The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Chelsea

  • Man Utd v Chelsea: Webb takes charge

    Howard Webb has been appointed as referee for the Premier League tie between Manchester United and Chelsea at Old Trafford today.

    The 41-year-old, who took charge of the 2010 World Cup final, is no stranger to controversial games between the two English giants with both clubs vocal critics of decisions from the official during past encounters.

    Former Liverpool player Ryan Babel infamously tweeted a mocked-up photo of Webb wearing a United shirt following a 1-0 defeat in January 2011, with the message: “And they call him one of the best referees? That’s a joke.”

    Babel subsequently became the first footballer to be disciplined by the Football Association as a result of a social media post.

    Webb also clashed with former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho following a disallowed Salomon Kalou’s goal against Blackburn in September 2007, resulting in the Portuguese demanding an apology from the referee. The last time Webb took charge of a game involving both United and Chelsea was March’s FA Cup quarter-final, which ended 2-2.

  • Why I joined Chelsea – Moses

    Why I joined Chelsea – Moses

    Super Eagles forward, Victor Moses says his love for London informed his decision to sign for Chelsea.

    The former Wigan Athletic forward revealed this in a latest edition of the club’s magazine.

    Moses moved to Stamford Bridge on 23 August 2012 after Wigan Athletic accepted a fifth bid from Chelsea, meeting Wigan’s asking price after four previously unsuccessful bids.

    When the former Crystal Palace star knew that Chelsea’s interest in him, which had been speculated about in the media over the course of the summer, was genuine, his mind was made up.

    That’s not to say he hadn’t enjoyed his time at Wigan Athletic, because he had, but if the lure of playing for the European champions wasn’t a big enough incentive in itself, the opportunity to move back to London, the city he calls home, having moved to the capital at 11-years-old from Nigeria, merely sealed the deal.

    “I’m definitely enjoying being back in London,” he says in his interview in the magazine. “It’s where I grew up and being back here and seeing my mates again and stuff like that is great. For me, it’s just like I’ve come home now, so I’m delighted about it.”

    The 21-year-old attacker, who has impressed since moving to Stamford Bridge, and made his European debut in Blues’ 4-0 win against FC Nordsjaelland, goes on to discuss what is different at Chelsea, and who is familiar in terms of people he knew already.

     

  • Chelsea celebrate Mikel

    Chelsea celebrate Mikel

    • Nigerian is face of Blues’ latest magazine
    • Says ‘he is now a matured player’
    • Victor Moses featured in interview

     

    Chelsea has dedicated latest edition of its magazine to Nigeria International, John Obi Mikel in recognition of his role in Nigeria successful Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) victory in South Africa.

    The latest edition of Chelsea magazine is an international special, as the Blues says on its official website that magazine is a must-have for all supporters.

    Mikel has more medals and trophies on his mantelpiece at the age of 25 than most players are able to gather over the course of their whole careers.

    Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup, Mikel has tasted success in all of them, but the midfielder went one better back in January and added a trophy at international level to his ever-expanding collection, when Nigeria were crowned Kings of Africa.

    The Super Eagles beat Burkina Faso 1-0 in the final of the competition after overcoming Didier Drogba’s Ivory Coast in the semi-final, and Mikel was astonished at the reaction of supporters back in his homeland.

    ‘It was crazy,’ he tells Chelsea. ‘It was really nice to go back home after the tournament with the cup – the whole country was waiting. It was a big, big thing, because we couldn’t walk, we couldn’t actually get out of the airport. The whole way through, from the airport to the hotel where we were staying, it was crazy.’

    Mikel, somewhat unsurprisingly given his experience at club level, was an ever-present during the tournament, playing, as he does for Nigeria, in a slightly more advanced role than he is accustomed to at Stamford Bridge.

    A number of the younger, less established members of the squad sought guidance from him as Nigeria continued to progress, and it was a role he was happy to take on.

    ‘Every major tournament makes you become more mature,’ he said. ‘I think it’s because I have played in so many major tournaments at such a young age that I have maturity – you go through a hard time to win tournaments and it makes you grow.

    ‘It’s a life experience and it’s something that I have been lucky enough to do from a young age at Chelsea as well, where I have played alongside some of the best players in the world and I’ve learnt a lot from them.’

    African football continues to grow each year, and what gave Mikel most satisfaction from Nigeria’s success was lifting the trophy when the competition was so fierce.

    ‘The level has gone right up,’ he explained. ‘So to win it this time was just amazing. To win it at a stage when African football has become so interesting – when there are so many African players abroad – was really, really difficult, and we did it.’

    However, the magazine also features the Super Eagles forward, Victor Moses interview his chelsea teammates Oscar, Cesar Azpilicueta.

     

  • Mikel targets more trophies

    Mikel targets more trophies

    Nigeria star Mikel Obi has said he wishes for more success with club and country as that would make him a more matured player and person.

    “Every big tournament you win seems to take you to another level, both as a player and a person,’ MTNFootball.com quoted Mikel as saying on Chelsea official website.

    “You mature by winning major trophies, that’s what it’s done for me since I’ve been at Chelsea. I’ve won pretty much everything but I’m still hungry for success.”

    Mikel won his first Africa Cup of Nations winners’ medal earlier this month and he has won all the major trophies on offer with Chelsea – UEFA Champions League, English Premier League, English FA Cup and League Cup.

    On Sunday’s high-profile English Premier League clash against champions Manchester City, Mikel said it will be a tough match, but he believes Chelsea can win to close the gap at the top.

    He said, “It is going to be a tough game, it’s an important game for both teams, a win for us will help us close the gap, we can do it but will be a tough match,” he predicted.

    “Yaya Toure is always a key player for Manchester City, especially when he plays slightly further forward and not in a defensive role.

    “When he charges up front that’s when he’s so dangerous. It surprises me he doesn’t play there more often, but when they are struggling Mancini tends to throw him forward.

    “If I’m selected to play I will need to think of how to deal with Yaya. You have to try not to let him run beyond you, if you commit yourself he’s gone.

    “He’s always a threat but so is their whole team. You look up front where they have [Carlos] Tevez and [Sergio] Aguero, whoever plays in attack is dangerous, they are such a good side.”

     

  • ADO Haag, Chelsea to meet over Omeruo

    ADO Haag, Chelsea to meet over Omeruo

    Barclays English Premier League side, Chelsea are set to meet with Dutch club, ADO Den Haag, to discuss the future of Nigeria defender, Kenneth Omeruo.

    According to Voetbal International, representatives of the European champions and that of the Dutch Eredivisie outfit will meet next month to iron out the immediate future of the 19-year-old centre-back.

    Reports are already suggesting that the former Sunshine Stars’ man is being lined up to join up with his parent club, Chelsea after his loan spell ends this season at ADO Den Haag. But the English giants, it has been learned, want to know the progress of the Nigerian at ADO following his impressive performance in South Africa leading to his nation’s Africa Cup of Nations win.

    With Omeruo in line to be named in Chelsea’s first-team squad next season, another Nigerian at the London club, Victor Moses, believes the teenager can fit into the Blues.

    “I couldn’t believe it when he said he hadn’t played in the African Nations Cup before. He was really strong and is a good defender. He is a great lad and a player for the future (for Chelsea),” Moses told chelseafc.com.

    Omeruo joined Chelsea at the start of this season from Belgian club, Standard Liege before he was immediately sent on loan to ADO Den Haag.

  • Mikel, Moses return for Europa League

    Mikel, Moses return for Europa League

    Super Eagles duo of John Obi Mikel and Victor Moses will on Thursday return to the Europa League stage for Chelsea in the round of 32 second leg encounter against Czech Republic side, Sparta Prague.

    Futaa.com reports that both players were left out of the squad that executed the first leg encounter away from home having just returned from a victorious outing at the 2013 African Nations Cup with Nigeria.

    While Moses was recalled into the squad that defeated Brentford in the FA Cup last Sunday, Mikel missed the tie but both players are fully rested and are available for selection on Thursday.

    Prague players arrive in London knowing they face a difficult task overcoming the 1-0 first-leg lead earned by Oscar’s clever strike a week ago.

    The Londoners has not lost at Stamford Bridge in UEFA tournaments since losing 1-0 to Manchester United in 2011.

     

  • Nigeria ‘limps’ to AFCON last eight

    Nigeria on Tuesday qualified for the last eight of the ongoing African Nations Cup in South Africa.

    Two penalty goals scored by Chelsea’s Victor Moses in the second half spared the Super Eagles blushes.

    It was a generally poor performance by a Nigerian team that failed to muster one single shot on target throughout the first 45 minutes.

    Nigeria which finished second in group C will meet group D winners in one of the quarter final matches next week.

     

  • Chelsea monitor Mikel’s injury in Faro

    Chelsea monitor Mikel’s injury in Faro

    MIKEL OBI is closely monitored by Chelsea in Nigeria’s camp ahead of the Nations Cup in South Africa.

    Mikel joined the Faro, Portugal camp on Sunday alongside fellow Blues teammate, Victor Moses. But the player is under the supervision of his agent John Ola Shittu.

    Shittu’s presence is believed to be in the interest of Chelsea who have kept the midfielder out of action for few weeks following the knock that forced him to be substituted in a Premier League clash with Norwich on Boxing Day. Mikel is feared to be nursing an injury due to his recent omissions from Chelsea games but the defender declared himself fit on arrival in Portugal.

    The former Lyn Oslo ace only signed a five-year contract extension with the Blues and with very few options in the defensive midfield, the Londoners see Mikel as a valued asset hence the decision to keep a close surveillance on him through his agent.

  • Chelsea hits World Club Cup final

    Chelsea hits World Club Cup final

    Champions League holders Chelsea on Thursday advanced to the final of the World Club Cup after beating Mexican club Monterrey 3-1 in the semi final, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.

    The Premier League club will face South American champions Corinthians after the Brazilian club beat Al Ahly 1-0 in the other semi-final on Wednesday.

    Juan Mata opened the scoring in the 17th minute for the Blues, while Fernando Torres and an own goal by Darvin Chavez gave Chelsea a comfortable 3-0 lead shortly after the break.

    Aldo de Nigris pulled one back in injury time for the Mexican club, which will now face Al Ahly in the play-off for third place.

    The last five editions of the tournament have been won by European teams, with Barcelona hammering Santos 4-0 in 2011 after Brazilian clubs won the first three editions in 2000, 2005 and 2006.

    The Club World Cup brings together the champions from the six confederations of the ruling body FIFA, and a team from the host nation.

    This year’s edition sees the introduction of goal-line technology for the first time at a big tournament.

     

  • Chelsea sacks Di Matteo

    Chelsea sacks Di Matteo

    Chelsea has sacked Roberto Di Matteo following the team’s 3-0 defeat to Juventus on Tuesday evening, Goal.com reports.

    The defeat has put the club’s prospects of qualifying for the Champions league knockout stage in doubt.

    A statement on Chelsea’s official website reads: “Chelsea Football Club has parted company this morning with Manager Roberto Di Matteo.

    “The team’s recent performances and results have not been good enough and the owner and the Board felt that a change was necessary now to keep the club moving in the right direction as we head into a vitally important part of the season.

    “The club faces a difficult task ahead in qualifying for the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League as well as maintaining a strong challenge for the top of the Premier League while competing in three other cup competitions. Our aim is to remain as competitive as possible and challenge strongly on all fronts.

    “The owner and the Board would like to thank Roberto for all he has done for the club since taking over in March. Roberto helped guide us to an historic Champions League victory and a seventh FA Cup. We will never forget the huge contribution he has made to this club’s history and he will always be welcome at Stamford Bridge.

    “The club will be making an announcement shortly regarding a new first team manager.”