Chelsea

    John Obi Mikel’s seemingly fragile future at the Stamford Bridge continues to hang in the balance following a revelation that Chelsea would soon sign Brazillian midfielder,Willian, a situation that would move the Super Eagles star further down the pecking order in the battle for a place in the midfield.

    Already, Mikel has been left out of Chelsea’s first two Premier League games against Hull City and Aston Villa. In fact, in the opening day fixture against Hull, the Nigeria international was not even listed while he was an unused substitute against Villa.

    Ahead of Monday, when the Blues will face bitter rivals, Manchester United in a top-of-the-bill clash, the wait continues to ascertain whether Mikel still features in Mourinho’s plan for this season or not, and whether he will eventually get to play.

    Also, if Willian finally comes to Stamford Bridge, that could force Mikel to seek playing time elsewhere or step up his game to regain the ‘Happy One’s’ confidence as the Brazilian’s arrival promises to provide a stiffer competition to a Blues midfield that already boasts of world-class midfielders like Eden Hazard, Ramirez, Juan Mata, Oscar and Juan Mata.

    Chelsea on Thursday made a shock entrance into the race to sign Willian despite the Brazil international having a medical ahead of a proposed £30m move to White Hart Lane.

    Willian is yet to agree personal terms with the Blues but reports say he is attracted by the chance to play Champions League football, compete for the Premier League title as well as working under Mourinho.

    Meanwhile, Turkish giants Galatasaray have reportedly stepped up their interest in the Nigeria international by submitting a N2.5b (£10m) bid as against Napoli’s £15m reported offer.

    And according to Turkish newspaper Fanatik, Mikel would be willing to take a pay cut to push through a move to Galatasaray.

  • Mikel linked with Monaco move

    Mikel linked with Monaco move

    Nigerian international, John Obi Mikel,has been linked with a move to big spending French Ligue 1 side, Monaco.

    The future of the Chelsea midfielder has been the subject of speculation, with the 26-year old heavily linked with a move out of Stamford Bridge.

    Mikel was initially said to be on the radar of two top Turkish clubs, Galatasaray and Trabzonspor, with Italian side, Napoli equally in the mix.

    Even there were rumours that Napoli could have offered as much £20m for Mikel, but there was no substance in the claims.

    Galatasaray was the first to show interest in Mikel, with the player confirming at the 2013 Confederations Cup in Brazil, that he is unsure about his future at the Europa Cup winners.

    The Nigerian midfielder was not in the Chelsea squad that defeated Hull City 2-0 on Sunday.

     

     

     

  • Napoli makes official bid for Mikel

    Napoli makes official bid for Mikel

    Italia Serie A club Napoli has made an official offer for Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel, futaa.com reports.

    The offer is believed to be 15 million Euros, according to report on eyefootball.com

    The Nigeria international may now be ready to listen to offers from the Italian club having fallen behind Ramires as first choice holding midfielder at Stamford Bridge.

    Napoli manager Rafa Benitez has been busy scouting Europe for new players and has already signed the likes of Pepe Reina and Gonzalo Higuain this summer.

    Benitez is now ready to raid his former club Chelsea with a move for Mikel.

    The Europa Cup winners are believed to be eager to keep the midfielder unless a bid of more than 15 million Euros is received.

     

     

  • Injured Omeruo to decide on surgery

    Injured Omeruo to decide on surgery

    Chelsea doctors are waiting on Nigeria defender Kenneth Omeruo to decide on whether he would want surgery on a problematic shoulder injury.

    Omeruo’s adviser Chika Conleth Akujobi informed MTNFootball.com: “The doctors at Chelsea have given Kenneth the option of surgery or theraphy for his shoulder problem.

    “They want a permanent solution to this problem and so they expect him to decide in the coming week what he wants.

    “If he opts for surgery, he will be out for eight weeks.”

    Akujobi added: “There is no panic as Kenneth is in very good hands.

    “George Weah is staying in the same hotel with Kenneth and he told him there is no problem as he also had surgery on both his shoulders while he was at Chelsea.”

    The Netherlands-based football expert said Omeruo’s latest injury setback will not have any negative impact on his future at Stamford Bridge.

    Chelsea technical chief and former Nigeria international Michael Emenalo has already suggested the player go out on loan, while manager Jose Mourinho is to decide on Omeruo’s fate.